Queen of the North Positioning Cruises

[Koastal Karl]

Also as far as Hotels go there are 8 hotels I found in Port Hardy, and some of them say with the amount of people travelling on the inside passage route that availability can change anytime so you have to stay in Port Hardy to be at the ferry by 6:30am. But I wouldent book a hotel at the last minute or you might not get one but I am sure there will be lots, maybe in the next few months or so, should probably book ahead if you are going.

[Low Light Mike]

Re Port Hardy hotels:

I stayed at the Glen-Lyon Inn last summer, and it was clean & good. Had a nice view of the log booms accross the harbour, and could also see Bear Cove, so we saw the Chilliwack come in at night, and the Q-North later on.

Don't stay at the Pioneer-Inn, it's old, cramped, old, cramped, and not a good night's sleep.

The North-Star-Lounge reserved seating on the Q-North isn't worth the $15-$20 that it costs. It's a side lounge with dirty windows and a poor view. It's like sitting on an airplane: unless you get assigned a window seat, it's worthless. It is a good, quiet place for a nap though.

If you like to be outside, and don't mind a bit of cold, then get to the stern decks ASAP, and claim a good seat on one of the life-jacket lockers, or deck chairs. Deck 6 & 7 are great places to spend the whole day, but the best seats are taken first thing in the morning. Trust me on this one.

Cafeteria prices are expensive, so take any basic snacks & drinks with you, because home-prices are much cheaper than on-board prices.


(PS: Strong Skier might want to call ahead, and ask the cafeteria to make an extra-large pot of dope-sauce for you and your friends) ;D ;D

[NMcKay]

That would be fun. im probably gonna book @ the end of the spring break. and then im gonna see about grabbing a cheap hotel near the berth

anyone wanna go halfers on a 2 person room?

[Koastal Karl]

Although I am sure there are lots of places you can find to sit throughout the day as I dont think people would sit there for the entire trip. And this is October so hopefully it wont be too cold yet.

[Sandi]

I need to find a hotel that provides transportation to the ferry. My mom is going to give us a ride to Port Hardy but she won't be staying the night. So far the only one I have found that offers transportation is the Pioneer Inn... Flugel Horn: How long ago did you stay there? It doesn't look cramped from the pics I have seen, there is a virtual tour of it. I don't think I will get much sleep no matter where I stay. I will be too excited about sailing on the Queen of the North!! ;D

[NMcKay]

man...hmmm...i think i should just stay in a tent on the BC Ferries premisis.

[Low Light Mike]

I stayed at Pioneer Inn in 1998 & 1999. I just found the rooms old & cramped. Wood panelling, cigarette burn marks on the carpets, perfect for loggers and tree planters.

I like big rooms, with lots of space, and this wasn't it. Just my opinion, others will probably be ok with it.

[Koastal Karl]

Well basically I dont care where we stay as it is just going to be overnight and depending what time we get to Port Hardy a cheap hotel dosent really matter. We are looking into the Glen Lyon Inn. I emailed them and got a email back for a room for two adults is about 110.00 plus tax. We havent booked anything yet, but I guess we should soon.

I probably aint going to sleep anyways thinking about the trip the next day!

[Koastal Karl]

And also if anyone else is going and we are near or in the same hotels we could probably give a few people a ride to the ferry but we will have to drop people off and go in separtely as we all have separate reservations.

[Doug Ubell]

If the trip is supposedly 13 hours, you'd better get sleep the night before....

[Doug Ubell]

Staying up all night makes me feel sick the next day (and tired); I'd never want to be sick and tired on a ferry. ;D

[newwest]

I know everyone is planning on getting together on this on the Southbound cruise in October (That's great! )
I went with my family from Tsawwassen all the way up to Prince Rupert at Christmas 1981. I'll never forget that night. We got to Tsawwassen terminal about 2 hours early. I hadn't been on her since she was the "Queen of Surrey" in 1974 & I was almost wetting myself with excitement! The impatient staring into the cardeck as we waited for the all-clear to board at berth #5 (Back then was the auxilliary berth) & when we finally got the all-clear, I couldn't get on fast enough. MAN that brings back some good memories!
Is it possible anymore to go from Tsawwassen TO Port Hardy & from there, to PR? I guess on a reverse application of what you guys are doing. I would really like to re-live that experience again:)

[Balfour]

Then join in the fun!

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah you should joing the fun Biff! it's gonna be awesome!

[Balfour]

It will be Dopesauce!

[Sandi]

What is Dopesauce?

[newwest]

Lol - I would love to join u guyz, but unfortunately you'll be headed
the wrong way (southbound) I'm interested in doing the Northbound trip LEAVING Tsawwassen & ARRIVING at Port Hardy & then carrying on up to Prince Rupert.
Does anyone know when the positioning cruise leaves from Tsawwassen northbound? I imagine it would be soon.

[Balfour]

Dopesuace means amazing, awesome, great, excellent, sweet, anywhere along those lines.

[Koastal Karl]

I dont honestly know if they have the Northbound sailing anymore because you think it would be listed on the schedule if they did. They only list the southbound trip. Does anyone know??

[Low Light Mike]

I suspect that the April or May 2005 northbound positioning cruise has been sold-old, and has been sold out for a while.

Since the Oct1st trip is filling up fast, I guess that the Northbound trip was probably sold-out last fall.

If you want the same 1981 experience of a long trip up the Georgia-Strait & Inside Passage, then consider taking the Alaska Ferry from Bellingham, which takes 2-3 days in it's run to the Alaska Panhandle. Unfortunately it doesn't stop at Prince Rupert, so you would have to take it to Ketchikan or Juneau. I think it's the Columbia or the Malaspina.

[Koastal Karl]

Well I know they had northbound sailings before but I dont remember seeing them listed recently. I remember when I went to the open house at Tsawwassen for the Queen of the North after she was refurbished so people could see the new look I remember there was talk of a northbound cruise. I cant remember what year she was redone, anyone remember?? Anyways that was the last year I heard about the northbound cruise. I think the southbound cruise would be neater than northbound. Cause when you first start out from Port Hardy you get all the nice scenery than having to wait leaving from Tsawwassen. But either way would be neat. I would like to do the inside passage trip to one year, also the Queen of Chilliwack would be neat to go on and the Queen of Prince Rupert.

[Balfour]

If it was recent, it was done in the winter of 2000-2001 in North Van.

[Curtis]

Yeah that was the recent time there was nothing like that since the 80s when she was put on the Inside Passage

[newwest]

Sold out huh? DAMN! I should have figured that may happen
It's funny, they originally STOPPED sailing regularly to Tsawwassen in 1985 because of poor ridership & now the 1 sailing is sold out like a YEAR in advance. Oh the irony.
I appreciate the suggestion of the Alaska State ferry, but I'd really be going strictly for the sake of sailing on the Queen of The North.
Ever since I first sailed on her as a little boy, I've loved that ship. I remember sailing to HSB from Nan as the Queen of Surrey with my mother one night & being THRILLED to find they had a playroom on the ship! It was then at the rear promenade of the ship. I guess you COULD say the Queen of Surrey(1974) was the FIRST bc ferry to have a playroom(now THERE'S trivia for you!)

[Curtis]

I so wish I could take the October 1st postioning cruise There's no way I could make it