You can take a dog or cat on the Alaska ferry, but your pet can't ride with you. The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) says animals are restricted to the car deck, either in an approved carrier or in a vehicle with an adult passenger. You can't go down to check on them whenever you like, because passenger access to the car deck is restricted while the ship is under way.
On the longest sailings, that leaves one main way to see your dog: scheduled pet calls. The AMHS policies page says 15-minute calls are made about every eight hours to let owners be escorted to the car deck. If you are planning the run from Bellingham to Ketchikan or Juneau to Whittier, this is the part of the trip to think through first, because your dog may spend most of a day or more in the vehicle or a carrier.
This guide covers the official rules, what owners report about how they work in practice, and how to get a dog ready. AMHS publishes only a short policy, so we mark clearly what comes from the ferry system and what is advice or a traveler's account.
Alaska ferry pet rules at a glance
| Question | AMHS answer | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Where do pets ride? | Car deck only | No pets in cabins, lounges or on passenger decks |
| How must they be contained? | Approved carrier, or a vehicle with an adult passenger | Walk-on passengers need a carrier |
| What carrier? | Hardside or clamshell style with room to move recommended | Pick a sturdy crate your pet can stand up in |
| Can I visit my pet? | Passenger access to the car deck is restricted under way | Plan around scheduled calls |
| How often are pet calls? | 15 minutes, about every 8 hours on extended sailings | Times can shift; listen for announcements |
| Service animals? | Allowed on passenger decks | Comfort and therapy animals stay on the car deck |
| Other pets? | May face additional rules | Call 1-800-642-0066 first |
| Who bears the risk? | The owner | Your pet travels at your own risk |
Why pets stay on the car deck
The rule comes down to the ship's layout and Coast Guard limits on going below. AMHS says U.S. Coast Guard regulations restrict passenger access to the car deck while a vessel is under way, and the crew manages escorted visits on longer runs. That also applies to a pet that has a cabin-booking owner. Booking a stateroom doesn't change anything, because pets can't go in it.
So the choice is simple: your pet stays either in your vehicle or in a carrier parked on the car deck. Neither is ideal for a very anxious animal or one with health problems, and that may be the deciding factor in whether the ferry is right for you at all.
Pet calls: the official schedule and the reality
AMHS says the 15-minute calls happen approximately every eight hours on routes such as Bellingham to Ketchikan and Juneau to Whittier, and on some sailings to Sitka. The word "approximately" matters. Weather and port operations can change things, and travelers' reports vary.
On the Winnie Owners forum, one traveler said escorted access happens only on multi-day legs and depends on the weather. Others on RV forums report at least three calls in 24 hours. These are personal accounts, not policy, but they point to the same advice: assume the official schedule is the best case, and plan for a call to be delayed.
Listen for announcements, because a call you miss may be your only one for hours. Keep your keys, leash, waste bags and water where you can grab them quickly, and be ready at the door to the car deck well before the call. Fifteen minutes goes fast, especially if you are parked several rows away.
Bringing your pet in a vehicle
Most owners on this route travel with a pet in the vehicle, and an RV or truck camper is the most comfortable setup. AMHS has one warning worth taking seriously: vehicles are parked closely together, which can make it hard for large dogs to get in or out. A dog that needs a wide door to jump down may not have the room, and your 15 minutes can vanish while you try to get them out.
Before you sail, teach your dog to get in and out of the vehicle on command and through the narrowest door you have. If you have a big or older dog, ask the terminal staff when you check in whether you can get a spot with some space, though you shouldn't count on it. Have a ramp ready if your dog needs one, as long as it can be used in a tight space. Our guide to transporting a large dog has more on loading.
Think about the air, too. Crack the windows as allowed, but check with the crew. Sun-warmed vehicles can heat up quickly in port, so don't assume a northern route is automatically cool. Our guide on how hot is too hot for a dog in a car explains how fast it can happen. AMHS may also have rules on running vehicle engines or generators on board, so ask before you count on heat or air conditioning.
Walking on with a carrier
If you travel without a vehicle, your pet must ride in an approved carrier on the car deck. AMHS recommends a hardside or clamshell style with room to move. A soft bag is a poor choice for this trip, since it will be left alone among vehicles for hours. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate explains how to size one. Your dog should be able to stand, turn around and lie down naturally.
Mark the crate with your name, cell number and sailing. Attach water that can't spill, and add absorbent bedding, since your dog may have to go in the crate between calls. Ask how you get the crate onto the car deck when you check in, and arrive early, because a walk-on passenger with a large crate needs more time and help than one with a backpack.
