Day 5: Inside Passage
14/09/19 07:30
Had to get up at the very ungodly hours of 3:45 but for whatever reason ( excitement ? ) I was awake a bit earlier.
Shower and packing was quite quickly done at well on time ( 4:50 ) for the shuttle bus from the Quarterdeck Inn to the Port Hardy Ferry Terminal I was in the hotel lobby.
Was interesting to see of how many people left the inn and how many more we picked up at various other motels on our way to the terminal. I was definitely not on my own for this voyage.
The ferry terminal was already buzzing with people and cars at this very early hours.
Check-in procedure to get my boarding pass and then a short stroll into the bellows of the ferry. No separate gangway, also the foot passengers had to board through the car deck.
Quickly I found my bearings, picked up the access card to the lounge ( where I had a pre-booked recliner seat ) at the pursers office and headed then to the cafeteria to treat myself to a nice breakfast on board.
Now full of energy I made my way to the outside decks to await for quite a few fellow passengers the imminent departure of the "Northern Exhibition" ( a vessel build in Flensburg/Germany ) at 7:30.
Whilst waiting the first sign of Canadian wildlife was spotted in the trees ashore: a bald eagle
With a bit a delay ( about 30 min which the captain as it turned out was able to more than catch up ) we left into this grim morning, at that point in time still dry but very dull.
If you ever been on the Hurtigruten tour in Norway then this voyage is roughly the same ONLY 100 ( no: a 1000 ) times bigger.
Unfortunately I wasn't as far as the weather was concerned very lucky as only for the first 3-4 hours it was dry else it was always raining in various strength.
Nevertheless: the scenery was simply stunning and the few pictures I could take ( see my picture page [ link at the end of this blog ] ) can only give you a very vague idea.
I at least enjoyed despite the adverse weather conditions EVERY minute.
The ship was very comfortable and had all the amenities which a ferry passenger may need: self-service cafeteria, cinema, various outdoor decks and, at the front of the ship, the Aurora lounge with very comfy reclining seats.
At Klemtu the ferry stopped for a little while. Klemtu ( on Swindle Island ) is manly inhabited by Canadas "First Nation" or indigenous people:
Whilst waiting here we spotted close to the ship two whales. Fortunatly I could get some pictures. Have a look on the picture page and see if you can find them.
Impressing was then some time later the passage through the Tolmie and Grenville Channel where the mountains are coming straight out of the water the latter being about 500 m wide.
Due the more then dull weather it got darker and darker so that at around 18:00 I decided to treat myself to a nice evening meal ( to justify myself: I had breakfast at around 6:45 ) in the ships VISTA restaurant to retire afterwards to my comfy chair in the Aurora lounge.
To everybody's amazement at around 22:30 the announcement was made that our arrival in Prince Rupert was eminent. About an hours earlier then scheduled !
Car passengers have been asked first to the car deck but thanks to a fellow foot passenger on met earlier he suggested to follow them and wait on the car deck to beat the crowds of the other foot passengers.
Brilliant idea: the last car had left the car deck and one could walk ashore, get your suit case and jump into a cab waiting.
15 min late I was at the hotels check-in, got my room key and then GOOD NIGHT
If you want to follow me: Track My Tour or see some more pictures
Shower and packing was quite quickly done at well on time ( 4:50 ) for the shuttle bus from the Quarterdeck Inn to the Port Hardy Ferry Terminal I was in the hotel lobby.
Was interesting to see of how many people left the inn and how many more we picked up at various other motels on our way to the terminal. I was definitely not on my own for this voyage.
The ferry terminal was already buzzing with people and cars at this very early hours.
Check-in procedure to get my boarding pass and then a short stroll into the bellows of the ferry. No separate gangway, also the foot passengers had to board through the car deck.
Quickly I found my bearings, picked up the access card to the lounge ( where I had a pre-booked recliner seat ) at the pursers office and headed then to the cafeteria to treat myself to a nice breakfast on board.
Now full of energy I made my way to the outside decks to await for quite a few fellow passengers the imminent departure of the "Northern Exhibition" ( a vessel build in Flensburg/Germany ) at 7:30.
Whilst waiting the first sign of Canadian wildlife was spotted in the trees ashore: a bald eagle
With a bit a delay ( about 30 min which the captain as it turned out was able to more than catch up ) we left into this grim morning, at that point in time still dry but very dull.
If you ever been on the Hurtigruten tour in Norway then this voyage is roughly the same ONLY 100 ( no: a 1000 ) times bigger.
Unfortunately I wasn't as far as the weather was concerned very lucky as only for the first 3-4 hours it was dry else it was always raining in various strength.
Nevertheless: the scenery was simply stunning and the few pictures I could take ( see my picture page [ link at the end of this blog ] ) can only give you a very vague idea.
I at least enjoyed despite the adverse weather conditions EVERY minute.
The ship was very comfortable and had all the amenities which a ferry passenger may need: self-service cafeteria, cinema, various outdoor decks and, at the front of the ship, the Aurora lounge with very comfy reclining seats.
At Klemtu the ferry stopped for a little while. Klemtu ( on Swindle Island ) is manly inhabited by Canadas "First Nation" or indigenous people:
Whilst waiting here we spotted close to the ship two whales. Fortunatly I could get some pictures. Have a look on the picture page and see if you can find them.
Impressing was then some time later the passage through the Tolmie and Grenville Channel where the mountains are coming straight out of the water the latter being about 500 m wide.
Due the more then dull weather it got darker and darker so that at around 18:00 I decided to treat myself to a nice evening meal ( to justify myself: I had breakfast at around 6:45 ) in the ships VISTA restaurant to retire afterwards to my comfy chair in the Aurora lounge.
To everybody's amazement at around 22:30 the announcement was made that our arrival in Prince Rupert was eminent. About an hours earlier then scheduled !
Car passengers have been asked first to the car deck but thanks to a fellow foot passenger on met earlier he suggested to follow them and wait on the car deck to beat the crowds of the other foot passengers.
Brilliant idea: the last car had left the car deck and one could walk ashore, get your suit case and jump into a cab waiting.
15 min late I was at the hotels check-in, got my room key and then GOOD NIGHT
If you want to follow me: Track My Tour or see some more pictures
