Bellingham Cruise Terminal

The Bellingham Cruise Terminal is a ferry terminal and transportation hub located in Bellingham, Washington, United States. It is near the Fairhaven neighborhood and was completed in 1989[1] and provides easy interchange between various modes of transportation. Operated by the Port of Bellingham[2] the facility serves over 200,000 passengers a year.[1]

Bellingham Cruise Terminal
Interior of the terminal, set up for an event
Vehicles waiting to drive onto a ferry docked at the terminal

Services and associated facilities

Ferry services include weekly Friday departures and arrivals on the state-run Alaska Marine Highway System.[3] There is also an additional summer ferry on alternating Saturdays. Alaska-bound ferries also stop in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, providing a direct link between the lower 48 states and northern British Columbia.[4][5]

The terminal offers regular passenger ferry access to the nearby San Juan Islands, operated by private companies.[6][7][8] It is home port for small cruise ships, whale watching boats and charter vessels.[9][10] Beginning in September 2020, the terminal has also been home to a temporary ferry to Point Roberts, providing alternative access amid the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of the Canadian border.[11]

The cruise ship terminal is located adjacent to the Fairhaven train station, which is served by Amtrak's regional Cascades service. It is the northernmost stop in the United States, with trains continuing to Vancouver, British Columbia, and south to Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Eugene, Oregon.[12] The building is owned by the Port of Bellingham and also serves as a Greyhound bus terminal. Whatcom Transportation Authority operates local buses between the terminal and other parts of Bellingham.[13] Private airport shuttles offer scheduled service to Bellingham International Airport.[13]

A visitor information center is nearby on Harris Street. The Cruise Terminal includes a restaurant,[1] short and long term parking, and vessel sewer pump-out.[14][15] The terminal is accessed from Interstate 5 via State Route 11.

Future
Boulevard Park and Boardwalk and Bellingham Cruise Terminal

The proposed 2019 budget from the Alaskan state government includes $100 million in cuts to the Alaska Marine Highway system, representing a loss of 75% of current funding. With the cuts, the ferry system could be modified into a seasonal, summer-only service, or cut entirely.[16][17]

References
  1. "Bellingham Cruise Terminal". Port of Bellingham.
  2. https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2018/11/02/bellingham-shipping-terminal-prepares-to-accept-international-cargo-vessels/%5B%5D%5B%5D
  3. "Alaska State Ferry – Alaska Marine Highway System". Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.
  4. "Prince Rupert British Columbia". Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.
  5. "Cruise to Alaska Like a Local – On the Ferry". Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. February 1, 2019.
  6. "Passenger Ferries & Water Taxis". San Juan Islands Washington Visitors Bureau. November 29, 2011.
  7. "Travel by Ferry". Washington State Department of Transportation.
  8. "About the Island". Friday Harbor Travel Guide.
  9. "Passenger Ferries & Charters". Port of Bellingham.
  10. "Discover the San Juan Islands on a Small Ship Cruise out of Bellingham". Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. February 1, 2019.
  11. Gallagher, Dave (September 2, 2020). "Demand for the first Point Roberts ferry was strong, so these changes are planned". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  12. "Bellingham". Amtrak.
  13. "Trains & Buses". Port of Bellingham.
  14. "Port of Bellingham". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
  15. "Parking". Port of Bellingham.
  16. Gallagher, Dave (February 20, 2019). "With Alaska budget cuts looming, Bellingham could lose longtime ferry route". Bellingham Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. Lam, Kristin (March 10, 2019). "The end of Alaska's marine highway? Budget cuts threaten ferry system". USA Today. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

48°43′18″N 122°30′45″W

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