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Post by Mike on Sept 27, 2019 13:58:19 GMT -8
The M/S Roald Amundsen, seen at Canada Place. This is the first hybrid cruise ship ever built, and is designed for Arctic expedition cruises. It has an ice-strengthened hull, and is quite close in size to BC Ferries' Northern Expedition. September 27, 2019.  M/S Roald Amundsen - Canada Place by Michael, on Flickr |
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 28, 2019 13:59:39 GMT -8
...And BCFS says they can't built larger hybrid ferries at the moment because why??
I suggest BCFS have a long conversation with the good nautical/marine folks in Norway who have been leading the way in developing and building hybrid
marine vessels!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 13, 2020 15:47:28 GMT -8
In an attempt to curtain the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government of Canada has thrown a real hay-maker into the mix regarding the Maritime Cruise Travel schedule,banning all cruise ships from entering Canadian ports for the next 3 months! With the announcement today by the Federal Government of Canada, the good citizens of Victoria will now reap the loss of countless ship visits for the next three months. For the Ports of Vancouver, Victoria and elsewhere the loss of this vessel traffic will be felt throughout all sectors of the economy. This shut-down will of course bear directly on the traffic to the State of Alaska and it remains to be seen if that State makes any concessions for the vessels that would have been coming their way. I'd propose a change of spin, and suggest that it's the rapid spread of COVID-19 that's causing restrictions on travel, and not to spin it as a government decision that impacts the good citizens who now face a loss. I propose that restrictions on travel would allow more good citizens to gain more life. Life is kinda important. If you want to suggest that something has thrown a haymaker, look at the virus. |
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Post by Starsteward on Mar 14, 2020 17:03:14 GMT -8
In an attempt to curtain the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government of Canada has thrown a real hay-maker into the mix regarding the Maritime Cruise Travel schedule,banning all cruise ships from entering Canadian ports for the next 3 months! With the announcement today by the Federal Government of Canada, the good citizens of Victoria will now reap the loss of countless ship visits for the next three months. For the Ports of Vancouver, Victoria and elsewhere the loss of this vessel traffic will be felt throughout all sectors of the economy. This shut-down will of course bear directly on the traffic to the State of Alaska and it remains to be seen if that State makes any concessions for the vessels that would have been coming their way. I'd propose a change of spin, and suggest that it's the rapid spread of COVID-19 that's causing restrictions on travel, and not to spin it as a government decision that impacts the good citizens who now face a loss. I propose that restrictions on travel would allow more good citizens to gain more life. Life is kinda important. If you want to suggest that something has thrown a haymaker, look at the virus. My comment about Transport Canada's 'haymaker' to the cruise industry was not unmindful of the root cause of the stark actions they undertook. I have been made more than aware for the past 35 years of the co-extensive relationship of 'virus' and 'life-expectancy'. Perhaps humanity world-wide will take pause to reflect on how fragile our very existence really is, and how quickly our good fortune can be snatched from our lives. |
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Post by northwesterner on Mar 15, 2020 19:52:32 GMT -8
I'd propose a change of spin, and suggest that it's the rapid spread of COVID-19 that's causing restrictions on travel, and not to spin it as a government decision that impacts the good citizens who now face a loss. I propose that restrictions on travel would allow more good citizens to gain more life. Life is kinda important. If you want to suggest that something has thrown a haymaker, look at the virus. My comment about Transport Canada's 'haymaker' to the cruise industry was not unmindful of the root cause of the stark actions they undertook. I have been made more than aware for the past 35 years of the co-extensive relationship of 'virus' and 'life-expectancy'. Perhaps humanity world-wide will take pause to reflect on how fragile our very existence really is, and how quickly our good fortune can be snatched from our lives. The discouraging part of the 3 month edict is that the economic disruption from the virus could be temporary. A couple months of major pain for many people, but back to normal as soon as possible for everyone who can. Most major cruise lines are thinking 30-60 days, and then back to operating. The longer that stretches out ... the worse for all related parties. Meanwhile, as Transport Canada is locking the ports for 90 days - this kid in Kingston is like "no big deal." |
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on May 6, 2022 21:12:48 GMT -8
Ovation of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Viewed in November-like weather from the Queen of Cowichan in Georgia Strait, off Vancouver.
