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Post by WettCoast on Aug 11, 2015 18:43:41 GMT -8
when does the Nor Ex go into refit for the winter?? I believe that it will operate through the winter until about mid or late March when it will go south for its refit. That is what was done this year. That forward lounge and the buffet are closed all of the year except for the three month summer season. The NorEx was designed to allow parts of it to be closed off to passengers so that they could run with a lower crew count. The forward lounge is one of those places, unfortunately. BCFS does not care super much about the passenger 'experience' on this vessel during the off season, but, in summer you can have it if you pony up some extra money. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 11, 2015 19:09:02 GMT -8
when does the Nor Ex go into refit for the winter?? I would love to do a trip but I don't wanna pay $200 each way. I think it's cheapest in the dead of winter, lol! The comparison of passenger fares for regular, shoulder and off-peak are: $202 R $145 S $119 OP Shoulder season is March-April, October and December. The only season that has a day-cruise is Regular. For the other seasons, you miss a portion of the trip because of darkness, and presumably sleep. In my experience, the day-cruise in summer weather and in longer daylight hours is absolutely worth the extra cost of the fare. What's the point of doing a route for sight-seeing, if you're going to miss a good part of it, and have heavy weather. That would be like taking Rocky Mountaineer and wearing a blindfold for part of the trip. (LOL) This is one trip that, if " your gonna" do it, you need to do it right. |
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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 Aug 11, 2015 19:21:56 GMT -8
I have seen the sights numerous times I would go to ride the Nor Ex and I think an overnight trip on that ship would be cool! I do like the $119 fare though! Although I wouldn't be able to get back right away though that's the only problem!
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Post by northwesterner on Aug 11, 2015 19:30:33 GMT -8
I have seen the sights numerous times I would go to ride the Nor Ex and I think an overnight trip on that ship would be cool! I do like the $119 fare though! Although I wouldn't be able to get back right away though that's the only problem! Just keep going to Ketchikan on AMHS. Its something different for you, lol. |
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 11, 2015 20:29:43 GMT -8
If I want to go to Alaska I would do an Alaska cruise! I have nothing against Alaska State Ferries but it's a ripoff! It's so expensive you could do a cruise for cheaper that stops in those main ports like Ketchikan Juneau and Skagway.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 11, 2015 21:09:32 GMT -8
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 11:27:24 GMT -8
If I want to go to Alaska I would do an Alaska cruise! I have nothing against Alaska State Ferries but it's a ripoff! It's so expensive you could do a cruise for cheaper that stops in those main ports like Ketchikan Juneau and Skagway. I would never take an Alaska cruise over riding the Alaska State Ferries. I recently sailed with AMHS in April on the Malaspina and last August on the Columbia. My fare in April from Bellingham to Skagway and back to Juneau from where I took a flight home to Seattle was $426.00 and my cabin was $484.00. When I took the Columbia last August from Juneau to Bellingham I opted to stay in my tent on the back deck and my fare was $326.00. I thought the food was a reasonable price and good on both vessels plus the crew was most accommodating. On a cruise ship you miss all the narrow areas such as much of the Inside Passage of BC, Wrangell Narrows and Sergius Narrows/Peril Strait going into Sitka. To me any price you pay to see these very beautiful areas is well worth it and I like the smaller feel of the Alaska Ferry which to me is also worth the fare. In my opinion I don't think AMHS is a ripoff at all. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2015 11:45:47 GMT -8
