|
|
Post by Ian on Mar 5, 2009 22:49:27 GMT -8
Well it's almost upon us. The 2009 cruise season is set to start on the West Coast with the first arrival in Vancouver of the "Norwegian Star" and the "Crystal Serenity" on May 2nd. Without doubt this is set to be a slower year as usually we see a few arrivals mid April. Also Royal Caribbean has announced that this is the last year the "Serenade of the Seas" will sail Alaska, she is the biggest cruise ship to port in Vancouver along with her sister, the Radiance of the Seas. Anyone planning on hopping on an Alaskan cruise this year, I was reading in the Sun, that you acn get roundtrip Vancouver, oceanview cabin, for $450. That is a really good deal, at least somewhere we can benefit from the economy.
|
|
rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
|
Post by rt1commuter on Mar 6, 2009 11:25:25 GMT -8
That is a good deal!
|
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Mar 6, 2009 14:46:05 GMT -8
If one can go at any time, there will be some unbelievable last minute deals as cruise lines try to sell off excess capacity as departure dates draw nearer. Have your up-to-date passport, (with expiry date of at least 6 months beyond the date of return to Canada), handy, some room on the 'plastic', a smart suitcase you can pack in a hurry and voila!, a great holiday awaits. Buy the cheapest deal possible on the particular ship and once aboard, see what the possibility of a relatively cheap upgrade will cost if you just can't stand the thought of being buried in an inside cabin in the bowels of the ship  Bonne Voyage! |
|
Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,171
|
Post by Neil on Mar 6, 2009 15:13:32 GMT -8
First ship in is actually the Balmoral, Fred. Olsen Lines, on April 24. She may have been here in the past as the Norwegian Crown, but I don't recall.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ian on Mar 6, 2009 18:18:40 GMT -8
Yes, the Balmoral. What I should have said was major cruise lines.
|
|
|
|
Post by terrybc on Apr 18, 2009 18:23:13 GMT -8
The Golden Princess arrived late this Morning at the Esquimalt Graving Dock.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 18, 2009 21:56:16 GMT -8
awesome, was wondering which one ship that was I figured it had to be the Golden or Star Princess!
|
|
|
|
Post by terrybc on Apr 24, 2009 22:41:43 GMT -8
As I reported last week the Golden Princess arrived at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Princess Cruises just Released some Photos of the Ship getting a Complete make over inside & out. There is some Amazing Photos showing the Ship out of the Water. To view these Photos go to www.princess.com/goldendrydock/ **Note to Koastal Karl are you able to grab any Photos from your Viewing Location? If so could u post them on here? Thx, I'll be getting shots of her when she overnights here in Vancouver on May 8-9 |
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 25, 2009 6:15:32 GMT -8
With orders for new ships being defered and cancelled for the first time in recent times, more refits are planned. Hopefully, this means some good steady business for Victoria, not that the facility is by any means quiet.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 25, 2009 8:01:44 GMT -8
I have taken some aeriel photos of the Golden Princess see the Aeriel Photos thread in the photos section. Not really any good viewing locations around the drydock. You can see her from the railway tracks but not really good for photos!
|
|
|
|
Post by terrybc on Apr 25, 2009 9:32:34 GMT -8
Hi Karl i was unable to find a link for the "Aerial Photos" Section. Would you be able to provide a link?
Thx.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 25, 2009 16:54:13 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by terrybc on Apr 26, 2009 18:22:46 GMT -8
The Amtersdam was at Canada Place West this afternoon. It Departed just prior to 5pm this afternoon. It looks like it's going on a 2 Day Dead Head Cruise before heading to the Esquimalt Graving Dock. It's due into the Esquimalt Graving Dock at 0600 Tuesday, & will pick up it's Pilot at 0400. In the meantime Golden Princess will be moving out of the Graving Dock at 0300 Tuesday Morning, & will then move to the Esquimalt North Wall.
Now if I only knew how to post Photos on here, i could put up some of the Amsterdam leaving Canada Place.
As for Koastal Karl excellent aerial shots of the Golden Princess, & the other Vessels in Victoria.