Getting your dog ready for hours alone
A dog who has never spent a long stretch in a vehicle or crate shouldn't learn that on the ferry. Start weeks ahead with feeding meals in the crate or vehicle, and then build up to longer periods. Our guide to crate training a dog for travel walks through it. Many dogs won't toilet on a steel deck or a strange surface, so teach yours to use a pad or a piece of artificial turf before you leave.
Walk your dog hard before you check in. Feed a light meal several hours before boarding, rather than a large one just before, and bring the usual food so you don't add a stomach upset to the trip. Ask your vet about motion sickness if your dog gets sick on car rides, and don't give any sedative unless your vet has approved it for this trip. Sedating a dog that will be alone for hours can be dangerous. Our guide on whether to sedate a dog for travel explains why.
If your dog has a health condition, is very old or panics when left alone, speak to your vet first and consider a different route. It may be better to choose a shorter sailing.
Paperwork for entering Alaska
AMHS says all state of Alaska regulations must be met before animals enter the state. The rules come from the state veterinarian, and they apply however your pet arrives. Alaska's import rules require a certificate of veterinary inspection for dogs, cats and ferrets, and a current rabies vaccination from 12 weeks of age. An animal on a very recent first rabies dose may have to be confined after arrival. Our Alaska pet transport guide covers the details. If your route uses a Canadian port such as Prince Rupert, or you drive through Canada to reach the terminal, see our guide to crossing the border with a dog too.
Service animals, comfort animals and other pets
Service animals are allowed on passenger decks on AMHS vessels. Comfort and therapy animals have to follow the pet policy and are restricted to the car deck, so an emotional support letter won't move your dog upstairs. Household pets other than dogs and cats may face additional rules, and AMHS asks you to call about them at 1-800-642-0066.
Is the ferry the right choice?
For a healthy, easygoing dog traveling in a familiar vehicle, plenty of owners make the trip every year. The ferry also saves a very long drive. But it isn't right for every pet. If your dog can't handle being alone for many hours, can't use a pad or a turf mat and struggles with narrow access, a shorter sailing or the drive up the Alaska Highway may be kinder. Flying or a specialist pet shipper is another route, as our Alaska guide explains.
AMHS doesn't publish all the details owners would like, including pet fees or exact call times for each sailing. Call reservations before you book and ask three things: how pet calls work on your specific sailing, how a walk-on crate gets on and off, and whether anything is different for your ship. Then write down the name of the person you spoke to and the date of the call.
What to pack for a long sailing
Keep this kit in a day bag you can carry down during a pet call, so you are not searching the vehicle in the dark:
- A short leash and a well-fitted harness, plus a spare
- Waste bags, paper towels and a small bottle of enzyme cleaner
- Pee pads or a piece of artificial turf
- Water and a bowl, plus a spill-proof water bottle for the crate
- Your dog's normal food, in portions, and any medications
- A copy of the health certificate and rabies certificate
- A blanket or an unwashed T-shirt that smells like you
- A flashlight, since a car deck can be dim and crowded
It helps to set a phone alarm for the expected call time, and to find your way from your cabin or seat to the stairs soon after you board. Note your vehicle's deck and position when you park, since finding it again in 15 minutes is harder than it sounds.
Ferry, highway or plane?
Owners moving to Alaska with a dog usually compare three options, and each has its own tradeoff. The ferry saves a very long drive, but your dog spends long periods alone on the car deck. Driving the Alaska Highway keeps your dog with you, and you can stop whenever you want, but it takes many days, crosses Canada and is a serious undertaking in winter. Flying is the fastest, but size limits, weather embargoes and cargo rules can get in the way, so you'll want to read our Alaska pet transport guide first.
The right choice usually depends on the dog. A confident adult dog used to a crate or RV tends to manage the ferry well. A dog with separation anxiety, or a senior with a weak bladder, may be better off on the highway, where you can stop every few hours. You can also combine them, driving most of the way and using a shorter sailing for the last part.
Questions to ask before you book
Because the published policy is short, a call to reservations at 1-800-642-0066 is worthwhile. Ask whether your specific sailing is scheduled for pet calls and roughly when. Ask how walk-on passengers get a crate on and off and whether you need to carry it yourself. If you are in a vehicle, ask where pets can be walked during port stops, and whether your stop is long enough to get off the ship. Some port calls are short, and you shouldn't assume you can take your dog for a walk ashore at every stop. Ask about any weather or seasonal changes as well, since the schedule and vessel can differ by season.
Cats need the same planning as dogs, with one addition. Bring a small litter tray that fits in the crate or vehicle, and a carrier your cat can't open, since a cat that escapes on a car deck can be very hard to find.