Beer and wine have been available at the bars on board the state ferries Matanuska and Kennicott since late May after the amenities were closed seven years ago, reportedly to save money.
The ferry system “has collected feedback on the bar reopening through customer surveys answered by Kennicott and Matanuska passengers — all positive comments,” Sam Dapcevich, Department of Transportation spokesman, said last week.
“I’ve also heard from a few Southeast Alaska residents who are happy to see the bars reopened.”
There is no additional staff expense to reopening the bars, Dapcevich said. “The bars are being run using available crew on board.”
The bars are open limited hours, serving a limited menu of beer, wine and snacks. The Matanuska has chips and popcorn; the Kennicott has both, plus pretzels. “Pre-packaged mixed drinks will be offered soon,” he said.
Several beers from Juneau-based Alaskan Brewing are available in bottles and cans: White, Pilsner, Freeride Pale Ale and Icy Bay IPA. “And a small selection of wine is available through our current contract: chardonnay, white zin, merlot and cabernet,” Dapcevich said.
The Alaska Marine Highway System is working to add a couple of Alaskan Brewing’s alcoholic seltzers — Spruce Cherry Grapefruit and Spruce Lemon Lime. “We anticipate these new items will be available in approximately a month,” he said.
The Alaska Marine Highway System reported in January 2015 that it would save about $750,000 a year by closing the bars on all six ferries with the facilities. The savings would come from transferring bar personnel to other jobs on the ships.
Since that decision seven years ago, the state has sold two of the ferries that used the have bars—the Taku and Malaspina—and the Columbia has not operated in almost three years.
The Matanuska generally stops in Wrangell two days a week. The Kennicott does not serve Wrangell on its route from Bellingham, Washington, to Ketchikan, Juneau, Yakutat and out to Prince William Sound, Homer and Kodiak.
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