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Post by gordon on Jun 7, 2009 21:16:21 GMT -8
Did the Ship go straight up the Hecate Straight or did you go through part of the same route As the BCF Inside Passage route route?
I was on the Infinity 2 summers ago, we went straight up the Hecate straight.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 7, 2009 22:10:49 GMT -8
We sailed north from Vancouver up along the east side of Vancouver Island passed Port Hardy out in the Queen Charlotte Sound north in open water till we turned east and along the west side of Gil Island then turned north into Grenville Channel then up to Prince Rupert then out in Dixon Entrance where we left the pilot boat then north to Ketchikan. Southbound we came the same way into Dixon Entrance were we picked up the pilot boat and headed south down Hecate Strait to Milbank Sound where we turned inland and went down past Bella Bella and from there the regular route the inside passage ferry takes south passed Port Hardy and in between Port McNeil and Sointula and Alert Bay then the same way southboun as we went northbound.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Jun 7, 2009 22:33:19 GMT -8
Greetings to Koastal Karl!
Very happy to know you enjoyed your cruise.
Please check your PM Box for a message I sent you related to my tracking and webcam coverage of your trip south through Seymour Narrows and your arrival at Canada Place.
Welcome to Vancouver!
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Post by Balfour on Jun 8, 2009 8:17:57 GMT -8
It sounds like you had a great trip!
I'm looking forward to seeing your photos soon!
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Post by Mike C on Jun 9, 2009 13:21:46 GMT -8
Hey, I didn't get this kind of coverage on my two cruises Nonetheless, awesome pics Karl, I being the loyal RC customer that I am, I'm very impressed with the vessel you rode on and the activities you took part in. My voyage to Alaska on the Serenade of the Seas was quite comparable, and I'm sure much more expensive... I'm glad you had such a great trip, it's definitely a beautiful journey
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Post by Scott on Jun 9, 2009 18:45:09 GMT -8
I have a question about cruising. There are hundreds (thousands?) of passengers on each cruise... do they ever get crowded like Route 1 and 2 on a long weekend? Or are the ships so large that crowds aren't ever a problem? I just hate going on holidays and then standing in lineups;) So I was wondering what others have experienced - looking at Karl's Facebook photographs, it almost looks like he's the only one aboard!
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Post by Mike C on Jun 9, 2009 19:37:04 GMT -8
I have a question about cruising. There are hundreds (thousands?) of passengers on each cruise... do they ever get crowded like Route 1 and 2 on a long weekend? Or are the ships so large that crowds aren't ever a problem? I just hate going on holidays and then standing in lineups;) So I was wondering what others have experienced - looking at Karl's Facebook photographs, it almost looks like he's the only one aboard! I was on a full sailing onboard a 3200 passenger boat, and it wasn't too bad... the only issue I had with crowds was acquiring food. If you have a set dinner reservation every night, that isn't a problem, but at other meals it's a real hassle to get food then find a table, especially at the buffet. To avoid crowds, you should always avoid eating outside peak times. Other areas of the ship that can get crowded are centrum or malls of the ship. I always avoided crowds in the mall on our vessel by going out after about 11:30 pm once everyone has gone to bed. If you want to do any exploring of the ship, you should do it in a port you don't like. That's likely when Karl shot all of his photos of the ship's interior.
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CFG
Deckhand
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
Posts: 64
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Post by CFG on Jun 9, 2009 19:58:38 GMT -8
John H,
Having been on three cruises on 3 different lines and three somewhat different kinds of ships i would like to offer you the following. I really believe that it depends on the layout and capacity of the ship. I have been on the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas to Alaska, The Celebrity Infinity from San Diego to Miami, and The Pacific Princess from Manus Brazil to Fort Lauderdale.
The Vision of the Seas had the highest passenger capacity at 2435 and felt the most crowded but not near enough to compare to busy route 1 and 2 sailings. It is also the second largest of the three that I was on, coming in at 915' and 78491 gross tonnes.