5 May 2022
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Post by paulvanb on Jul 22, 2022 20:39:48 GMT -8
Tourism is alive and well in Victoria! Two ships in dock and one waiting once one has left.  |
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 11, 2022 19:08:41 GMT -8
Norwegian Bliss in Seattle on Aug 6, 2022  |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jul 29, 2023 19:27:30 GMT -8
According to Marine Traffic, right now there are no fewer than ten cruise ships either directly off either side of Vancouver Island, or close to being there, heading north or south. Remarkable.
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Post by Starsteward on Jul 29, 2023 21:51:42 GMT -8
According to Marine Traffic, right now there are no fewer than ten cruise ships either directly off either side of Vancouver Island, or close to being there, heading north or south. Remarkable. There were two ships at Canada Place yesterday, and four at Canada Place today and there will be four this Sunday. If you were sailing on the Queen Elizabeth and didn't catch her on Thursday, she'll be back Monday, August 7/23. Last vessel of the 2023 cruise season will be the Holland America, M.V. Koningsdam waiting for you at the West berth, Canada Place Tuesday, October 24, 2023. |
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Jul 31, 2023 20:19:40 GMT -8
A few interesting voyages from Vancouver. One to Quebec City. Queen Elizabeth sails to Barcelona Spain via Panama. 6, maybe more cross the Pacific to the South Pacific. At least 2 head down to Cape Horn. There are some very cheap fares available, owing to the number of cabins up for sale. I caught a 29 day voyage to Sydney for $1595 Canadian ( cabin to be assigned so could end up in steerage!!). $849 to fly back.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jul 31, 2023 21:02:54 GMT -8
A few interesting voyages from Vancouver. One to Quebec City. Queen Elizabeth sails to Barcelona Spain via Panama. 6, maybe more cross the Pacific to the South Pacific. At least 2 head down to Cape Horn. There are some very cheap fares available, owing to the number of cabins up for sale. I caught a 29 day voyage to Sydney for $1595 Canadian ( cabin to be assigned so could end up in steerage!!). $849 to fly back. Are you serious? 29 days to Sydney for $1600? That's a bit over $50 a day! Steerage might be a dream... you might be looking at a kennel and cat food... |
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 1, 2023 17:49:25 GMT -8
A few interesting voyages from Vancouver. One to Quebec City. Queen Elizabeth sails to Barcelona Spain via Panama. 6, maybe more cross the Pacific to the South Pacific. At least 2 head down to Cape Horn. There are some very cheap fares available, owing to the number of cabins up for sale. I caught a 29 day voyage to Sydney for $1595 Canadian ( cabin to be assigned so could end up in steerage!!). $849 to fly back. $50/day means an inside berth. Kind of like sleeping in a closet I think. Just got home from my cruise. Went Princess, booking an outside cabin, then bid on an upgrade that was less than booking a balcony. I recommend the their plus package. The prepaid gratuities, booze and and Wi-Fi made it worth the extra. Did my ferry postings using it. |
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Aug 2, 2023 21:09:39 GMT -8
I have been lucky with the “run of the ship guarantee bookings. My Emerald Princess south/east bound Suez from England to Singapore found me in a balcony. The following year though I did only get a “larger” inside on Sapphire for a Singapore to Rome voyage. Last summer a circle Great Britain saw me with s balcony although the ship was only at 90% capacity. Fingers crossed for this trip on Royal.
Why am I so cheap??!! The value is just not there for my style of cruising. The PLUS package is US $ 80.00 additional per day. For my 27 day trip that is an extra CAD $ 2884.00. For less than that ($2770), I have a 16 day Sky Princess trans Atlantic to Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France and Uk -AND- a 12 day Scandinavia/Baltic booked. An additional 28 days of shipboard life for less than a Plus Package on a single voyage! Not a difficult choice for me.
