Did you feel it?

Poor old Quinsam

Just days after her return to service from a $16m refit, the Quinsam is clearly not coming up to scratch - so much so that BC Ferries is being forced to adopt a revised schedule from May 27th to overcome the service delays that are currently being experienced.

The reason? Quinsam's new propulsion units are not delivering normal speed. Must be the weight of all those steel seats in the passenger lounges. Bring back the Bowen Queen!

Read the whole sorry tale here. 

 

Radiance of the Seas visits Nanaimo

Nanaimo's waterfront was buzzing today as more than 2,000 passengers took time ashore from Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, moored out in the channel off Gabriola.

Looking very low in the water, the intrepid cruisers were transferred by tender to the visitor pier in Nanaimo Harbour - dodging the Quinsam's wake as she arrived (late again) from Gabriola. 

All of which set me thinking - arrival by tender from almost a mile offshore helps make a great visitor experience.  Just a shame that they'll all have to walk through the freight yards when the new cruise ship terminal is built.  Or maybe they'll bus everyone out with the blinds drawn?

Harbour Air and West Coast Air consolidation begins

If you're planning on flying between Nanaimo Harbour and Vancouver or YVR anytime soon, you need to know that the first phase of the consolidation of West Coast Air with its new parent, Harbour Air, starts tomorrow.

Harbour Air Group has announced that, with effect from 19 May, both Harbour Air and West Coast Air will now use the Harbour Air terminals at both Vancouver Harbour and Inglis Drive, Richmond (YVR).

At YVR, the West Coast Air shuttle service to/from the main terminals will now be available to Harbour Air passengers as well. In Vancouver Harbour, the refurbished Harbour Air terminal will (from 21 May) offer complimentary speciality coffees, newspapers and internet access to passengers waiting to depart on either service.

A copy of the full announcement can be found here

Goosing around

"Better do as your mother says, son, there's a man with a camera watching us"