FNS
Voyager 
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
|
Post by FNS on May 16, 2013 11:03:52 GMT -8
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 2, 2013 19:00:56 GMT -8
Are you still not allowed to stay overnight on the Nor Ex if you are doing a roundtrip to Prince Rupert or Port Hardy??? I would love to get on the Nor Ex again and I would love to go this summer but it is a pain in the butt having to get off and get a hotel for like hours is a waste of money. Plus the closest hotel is a dump go figure, lol. Would make it a whole lot easier if you could arrange to stay onboard in a cabin. I dont see the difference if your in port or sailing, lol! I wonder what the reason for this is?
|
|
Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080 
|
Post by Nick on Jun 2, 2013 19:37:05 GMT -8
Are you still not allowed to stay overnight on the Nor Ex if you are doing a roundtrip to Prince Rupert or Port Hardy??? I would love to get on the Nor Ex again and I would love to go this summer but it is a pain in the butt having to get off and get a hotel for like hours is a waste of money. Plus the closest hotel is a dump go figure, lol. Would make it a whole lot easier if you could arrange to stay onboard in a cabin. I dont see the difference if your in port or sailing, lol! I wonder what the reason for this is? From what I understand the problem is that some of the crew go home for a few hours while the ship is in PR. The crew is then below the manning level required by TC and unable to have passengers on board. |
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Sept 27, 2013 20:52:51 GMT -8
BCFS has again switched around the NorEx & NorAd for the tail end of the North Coast summer service, just as was done a year ago. Tonight the NorEx is doing the route 10 'milk run', while the NorAd is just completing a north bound Inside Passage 'Day Cruise'. The summer 'Day Cruise' service ends on Monday, September 30th. www.bcferries.com/schedules/inside/ip-current.php |
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2014 22:58:34 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 18, 2014 23:15:19 GMT -8
Nice vantage point for this. Where is this taken from? Somewhere off the Bear Cove road, but further away than from the boat-launch area, I'm assuming. |
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Jan 19, 2014 10:11:10 GMT -8
Nice vantage point for this. Where is this taken from? Somewhere off the Bear Cove road, but further away than from the boat-launch area, I'm assuming. It was taken from a empty lot in the housing subdivision called Goletas Views, which is down the road from the ferry terminal. |
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on Jan 19, 2014 14:45:49 GMT -8
To avoid repetition, I'll be posting only some of my photos. To view the rest, you can go to my Flickr page: www.flickr.com/coastalnavigatorThe Northern Expedition as she arrived in Port Hardy. Taken from the breakwater adjacent to Bear Cove Terminal.  MV Northern Expedition - Bear Cove, Port Hardy by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr In-berth at Mcloughlin Bay terminal in Bella Bella.  MV Northern Expedition - Mcloughlin Bay, Bella Bella by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Southbound in Grenville Channel. We were blessed with water like glass, incredible scenery, and wonderful lighting.  MV Northern Expedition - Grenville Channel, Inside Passage by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  MV Northern Expedition - Grenville Channel, Inside Passage by MileagePhoto, on Flickr Some various interior photos while we in berth at the ports along the way.  Canoe Cafe - MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  Deck 4 Starboard Lounge - MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  Forward Staircase - MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr  Raven Lounge - MV Northern Expedition by MileagePhoto, on Flickr In berth at Bear Cove, Port Hardy.  MV Northern Expedition - Bear Cove, Port Hardy by MileagePhoto, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jan 20, 2014 14:36:44 GMT -8
A bunch of photos of the Northern Expedition taken during our four-day "Northern Extravaganza" trip a few members did last week.
A HUGE thank you to the crew for their outstanding hospitality for our four days aboard, as always.
January 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2014The following images posted by this account are copyright © S.A. ~ Unauthorized use is prohibited.
 BC Ferries - Northern Expedition approaching Bear Cove. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Deck 6 Seating, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Northern Expedition at McLoughlin Bay. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Solarium Seating, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Funnel, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Deck 8, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Deck 8, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Airchime Whistles, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Solarium Seating, Northern Expedition. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Canoe Café, BC Ferries. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Northern Expedition in Grenville Channel. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Northern Expedition at Wedge Rock. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Northern Expedition at Wedge Rock. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Northern Expedition at Bear Cove. by BCFS, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Jan 21, 2014 21:02:44 GMT -8
Here are my Highlights of the Northern Expedition. Many more can be viewed on my Flickr. A Very Special Thanks to all Crew Aboard the Northern Expedition!Warning: Photo Heavy!
