MV Columbia

MV Columbia is a mainline ferry for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Constructed in 1974 by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington, Columbia has served as the flagship of the Alaska ferry system for over 40 years and takes her name from the Columbia Glacier.

As a mainline ferry, she connects some of the largest communities along the Inside Passage, linking the remote Southeast Alaska Panhandle in a way no road network ever could. The Alaska Marine Highway System stands as a rare example in the United States of a shipping line offering regularly scheduled service built primarily for transportation rather than leisure or entertainment. Voyages can run for many days, but in contrast to the comforts of a typical cruise line, cabins cost extra, and most food is served cafeteria style rather than through formal dining.

Columbia carries both passengers and vehicles, with an upper deck between the main vehicle deck and the cabin deck offering additional vehicle stowage, accessed by two vehicle elevators capable of hoisting 19-foot vehicles along with their passengers. Hot food and sit-down service are both offered on board, giving travelers a proper meal option during longer stretches at sea. The ship serves the practical needs of Alaska's scattered coastal communities, carrying residents, workers, vehicles, and visitors alike through some of the most dramatic scenery in North America.

For those seeking a working ferry passage rather than a resort experience, Columbia offers the real rhythm of Alaska's maritime life, connecting people and places the way ferries have done in this region for generations. She remains a genuine working vessel first, with the scenery and sense of place serving as a memorable backdrop to a practical journey rather than the main event itself.

Sailed aboard this working Alaska Panhandle ferry? Log your MV Columbia voyage on The Cruise Globe to trace the precise route that your cruise took.