Cruise Ferry - BC Coast

[NMcKay]

i would think the best place for me would be In Vancouver where the Cats sit now. and then they would offload probably in Prince Rupert or Skagway.

[Mike C]

Yes, indeed it would be a good place. I say convert Canda Place parking lot to be able to hold cars, and create a berth.

[Mike C]

I meant Vancouver. Runs to Prince Rupert-Whittier- Anchorage.

[Starbucks Queen]

cascade said:

So would you go from Vancouver or Victoria - or both ?

I was thinking from Vancouver up to the Alaska Ice field then back down to say Prince Rupert with a few other stops along the way - say Port Hardy. The general idea been that locals could use the service - plus bring in the Tourist who wants a cruise and drive holiday - but doesn't want to drive all the way.....

Where else in Vancouver could you load passengers and cars at the same time? That I think is the main problem? Delta-port ?

This is a very good idea. In fact I did miss something like this, a coastal cruise you can book, and which you can access as a footpassenger, too. I would think, if such is marketet by the tourist-office, it would really attract people.
Also, Tsawwassen is really pfft.. to get at if you do not have a car, unlike Victoria where the port is really located close to the center - it was ideal when arrived from Port Angeles on the Coho.

[Scott]

Canada Place in Vancouver wouldn't work really. It's got the parking lot, yes, but there's no way that much traffic could be handled there, and the parking is needed.

I don't know too much about the waterfront areas around the Second Narrows Bridge, on either side, but there could be room for a ferry terminal around there in some places. How about the Ballentyne Pier area? Not the nicest area of Vancouver, but there is road access to the waterfront there. Vancouver has a waterfront road, but you can only access it in a few spots, and it's mainly there for industrial traffic, not public traffic.

If you wanted to run a ship up the river (Fraser) a bit, that would open up a lot more areas where you could build a terminal... maybe even near the new RAV line.

[NMcKay]

after looking a good place would be just east of the seabus terminal. theyer is plenty of parking, and the terminal could be built on the 3 acres of land sitting there already

[Scott]

Yeah, there is a huge parking lot there. But I think it's part of a public park, so there would be some issues with that. I don't think it's a very popular one:)

[Low Light Mike]

cascade said:

Would there be a market for a Cruise Ferry that left Vancouver with your car or camper van (RV) - you cruised up to the Ice field - then got off around say Prince Rupert or Port Hardy and drove the rest of the way back home. Would that be a Holiday that people in BC would take? Would the older members of this forum do it?

I'd do it.....absolutely. That would be a super vacation for my old self & spouse.

[Low Light Mike]

Here's my thoughts, Cascade.

As most of the market would likely live in Southern BC in the lower-mainland or Vancouver Island, this is that I think would be best:

- take the ferry trip first.....so depart Vancouver onto the cruise ferry at the start......then disembark at Skagway or Prince Rupert, and drive home to the lower mainland. Why? If I'm taking a multi-day drive thru the BC Interior and Yellowhead highway, and maybe even the Deas Lake highway or the Alaska Highway.....I don't want to be in a rush because I am booked onto a ferry return trip home. If I see a nice camping spot on the Alaska Highway or on the Skeena, then I want the freedom to stop and stay there for a few days, without worrying about my scheduled ferry trip.

So do the ferry on the way north....and then take your time driving back south thru beautiful BC & Yukon.