September Ferry Sailings Confirmed
The M/V Columbia will continue to service the Bellingham WA to Alaskan ports through the end of September 2019.
The M/V Malaspina will also continue to serve the Prince Rupert BC - Alaska routes through the end of September 2019.
The Seattle - Victoria ferry ( foot passengers only, no vehicles ) will continue to operate year-round as will the BC Ferry service between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert.
The Queen of Coquitlam out of Service Pending Mechanical Repairs
A mechanical problem yesterday (Tues) has caused the BC Ferry schedule for the Queen of Coquitlam (Vancouvers Horseshoe Bay - Sunshine Coast Langdale route ) to be altered for the 26th and 27th of June.
Until back in service, the Queen of Surrey will take her place and will operate on a modified ferry schedule ( see below).
Another Summer Passes Without Harbour to Harbour Ferry Service
Island Ferry Services has again delayed the much anticipated 2-1/2+ hr
ferry service designed to transport foot passengers ( no vehicles) from
Downtown Nanaimo to Downtown Vancouver.
David
Marshall, director of operations with Island Ferries has confirmed yet another delay saying that there will be no ferry service operated by Island Ferries in 2019. So another summer without the proposed foot ferry service between Nanaimo and Vancouver will come and go.
The Vancouver Harbour to Nanaimo Harbour passenger-only ferry service has been in the planning stages for more than a decade but vessel, terminal, monetary and management issues have combined to consistently plaque the proposed ferry service.
Maybe next year or, perhaps either the successful Seattle based Victoria Clipper foot passenger ferries, or the Australia-based Riverside Marine who currently operate the V2V Vacations passenger only ferry service between Victoria & Vancouver will step into the breach ?
Travel From Seattle WA to Victoria BC on Vancouver Island
In just 2 hours and 45 minutes you can cruise through the spectacular Salish Sea as you travel from downtown Seattle to downtown Victoria ( or downtown Victoria to downtown Seattle) on what is a unique mini-cruise.
But it's on a ferry; a very fast ferry - in fact, a high speed catamaran that carries 400+ ferry passengers between the 2 of the most fabulous west coast cities - Seattle & Victoria.
The ferry operates the year-round service daily, but in the summer months (mid-May through mid-September), increases the daily sailings from 1 to 2 round trip services.
The ferry offers three
classes of service: Economy on the lower ferry deck; Vista service on the upper ferry deck & Comfort Class also on the upper deck - but in a spacious private cabin with leather seating, complimentary snacks, tea & coffee.
Call 1-800-686-0446; email info@ferrytravel.com, or go directly to www.ferrytravel.com to secure ferry reservations.
BUT Remember - with only 2 daily sailings, ferry space sells out well in advance so to avoid disappointment, reserve as soon as you can confirm your travel dates.
Canada Day Discounts & Activities on BC Ferries & at the Terminals
BC Ferries is offering Canada Day weekend sunrise & sunset sailing discounts on routes to & from the mainland.
Sailings for as low as $49 for a one-way standard passenger
vehicle & driver will be offered
Anticipating possible wait times on the busy holiday weekend, BC Ferries has arranged music performances, mascots and activities for kids and families waiting at the terminals.
An added bonus is that coastal naturalists will also be on hand to both tell stories and talk about the wildlife that can be seen from the ferry, .
Mayne Island Rescue
BC Ferries deployed rescue boats from 2 separate ferries to rescue a person from the frigid waters near Mayne Island on Saturday night.
The rescue boats were deployed at approximately 8:00pm from both the Queen of Cumberland & the Spirit of British Columbia.
Ferry Port Hardy to Bella Coola Direct
With the BC Ferries Northern Sea Wolf now full service, direct seasonal ferry service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola was
reinstated Monday.
Having what it claimed as millions of dollars in lost revenue annually as a result of the route having being once cancelled, the Cariboo-Chilcotin tourism industry celebrated the return of direct ferry service .
With the ability to carry up to 150 passengers and 35 vehicles on the 10-hour journey between northern Vancouver Island and B.C.’s Central Coast, the 246-foot-long Sea Wolf service will extend service through the summer & until Oct. 10
Alaska Ferries Winter Sailings
With the approval of a $46 million agreement between House and Senate lawmakers this week, it appears as if the state ferries will likely run through the winter months.
While the numbers (some 40M less than last year) are preliminary until the state budget is signed by Governor Dunleavy, it would seem a potential winter shutdown has been averted.
The M/V Tustumena scheduled to return to service earlier than expected.
Ferry service to Homer, Seldovia, Port Lions, Ouzinkie, & Kodiak will resume May 14-17, 2019.
The originally scheduled M/VTustumena voyages will begin again May 18, 2019
Ferry Price Jumps $90,000
In the final 45 minutes of the online auction, the BC Ferry Howe Sound Queen realized a sold price of $210,000.00.
A bidding war between prospective buyers saw
the price of the ferry jump by nearly $90,000 in the final 45 minutes.
Scheduled to retire 01 June 2019, the 74m long Howe Sound Queen ( capacity 300 passengers & 52 cars), was built in 1964 in Sorel Quebec. She served the Bowen Island-HorseShoe Bay ferry route until 1992 and is currently serving the Crofton - Vesuvius ferry route.
The owner of the winning bid has not yet been disclosed.
Spirit of BC Ferry Drydocked for 10 days
As a result of the high winds experienced on Saturday 26 April welding repairs to the
rubbing strake on the side of the Spirit ship have caused the ferry to be out of service for approximately 10 days.
While the strake damage, which is the ferry equivalent of a damaged vehicle fender is being repaired, BC Ferries have moved the Coastal Renaissance from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and additional sailings
have been added to the Queen of New Westminster ferry, to better accommodate passengers.