If I want to go to Alaska I would do an Alaska cruise! I have nothing against Alaska State Ferries but it's a ripoff! It's so expensive you could do a cruise for cheaper that stops in those main ports like Ketchikan Juneau and Skagway. I would never take an Alaska cruise over riding the Alaska State Ferries. I recently sailed with AMHS in April on the Malaspina and last August on the Columbia. My fare in April from Bellingham to Skagway and back to Juneau from where I took a flight home to Seattle was $426.00 and my cabin was $484.00. When I took the Columbia last August from Juneau to Bellingham I opted to stay in my tent on the back deck and my fare was $326.00. I thought the food was a reasonable price and good on both vessels plus the crew was most accommodating. On a cruise ship you miss all the narrow areas such as much of the Inside Passage of BC, Wrangell Narrows and Sergius Narrows/Peril Strait going into Sitka. To me any price you pay to see these very beautiful areas is well worth it and I like the smaller feel of the Alaska Ferry which to me is also worth the fare. In my opinion I don't think AMHS is a ripoff at all. I've had this discussion many times with Karl, over the years on this forum. We're two different people. He's a price-point guy for all his travel, and I'm not. We've had this same discussion about Anacortes motels, airlines, and Alaska & Inside Passage ships. I'm a value guy. I'm aware that for most of my travel choices I could find a cheaper alternative, but I put the experience foremost in my decision, assuming that it's all affordable. And sometimes I need to sacrifice one thing, in order to get another thing done in a worthwhile way. I'd rather do one thing the right way, instead of 2 or 3 things the cheaper way. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 12:56:50 GMT -8
While I wouldn't do an Alaska cruise, I think I would opt for the NorEx winter cruise...better value to me. You get to sleep on the ship, and see the 24-hour operation. The only let down is the closure of the buffet and forward lounge (major disappointment- on the QoTN they only had a quarter of the lounge reserved).
It isn't a cookie cutter difference for me...but I'll do the NorEx eventually.
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 12, 2015 14:29:56 GMT -8
While I wouldn't do an Alaska cruise, I think I would opt for the NorEx winter cruise...better value to me. You get to sleep on the ship, and see the 24-hour operation. The only let down is the closure of the buffet and forward lounge (major disappointment- on the QoTN they only had a quarter of the lounge reserved). It isn't a cookie cutter difference for me...but I'll do the NorEx eventually. The QotN had a reserved lounge, but it was not anywhere close to the forward lounge (mid ship on the starboard side). The forward lounge was available to any & all passengers, summer & winter. In this respect, the way they are operating the NorEx 'sux'. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2015 16:56:17 GMT -8
After reading various responses to the issue of "day cruise" versus "overnight trip" on NorEx, I am realizing that the overnight experience is something interesting too, especially (as Deck Cadet said) to see what the 24 hour operation is like.
A different focus from the "see it all" day cruise. Similar to how sleeping a few nights on VIA The Canadian would be an interesting experience as part of the journey.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 12, 2015 17:08:25 GMT -8
i'm sorry but $400+ for your fare and $400+ for a cabin is rediculas. Why is the cabin more than your fare so if you went both ways with a cabin on AMHS that would be over $1000 bucks! I did a 16 night Panama Cruise for $1000. For the ferry a few days up and back that is a ripoff to me. That is just my opinion. Everyone has there opionions but jeez even the Nor Ex cabins on the overnight sailings arent nearly as much as the fare.
As far a good deal yeah we like to take good deals especially if money is an issue. We can cruise more cause we take inside cabins over balconies yeah I love balcony cabins but they cost more. So what deck cadet is saying you dont sleep on a cruise ship? lol! We actually sailed up the inside passage on our Alaska cruise on the NCL Sun back in 2009 which was cool as the Nor Ex was following us at one point so you do see the inside passage depending which way you go. I dont need to have my camera with me all the time. Honestly I dont take many photos anymore. Too many people taking photos on the forum taking the same photos over and over again. On a cruise I like to relax and do whatever or nothing. Sometimes you just need to be out of reality for a while. That's just my opinion I love cruising.
