V2V Ferry Service Enjoying Great Popularity
The newest ferry service, V2V Empress, operating between Vancouver & Victoria is enjoying increasing popularity these days as sightings of the resident Orca pods in the Sailish Sea become more active.
With the ability to slow down to allow passengers to watch the Orcas, the 3hr 15min trip seems more like a mini-cruise than a ferry service.
For more information on the high-speed V2V cat call 1-800-686-0446
Prince Rupert to Alaska Sailings Cancelled for April
Prince Rupert ferry service will be as scheduled until 26 March when the ferry goes into dry-dock until the end of April.
Sailings from / to Prince Rupert and the Alaskan ports of Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines & Skagway will resume 28 April 2018.
For updates & further information email info@ferrytravel.com
Checked LuggageEach passenger can check in up to 2 pieces of luggage: each piece to weigh no more than 50 lbs
The linear dimensions including handles and wheels, must not exceed 62” (length + width + height)
Carry-On Luggage
Limited to one piece (less than 20 lbs) without a fee:
Dimensions must not exceed 24” x 16” x 10” (including wheels and frame)
Personal Items
One personal item without a fee, can also be carried on.
e.g. Purse / Briefcase / Camera bag / Diaper bag / Small backpack / Tote bag / Standard size laptop computer case
An ongoing mechanical issue with the M/V LeConte has resulted in the cancellation of the following ferry sailings:
- the January 31 ferry sailing to Sitka
- the Feb 01 ferry sailing from Angoon and Tenakee Springs.
The M/V Tustumena Modified Schedule
The ferry schedule for January 24 thru January 27 has been modified.
Please check the website for updated information.
Storm Damage Affects M/V Columbia Ferry Sailings
The ferry scheduled to sail from Bellingham to Alaska on Friday, January 26th has been cancelled as ship repairs resulting from the recent Alaska storms are not yet completed.
Ferry service from Bellingham is expected to resume next week - February 2nd, 2018.
09 January Storm Warnings for Lynn Canal
50-knot storm force winds and predicted high seas for the Northern Lynn Canal have caused Alaska to cancel the Tuesday, January 9, 2018 Juneau-Haines-Juneau sailings on the MV LeConte.
The MV LeConte will continue regularly scheduled ferry service with her Juneau to Kake sailing, which is scheduled to depart Juneau on January 9, 2018 at 11:45pm.Alaska Just Sold the ferry MV Taku
The MV Taku - a 55 year old 352' long ferry belonging to the State of Alaska has been sold to Dubai based Jabar Al Lawz Trading.
With only a balance of $171,000 owing on the sale & the remaining paperwork to be signed, the MV Taku has completed her ferry service in Alaska and now both residents and visitors can only remember with fondness, the grand old lady who served the Ketchikan - Skagway ferry route for so many years.
The retired ferry will soon head to Seattle, then across the Pacific to the Philippines and then on to her final destination.
Whether she will be scrapped or refitted or perhaps even returned to service as a ferry, is still undecided - but either way, we wish her good luck and a Bon Voyage.
Awww - She's Gone
Sold to the highest bidder, the BC ferry Queen of Burnaby is leaving BC.
Bragging rights to owning that 400+' vessel now belong a new owner who paid $653k (incl taxes).
Six Hundred & fifty-three thousand is less, but much roomer, than the cost of a small Vancouver condo - but like everything else in BC, even an old ferry has increased in value!
The BC Ferries Corp realized an extra couple of hundred thousand from a few years ago when the Queen of Burnaby was 1st put on the market and a $400,000k bid was turned down by BC Ferries.
Happy Sailing or, whatever.
Northern Sea Wolf will serve the North Coast in 2018
BC Ferries new ferry the Northern Sea Wolf will restore direct summer service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola and will provide a
weekly service between Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Shearwater and Ocean
Falls.
The name Sea Wolf was chosen because First Nations legends say the sea wolf, a manifestation of the orca, symbolizes family, loyalty and protection of those travelling in its waters.Bragging Rights
High School reunion coming up? Trying to impress future in-laws?
Depending on your degree
of believability this might just be an opportunity to brag about ownership of a super
yacht.
After all, the Queen of Burnaby is in fact 426 feet -and that ranks
right up with Paul Allen's 414 foot Octopuss. And, its much longer longer than Oprah's MV HARPO.
Currently the Queen of Burnaby is not quite as pretty as either of those - nor does she have the same amenities - but we're talking bragging rights not ferry service, correct?
There are however a few important issues with the retired BC Ferry, Queen of Burnaby.
1) The vessel had experienced periodic leakage of hydraulic oil from controllable pitch propeller hub.