All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.Approaching Bear Cove.  Northern Expedition Approaching Bear Cove. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr In Dock.  Northern Expedition Docked at Bear Cove. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Life Boat.  #2 Rescue Boat, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Flex Lounge.  Deck 5, Starboard Flex Lounge, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Stairwell.  Deck 4, Aft Stairwell and Elevator (Seal), Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Gift Shop.  Deck 4, Passages Gift Shop, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Canoe Cafe.  Deck 4, Canoe Cafe Serving Area, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr In McLoughlin Bay. (I wonder who that guy on Deck 5 is?  )  Northern Expedition Docked at McLoughlin Bay. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr In Fairview.  Northern Expedition Docked at Fairview. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Up Top.  Deck 8, Funnel, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr  Life Ring, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr The Funnel underneath a Starry Night.  Funnel, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr and in the Moonlight.  Funnel, Northern Expedition. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr Back in Bear Cove.  Disembarking the Northern Expedition at Bear Cove. by CS16 Photography, on Flickr That's all for Now. |
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Mar 20, 2014 20:08:43 GMT -8
Copied from the Silja Festival thread ...As for the discussion of bow doors, only very few ferries without these clamshell-doors have been built since the Estonia in 1994. Visors are way too dangerous for anything but confined waters. Still, there are lots of old vessels with visors. This discussion re visors vs clamshell-doors brings up a very interesting question; why was the relatively new NorEx fitted with a visor? This ship sails routinely in Hecate Strait & Queen Charlotte Sound where conditions can get pretty nasty. Did BC Ferries (and/or FSG) make a mistake choosing to build the NorEx with a visor?
|
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Mar 21, 2014 11:13:51 GMT -8
Copied from the Silja Festival thread ...As for the discussion of bow doors, only very few ferries without these clamshell-doors have been built since the Estonia in 1994. Visors are way too dangerous for anything but confined waters. Still, there are lots of old vessels with visors. This discussion re visors vs clamshell-doors brings up a very interesting question; why was the relatively new NorEx fitted with a visor? This ship sails routinely in Hecate Strait & Queen Charlotte Sound where conditions can get pretty nasty. Did BC Ferries (and/or FSG) make a mistake choosing to build the NorEx with a visor? Speaking of 'clamshells' and 'visors', I posted a QPR 'visor' tale on the old QPR thread. True story...honest  |
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Mar 29, 2014 10:43:33 GMT -8
Up close and personal  |
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Mar 29, 2014 14:28:40 GMT -8
Looks like 'Miss Nor-Ex' has got one big "Happy Face" on, if ya'll get my drift. Great shot Ferryman!. |
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Apr 27, 2014 15:40:49 GMT -8
A few weeks back, I posted my longest walkthrough to date, the Coastal Celebration. Today, I pass yet another new record for my Walkthroughs: A 20 Minute Long Walkthrough. An 'Extravaganza' if you will. Now that I've covered the Northern Expedition yet again. You can bet the Kwuna isn't far off. |
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 30, 2014 7:06:38 GMT -8
Here are a couple of views of the Northern Expedition at her Fairview berth (Prince Rupert) just prior to departure for Port Hardy. This was on Thursday morning, July 24th. These were shot from the Taku (AMHS) which was just underway & heading north to Ketchikan. It appeared that the NorEx's car deck was about one third full, and this is in high summer. More cuts are coming.  