Washington ferry to Alaska
Seattle* - Bellingham Terminal: 2-2-1/2 driving hrs North of Seattle
Bellingham- Ketchikan: 676 Nautical Miles ( 2 day ferry ride)
Bellingham- Juneau: 964 Nautical Miles ( 3 day ferry ride)
Bellingham- Skagway: 1,800 Nautical Miles ( 3 day ferry ride)
* ferries do not travel from Seattle to Alaska
British Columbia ferry to Alaska
Prince Rupert, BC - Ketchikan, AK: 103 Nautical Miles ( 6 Hrs)
Prince Rupert, BC - Juneau, AK: 331 Nautical Miles ( 1 day)
Prince Rupert, BC - Skagway AK: 480 Nautical Miles ( 2 days)
Driving Distance by Highway
Skagway, AK to Anchorage* 830 driving miles
Haines to Anchorage* 770 driving miles
Haines to Fairbanks* 650 driving miles
Haines to Homer 1,000 driving miles
Homer** to Seattle 2,650 driving miles
* No ferries travel directly to Anchorage
** The drive between Homer & Seattle crosses the Canadian border so requires a passport.
* ferries do not travel to Anchorage
Cash deal for a BC Ferry:
$5,000.00 (Cdn $) started the auction for the Howe Sound Queen but as of Monday, & with bids climbing quickly the current bid is $63,250.00 Canadian Funds.
The Howe Sound Queen can carry 52 vehicles and 300 passengers
Alaska Cancels Early April Ferry Service:
A delay in departing the drydock has once again caused the cancellation of service on a major Alaska ferry route.
A recent announcement from Alaska Marine notes that the April 4-7, 2019 sailings between Ketchikan and Bellingham are now canceled as the MV Kennicott requires more drydock time.
It is anticipated that the MV Kennicotts' northbound ferry service from Ketchikan will resume 08 April
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Ferry Fares to Stay the Same:
BC Ferries has announced it will both freeze and reduce some of their route fares.
At the same time, the corporation is considering extending their summer sailing schedule into the 2019 fall season.
BC Ferries has committed to increasing service to its coastal communities and Islands
Commencing 01 April, 2019 ferry service will increase through the addition of some 2,700 sailings.
In an effort to serve the needs of Islanders and the BC coastal communities, the BC Ferry corporation will reinstate most of the sailing cuts made on 10 routes in 2014 .
April 01, 2019 The following routes will see increased ferry service:
Earls Cove – Saltery Bay
Horseshoe Bay – Bowen IslandPort Hardy – Mid-Coast – Prince RupertHaida Gwaii – Prince RupertPowell River – Texada IslandCampbell River – Quadra IslandQuadra Island – Cortes Island
May 01, 2019 Increased ferry service will commence between:
Crofton & Vesuvius
Once new crews are hired later in the year, increased ferry service for the following ports will be announced & implimented.
Port Hardy & Prince Rupert
Skidegate & Allford Bay
Queen of Surrey Experienced Docking Issues
Expect delays in the Vancouver - Sunshine Coast ferry schedules as a result of docking issues suffered by the Queen of Surrey at the terminal near Gibsons this morning.
A tugboat is on the way to help the ferry which is currently caught on a berthing pontoon.
A schedule update can be secured by calling BC Ferries at 888-223-3779 however the next expected sailing from Langdale is at 6:40 p.m. PT.
Alaska Ferry Service Debate
As the Alaska State Legislature grapples with their transportation budget & decides whether or not to abandon the Bellingham WA - Alaska ferry route as they restructure their system, it might be asked whether this would provide a revenue generating opportunity for both British Columbia and for the BC Ferry Corporation ?
With Vancouvers' Tsawwassen Terminal only some 20-25 minutes north of Bellingham, a BC ferry offering service between Vancouver & Prince Rupert would enable travellers to still enjoy the beauty of the coast; to enjoy the trip in Canadian dollars, and to avoid the long drive alternative.
The 5 hr Alaska ferry from Prince Rupert to Ketchican, would enable visitors seeking access to the State to still enjoy a ferry route that should include the islands of Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka & Juneau before reaching Haines - where the Alcan Hwy provides access to the rest of Alaska
The downside of this thought is the knowledge that to enter Canada, any US citizen travelling to Alaska via Vancouver would need to carry a valid passport and must not be a convicted felon. ( DUI's are considered a felony in Canada)
Too, transporting weapons could be an issue as neither handguns nor automatic / semi-automatic weapons are allowed into Canada.
Currently it is estimated that some 30,000 passengers a year use the Alaska ferry system to travel between Washington & Alaska: a number that brings with it serious dollars for any community.
Five New Ferries Planned for the BC Ferry Corporation
Designed to add capacity to the popular Vancouver –
Vancouver Island routes, the new BC ferries are planned to replace the aging Queen of New Westminster, Queen
of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam & Queen of Cowichan vessels.
With a focus on working toward keeping fares affordable, to reducing the environmental impact of the vessels, to planning for flexibility to meet changing future demands and, to enhancing the passengers' onboard experience, BC Ferries expects the new ferries to start arriving in 2020
Alaska Ferry Schedules for Winter 2019
The State legislature continues to debate both the frequency of and ports to be served by, the Alaska Marine ferries during the winter season ( Oct 2019 -March 2020).
A combination of budget cuts and ferries requiring longer than expected drydock time continues to plague the system.
The Alaska ferry system has struggled over the years to provide confirmed schedules far enough in advance to satisfy travel agents, tour group operators & independent travellers trying to secure Alaska ferry reservations as they make summer plans to explore the State.
