Q: I'm interested in taking the Glacier Bay Ferry Service from Juneau to Gustavus, and saw that in 2007 there were 2-for-1 specials for certain dates. Do such deals exist today? --Lloyd

A: I can see why you’re not finding answers: The only page I found about this service was for summer 2008. I’ve contacted the Glacier Bay Lodge, and they have apologized for the oversight on their website.

The good news: The Lodge is indeed operating the Glacier Bay Ferry from Gustavus to Juneau, roundtrip, every Friday and Sunday evening. The 2-for-1 deal on ferry passage (about an $80 savings) is available with the purchase of a 2-night stay at the Glacier Bay Lodge. (If you fly into Juneau instead, using Alaska Airlines or a local air taxi service, you can also get a 2-for-1 deal on a whale-watching day cruise when you stay two midweek nights at Glacier Bay Lodge.)

Either way, this could be the best way to visit Glacier Bay if you’re not doing a full cruise vacation. While the park is hugely popular, access to this part of the state is limited to boat or plane.

This ferry is not your usual Alaska ferry, either. Most travelers in Alaska hear “ferry” and think of a medium-sized blue and white ships that carry cars and passengers, operated by the state’s Alaska Marine Highway service. The Glacier Bay Ferry, meanwhile, is operated by Glacier Bay Lodge & Tours, a division of Aramark, and feels a bit more like an excursion boat—you’ll travel through Icy Strait, known for good whale-watching.

The ferry runs between Juneau’s Auke Bay (which is also the AMH terminal) and Gustavus’ Bartlett Cove, which is located at Glacier Bay Lodge. On the two sail days, the ferry leaves Gustavus at 3:30pm, arriving at Juneau’s Auke Bay at 6:30pm. The ferry then leaves Auke Bay at 7:00pm and arrives back to Gustavus’ Bartlett Cove around 10 p.m. (I was told that departure and arrival times can vary by 30 minutes so be prepared to be a little flexible.)

So here’s a good way to set up your trip: Sail from Juneau to the lodge on Friday night; check out the ice and whales of Glacier Bay National Park on Saturday; then relax at the lodge, doing some hiking or kayaking, on Sunday morning before sailing back to Juneau on Sunday afternoon.

To book either of these deals, call Aramark’s Anchorage office at 907-264-4600 and ask them for the buy-one-get-one-free offer.