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Post by shipyard on Nov 7, 2007 21:24:04 GMT -8
This weekend, I'll be riding my first WSF ferries. Does anyone know the level of food service on this run vs. what we're used to on BCF? Thanks.
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Post by Kahloke on Nov 7, 2007 22:05:05 GMT -8
Alas, the level of food service on WSF vessels isn't nearly as good as what BCF offers, in both quality or selection. I tend to avoid buying food on our ferries. If you are sailing from Anacortes, however, you might try the Cheesecake Cafe at the Anacortes ferry terminal, if they are open. They're not bad. Otherwise, I would suggest bringing your own food.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 8, 2007 6:56:50 GMT -8
Very limited by comparison to BCF. The Elwha carries a decent selection of bottled drinks and juices, a Pepsi fountain, coffee, tea... prepackaged (but prepared at least every other day) sandwiches and salads, chowder and soup, hot dogs, burgers, Polish sausage (which I personally think are nasty, but that's me), soft pretzels, various baked goods, breakfast sandwiches (eggy-cheesy-on-an-English-muffin with sausage, back bacon or plain), and I think biscuits and sausage gravy. Roughly.  I don't eat in the galleys aboard the boats anymore, not out of any inherent quality issues as much as the fact that they don't change their menu. Ever. If'n you're coming from the sane side of the border, load up at TimmyHo's or White Spot before you get on the boat. If you're coming from the US, make a beeline for same as soon as you get through Customs & Immigration at Sidney. |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 8, 2007 8:26:29 GMT -8
How would your rate their coffee quality, if not compared to the sugary treat that is a timmy's double double? My family and I have always found this a good judge of character of an establishment despite other limitations and constraints that they might have to work under.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 8, 2007 14:51:07 GMT -8
I don't drink it. I'm a proud member of the Prilosec nation and when I began taking said med, the coffee on the boats was Starbucks (and badly performed Starbucks at that, which meant it was really harsh). It's... um... Tully's now, I think, and much better. It's a decent basic cup o' Joe.
But I like my coffee and my tea about the same color, so it's still too strong for me. I carry as much TimmyHo's over the border as I possibly can every time I go.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Nov 8, 2007 15:09:50 GMT -8
Well some Brits I know like their tea as black as coal so it all depends on how you like your tea Barnacle  . However, those giant coffee makers can turn the best coffee into paving tar. A lot depends too how often they empty the things and remove the buildup etc. And if the temp is too high and the coffee burns there is not hope. I only have ever had the sausage on a bun (maybe hotdog) but it was good. Close your ears Dan but with Ivars at the Ferry docks there is no question of eating the cafeteria food the few times I have been on them. |
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Post by Freeland on Mar 25, 2008 18:58:25 GMT -8
Not sure where to put this topic.
Does anyone know what bus at Sidney would take you
to Burchart Garden. I had Supervisor who told me she
had great walk on the Ferryboat trip on Anacortes to Sidney Ferry where
she took the bus to Burchart from Sidney
Emory at Freeland
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Nick
Voyager 
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078 
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Post by Nick on Mar 25, 2008 20:42:48 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Mar 30, 2008 10:13:32 GMT -8
Thanks for the Information Nick.
It was a public bus. She seem enjoyed the trip and commented it was
not too expensive to do back in the late 90s.