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Post by Mike C on Aug 12, 2015 18:50:01 GMT -8
After reading various responses to the issue of "day cruise" versus "overnight trip" on NorEx, I am realizing that the overnight experience is something interesting too, especially (as Deck Cadet said) to see what the 24 hour operation is like. A different focus from the "see it all" day cruise. Similar to how sleeping a few nights on VIA The Canadian would be an interesting experience as part of the journey. I've slept on the floor of both the NorAd and the NorEx. I've also slept overnight in the coach seats of VIA's Canadian, in the sleeper car on Amtrak's Coast Starlight, among other trips. I think there's a lot of value in being able to interact with locals and see the true side of somewhere in a social environment, especially in the context of overnighting somewhere. I recall on the Amtrak trip being seated with different passengers on the train at every meal. I also recall being on the Canadian, and interacting with the crew in a very personable, laid-back way. I also think of flying the same way as cruising. I travel a lot for work, both to outlying communities, and by plane to Vancouver - at one point this past summer, I was on a plane about once a week. Flying has it's place - it offers immense convenience, and if convenience is your biggest travel concern, than that is of the best value. But the novelty of flying has completely worn off for me, and I now really appreciate the slower-paced train trips or driving trips home. I don't think anyone is trying to undermine anyone else's travel styles. There's an occasion and a place for both, I think - where sometimes convenience is a necessity, and sometimes you just want to experience the long road home, or socialize with the locals. And when you have the extra time, there's great value in the latter. Except the Greyhound. |
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Post by northwesterner on Aug 12, 2015 19:13:32 GMT -8
I've slept on the floor of both the NorAd and the NorEx. I've also slept overnight in the coach seats of VIA's Canadian, in the sleeper car on Amtrak's Coast Starlight, among other trips. I think there's a lot of value in being able to interact with locals and see the true side of somewhere in a social environment, especially in the context of overnighting somewhere. I recall on the Amtrak trip being seated with different passengers on the train at every meal. I also recall being on the Canadian, and interacting with the crew in a very personable, laid-back way. I also think of flying the same way as cruising. I travel a lot for work, both to outlying communities, and by plane to Vancouver - at one point this past summer, I was on a plane about once a week. Flying has it's place - it offers immense convenience, and if convenience is your biggest travel concern, than that is of the best value. But the novelty of flying has completely worn off for me, and I now really appreciate the slower-paced train trips or driving trips home. I don't think anyone is trying to undermine anyone else's travel styles. There's an occasion and a place for both, I think - where sometimes convenience is a necessity, and sometimes you just want to experience the long road home, or socialize with the locals. And when you have the extra time, there's great value in the latter. Except the Greyhound. Definitely agree with most of what you have to say above... Part of the reason for taking an Alaska ferry trip (*ahem* Koastal Karl) is for the voyage itself - the slow pace, the stops at out of the way ports, the interaction with the locals traveling long distances slowly as part of their normal lives, something that comes with living somewhere so remote. Of course the ferry costs more than a cruise... They're also paying their staff more than the couple bucks an hour your waiter is getting paid on the cruiseship (don't forget to tip...). I rode Amtrak's Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in 2007. Slept in a coach seat. Westbound in the fall, the daylight is across most of the state of North Dakota and Eastern Montana. Not much to see ... its the great prairies stretched out as far as the eye could see. Regardless, I was glued to the window, for almost the whole day. I just loved watching the world go by, and watching a rural, farming lifestyle closely while I didn't have to focus on driving (as I just did in my car for 1400miles from Houston to Phoenix... what farms?). I've taken AMHS from Skagway to Juneau (okay, only six hours there... less back because I took the Fairweather). I've also taken an Alaska cruise. The pace was so different between the two... I can tell you which one is more memorable. It wasn't the cruise. Other somewhat nutty overland trips I've taken over the years: *30 days on Greyhound in 2005 ( Mike C's nightmare) *28 hours straight on a sleeper bus between