Both photos © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 30, 2014 7:41:52 GMT -8
It appeared that the NorEx's car deck was about one third full, and this is in high summer. More cuts are coming. Inside passage fare for a regular sized vehicle, plus 2 people: - $846.75 one-way. day-cabin - extra charge forward view lounge - extra charge --------------- Yes, there is a strong correlation between price-point and user demand. It's not like the Inside Passage is a new thing, with little tourism awareness. BC Ferries has done this route since the late 1960s, and it has international fame. The BC Ferries corporate structure (the separation of ferry service from tourism generators and from economic impact beneficiaries) has resulted in this route being priced out of reach for the historical and potential users. A sad thing. |
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Jul 30, 2014 9:55:01 GMT -8
Inside passage fare for a regular sized vehicle, plus 2 people: - $846.75 one-way. day-cabin - extra charge forward view lounge - extra charge --------------- Yes, there is a strong correlation between price-point and user demand. It's not like the Inside Passage is a new thing, with little tourism awareness. BC Ferries has done this route since the late 1960s, and it has international fame. The BC Ferries corporate structure (the separation of ferry service from tourism generators and from economic impact beneficiaries) has resulted in this route being priced out of reach for the historical and potential users. A sad thing. compare that with the new Nova Star ferry on the east coast: fare for regular sized vehicle plus 2 people = $493.00 one way reserved recliner seat = $49.00 reserved cabins range from $99.00 (inside, no view) up to @249.00 (owner's suite) Nova Star also includes more amenities: 6 restaurants/bars, a casino, a gym, a spa, and a theatre Granted, Nova Star's crossing between Yarmouth, NS and Portland, ME is only 10 hours, not the 16 hours the Inside Passage Route takes, but still, Nova Star's rates look pretty reasonable even after factoring in everything else. |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 30, 2014 10:10:16 GMT -8
compare that with the new Nova Star ferry on the east coast: fare for regular sized vehicle plus 2 people = $493.00 one way reserved recliner seat = $49.00 reserved cabins range from $99.00 (inside, no view) up to @249.00 (owner's suite) Nova Star also includes more amenities: 6 restaurants/bars, a casino, a gym, a spa, and a theatre Granted, Nova Star's crossing between Yarmouth, NS and Portland, ME is only 10 hours, not the 16 hours the Inside Passage Route takes, but still, Nova Star's rates look pretty reasonable even after factoring in everything else. BC Ferries' Haida Gwaii route is 7-9 hours, depending if it is daytime or overnight. Fare for regular sized vehicle, plus 2 adults is: $252.75 - cheapest overnight cabin (inside) is $75. But there is no drive-around option for a return trip. So if you go one-way, you will have to return. So the return fare is $505.50. --------------------- |
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 30, 2014 12:28:02 GMT -8
It's way too expensive! Who can afford it? I can get a Alaska cruise for cheaper than that! It's rediculas! No wonder they are losing people!
|
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Jul 31, 2014 11:35:51 GMT -8
It's way too expensive! Who can afford it? I can get a Alaska cruise for cheaper than that! It's rediculas! No wonder they are losing people! To add insult to injury, one must factor in the $70.00 car and driver cost of getting onto Vancouver Island for the trek to Port Hardy. I agree with members who have commented on the current sad state of the management of this coastal run and my thoughts posted previously, are well known as well. We are in the height of the Summer season, the Northern Expedition and the Northern Adventure 'should' be operating at near full capacity!! There was a time, during the Summer season, that unless you had made a reservation for the Inside Passage trip, passage was not guaranteed. Unless the current management philosophy of 'raise the prices because traffic volumes are down' are reversed within the next two or three years, I fear that we may well witness the demise of the Northern routes completely!  Our Inside Passage is a world-class treasure, which is being shamefully wasted. What a tragedy! Apparently the mathematical wizards that masquerade as the current management group, would rather have less 'pie' each year than having more 'pie' and more revenue as they cannot understand that lowering the Fares would quite quickly increase Traffic Volumes which translates into increased REVENUE. Duh! People, it isn't rocket science. There are more than one successful economic models upon which one does business, but our high-priced wizards must have missed those sections of Economics 101. Last week-end I picked up a copy of the Summer 2014 edition of BC Ferries 'on Board' magazine, subtitle: Exploring Coastal B.C. and a copy of 'Northern Adventures'. from the BC Ferries Vacations Store near the new Convention Centre. Both publications did not extoll the virtues of the Northern Vessels other than a bare bones thumbnail sketch of the ships. Not much of an attempt at profiling the amenities of either vessel.
|
|
|
|
Post by mariner42 on Jul 31, 2014 20:56:30 GMT -8
To suggest that a ferry fare can compete equally with, or close to a cruise ship fare is dreaming in technicolour.