Emory on Whidbey
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Post by BreannaF on Apr 14, 2008 14:18:38 GMT -8
San Juan Islands (not to Sidney) questions: 1) If a person were planning to walk on some weekday morning for a ferry ride some time in the next few weeks (like right after the US income tax deadline, thank you), can I presume that person can get on the international run as a walk-on and get off in Friday Harbor with no reservation? (It just happens the time of day is right.) 2) Any chance of a walk-on being left behind on the inter-island on the Hiyu in the early afternoon? 3) For trips back to Anacortes, since it is no charge, is there any check-in procedure, or is it just walk right on? 4) Would any of those answers change if that person decided to take their bicycle with them? Maybe I'm just getting old, but sometimes a person just wants to double check before he does something spontaneous.  Thank you all!!! |
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Post by Barnacle on Apr 14, 2008 15:43:36 GMT -8
San Juan Islands (not to Sidney) questions: 1) If a person were planning to walk on some weekday morning for a ferry ride some time in the next few weeks (like right after the US income tax deadline, thank you), can I presume that person can get on the international run as a walk-on and get off in Friday Harbor with no reservation? (It just happens the time of day is right.) 2) Any chance of a walk-on being left behind on the inter-island on the Hiyu in the early afternoon? 3) For trips back to Anacortes, since it is no charge, is there any check-in procedure, or is it just walk right on? 4) Would any of those answers change if that person decided to take their bicycle with them? Maybe I'm just getting old, but sometimes a person just wants to double check before he does something spontaneous. Thank you all!!! (1) No reservations are ever required for foot traffic travelling between domestic ports--although for excessively large groups, advance notification is always appreciated. (2) Very unlikely. I don't think I've ever seen 200 people on that boat. (3) Your eastbound fare was paid at the time of purchasing your westbound ticket; we assume you got out there somehow and it was probably with WSF. ;D (4) Yes. There is a bicycle surcharge but I'm not at all sure what it is. I do know that the last time I looked, it was fairly modest. (5) If you double-check, it isn't really spontaneous, but we'd be happy to take you for a ride. ;D |
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 11, 2010 11:26:35 GMT -8
I have a question! Is it doable to take the 11:35am sailing from Sidney to Anacortes and then return on the 2:20pm sailing from Anacortes to Sidney?  Would someone have enough time to clear customs and buy your return ticket and get back onboard??? When you board in Anacortes to Sidney to do you have to go through customs again or how does it work?? I would be interested in doing a roundtrip to Anacortes but I dont know if this would be doable. |
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Post by northwesterner on Jul 11, 2010 14:55:31 GMT -8
Karl -
Should be doable. Its been a long, long time since I had to clear customs in Anacortes ... but it used to be there were two officers waiting at the end of the pedestrian walkway that asked questions. Goes pretty quick. Make sure you're one of the first off the boat.
Exit Immigration procedures at Anacortes do not exist - just buy a ticket from inside the terminal and wait for the boarding call.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 11, 2010 17:55:33 GMT -8
Northwesterner is right - it should be do-able. To be absolutely sure, you may want to position yourself at the front of the line when disembarking Chelan in Anacortes, so you are one of the first processed through Customs. To save yourself even more time, I would suggest buying your return ticket online through WSF's website ahead of time (WAVE TO GO), so you don't have to stand in line inside the terminal, or you can use the self-serve kiosk. That may also save you time. Most likely, you won't have to worry about it too much, though.
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 11, 2010 20:58:59 GMT -8
Couldn't you just refuse going through customs, then hop back on?
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 11, 2010 21:11:34 GMT -8
Couldn't you just refuse going through customs, then hop back on? I'm sure Homeland Security would love that one  |
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 11, 2010 21:51:23 GMT -8
And I am sure they would be interested in someone doing a roundtrip on the Chelan. Although if I dont have to go back through customs until Sidney I guess they would not know! lol!
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Post by BreannaF on Jul 11, 2010 22:54:12 GMT -8
Actually, just the fact that you touched the land in the US means that you have to check in with Customs.
Complicating this is the fact that WSF requires everyone to get off the ferry at the end of the route, even if they are simply turning around and going back. Therefore, you sort of get forced to get off and stand in the US, thus requiring you to go through the line. (And I'm pretty sure that, even if you could just stay on the vessel for the round trip, that you would be required to check in anyway.)
Extra thought #1) It would be really too easy, if the return trip were the one that stopped in Friday Harbor and Orcas on the way to Sidney, to just skip Customs, but get off the ferry early at one of those points in the US. Too easy, they wouldn't let you be able to do that.
Extra thought #2) When the ferry from Sidney stops in Friday Harbor on the way back to Anacortes, those FH passengers need to check in with Customs, since they have had an opportunity to mingle from the passengers who arrived from Canada. Not that this applies to you, but the tendency is to check everybody rather than sort out people to not be checked.