Kunming, China and Luang Prabang, Laos, 2009 *The entire length of Vietnam from Hanoi to Saigon by train, 2008. Most other tourist took overnight "tourist buses." I rode with the locals. *Local train from Barcelona to France/Spain border, sleeper train to Paris, cross Paris by subway to other train station, day train from Paris to Berlin, 20 hours, 2009. *Van->School Bus->School Bus-> Tuk Tuk ->Share Taxi -> Scheduled Van -> Scheduled Van -> Taxi; Hostel to Hostel Xela Guatemala to San Cristobal Mexico, 2014. Most other tourists paid 4x I did for a "tourist van" for the same trip. Getting there is half the fun. And taking it easy, going slow, and most importantly, going the way the locals go so you can observe and even interact with them in their environment is worth the price of admission. You get none of that on a cruise, in exchange for good food and good service. Undoubtedly they are good value and have their place. But as substitutes for each other, no way. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Aug 12, 2015 21:33:59 GMT -8
i'm sorry but $400+ for your fare and $400+ for a cabin is rediculas. Why is the cabin more than your fare so if you went both ways with a cabin on AMHS that would be over $1000 bucks! I did a 16 night Panama Cruise for $1000. For the ferry a few days up and back that is a ripoff to me. That is just my opinion. Everyone has there opionions but jeez even the Nor Ex cabins on the overnight sailings arent nearly as much as the fare. As far a good deal yeah we like to take good deals especially if money is an issue. We can cruise more cause we take inside cabins over balconies yeah I love balcony cabins but they cost more. So what deck cadet is saying you dont sleep on a cruise ship? lol! We actually sailed up the inside passage on our Alaska cruise on the NCL Sun back in 2009 which was cool as the Nor Ex was following us at one point so you do see the inside passage depending which way you go. I dont need to have my camera with me all the time. Honestly I dont take many photos anymore. Too many people taking photos on the forum taking the same photos over and over again. On a cruise I like to relax and do whatever or nothing. Sometimes you just need to be out of reality for a while. That's just my opinion I love cruising. Only one 'lol' and two exclamation marks. Karl, you're getting pretty sane in your old age. What's next... 'ridiculous'? 
The one thing I'd take issue with is your characterizing AMHS fares as a rip-off. No one can argue against your personal preference for cruising over long haul ferry rides, but I think that term is inappropriate in this case. AMHS fares are high- no question... but when you look at the fact that the subsidy to Alaska ferries is in excess of $135 million to carry 2% of the passengers that BC Ferries carries, it's obvious that this is a very expensive system to finance, and what they're charging nowhere near covers their costs.
Too high for you- I can understand that. But a 'rip-off'... I don't think so.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 15, 2015 18:23:58 GMT -8
The NorEx Movie: Loading and Departure, the start of a spectacular day...
- this is at Prince Rupert, on August 5, 2015.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 17, 2015 8:08:23 GMT -8
9:50pm on my northbound NorEx journey, and I was able to take some time-exposures showing the exterior lighting on the ship. A lovely ship when lit-up. Here we are, in Chahtham Sound.  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 20, 2015 21:32:14 GMT -8
Northern Expedition - north bound during Inside Passage 'Day Cruise' just south of Hartley Bay (Wright Sound) - 18 August 2015. A small bit of Princess Royal Island forms the back drop for this photo. Princess Royal is BC's third largest island.  © WCK-JST by JST, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 24, 2015 18:08:07 GMT -8
The 'Expedition's starboard side catches some evening sun as she leaves McLoughlin Bay. - August 7, 2015  20150807_180915 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Shot from the starboard blue-zone, which is on deck-7, just behind the bridge. A nice place to be, when it's not raining. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 1, 2015 17:49:13 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 2, 2015 6:35:17 GMT -8
The sounds of the NorEx are what many people remember from an inside passage trip. Or maybe it's just something that gets stored deeper in the subconscious.
Here's the sounds that I heard, which many of you will fondly remember.
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 9, 2015 22:09:46 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 18, 2015 11:25:32 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 18, 2015 16:57:04 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 3, 2016 14:52:20 GMT -8
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