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Apr 26, 2009 21:32:41 GMT -8
It must have been the Amsterdam that I saw from the air as I was leaving Vancouver this evening at about 6:00 pm. The vessel did appear to have Holland America colours.
|
|
|
|
Post by terrybc on Apr 26, 2009 21:43:54 GMT -8
Wett Coast Kidd that would appear to be it. That was the only Cruise Ship in Vancouver today. I hope you got some Pics from the Air? |
|
D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
|
Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 27, 2009 5:34:13 GMT -8
As I reported last week the Golden Princess arrived at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Princess Cruises just Released some Photos of the Ship getting a Complete make over inside & out. There is some Amazing Photos showing the Ship out of the Water. To view these Photos go to www.princess.com/goldendrydock/ **Note to Koastal Karl are you able to grab any Photos from your Viewing Location? If so could u post them on here? Thx, I'll be getting shots of her when she overnights here in Vancouver on May 8-9
Massive cruise ship refit brings big benefits to city 600 shipyard workers roll up their sleeves on first of three major refits Workers do mechanical repairs in the drydock bay at CFB Esquimalt during a massive refit of Golden Princess. Workers do mechanical repairs in the drydock bay at CFB Esquimalt during a massive refit of Golden Princess. Photograph by: Darren Stone, Times Colonist Weighing in at a massive 108,000 tonnes, the 18-deck-tall Golden Princess is the largest vessel to ever pull into the Esquimalt Graving Dock, says the vice-president of Victoria Shipyards. The 290-metre-long vessel dwarfs the huge graving dock and space was so tight when the ship arrived on Saturday that floating bumpers were used to line the graving dock, Malcolm Barker said yesterday. This ship is almost 36 metres wide, and the graving dock is 38 metres wide. With bumpers in place, that left little room on each side to manoeuvre, Barker said. Large ships in the past have reached 94,000 tonnes and were 33.5 metres wide. Amidst a cacophony of safety whistles, clanging, and banging, the huge white ship resembles a giant beehive, surrounded by what looks like Lilliputian workers and Tonka toy equipment. Jobs paying an average of $31 per hour plus benefits are part of the economic benefit whenever Victoria Shipyards wins a contract to refit, repair and upgrade large vessels. Shifts run around the clock. Work on the Golden Princess requires 150,000 man hours, Barker said. Along with several hundred subcontractors brought here by the cruise line, this job requires close to 600 local shipyard workers, who are putting in 10-to-12-hour days, effectively doubling the normal local workforce. "It's a big job." Victoria Shipyards has been serving the cruise ship industry, whose vessels ply coastal waters to and from Alaska. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is anticipating a record number of 214 visits by cruise ships this year, although numbers typically vary somewhat as the season progresses. Holland America Lines' 238-metre-long Amsterdam, carrying 1,380 passengers, will be the first vessel at Ogden Point, kicking off the season tomorrow at 8 a.m. Federal government revenue for the Golden Princess to stay in its drydock equals $50,000 per day, Barker said. Victoria Shipyards anticipates about $5 million to $6 million for its work on the Golden Princess. Major work includes blasting and painting the underwater hull -- all 11,000 square metres, Barker said. Several Greater Victoria companies are renting heavy equipment. Groups of taxis wait on Admirals Road to take sub-contractors and 1,000 ship crew members, who sleep on board the ship, downtown. Work for the Golden Princess includes more than traditional shipyard trades. Barker points to a 12 metre-by nine-metre television screen assembled at the shipyard . It will be installed next to the funnel allowing passengers to "sit on the pool deck and watch movies under the stars." Containers are stacked along the dock, representing some of the 320 barged here with supplies for the sub-contractors. For all the container content that goes on the ship, the equivalent amount must come off, said Barker, pointing to a local refuse collection bin. The Golden Princess leaves drydock Monday, to tie up nearby before sailing out May 3. The Amsterdam takes its place in drydock for a standard refit with repairs. That contract, running to May 8, will provide about 20,000 man hours to local workers, Barker said. Then it's the Celebrity Millennium's turn. It arrives for a refit 36 hours after the Amsterdam leaves, for work also totalling millions of dollars and requiring 20,000 man hours, he said. Each ship carries its own crew, which will be here around the clock for close to 40 days, visiting Greater Victoria like other tourists, Barker said. "The economic benefit is significant ... They go downtown every day." After the cruise ships leave, "Then we get into our bread and butter," Barker said. HMCS Ottawa pulls in as part of the company's contract to upgrade Canada's frigates. |
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Apr 27, 2009 19:21:36 GMT -8
Wett Coast Kidd that would appear to be it. That was the only Cruise Ship in Vancouver today. I hope you got some Pics from the Air? We did get photos but all were not up to my standards - motion blur or simply not properly focused - I am not sure. Perhaps it was a case of distortion caused by the plane's window. This photo is as good as any of them. Sorry.  H-A's Amsterdam off of Vancouver - from passing HawkAir Dash 8 - 26 April 2009 |
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Apr 27, 2009 21:30:55 GMT -8
Amsterdam was in Seattle again today.