Extra thought #3) Does anybody know if C&I are still randomly checking people on trips that never come from Canada, but originate in the San Juans? I remember that there was a big issue in the Spring and Summer of 2008 about the Border Patrol setting up roadblocks coming off the ferry and screening the walk-offs coming from the islands. Haven't heard anything lately, though.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 12, 2010 5:14:24 GMT -8
Extra thought #1) It would be really too easy, if the return trip were the one that stopped in Friday Harbor and Orcas on the way to Sidney, to just skip Customs, but get off the ferry early at one of those points in the US. Too easy, they wouldn't let you be able to do that. Especially since the ferry schedule clearly states that domestic traffic is not permitted on any of the international sailings. Yes, the afternoon sailing from Anacortes to Sidney does stop in Friday Harbor, but they only pick up traffic there - no dropping off. Extra thought #2) When the ferry from Sidney stops in Friday Harbor on the way back to Anacortes, those FH passengers need to check in with Customs, since they have had an opportunity to mingle from the passengers who arrived from Canada. Not that this applies to you, but the tendency is to check everybody rather than sort out people to not be checked. This time of year (summer schedule) that's not an issue because of the afore-mentioned "no domestic traffic" rule, but in the fall and spring, traffic in Friday Harbor is allowed to board the sailing that is in-bound from Sidney, which means they, too, have to clear customs in Anacortes just like everyone else. Extra thought #3) Does anybody know if C&I are still randomly checking people on trips that never come from Canada, but originate in the San Juans? I remember that there was a big issue in the Spring and Summer of 2008 about the Border Patrol setting up roadblocks coming off the ferry and screening the walk-offs coming from the islands. Haven't heard anything lately, though. I haven't seen them do this in quite awhile. |
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Post by EGfleet on Jul 12, 2010 6:27:04 GMT -8
Extra thought #1) It would be really too easy, if the return trip were the one that stopped in Friday Harbor and Orcas on the way to Sidney, to just skip Customs, but get off the ferry early at one of those points in the US. Too easy, they wouldn't let you be able to do that. They dropped the stop at Orcas starting with the spring schedule in order to meet the Coast Guard's "no touring watches" mandate. The boat only stops at Friday Harbor now on the evening run. |
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 12, 2010 10:10:25 GMT -8
What would be the best thing to tell Customs what you are doing?? Would you say you should lie to them or tell them exactly what your doing?? I have never done this with WSF so I am just curious! I was thinking of doing it with the Coho but the Coho has enough sailings during the summer to get off and catch a later sailing back! It's annoying cause it's easier for the Americans to come from Anacortes than it is for Canadians do do day trips down there!
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Post by Barnacle on Jul 12, 2010 10:29:16 GMT -8
What would be the best thing to tell Customs what you are doing?? Would you say you should lie to them or tell them exactly what your doing?? PLEASE tell me you didn't just ask that question. Don't lie to Customs & Immigration. Ever. For one, it's a lot easier to keep your story straight if you tell the truth. For two, if they catch you lying, the consequences could be severe. U.S. Immigration is actually located in Sidney BC, so you won't have to worry quite so much about the turn-around in Anacortes; you're only going through Customs and it should be slightly quicker. I recommend positioning yourself so that you are among the front of the crowd at the offload in Anacortes, so you can be among the first in Customs. HOWEVER... you will have to go through Customs. 'Oh, I'm just taking a round trip' won't wash, and attempting to evade Customs would also cause you grief. |
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 12, 2010 14:09:09 GMT -8
What would be the best thing to tell Customs what you are doing?? Would you say you should lie to them or tell them exactly what your doing?? Barnacle pretty much said it in the previous post, but you should just tell the truth to the Customs agents, that you are doing a round-trip on Chelan for the experience. I doubt you will get hassled too much over it, and like we both said: position yourself at the front of the line when disembarking at Anacortes so you can get through Customs quicker. There is no way to avoid the check. They close all of the doors and exits at the Anacortes terminal to make sure passengers coming off the vessel get funneled into the Customs holding area. It sounds like a fun trip and I wouldn't get too stressed over going through Customs. You should be fine. |
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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 12, 2010 15:30:28 GMT -8
ok that is good to know! Not that I would ever lie anyways I just dident know how they would take doing a roundtrip on the Chelan! By the way I looked at the Wave To Go and they dont do it for the Internation run.
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 12, 2010 16:01:40 GMT -8
Oh, one thing. I don't really recommend taking photos of Chelan at the Sidney terminal if there's a ferry employee nearby. When I did that last year, he warned me that some people will take your camera, delete all the photos, then not give it back to you until the trip is over. I wasn't going on the ferry, though, so he said I might get turned away from someone if I stayed too much longer. Kinda strict that you can't even take photos of the ship....
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I don't eat in the galleys aboard the boats anymore, not out of any inherent quality issues as much as the fact that they don't change their menu. Ever.
. However, those giant coffee makers can turn the best coffee into paving tar. A lot depends too how often they empty the things and remove the buildup etc. And if the temp is too high and the coffee burns there is not hope. I only have ever had the sausage on a bun (maybe hotdog) but it was good. Close your ears Dan but with Ivars at the Ferry docks there is no question of eating the cafeteria food the few times I have been on them.
Would someone have enough time to clear customs and buy your return ticket and get back onboard??? When you board in Anacortes to Sidney to do you have to go through customs again or how does it work?? I would be interested in doing a roundtrip to Anacortes but I dont know if this would be doable. 