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Post by Ollie on Aug 7, 2023 18:45:26 GMT -8
Here are some cruise ship photos I took from the Lions Gate Bridge today and yesterday: Brilliance of the Seas 
Queen Elizabeth 3 Norwegian Jewel Disney Wonder
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 9, 2023 12:28:23 GMT -8
I have a threesome - Mein Schiff 1, Island Princess, plus an unnamed one, plus a ferry with a very weird schedule that only heretix could possibly explain - Alesund, Norway.  |
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heretix
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Post by heretix on Aug 10, 2023 4:53:54 GMT -8
a ferry with a very weird schedule that only heretix could possibly explain - Alesund, Norway. I'm not sure what you refer to here, paulvanb . There haven't been any ferries in Ålesund for the last couple of decades, after the subsea tunnels to the islands were opened. Ålesund-Ellingsøy, Ålesund-Hamnsund, Ålesund Valderøy, Ålesund-Giske and Ålesund-Godøy were all suspended, while Ålesund-Hareid had already been terminated for a while back then. The only 'weird' ferry schedule I can think of is Skår-Søbø-Trandal-Standal-Valderøy-Store Kalvøy, where the first four destinations are in the Hjørundfjord and the last two are out by the ocean. It's virtually two separate routes connected by the same vessel, which, however accepts no cars or passengers during its transit sailings between Standal and Valderøy. See attched schedule, which unfortunately is only available in Norwegian! I actually wrote to the local newspaper and suggested this, since the more than hour long trip goes through a very scenic coastal district and the ferry has a panorama lounge on top, but it probably has something to do with sailing permits from the maritime authorities, which could cost more than the company would earn from ticket sales. Here is the ferry Kvernes in action. Photo: Newspaper Møre-Nytt.   |
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 10, 2023 7:04:12 GMT -8
South, to Alaska ...
Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess seen in mid Georgia Strait from the ferry C Inspiration en route to Duke Point. This ship was apparently headed for Alaska via the west coast of Vancouver Island which means it was headed south at the time of this photo. Vancouver Island mountains are the backdrop in this photo.
5 August 2023
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 10, 2023 8:01:51 GMT -8
This is the ferry in question - the Hjorundfjord. I tried to find her schedule, and while we were in Port, she was not scheduled to operate that day. Her operating schedule seemed quite infrequent, but I was translating it from from Norse.  |
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heretix
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Post by heretix on Aug 10, 2023 12:38:17 GMT -8
This is the ferry in question - the Hjorundfjord. I tried to find her schedule, and while we were in Port, she was not scheduled to operate that day. Her operating schedule seemed quite infrequent, but I was translating it from from Norse. As far as I know, the Hjørundfjord hasn't had any regular route since Fjord1 lost the tender for Festøya-Solavågen to Norled in 2019. Since then, it has been the replacement vessel for Fjord1's other routes in the Sunnmøre region, like Hareid-Sulesund and Sykkylven-Magerholm. |
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Post by Ollie on Aug 11, 2023 8:13:45 GMT -8
Radiance of the Seas arriving at Canada Place, today
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Aug 11, 2023 13:19:17 GMT -8
Jim- BC Coast Pilots will not permit the Royal class of vessels to sail the east coast of the Island while heading to Alaska. Majestic is one of that class. No pods, no go.
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 11, 2023 14:59:23 GMT -8
Jim- BC Coast Pilots will not permit the Royal class of vessels to sail the east coast of the Island while heading to Alaska. Majestic is one of that class. No pods, no go. Can you expand on this? Something to do with manoeuvrability through Seymour Narrows? |
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Aug 11, 2023 20:09:41 GMT -8
In part, yes. Princess is the only major fleet that had no azipod equipped vessels. { unitl spring 2024 when Sun Princess enters service).
At any speed, full to dead slow, pod equipped vessels are highly maneuverable as full propulsion power is available through 360 degrees. At very low speeds conventional propelled vessels must rely on stern thrusters for maneuvering. The thrusters do not have nearly the same power as pods. Also, thrusters loose their effectiveness at speeds above 4 or 5 knots. Thus should the vessel find it necessary, in narrow or confined passages, to sail at very low speeds, or stop, some control issues could result.
Another concern, details which seem to be a closely guarded secret, concerns these vessels’s air draft clearance at the power wires over Ripple Rock. Very hot summer temperatures make those wires ( and Lions Gate Bridge) sag raising concerns!
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 25, 2023 21:04:56 GMT -8
Princess Cruises' Grand Princess passing Sisters Islet Lighthouse off the north west end off Lasqueti Island in Georgia Strait.
This light was de-staffed in 1996. The buildings are boarded up & run down.
12 August 2023
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