The Celebrity Infinity is by far the nicest physical ship I have been on. Very clean and well laid out to use all the available space well. It is a slightly larger ship than the Vision of the Seas at 965' and 91000 gross tonnes, but it has a smaller passenger capacity of 2046. That combined with what a felt was a better layout made this ship feel very spacious even though it was a full sailing.
The Pacific Princess is what Princess Cruises calls a 'small' ship. This is a totally different experience altogether. Having a passenger capacity of 670 makes it feel like after a few days you know most people on board. It measures 594' and has a gross tonnage of 30277. Keep in mind that yes it is a smaller ship and it doesn't have the physical room for the 6 pools and climbing wall like the others do. It does have ample room for just about anything you would want to do at anytime. I was on board for 2 weeks and never felt crowded or like I needed more space. In fact it was also a full sailing and felt less crowded than the other two.
Your comment about waiting in line is interesting. With all three cruises the only time I have felt that you have to wait in line or simply wait is to disembark and/or board using the tenders. I have found that they simply take a while to load and if you try to get off at peak times (ie as soon as the anchor drops or just before the ship sails) you will possibly have to wait for a tender or two to come and go before it is your turn. The other onboard services are all sized accordingly to allow for minimal if any wait times due to the fact they they anticipate the ship to sail full as much as possible.
Hopefully that maybe answered your question. I would be interested to hear some others thoughts on this as well from their experiences.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 9, 2009 22:36:49 GMT -8
I only found the crowds in the food lineups especially in the Buffet type lineups around breakfast lunch and dinnertime the crowds are crazy. We ended up sitting outside most of the time cause there was no seating in the main areas but if you go later than the rush for breakfast lunch and dinner it's not so bad. We only had to wait for like 15mins in to get into one of the main dining rooms. Some resturants you need reservations and others you dont. Usually after 11:30pm is pretty quiet unless your in like the Casino or Nightclub or anywhere were there are shows going on but the outside decks are nice in evening when there are no crowds.
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Post by gordon on Jun 11, 2009 16:32:16 GMT -8
Upon arrival back at Canada Place were there line ups to collect your luggage & getting a cab?
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Post by Dane on Feb 13, 2012 21:17:01 GMT -8
Well I went on a great cruise last week. A relatively short one, coupled with a trip to Orlando to burn off my leave for the year (we follow fiscal years for time off). I had been on many cruises when I was younger, but it has been a long time. We took Royal Caribbean as I remember them having the best overall service, and the military discount is epic. Trip was to The Bahamas aboard Monarch of the Seas, a smaller (all things being relative) and older vessel going on 21 years of service. Nonetheless she is in beautiful shape with a good crew. Food was decent enough, lots of activities, great fellow passengers, a comfortable room with a window and two fantastic stops. If I could afford it, all my vacations would be cruises. So amazing. Departure celebrations. The clouds are a bit deceiving, it is almost 30 degrees out. My lifeboat! Particularly topical as of late. Coastal-class like view from the forward dining area. Buffet area by day for all, dinner venue by night for steak/sushi at an additional cost. I did not use any of the additional cost items for food. No need, in my opinion. The bar through the centre line of the window does a great job of cutting off some view, unfortunately. From the walkway on Deck 7 - a lovely view and part of the running track. Maintenance never stops. The ship is in amazing condition from the passenger perspective. This vessel and us followed the same itinerary until the last day, when she steamed directly back to Florida and we spent a day at sea. Going very slowly. Monarch of the Seas of the RC's private island. A fantastic tourist trap. A tender boat. Our tender preparing to dock. The tender dock. Additional tenders. There are five or six of them; they used three when we were there which was great, since only two were really required. Line moved extraordinarily quickly. At peak times, we were told, there can be three RC ships here at a given time. Must be a hoppin' place. Another cruise ship at dock in Nassau. More ships, more Nassau. We were the latest ship to leave Nassau, at 12:30am - 1 hour late due to an emergency on Deck 1. At about 9pm we heard "Bravo teams assemble on Deck 1 - this is not a drill." Good times. Apparently a minor gas leak. There was also a plumbing issue for some communal bathrooms on the vessel. Only two minor events of note as a passenger. Our "ferry" (their description, not mine) over to Atlantis resort. The boat has hazardously overloaded, and we payed $5/each. A crew member makes an obnoxious tourist speak on the way over. I would suggest if you go to cab, as a substantial bridge connects the Island to the city. Some commercial ferries in Nassau.
