When most travelers think about getting to their next travel destination, they often default to booking a flight. Or, for something different, they might even consider a cruise.
But there's another mode of transportation that’s often overlooked: the ferry. It offers a surprising number of benefits such as fewer baggage restrictions, cheaper ticket costs, and a slower, more relaxed way of getting from point A to B.
If you're island-hopping through Greece, exploring the Pacific Northwest, or crossing between countries in northern Europe, ferry travel can be a practical, affordable, and enjoyable form of transit.
Here's why you should consider this underrated mode of transportation on your next trip.
In this article
Ferry Routes Are Plentiful
You can travel by ferry to so many destinations around the globe. Whether you’re looking to travel throughout one region, island hop within one country, or visit multiple countries, there are plenty of destinations that are accessible by ferry.
Washington State has an extensive system, with popular routes that include Seattle to Bainbridge Island and Anacortes to San Juan Island. You can also take a ferry from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia.
Across the globe in Greece, travelers are treated to numerous ferry routes originating from Athens en route to stunning, scenic Greek islands, like Santorini, Naxos, and Corfu.
I first experienced ferry travel while visiting Helsinki, Finland. I was flying in and out of Helsinki, but planned to spend about a week in Estonia, so I took a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia and then another ferry back to Helsinki. The journey was about 2 hours each way. It was so stress-free and only cost about $37 round-trip, and so much more enjoyable than waiting around an airport.
Relaxed Luggage Restrictions
When you travel by ferry, you’re typically not held to the same restrictions that are commonly found with flying.
Instead, you can bring multiple bags and pack whatever you want without worrying as much about overweight fees or surcharges for extra bags.
Luggage is usually included with your ticket, and most operators have minimal or no baggage restrictions, though rules and restrictions vary by operator, so be sure to check before you board.
Similarly, some operators do have baggage weight restrictions, but you can expect them to be more generous than when flying.
If you don’t want to pay checked baggage fees and prefer to have more flexibility to pack what you want, it may be time to give ferry travel a try.
Save Money on Transit Costs
Ferry travel is often far more affordable than flying.
If there’s a ferry route between two destinations that you want to visit and the travel time is reasonable, you may want to compare pricing to see whether you could save money by traveling by ferry instead of plane.
For example, the Helsinki-to-Tallinn route I mentioned above today costs between $60 and $90 for a roundtrip ferry ticket, depending on the travel date, time, and operator.
Meanwhile, flights for the same route cost over $200 round-trip for a ticket that includes a checked bag.
Some ferries also operate overnight routes, such as Copenhagen to Oslo (17+ hours) and some Alaska routes, which can cost hundreds as opposed to thousands on a traditional cruise.
Embrace Slow Travel
Traveling by ferry also gives travelers a greater opportunity to embrace slow travel.
For starters, ferry travel can be much more relaxed. You won’t start your trip off in a frenzy since you won’t be rushing to the airport to make it through security before your flight departs.
Ferry travel also takes longer, so you can relax and unwind while taking in the views. And since you have more freedom and flexibility to set your own travel schedule without commercial airline schedule limitations, you can plan to spend as much time as you want traveling through each destination that you visit.
That’s especially easy if you opt for a ferry that you can drive your car onto, for immediate freedom once you disembark.
Get a Taste of Cruise Travel Without the High Price Tag
If you have always wondered what it’s like to take a cruise but don’t love the idea of having limited time to explore a port, or have a limited budget, ferry travel is another option.
Like regular cruises, ferries are surrounded by scenic seascapes and sometimes visit multiple ports on certain routes. Some are short rides that last a few hours, and others come with bunk rooms where you can sleep for an overnight journey, just minus the frills of a mega ship.
You won’t have a casino or Broadway-style show, but most overnight ferry ships, such as those operated by the state-run Alaska Marine Highway System, have observation lounges, a covered heated solarium, a cafeteria-style restaurant, a movie lounge, showers, coin-operated laundry, and lockers.
And the best part is that a ferry ticket can be much cheaper than booking a cruise.
The Shortcut
The Helsinki-to-Tallinn ferry runs $60 to $90 round-trip. The same route by air typically costs over $200 with a checked bag.
Most ferry operators have minimal or no baggage restrictions, so overweight fees are rarely an issue.
Overnight routes like Copenhagen to Oslo are hundreds of dollars, not thousands, like a comparable cruise cabin would cost.
Driving your car onto the ferry means skipping a rental car altogether once you reach the other side.
