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ESTA... Who Needs It

Answers to the ESTA Question

WHO NEEDS  ESTA*
All travellers visiting the US under the Visa Waver Program need an ESTA authorization BEFORE starting their trip.

WHO DOES NOT NEED ESTA
Citizens of the following countries do NOT need ESTA authorization to enter the US:
the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea
* ESTA stands for  Electronic System for Travel Authoization, & is an electronic system which checks the eligibility of visitors wishing to travel to the US.

BC Ferry Mainland Service Resumes

Full Summer Ferry Service To Resume between Tsawwassen & Swartz Bay

The Coastal Celebration, the large ferry pulled from service to complete minor repairs 2 weeks ago, has a return-to-service date of Friday 29 July to continue serving Mainland - Vancouver Island travellers.

The ferry is one of the largest in the BC Ferry fleet & the unexpected need for repairs caused extended wait times and short tempers as would be passengers waited for passage at the Vancouver & Victoria terminals.

The Coastal Celebration operates 8 daily sailings & is able to carry up to 310 vehicles & 1,604 passengers including  crew.

Difference Between A Ferry & A Cruise Ship

Taking a Ferry vs Taking a Cruise
A ferry is a basic form of sea transportation & does not provide the amenities offered by a cruise ship. Ferries carry passengers and/or vehicles & cargo, from one port to another, have limited and very basic cabin space and usually only a single cafeteria.     Ferries should be thought of as sea buses .... designed to travel between port A & port B, (or on longer routes) stopping at each port for only a short time & simply to pick-up and drop-off passengers before proceeding to the next port. 
Cruise ships however are designed as resorts on the sea .... stopping in various harbours for extended periods so their passengers can disembark to explore the port.  Cruise ships typically have amenities like pools, spas, entertainment, multiple restaurants, hotel style cabins and they provide services geared to ensuring their passengers have access to most of the amenities that would be enjoyed if staying at an onshore resort.
Cruise ships often carry hundreds & some vessels even thousands of passengers, while the larger ferries typically accommodate only a few hundred passengers. 
Surprisingly, on longer trips, a cruise ship ticket which is typically all inclusive, can often be less expensive than a ferry ticket as the ferries charge for each component ( food, cabins, drinks, luggage storage, pet etc) and are not designed to be anything other than a basic mode of transportation.

Mechanical Difficulties Plague BC Skidegate Ferry

BC Ferries MV Northern Adventure Delayed

 The Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii  (Skidegte) ferry scheduled to depart mid morning on 05 July, was delayed after suffering a pump malfunction. 
 The delay was soon fixed.
 
 Call BC Ferries at 1 250-381-1401 for updated information

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