That's Pretty Rude
BC Ferries Gives Pre Paid Reservation Ticket To Wrong Passenger Mistakes happen, but when they involve transportation tickets, a mistake can be not only costly, but serious on a number of levels.
Tragic Wildfire Decimates 30% of Jasper
Jasper Alberta Remains Closed As of August 25 2024, Jasper National Park and the township of Jasper remain closed to all but residents and business owners as the popular area tries to recover from the devastating lightning fire that began around 7:00 PM
BC Ferries Passenger Reports Troubled Humpback Whale
Fisheries Rescue Humpback: A BC Ferries passenger called Fisheries & Oceans this week to report a Humpback whale caught up in fishing gear. Trailing more than 50 meters of line, the whale was eventually spotted off Texada Island and fisheries began th
Catching A Ferry To Alaska With an RV or Passenger Truck & Trailer ?
Planning a trip to Alaska with what is classified as an “oversized” vehicle can lead to frustration and even a headache. But guess what ?- that doesn’t need to be ! If using ferrytravel.com you wont even need to take an Aspirin !
Winter Sailing Schedule for Alaska Ferries
The ferry schedules for October 2024 through and inclusive of April 2025 are expected to be released & posted on ferrytravel.com in the next 2 weeks. Given that all vehicle & cabin space on the sailings both North (from Bellingham WA ) & South ( from H
And The Transportation Winners Are ...... Ferries !
Take Ferry to France for the 2024 Olympics. Once every 4 years, athletes from around the globe travel to compete in the Olympic Games: and this year "The Games" will take place in France. Commencing on July 26 & running through August 11th when the
Ferry Travel is The Best Way to See The Inside Passage
Where Do You Want To Go ? If planning ferry travel in the USA, or perhaps between Canada & the USA; or England & France or in Ireland, Greece & Italy, or even if planning to use one of the ferries between Denmark & Sweden, you only need to
Introducing European, British & African Ferry Ticketing
Like the best stocked candy shop or an ice cream store with every possible flavour, we’ve made the FerryTravel.com site a place where you can find & make reservations on just about any ferry system & route in Britain & Europe. We are well stocked !
It's A Bargain: The Ferry from Seattle to Victoria + a hotel night For Under $600 !
The ferry-hotel specials include both the ferry from Seattle to Victoria plus one nights’ accommodation in a downtown Victoria hotel - all for under $600.00*. The ferry travels though the Salish Sea which is home to seals, sea birds and 3 pods of Or
Easy Peasy Ferry Planning & Booking
The booking widget on www.ferrytravel.com is designed to ask all the questions required to provide an accurate ferry trip cost. And by using the widget, one can see the cost both BEFORE making a reservation and BEFORE sharing personal information like nam
Alaska Ferry Travelers Need To Be Flexible
A Month of Changes for Alaska Marine Ferry Travellers As one ferry after another in the Alaska Marine fleet experiences mechanical issues and is pulled from service, the impact on state visitors, seasonal workers, tour operators, accommodation owners and
BC Ferries Lead The Way For Coastal Ferry Operators
Forward Thinking Ferry Operators Ordering Electric - Hybred Ferries
BC Ferries received 6 Island Class Hybrid ferries in 2023 & have now ordered an additional 4 to compliment their fleet. The anticipated starting date for the newest ships will be 2027.
Currently the Island class ferries which arrived in 2023 serve the following routes: Cambell River - Quadra Island; Nanaimo - Gabriola; Powell River - Texada and Port McNeill - Alert Bay - Sontula
The new vessels enabled BC Ferries to not only increase daily sailings on some routes, but more importantly, the vessels can be switched around so if one unexpectedly goes into dry-dock another is quickly and efficiently able move in to ensure the scheduled sailings are not interrupted, and passenger service is not negatively impacted.
The Island class vessels are double ended; are able to transport approximately 47 vehicles; have dedicated bicycle accommodation and provide 390 - 450 passengers with both indoor and outdoor lounging areas & bathrooms facilities.
Planning is already underway by BC Ferries to replace the major route Spirit vessels currently serving Vancouver - Victoria , Vancouver - Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver with Hybrid - electric ships by the start of 2029.
The mainland vessels under discussion are anticipated to be comparable in size to the current Spirit ferries and the BC Ferry Board is expected to make a decision this summer on the mainland ferry replacement proposals.
The anticipated saving, both in terms of negative environment impact and operational costs is expected to be significant.
The Maine Department of Transport in the USA is for example using a hybrid- electric vessel on the 20 minute Lincolnville - Isleboro route & they anticipate yearly fuel costs will be cut by some 100,000 gallons.
BC Ferries say the newest ferries are all about trying to ensure the best possible service coupled with the most positive economic and environmental outcomes.
Reservations for Ferries & Barges Made Easy
The FerryTraveller Site is Focused On Ferry & Barge Tansportation
www.ferrytravel.com is not about where to stay, what to do, or the tours available in ones destination of choice.
For the most helpful information on that area of travel planning, ones local AAA or BCAA office is better informed, and can be the most insightful.
