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Post by BrianWilliams on Jan 16, 2005 23:04:40 GMT -8
All I know is from a newspaper report: "BCF Considers Mini-Cruise Ships"
Please, folks, add more, if you know.
Based on this tiny teaser, I am encouraged. BC's mid-coast tourism needs some help. And today's cruise-by passengers are cheated of the *best* scenery on our coast by night passages, or far-offshore glimpses of the BC coast.
Queen Of Chilliwack, as we found last July, ran at half capacity in the height of tourist season. Our cost was low, the scenery was stupendous and the crew's friendliness was triple-A plus.
Lack of advertising? Who knows, but BCF's plan to promote the BC Coast experience gets my endorsement.
Queen Of The North and Chilliwack are not worn out. In the 6-8 years it will take to build their replacements, let's seriously sell the Central Coast to tourists.
Ideally, Chilliwack and QoN will be running at full capacity when the new boats are available.
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Post by NMcKay on Jan 17, 2005 6:32:01 GMT -8
this summer im planning to pay the mega bucks to go on the chilliwack up to the nortgh, before driving back down
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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 Jan 17, 2005 9:12:37 GMT -8
I would like to do the Queen of the North Inside Passage to Prince Rupert then drive back dow. That would be a neat trip. How far in advance do you have to book for that trip?? Could you book like a week before you were planning on going???
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jan 17, 2005 17:57:52 GMT -8
I think they should use one ship on all three northern routes.
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Post by Ian on Jan 17, 2005 18:22:50 GMT -8
Queen of the north can run form the queen charlottes to port hardy via prince rupert and the areas like bella bella or whatever there called. The chilliwack can go between bella bella and whatever and port hardy. The prince rupert could come down and do some other route such as the earls cove saltery bay route? ? ? ? ? ?
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Post by Curtis on Jan 19, 2005 20:56:08 GMT -8
The Prince Rupert woudn't work on Saltery Bay they need a double ended ferry for the route.
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Post by Balfour on Jan 19, 2005 20:58:57 GMT -8
I think a single ender does fine, When I went on the Tsawwassen when I was 13, It didn't seem to have any trouble turning around into Saltery Bay.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 19, 2005 21:11:13 GMT -8
The only reason single enders don't work on Saltery Bay is because they take too long they're always a little late or more
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Post by Ian on Jan 20, 2005 17:33:49 GMT -8
We need a fleet with single enders, The QPR would be fine, she is a good size. I really do not want to see a whole fleet of double enders. On route one, if we could use a double ender we would save time but who cares whether its 1hour and 35 minutes or 1hour and 20minutes, if you have to get from one place to another extremely fast take the plane.
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Post by Balfour on Jan 20, 2005 18:29:28 GMT -8
Personally, I think the C class are rather dull, but that's because I get bored of them because I travel on them the most due to the fact that I live on the North Shore and have no reason to go to Tsawwassen most of the time.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 20, 2005 20:55:07 GMT -8
Im not saying replace the whole fleet with double enders im saying Saltery Bay needs a double ender
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Post by Balfour on Jan 20, 2005 21:07:17 GMT -8
Well Earls Cove is getting the Capilano, but I think it is best to have something bigger than the Cappy, maybe a single cardeck, shorter version of a C class would fit the route best. It would have roughly the same capacity of the Tsawwassen, and the same amemtites but double ended and alot newer.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 20, 2005 21:09:56 GMT -8
It might work
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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 Jan 20, 2005 21:11:14 GMT -8
I am the opposite as I get bored with the ferries on Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen as I travel them the most living in Victoria. The odd time I like to drive up to Nanaimo and go across. A double ended one car deck ferry would be a good idea for Earls Cove to Saltery Bay.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Jan 20, 2005 22:36:51 GMT -8
"I'm planning to pay the mega bucks to go on the Chilliwack "
I don't think it's "mega bucks" -- CDN $450 for two plus car isn't cheap, but you get 13 hrs of daylight travel on a very happy little ship - in the world's best scenery. All seen very, very close; unlike the offshore Alaska ferry experience (and check their prices!).
If there is a rip-off, it is the Port Hardy motel prices. A pleasant end to a Q of Chilliwack trip is paying half Port Hardy's motel cost in a lovely place like Hagensborg .. and on through the Chilcotin.
Go! And enjoy it all.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 21, 2005 8:20:50 GMT -8
Replying to Karl's and Q Sandwich 87's last posts a short C-Class could work just whithout ramps to save loading time and a Alberni type is a bad idea
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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 Jan 21, 2005 15:24:51 GMT -8
I think it's a good idea. A ferry like the Sealth or Issaqua would be good. The Chilliwack is double ended and she operates in the winter on that run. So I think a smaller double ended ship would work.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 4, 2005 11:52:50 GMT -8
When I look at my maps, it seems that a shorter route for the Prince Rupert - Queen Charlottes service would be to sail from Rupert to Masset, on the north tip of the islands.
Is there a reason that the route goes to Skidigate? I'm assuming that the route goes to Skidigate because of all the loggers on Morsby Island?
But to me, it looks like it would be a shorter more direct route to just sail straight across to Masset, from Rupert.
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Post by NMcKay on Feb 4, 2005 14:40:27 GMT -8
maybe it has to do with the weather condition during certain times of the year.
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Post by Ian on Feb 4, 2005 23:22:18 GMT -8
The Q of Prince R. should be retired, she is pretty ugly with those funnels on the side.
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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 Feb 4, 2005 23:28:36 GMT -8
I dont think the Queen of Prince Rupert is ugly. The Tachek and QQ2 have funnels on the sides. Would be neat to go on her and the Queen of the North one day.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 5, 2005 10:37:24 GMT -8
I think the QPR looks quirky, but not ugly.
Should should probably be retired because of her age, not her appearance. (just like Raquel Welch).
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