|
|
rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
|
Post by rt1commuter on May 5, 2009 12:28:15 GMT -8
Swine flu is causing a lot of excitement in Victoria. Announced officially today, the Mariner of the Seas (138,000 gross tons, 3300 passengers) and the Carnival Splendor (113,300 gross tons, 3000 passengers) will be making weekly calls in Victoria starting tomorrow! I believe these are the largest vessels to ever dock at Ogden point. It's going to be very exciting. I'll be out there trying to make money off of the passengers (I'm a pedicab driver ). Hope to see you guys out there taking photos. |
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
|
Post by Neil on May 5, 2009 14:01:51 GMT -8
Victoria might have more cruise ship visits next year than Vancouver. I'm not sure how swine flu figures in things.
Looking at Seattle's schedule, I see that they have three ships in every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the season. This will probably be the last year that Vancouver has more sailings in total. Getting rather ominous by its absence is any statement from the remaining cruise lines that they have a long term commitment to Vancouver.
For those familiar with the Seattle situation: A few years ago, we heard that some ships were moving to Seattle because lines couldn't get departures on the preferred weekend days from Vancouver. With three boats in Seattle every Friday through Sunday, is their facility full now? Is three the maximum? If so, any of the boats switching to Seattle from Vancouver next year will have to take the less desirable weekday departures. Perhaps Alaska bound American tourists have expressed a strong enough preference for not dealing with Canadian border procedures that the lines are okay with weekdays.
|
|
rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
|
Post by rt1commuter on May 5, 2009 14:18:05 GMT -8
Swine flu? Oh, these two new ships were changed last minute from Mexico itineraries to Alaska itineraries due to it . |
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on May 5, 2009 21:58:28 GMT -8
I was looking at the cruise schedule for Victoria and those two ships are only making weekly calls till the end of July. This will be a first in Victoria for a Carnival ship. I am gonna go down and take a look when they are in.
|
|
|
|
Post by gordon on May 6, 2009 12:22:53 GMT -8
Siitech doesn't seem to cover much north of Calvert Island.I wonder what causes this?
Could a cruise ship follow the same route that the Inside Passage Ferry Route does or are there parts of that route that are to narrow?
|
|
|
|
Post by Nickfro on May 6, 2009 13:18:17 GMT -8
Victoria might have more cruise ship visits next year than Vancouver. I'm not sure how swine flu figures in things. Looking at Seattle's schedule, I see that they have three ships in every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the season. This will probably be the last year that Vancouver has more sailings in total. Getting rather ominous by its absence is any statement from the remaining cruise lines that they have a long term commitment to Vancouver. For those familiar with the Seattle situation: A few years ago, we heard that some ships were moving to Seattle because lines couldn't get departures on the preferred weekend days from Vancouver. With three boats in Seattle every Friday through Sunday, is their facility full now? Is three the maximum? If so, any of the boats switching to Seattle from Vancouver next year will have to take the less desirable weekday departures. Perhaps Alaska bound American tourists have expressed a strong enough preference for not dealing with Canadian border procedures that the lines are okay with weekdays. My understanding is that every cruise ship bound for Alaska from south of the 49 MUST stop at a minimum of 1 Canadian Port. This is required to sail through Canadian waters. At least this was the case when I was in Business school a few years ago. Hopefully it hasn't changed because regardless of the city, a cruise ship stopping in Vancouver or Victoria is great for the retail outlets. |
|
|
|
Post by gordon on May 6, 2009 16:45:02 GMT -8
The cruise lines and their passengers still do prefer the weekend departures. Seattle does have an advantage over Vancouver simply because it is much easier for American tourists to fly into Seattle than Vancouver( or Anchorage for that matter)
The big Issue that seems to be affecting the Alaska Cruises now is the tax situation. Since 2006 there has been a $50 head tax, a 30-33% gaming revenue tax and some very strict Environmental regulations that are very expensive to implement.
|
|