2) she has hazardous materials from new build
3) there are operations which must
be managed in accordance with environmental regulations
4) there is an asbestos issue
5) there are also known issues with diesel fuel, petroleum based lubricants, wiring and
insulation products, paints, refrigerants, plus other chemical issues
5) the ships sailing license had also expired
However, if you had a place to dock the Queen and, were willing to take on the responsibility of owing an aging vessel with many, many, many issues, the Queen of Burnaby could be yours. And how many people own a 426 foot vessel anyway?
BC Ferries has only received a bid of 5,720 CAD on an ask of 6,000 - so the Queen Of Burnaby is still up for grabs!
BC Ferries No Smoking Ban
Commencing 22 January 2018, BC Ferries will implement its No Smoking Ban. The ban applies to both the inside and outside decks of any BC Ferry Vessel.
The new policy supports the health and
wellness of customers and employees by reducing exposure to second-hand
smoke and it aligns with other transportation services to ensure everyone BC Ferries can breathe smoke-free air.
The
new smoke-free policy applies to tobacco and any other substance
including e-cigarettes, and is expected to reduce the number of
complaints BC Ferries receives from customers related to second-hand
smoke. Extreme Weather Causes Alaska Ferry Cancellation
The Dec 18-19th sailings for the MV Aurora is cancelled due to forecasted extreme winds and rough seas.
Alaska Marine notes the ferry (MV Aurora) will have to transit the Gulf before continuing on to service in Prince William Sound.
Ferries to Alaska Must be booked Early
Every year travel disappointment results from having waited too long before booking the ferry to Alaska.
Because there are so few ferry sailings from Bellingham to Whittier ( Whittier is the ferry port closest to Anchorage and the only port that bypasses travel through Canada), space will be sold out within the next few weeks.
To enquire about the schedules, fares etc for the ferries to from and throughout Alaska call toll free 1-800-686-0446.
It costs nothing to build a file which would ensure that you are contacted the moment your requested space is available.
Alaska ferry MV Aurora Cancelled Dec 11-13, 2017
The forecasted rough wind and seas in the Gulf of Alaska, has resulted in sailings for MV Aurora being cancelled December 11-13, 2017.
Alaska Marine will continue to monitor the weather and anticipates providing service updates on Monday, December 11th.Alaska’s Southeast Conference is calling for Ticket Price Increases
Chatter re the Alaska Marine Highway System (a ferry system which has suffered from aging vessels and a shortage of operational monies)- is calling for both an increase in the ferry fares and the replacement of
some ferries with smaller, more efficient vessels.
A recommendation that the ferry system be
run by an independent public corporation has once again been forwarded.
The suggestion here being that an independent public corporation would provide greater efficiencies across the board.
In part, the efficiencies would result from the ability of visitors to Alaska to consider and make reservations well in advance of travel because the operating budgets for the ferries would be set farther in advance - much the same as is done by the competitive cruise ship market.
Too, as an independent corporation, the system would likely look at operating in a manner similar to most other ferry companies who currently encourage strong travel industry partnerships to help relieve the otherwise internal costs of promotion and marketing.
BC Ferries Focused on Customer Feedback to Improve Manifest
Listening to customers and adjusting fares to maximize ferry loads, BC Ferries saw the highest
passenger traffic levels that the company has
experienced in over 20 years during the second quarter .
As a way to improve affordability for travellers, BC Ferries provided a range of deeply discounted fares for travel on
off-peak sailings.
This move not only increased ferry traffic, but opened up availability on the popular sailings.BC Ferry Seniors Days
BC Seniors will once again be able to ride BC Ferries free of charge during the week as the NDP makes good on an election promise.
The Ministry of Transportation says it’s planning to claw back the fares by April 2018 for seniors travelling Monday to Thursday.
In keeping an election promise te NDP has committed to reduce rates on the smaller routes by 15 per cent for everyone else.
High Winds Result in Ferry Cancellations
The M/V Fairweather sailing for Thursday 26 October 2017, is canceled due to expected high winds and seas.
A stop in Valdez has been added to the vessel's 27 October 2017 sailing schedule.
The Fairweathers re-scheduled sailings for 27 October 2017 follow:
Depart Cordova, 830am - Arrive Whittier, 1145am
Depart Whittier, 12:15pm - Arrive Valdez, 3:00pm
Depart Valdez at 3:30pm - Arrive Cordova, 6:15pmVehicle Passengers On The Lower Vehicle Decks
As of 12 October 2017, passengers travelling on BC Ferries will no longer be able to remain in their vehicles if located on the lower ferry decks.
Passengers on the upper vehicle decks will be encouraged to move to the passengers lounges but ultimately it will be the passengers decision.
Vehicle passengers with ferry reservations will automatically be loaded on the upper decks and BC Ferries will try, but can not guarantee to accommodate the requests of those vehicle passengers travelling without reservations.
