3308 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

...On the other hand I don't miss the flood of tourists personally. 

Even though they are the lifeblood of the CoV economy for 6-8 months each year? 

[Victoria Watcher]

Alaska’s effort to allow international cruise ships to bypass B.C. ports on the way from Seattle to Ketchikan has B.C. worried about losing its main cruise tourism, even after international travel emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With all adults now able to get COVID-19 vaccines in her state, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is attempting to save her state’s 2021 cruise ship season with a bill to suspend 19th century U.S. legislation requiring foreign-flagged passenger vessels to stop in another country between American ports.


https://www.vicnews....canadian-stops/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 March 2021 - 01:41 PM.

[Nparker]

Alaska’s effort to allow international cruise ships to bypass B.C. ports on the way from Seattle to Ketchikan has B.C. worried about losing its main cruise tourism, even after international travel emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic...

I doubt Seattle could handle the full complement of Alaska cruises in a regular season, so Vancouver, as a home port, is relatively safe. Victoria of course, is likely to be the loser in the long run.

[Victoria Watcher]

Seattle certainly could. They just have to figure out a way to board faster. Half the time they take now.

it’s probably not that difficult. even if they have to move some provisioning away from the passenger dock. it’s just logistics.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 March 2021 - 01:58 PM.

[Nparker]

Seattle certainly could...

No, they really couldn't. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Take the number of ships on the route. How many hours would each require in the Seattle dock per week?

it might not be ideal but they could swing it. later and earlier departures and arrivals. More mid week departures and arrivals.

right now for example they all dock in Seattle at about 7am to disembark. Then leave late in day with next set of passengers.

turn over quicker. Logistics. More provisioning in Alaska (more expensive).

How many ships are there? 25 at best. That gives them each 7 hours in Seattle.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 March 2021 - 02:05 PM.

[Nparker]

I have been on enough cruises to know that Seattle could not manage all of the ships/passengers that currently use Vancouver as a home port. There's also the issue of the air traffic bringing in many of the passengers that is currently split between 2 large international airports, but that's another matter altogether.

Edited by Nparker, 23 March 2021 - 02:22 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

you are certainly right about the air traffic.

It’s likely quite advantageous to the cruise lines having carriers fighting each other over fares Seattle vs. Vancouver.

It would cost more for everyone without Vancouver.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 March 2021 - 02:25 PM.

[Mike K.]

The port in Seattle is massive, so if Vancouver can use a podunk terminal in east Van I’m sure Seattle could manage. Vancouver also has the dilemma of not being able to accommodate the newest generations of vessels due to their height and it sounds like they might need a new facility somewhere on the river.

[Nparker]

Again as a long-time cruiser, I simply do not see Seattle absorbing all the Vancouver cruise business.

[spanky123]

you are certainly right about the air traffic.

It’s likely quite advantageous to the cruise lines having carriers fighting each other over fares Seattle vs. Vancouver.

It would cost more for everyone without Vancouver.

 

Seatac and YVR have about the same volume of traffic. Even if everyone who went on a cruise flew to Seatac or YVR it would represent only about 4% of their traffic. Capacity is not an issue. It costs a heck of a lot less to fly from most places outside of Canada to SEA then it does YVR.

 

It is a slightly longer distance from Seatac to Pier 66 then it is from YVR to the cruise ship terminal but the cost by cab / uber is about the same. 

 

Bottom line is that the cruise ship industry would likely be quite happy to have Vancouver and Victoria as optional ports.

Edited by spanky123, 24 March 2021 - 06:46 AM.

[Mike K.]

Isn’t the biggest terminal at pier 91 in Seattle? By space surely.

[lanforod]

Seatac and YVR have about the same volume of traffic. Even if everyone who went on a cruise flew to Seatac or YVR it would represent only about 4% of their traffic. Capacity is not an issue. It costs a heck of a lot less to fly from most places outside of Canada to SEA then it does YVR.

 

It is a slightly longer distance from Seatac to Pier 66 then it is from YVR to the cruise ship terminal but the cost by cab / uber is about the same. 

 

Bottom line is that the cruise ship industry would likely be quite happy to have Vancouver and Victoria as optional ports.

 

Their customers won't though. I did an Alaska cruise that was supposed to stop in Victoria, but didn't due to weather. There were a LOT of disappointed people on board.

[spanky123]

^ Sure if you miss a stop then folks will be unhappy. If the stop is never there and instead you get 1 more Alaska destination then nobody will care. 

[Jackerbie]

Isn’t the biggest terminal at pier 91 in Seattle? By space surely.

Pier 91 has two berths, Pier 66 has one. The planned Terminal 46 was to have one berth but has been suspended indefinitely.

Canada Place has three berths.

[Victoria Watcher]

that ship in the suez has been loosened and is straightened up I guess.

[Hotel Mike]

Victoria is a very desired stop for the cruise ship passengers. Even without the restrictive American legislation, the cruise ship lines would want to stop here. Some of the American or other foreign visitors have never been to Canada, and may never again be here. The stop here is somewhat 'exotic'.

[spanky123]

Victoria is a very desired stop for the cruise ship passengers. Even without the restrictive American legislation, the cruise ship lines would want to stop here. Some of the American or other foreign visitors have never been to Canada, and may never again be here. The stop here is somewhat 'exotic'.

 

And what is so special about a 4 hour stop in Victoria. Is it our variety of pot shops, coffee shops and places to pawn your goods? Are they hoping to squeeze in a solid 30 minutes at Butchart? Trying to figure out what our new downtown has that any other city in North America with a water view doesn't.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria is a very desired stop for the cruise ship passengers. Even without the restrictive American legislation, the cruise ship lines would want to stop here. Some of the American or other foreign visitors have never been to Canada, and may never again be here. The stop here is somewhat 'exotic'.

 

perhaps a lot of us want to believe this.  but not sure it's true.  after all if we are so hot why do exactly zero vancouver-based regular weekly ships stop here?

 

also if seattle based ships did not have to stop here there would be much less pressure for travellers to have current passports.

 

Q:  why don't the cruise ships drop other little boats or floatplanes into the water for different excursions or whale watching?  or helicopters?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 March 2021 - 10:48 AM.

[todd]

Q:  why don't the cruise ships drop other little boats or floatplanes into the water for different excursions or whale watching?  or helicopters?

Or just scrape the coastline a little closer with the ship.