This site, "The FerryTraveller" was created to help anyone planning to use the ferries operating in Alaska, Washington and in Northern BC to quickly, easily and securely get the transportation information that will get them them into, out of and around Alaska, BC & Washington State, by sea.
While the site provides details on each port stop, that information is included mainly to help 1st time travellers taking a ferry or using a barge, decide which ports may be of interest.
The very best information on the tours, accommodations and things to see throughout Alaska can be found in a detailed book called "The Milepost."
The book covers Alaska ...mile by mile.. gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, shops, galleries .. in short, everything mile by mile, that a visitor to the State might want to know. It's popularity as a worthwhile "travelling companion" is absolutely justified.
Ferry Reservation Changes To & From Bellingham
Mechanical Repairs Force Massive Alaska Ferry Sailing Changes This Summer
Mechanical issues forced the sudden removal of Alaskas largest ferry for what is expected to be the balance of the 2024 high season. Replacing the MV Columbia will be the smaller and less well appointed MV Kennicott.
The Kennicott will travel the Inside passage between Bellingham & Skagway maintaining the regular stops at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway before turning around to work her way back to Bellingham.
Because the Kennicott is however a smaller ship, numerous passengers holding previously made reservations on the Columbia were, or are in the process of being offered different accommodations and in some cases, depending on when their reservations were originally made, alternate sailing dates.
The Alaska Marine ferry system has continued to suffer unexpected ship & schedule changes as they work to keep an aging fleet in top condition. And the issue of ferry maintenance is not restricted to Alaska.
Both BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries have experienced the same challenging aging fleet issues.
For those people either departing from or headed to Alaska for work, or to report for duty at any of the Alaska military bases, an alternate to ferry travel or to driving through Canada, is to make use of the weekly barges between Alaska & Seattle.
nformation or reservations on barges can be done either through www.ferrytravel.com, emailing info@ferrytravel.com, or calling 1-800-686-0446.
It is important when discussing barge transportation to first know the length, height and width of the vehicle being transported as the dimensions & destination dictate the tariff.
BC Ferries Schedules 20 Vessels for refit in 2024
BC Ferries Is Proactive in Maintaining Their Fleet
In making every effort to ensure BC Ferries passengers not suffer from sailing cancellations caused by unexpected ship breakdowns, the company has set out a schedule for the refit of 20 vessels during the next year.
Delivering a positive passenger experience is a priority of the BC ferry company.
With the recently signed contract to add 4 new hybrid-electric vessels to the fleet & a scheduled refit program for the current ships, BC Ferries is looking forward to less interruption and generally smoother sailing in the upcoming years.
Alaska Marine Reschedules Bellingham - Alaska ferry schedules
Trouble Continues for the Alaska Ferry System
An aging fleet coupled with a shortage of crew, has seen the Alaska ferry service continue to offer diminishing service & higher fares.
The most recent news for the beleaguered Alaska Marine system is that the MV Columbia, the largest ferry in the Alaska fleet, has again been pulled from service due to mechanical issues.
The MV Columbia historically plies the Inside Passage waters heading north from Bellingham to Skagway and south from Skagway to Bellingham.
Travelling north, the Bellingham ferry makes weekly stops year-round at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau & Haines before reversing to head back from Skagway to Bellingham.
The MV Kennicott is being readied to replace the MV Columbia - but hundreds of not only holiday travellers & seasonal workers, but military personnel trying to PCS to & from one of the 5 military bases in Alaska, will now be inconvenienced as schedules are changed mid-season and staff try to rebook the already booked Columbia passengers, onto the smaller MV Kennicott.
A shortage of crew has seen the Alaska Marine ferry system cancel routes both across the Gulf (Bellingham to Whittier) and between Prince Rupert & Ketchikan for the whole of 2024.
The result of those cancellations means that to get a vehicle into Alaska travelling through Canada is unavoidable - unless sending a vehicle/s from Seattle by barge & then flying to the desired destination.
(When ferry service from Washington returns, passengers disembarking in Haines Alaska and driving to central Alaska, Denali etc on the ALCan Hwy will dip into Canada for a short time before returning to Alaska).
This means that not only are passports necessary for anyone over 18 yrs, but no one with a DUI, felony or carrying any type of prohibited weapons, can pass through Canada.
The bright side of this dark cloud is that those moving to, or from Alaska, can make use of a weekly vehicle barge between Seattle and Alaska.
Barges provided transportation to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines & Skagway as well as to Whittier, Anchorage & Fairbanks
Alaskabarge.com Bargealaska.com FerryTravel.com
Heavy Winds Cause BC Ferry Cancellations
Vancouver - Victoria Ferry Cancellations
In anticipation of heavy 70-90km winds BC Ferries has once again been forced cancel sailings between Vancouvers Tsawwassen terminal and Victorias' Swartz Bay Terminal.
For Monday March 11, 2024 the following sailings have been cancelled:
- from Tsawwassen, the 12:00pm & 4:00pm sailings
- from Swartz Bay, the 2:00pm & 6:00pm sailings