Fav Ferry

[peter84]

What is your fav ferry/ferry run? as well as the one you want to get on most before it retires?
lets see what everyone thinks

[Balfour]

Tenaka, Never been on that route or on that ferry before.
I've always liked her design too.

[peter84]

same here Ive always wanted to go on that one since i was like 5

[Canucks]

My favourite ferries would be:

1. Queen of Chilliwack for her uniqueness. (No, I'm not joking, I actually like her )
2. Queen of Vancouver for a classic V.
3. Queen of Coquitlam because I have ridden her the most.

My favourite ferry routes:

1. Earls Cove - Saltery Bay because it has some amazing untouched west coast scenery.
2. Gulf Island Routes because you get to see scenery, other ferries and small island communities.
3. Discovery Passage, I have never been on it but judging by pictures it looks like Jervis Inlet only more spectacular.

Based on my choices I would have to say that I would like to ride the Queen of Chilliwack on Earls Cove - Saltery Bay before she retires.

[peter84]

ya ive never been on that route the earls cove , wish i had got to go on the tsawwessen though

[DENelson83]

My favourite ferry was the Queen of Oak Bay before the Super C's came along. Now my favourite ferry is the Coastal Renaissance.

My favourite ferry route is the one I've been on the most—Departure Bay ↔ Horseshoe Bay.

[Deleted]

My favourite ferries are the Queen of Oak Bay, Tenaka and of course the Queen of Prince Rupert. I like the Queen of Oak Bay for her size and the way she is designed with her passenger cabins coming all the way to the front. I just wish that the Queen of Cowichan and Coquitlam were designed the same. The Tenaka is a favourite of mine because of her unique design and for the fact that you can sit in a cabin similar to the Nimkish if you wish or sit in the upper one and get a great view of the crossing you are on. I remember seeing her for the first time in the Gulf Islands when I was a kid at the Village Bay terminal and I wanted to ride her right then. Since that time I have been on her three times between Quadra Island and Cortes Island. Last but not least I have always liked the Queen of Prince Rupert mainly for the fact that when you ride her you can sit up, eat your dinner and look straight out and enjoy the scenery. She was the first ferry that started the Inside Passage route and I like her design with the funnels located on each side of her. She is has a short, smart looking design that suits her well for the north coast routes.

My favourite routes are Earls Cove - Saltery Bay just for the sheer beauty of the route. You get to see unspoiled wilderness with waterfalls dropping down cliffs and mountains that go right into the water. It's the best route to ride a BC Ferry on in my opinion. My next choice for a favourite route would be the Discovery Coast it's a nice leisurely route with ever changing scenery and areas to visit. Plus you can get some rough weather crossing Milbanke Sound and Queen Charlotte. One other good route that I enjoy traveling on is Port McNeil, Sointula and Alert Bay it's a relaxing route to take anytime of the year with diverse scenery for taking lots of photos.

My least favourite ferries are the Coastal Class, I can't stand the design, the passenger facilities are poorly laid out (not everyone wants to eat food just to see where they are going) and when deck 5 is not in use the ferry is crammed with people, my next choice in least favourite ferries is the Queen of Alberni mainly for her ugly appearance and short passenger cabin and lastly the Queen of Cumberland she is slow and has horrible plastic chairs to sit on which are extremely uncomfortable. My least favourite routes are Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay there's way too many people that ride this route making it unpleasant to ride and Vancouver Island to Denman Island not much to see on this short route.

If I had a choice to ride one ferry before she is retired it would be the Queen of Prince Rupert on the north coast route.

[Kahloke]

MY FAVOURITE FERRIES:

1. MV Coho. I love this old boat. She was the design that started it all for BC Ferries. She's not much on the inside but she's got character, and she's got great outdoor deck areas. You can walk all the way up to the bow, and the stern, unlike her BCF sisters.

2. The B-class vessels, Burnaby & Nanaimo. Lengthened, but not lifted, I think they look better than their V-Class counterparts (although I don't really mind those, either).

3. The Coastals: yeah, ok, they're new and shiny, and are getting lots of attention now, but the design is a vast improvement over the Spooks - lots of deck space, lots of viewing areas, and overall, a smart layout.

4. MV Walla Walla: the original Jumbo Class vessels. This Spaulding design spawned the C-Class vessels for BCF. I've always like the Walla Walla. As the flagship for WSF for many years, she's always had a sleek look to her, and I love the deep sound of her horn. She's even better these days since her MLU.

