In addition to bringing one's car on the ferry as mentioned above, one can walk on and even take a kayak or bicycle. It is a great way to visit Alaska's coastal communities and to meet Alaskan residents. Thousands of visitors arrive via large cruise ships which provide luxurious accommodations. Their downside is that you see things from a distance and travel in large groups. When these ships dock in Alaska's small communities they can seem pretty crowded.
Many travel agents can provide information on cruise boat travel.
An alternative to large ships are the smaller cruise lines which generally travel with less than a 100 passengers. Not only do these ships limit their impacts on communities they also can get you closer to scenery and wildlife. Companies offering these services can be found in the Small Ship Cruises Overnight Category listed under the Activity List on this web site.