BC Ferries: Victoria BC
Throughout March ferry passengers travelling between Vancouvers' Tsawwassen terminal and Nanaimos' Duke Point terminal will enjoy savings of 5.00 per passenger & 15.00 per passenger vehicle.

This special applies to all sailings March 01 thru March 31, 2008

Victoria BC Canada: BC Ferries
The new carbon tax announced Feb 21,2008 will see B.C. Ferries will pay 2.76 per litre for light diesel fuel from July 1, 2008  rising to 8.27 cents in 2012.
This tax may well cause BC Ferries to raise their current fuel surcharge in the not to distant future

The current fuel surcharge on the Vancouver to Vancouver Island routes is currently $3.65 on a $47 fare, bringing the crossing total to $50.65
Far more significant however are the current surcharges on larger vehicles travelling between Port Hardy & Prince Rupert.
Northern route fuel surcharges on a vehicle fare of 300.00 are currently 34.10 and on a vehicle fare of 480.00 are 97.00.

The big question is will increased fuel charges negatively impact the tourist decision to gain access to Alaska by travelling Hardy - Rupert ?

Victoria BC Canada:  BC Ferries
Scheduled to officially commence service between Nanaimo's Departure Bay terminal  & Vancouver’s Tsawwassen terminal mid March , the Coastal Renaissance will berth at Ogden Point in Victoria to give the public an early preview of the ship & her amenities.

From 12 noon to 5pm on February 09, 2008 the public is invited to an open house aboard the Super C class Coastal Renaissance.

Ogden Point, 187 Dallas Road Victoria BC (plenty of parking available)

Juneau, AK: Alaska Marine Ferries
Schedules and fares for the May - September 2008 summer sailings have just been release & are now available for booking.

Normally released in the late fall, the scheule delay has been blamed on the efforts of the State to bring the costs of operating the ferry system into line.

Juneau, Alaska: Alaska Marine
Alaska Marine advises that the following Tustumena sailings have been cancelled:
03 February 2008 Whittier to Cordova
04 February 2008 Cordova to Whittier
Please call 1-800-686-0446 to re schedule

Juneau Alaska: Alaska Marine Highway
The summer 2008 ferry schedules & fares for the May thru September period are now expected in early February. 
To get on to the Reservation Request List call 1.800.686.0446

The MV Coastal Renaissance is able to carry 1,650 passengers and crew, & is the first of three Super C-class passenger/vehicle ferries ordered from Germany by the corporation.
She is expected to begin service between West Vancouver & Nanaimo on Vancouver Island in March

Visitor comments were enthusiastic & ranged from, "It's huge -- it's amazing;  & I like the colour of the interior” to "The passengers get the priority now, where before, the bridge always had the best view."

Border Crossing ID Reminder - Effective January 31, 2008
Canadian travellers are reminded that effective Jan. 31, 2008 oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted by U.S. Customs.
Requirements for Canadian and US citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border will be as follows:
1) Canadian and US citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Passports and trusted traveller program cards – NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST – will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel.
All existing non-immigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change. For further information, visit http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1196711811270.shtm

BC Ferries: Victoria BC Canada
All travel on the BC Ferries motor vessel Northern Adventure between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert & the Queen Charlottes has been temporarily suspended following an engine shutdown.

BC Ferries reports that the shutdown resulted from use of the wrong lubricating oil so was a human error and had nothing to do with the engine

BC Ferries bought the 117-metre ship from Greece and launched it on the northern routes in March 2007

Sitka Alaska: Alaska Marine Highway
Sita news reports that Alaska Marine has proposed cancelling the Tuesday sailing that traditionally operated between Bellingham Washington & Alaska during the busy May - September travel period.

The  MV Columbia, which returns to service in May, will provide weekly service each Friday at 1800h (6:00pm) betweem Bellingham & Washington.

Travellers unable to get space on the Columbia in Bellingham will be encouraged to begin their travel up the Inside Passage from Prince Rupert BC.

Call 1-800-686-0446 or email info@ferrytravel.com for current information

Juneau Alaska: Alaska Marine  

Juneau, AK: Alaska Marine
It was announced today that the release of the Alaska Marine ferry timetables & fares for May thru September 2008 has been delayed until mid-February.

Travellers with an idea of approximately when they wish to travel are encouraged to call 1-800-686-0446 (toll free) or email info@ferrytravel.com to register their names on the Space Request forms.

Travellers who have made a space/reservation request will be contacted on release of the 2008 schedules & all requests will be filled in priority sequence 

CoastSaver fares will be available on all ferry sailings between the Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point, (Nanaimo) terminals every day from December 19/07 though January 6/08.
During this period, customers will be able to save $5 per passenger and $15 per vehicle (Max length 20').

CoastSaver fares are also available on both the 07:00 am and 09:00 am Sunday ferry sailings between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (Victoria).

Over 275 ferry sailings between the Lower mainland & Vancouver Island will be discounted this holiday season.

VICTORIA – BC Ferries
More than 120 extra ferry sailings between 20 Dec & 06 January have been added to the regular schedules for travel between Vancouver, Victoria & Nanaimo 

Although reservations are always optional they are recommended & especially for any travel on Dec 26 & 27^th which are traditionally the busiest days of the year for ferry travel

Victoria: BC Ferries
Commencing March 2008, the newest vessel in the BC Ferries fleet MV Coastal Renaissance will serve the Vancouver - Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay - Departure Bay) route

One of the largest double end type ferries in the world at 160 meters long & 28 meters wide, the Super C-Class vessel is able to carry approximately 1,600 passengers and 360 vehicles

Displaying a photographic invitation for the 2010 Olympic Games, the Coastal Renaissance sails into Vancouver prior to sailing to her new home in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island 

Vancouver BC:  BC Ferries 
48 days after departing the shipyard in Germany where she was built, the newest ferry to join the BC Ferry fleet entered Burrard Inlet under the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver mid-day December 13, 2007 

Built in Germany, the Coastal Renaissance (as a Super-C class vessel the largest double ended ferry in the world), will hold 370 cars and 1,600 people.
She is slated to enter service between Departure Bay (Nanaimo) and Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver in early spring 2008.

Victoria BC:    BC Ferries
BC Ferries new Super C-class ferry, Coastal  Renaissance, has arrived in BC from Germany.
Showcasing a massive photographic invitation to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games on her hull, the ship sailed under the Lions Gate Bridge around mid-day Dec 13.
After circling Vancouver Harbour for photographic opportunities she will make her way to her new home in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island 

The newest vessel in the BC Ferries fleet was built in Germany and her voyage to British Columbia has included stops for refuelling at Brunsbuettel, Germany; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and Cristobal, Panama.
 
The vessel went through the Panama Canal on November 21, and has travelled up the west coast of Central and North America to British Columbia.