The Columbia is the largest vessel, and the Kennicott is the newest. Passenger services include a cocktail lounge, solarium, and forward observation lounge. Ferry stopovers last a couple of hours, but passengers can get off for several days in towns, then reboard. In the summer U.S. Forest Service naturalists are brought on board for interpretation of sights. On some vessels serving the Inside Passage route, artists, musicians, storytellers and performers are scheduled to entertain guests throughout the voyage .Many vessels have a theater area and show scheduled films and documentaries on Alaska and the outdoors.
Some vessels have a small video game arcade, card room, reading room and toddler play area.
Passengers do not have access to the car deck while underway, so RVs and motor homes may not be used for dining and sleeping on the trip. Electrical hookups for vehicle refrigeration units are not available, and bottled gas containers on the RV must be turned off and sealed by a Marine Highway employee at the time of boarding.