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 23, 2012 12:15:00 GMT -8
Tomorrow my wife & I start our Rhone Rive cruise aboard the Avalon Scenery, pictured below. We will cruise up the Rhone and its major tributary the Saone, starting from Port St. Luis du Rhone and finishing on July 31st at Chalon-sur-Saone. This 'cruise boat' is optimized for European river travel, not drawing a lot of water and not rising too far above the water so as to clear all the fixed bridges along the way. This is 110 metres in length, however. Its design is fairly typical for river cruisers. Note in the background the remains of a bridge pylon & abutment (with lions) destroyed in combat during WW II. Avalon Scenery @ Arles, France - 23 July 2012 [photo © JST-WCK] by Wett Coast, on Flickr [/size]
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Post by Mike C on Jul 23, 2012 16:51:57 GMT -8
WCK, I am quite interested to hear about your experience with river cruising - it seems quite unique, and I have only done the single-day trips.
On Friday, I will be traveling from LA to Ensenada and back on the Carnival Inspiration.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 23, 2012 16:59:08 GMT -8
You gonna pretend your on the Coastal Inspiration? lol!
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 29, 2012 4:40:18 GMT -8
Swiss Pearl river cruiser pivoting 180 degrees for departure from Lyon, France - 29 July 2012 photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size]
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 31, 2012 12:46:41 GMT -8
River Royale cruising down the Saone River below Chalon sur Saone, France - 30 July 2012. The Saone merges with the Rhone River down stream at the city of Lyon. photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Our river cruise is now over. I will add details & more photos when I return home, later in August.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 31, 2012 20:40:54 GMT -8
Yesterday I completed a three day weekend cruise on the Carnival Inspiration. Overall it was not a bad experience, although we have had superior service on both trips with Royal Caribbean - notably the food was mediocre at best. But it was very fun, and it was nice to relax in the Mexican sun for a few days before heading back to the salt mines. I would recommend it as a cost-effective weekend adventure. Carnival Inspiration - Deck 10 by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Funnel by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Deck 11 Stern by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Port side view by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Ensenada, Mexico by MileagePhoto, on Flickr The Verandah rooms on Deck 11 are a must-have... Carnival Inspiration - Verandah Suite, Deck 11 by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Deck 12 by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Deck 11 by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration - Brasserie and Serenity Lounge by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Carnival Inspiration by MileagePhoto, on Flickr I would also like to mention that, if I wasn't before, I am now 110% sold on cruising. It is by far the most easy-going, easy-to-plan, relaxing vacation in existence. With all-included food, excursions, activities and personalized service, it is hard to say no. Also quite cost-effective. Absolutely the best way to travel.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Jul 31, 2012 21:27:36 GMT -8
I'm surprised at the number of young people on this forum- and elsewhere- who have a very positive reaction to the cruising experience. Obviously the cruise lines are doing a good job at diversifying from what used to be known as a 'greybeard' mode of travel.