MY FAVOURITE FERRY ROUTES:

1. Route 1: It doesn't get much better than wending through the scenic Southern Gulf Islands, and passing another V through Active Pass.

2. Route 7: I've only been on this route once, but I echo other comments made here about the raw, unspoiled beauty of that coast.

3. Black Ball (Port Angeles-Victoria): Entering and leaving Victoria's Inner Harbour on the Coho is an experience everyone should have at least once. chugging out among the myriad of floatplanes and water taxis, and just taking in the old world charm that is Victoria, is truly spectacular. Leaving Victoria at dusk on a clear day, and watching the sun set on the Empress Hotel (as I experienced last weekend), is even better.

4. Anacortes-San Juan Islands: much like the Gulf Islands, this is a truly scenic route, with many oppourtunities for ferry watching - there are usually 4 to 5 operating in the islands.


I think I would like to ride the Queen of Chilliwack just once. I've never been on her before, and her quirkiness could be an interesting experience. I think it would also be fun to ride the Queen of Prince Rupert, although I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that one.

[kerryssi]

My favorite was the old Pender Queen. The hull design was so sweet it would slide through the water with hardly a ripple. I liked the wood deck and the wheelhouse with its 6'6" mahogany and brass wheel. There were no hydraulics, just a huge chain that came up through the floor and over a big brass cog attached to the wheel. There was a brass speaking tube down to the engine. You did not steer by going 20 degrees port, you went two links port. The pace was rather leisurely and when you went hard over (three links) you had time to go get a cup of coffee before it would get even half way through the turn. Needless to say every action was planned well in advance.
For my money I think rte 9 through the Gulf Islands is the best value due to the scenery.

[Douglas]

Today Sunday 14 is the last day the Tsawwassen sees route 7 she is supposed to releive the Burnaby as the Burnaby needs some more duct tape and bailing wire on the hull.

The " Floating Brick" aka Chilliwack is back in service on monday.

[Deleted]

my fav is the newest because her heavy dutyness.
2. the sovi
3.QPR

[beery]

1) Queen of Tsawwassen - Amazing Outter Decks, maybe the best in the fleet...The ship of my childhood.

2) Queen of Nanaimo - My most travelled...I loved the old upper-rear lounge with the yellow clay scenic portrait depicting a maritime scene. Amazing Airchime Horn and usually deserted perfect for a long lonely approach.

3) Mayne Queen - Once again, amazing outter decks, great horn, far too big for its own good...The Wedding Cake ferry!

4) I always loved the QofVan for its incredible horn...Vivid images and memories of a childhood fishing in Active Pass...btw...why do all those old Spaulding Ships having differing horns?

Least Favourite

1) Queen of Cumberland - silly seats, sterile passenger deck, slow...really a big Mayne Queen.

Favourite Route

1) Tsawwassen --> Gulf Island - It’s long, especially if you're going to Pender or Salt Spring...It’s beautiful with the sunset over Georgia Strait, traversing Active Pass and letting life go as you approach your destination potentially stopping for a late night or early morning investigation of any three ports of call.

2) Route --> 1 - For similar reasons, the Spirits are alright but usually crowded.

3) Horseshoe Bay --> Departure Bay - I like the wide open water and the distant ever fading memory of a city slowly slipping into the horizon...Also, who doesn’t like Howe Sound.

* I obviously haven’t been on every route or every vessel, but opinions are what this is all about, whatever they may be lol.

[Northern Exploration]

I will restrict my favourites to ferries in use otherwise you would know right away which one would be at the top for me.

My favourite ferries would be the orgininal non-lifted Spauldings. Tswwassen would be included and the stretched ferries as well. So after the Tswwassen retires it will be the Nanny and Burnaby.

And I agree that the Coho is a pretty special little ferry. Very barebones and don't go hungry but the rocking and rolling mid-strait and like has been said being able to ride up and down the swells right in the bow always is fun.

I also like the Spooks. Although they can get crowded I usually spend my time outside and not to many people are as insane as me in the non-sunny weather.

Since I haven't been on the Coastals I won't comment but will be very surprized if they aren't on the list once I have made the trip.

My favourite route is of course the Inside Passage. I love seeing all the shipping traffic, the wildlife and the chance to really settle into a slower routine. Jervis Inlet is in there too.

On the southern routes, transiting Active Pass is always a highlight for me and I never grow tired of it.