Consider their cost structures and the advantages the cruise ships enjoy. The cruise ship crews (often from underprivileged countries) work very long hours for, by our standards dismal pay. Cruise ships go 24/7 earning virtually every day of the year. They are often registered in poorer countries with flags of convenience in order to avoid taxation, labour laws, and safety regulations. The passengers, once aboard the cruise ship are then bombarded with many forms of up-selling; shore tours, liquor packages, upscale restaurants, casinos, souvenir photos and videos, etc., many ways to increase revenues. Bigger passenger ships also have economies of scope and scale. B.C. Ferries fares are what they are.They won't go down. AMHS fares are somewhat similar: Bellingham - Ketchikan, two pax w/car (Summer) @ approx. $US1000+. It isn't just here. Travel is depressed.
Nova Star, Maine - Nova Scotia is off to a rocky start, even with lower fares. I read that a loan from the Nova Scotia Government ($21Million which was intended over seven years) has been spent in their first two months.
The InsidePassage is a treasure. If another operator could sail there and make money, they would. They can't, so they don't.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 21:09:24 GMT -8
Was was the load of walk-ons like, Jim?
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 31, 2014 22:02:29 GMT -8
Was was the load of walk-ons like, Jim? I was observing what was happening on the NorEx from the Taku @ the adjacent Alaska berth. While I could see right inside the car deck & see approximately how many vehicles were aboard, I could not as readily see how many foot passengers might be getting on. If there was heaps of them I would have noticed that. |
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,307
|
Post by Neil on Jul 31, 2014 22:06:09 GMT -8
To suggest that a ferry fare can compete equally with, or close to a cruise ship fare is dreaming in technicolour. Consider their cost structures and the advantages the cruise ships enjoy. The cruise ship crews (often from underprivileged countries) work very long hours for, by our standards dismal pay. Cruise ships go 24/7 earning virtually every day of the year. They are often registered in poorer countries with flags of convenience in order to avoid taxation, labour laws, and safety regulations. The passengers, once aboard the cruise ship are then bombarded with many forms of up-selling; shore tours, liquor packages, upscale restaurants, casinos, souvenir photos and videos, etc., many ways to increase revenues. Bigger passenger ships also have economies of scope and scale. B.C. Ferries fares are what they are.They won't go down. AMHS fares are somewhat similar: Bellingham - Ketchikan, two pax w/car (Summer) @ approx. $US1000+. It isn't just here. Travel is depressed. Nova Star, Maine - Nova Scotia is off to a rocky start, even with lower fares. I read that a loan from the Nova Scotia Government ($21Million which was intended over seven years) has been spent in their first two months. The InsidePassage is a treasure. If another operator could sail there and make money, they would. They can't, so they don't. I think you're missing a couple of points here. 'Koastal Karl' was simply stating the obvious; that when people see a ferry trip looking as expensive as a cruise, they might just decide to go with a bells-and-whistles cruise. David Hahn pointed out a number of times, and quite correctly, that the BC Ferries 'monopoly' is a bit of an illusion. Yes, they're the only ferry operator, but they are competing with many other options that people can choose for discretionary travel. Route ten currently doesn't compete very well.
It's neither here nor there to point out that no other operator takes on route ten because it's not profitable. Of course it isn't. I'll bet that Northland Navigation got a federal or provincial subsidy way back when they served the north coast. The Inside Passage may be a 'treasure', but there are also those, particularly on the north coast, who see it as a part of the transportation infrastructure that is appropriate and necessary for a maritime province. It can't make money, and it needs to be priced so that locals can use it, and tourists can bring money and jobs to Prince Rupert and surrounding areas.
Christy Clark and the Liberals ignored the fairly well documented benefits route 40 brought to the central coast when they axed that service to 'save' the province money. I don't think you have to be a member of the tin hatted conspiracy brigade to have at least a shadow of suspicion that she is quite happy to have BC Ferries price route ten high enough that business is driven away, to the extent that the powers that be can then say the service is unneeded and unsustainable.
|
|
)