I'm enjoying everyone's posted trip accounts and photos.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 14, 2012 16:39:10 GMT -8
Like I have said before cruising is awesome and the one of my fav types of vacatins to take is cruising! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 23, 2012 21:52:08 GMT -8
This really was not a cruise but I was able to visit the Celebrity Infinity tonight while she was in Victoria. Me and my g/f and a friend went onboard for two hours for a visit and we also had dinner onboard which was awesome. We had little tags we had to wear and we were onboard as guests. It was really cool. A friend of my moms who's daughter used to work on the Infinity knows the documentation officer which is the person who was on our cruise and gave us all that special treatment and upgrades so we were able to get on tonight which was awesome. We got to meet him finally had he took us to one of the specialty cafes for dinner which was really good. It was really neat to see the Infinity all solstalized. Anyways we were onboard for about 2 hours and now I really want to go cruising again! I love cruising. It felt like we were cruising away from everything for 2 hours tonight it was great.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 28, 2012 15:04:22 GMT -8
I now have a chance to post some more photos from the Rhone River (France) cruise my wife & I took back in July. To begin with I have four photos of the boat I was on & other river cruisers that we encountered along the way. Note that I did post a few photos earlier in this thread from when we were actually on the cruise. A-Rosa Stella - on Rhone just upstream from Port Sain-Louis du Rhone, France - 24 July 2012. She was coming down stream while we were having our first night's dinner heading north (up stream). photo© WCK/JST [BB 9800] by Wett Coast, on Flickr [/size] Van Gogh @ Arles, France - 25 July 2012. Named for the famed Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh who spent a fair bit of time in the south of France more than a century ago: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh photo © JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Avalon Scenery (our boat) @ Avignon, France, @ dusk - 25 July 2012. Yes, we saw the bridge from the song "Sur la ponte d'Avignon", and the Pope's Palace, among other things. photo © WCK-JST] by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Swiss Pearl about to enter lock on Saone River below Chalon, France - 30 July 2012. Several of the river cruisers that we passed were Swiss registered. Our cruise finished the next morning. photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size]
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 28, 2012 15:31:32 GMT -8
[/size] [/quote] haha, nice lips. I can only imagine Mr. DOT's reaction to seeing the photo of such a bow livery. ;D
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 28, 2012 16:06:29 GMT -8
Perhaps the BC Ferries will look like this by next summer?
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 28, 2012 21:45:12 GMT -8
Here are four more photos all taken in the south of France at Arles on 23 July 2012, the day before our actual cruise trip began. On any given day during the cruise season Arles will see four or more boats in town during the day. River cruisers, inc. the River Royale, Viking Neptune & Avalon Scenery, rafted up on the shore of the Rhone River photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr [/size] River Royale departing Arles en route up river toward Avignon photo © WCK-JST] by Wett Coast, on Flickr [/size] Viking Neptune departing Arles en route up river for Avignon photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Avalon Scenery heading the other way (down river) toward Port St. Louis du Rhone at the river's mouth photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size]
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 29, 2012 19:41:16 GMT -8
Continuing with my trip up the Rhone... We left the mouth of the river (Port St. Louis du Rhone) in the early evening of July 24th, heading up river for our first stop at Arles. (My wife & I had already spent the previous four days in & around Arles.) We had our embarkation dinner while underway that first night. We arrived in Arles around about midnight and spent most of the 25th there. In the late afternoon we were underway again heading upriver to Avignon, arriving there at about 9:00 PM. The seven photos presented here are from the 24th & 25th, from before our journey began though to the second evening. Van Gogh ( (CroisiEurope - The French Cruise Company) on the right bank of the Rhone @ Arles, France - 24 July 2012 photo© WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr [/size] Commercial traffic on the Rhone River @ Arles, France - 24 July 2012. There is a lot of freight with many types of vessels moving along this river. photo © WCK/JST] by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Morning @ Arles with river cruisers rafted up, including the A-Rosa Luna, A-Rosa Stella & Avalon Scenery (our boat) - 25 July 2012 photo © WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Twi-light view of the A-Rosa Luna - berthed on the river bank at Avignon, France - 25 July 2012 photo © WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] The river cruiser Mistral (CroisiEurope) passing our boat on the Rhone @ Avignon, France - 25 July 2012. Note our ship's polished bell in the right centre of photo. photo © WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Our captain using starboard controls to bring the Avalon Scenery alongside in Avignon, France - 25 July 2012 photo © WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Twi-light @ Avignon, France, with the river cruisers Rembrandt & Provence rafted up on Rhone River bank - 25 July 2012 photo © WCK/JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size] Days 3 & 4 tomorrow ...
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