Today I continue my trip by boat, taking the fast ferry from Seattle’s Pier 69 to Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. My colleague, the tall blond M studied English in Victoria many moons ago before he became a dada. And he hasn’t stopped raving since. So, I figured this would be a good opportunity to check out what all the fuss is about.

Getting to Pier 69

It’s still very early in the morning when I leave the Ändra Hotel and make my way to the passenger terminal on Pier 69. As I’ve got my suitcase and my rucksack with me, I figure it’ll be easier to take an UBER than to walk. The trip takes about 15 minutes.

Check-In

Check-in for the boat opens one hour before departure and closes twenty minutes before departure. As I’m travelling in Comfort VIP Class, I’m allowed to take my suitcase on as hand luggage, or I can check it in for free. Just a piece of advice if you’re considering taking this service: DON’T CHECK IN YOUR BAG! If you do, you will be allowed off the boat last in Victoria and end up spending a very long time queuing for immigration outside in the cold.

At the Seattle terminal there is a dedicated check-in counter for Comfort Class passengers.

Boarding

Boarding starts about 45 minutes prior to departure with a call for passengers with children and reduced mobility. Next, it’s passengers in Comfort Class. The advantage of boarding first is that it gives you better options for where to store your hand luggage on the main deck of the boat.

The Crew & Service

The crew on this service are great. Once boarding is completed, they pass through the cabin with sparkling wine for a welcome drink. It’s amazing just how many lushes there are out there that will happily guzzle sparkling wine before eight in the morning, simply by merit of that fact that it’s for free.

In the Comfort cabin complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks are available throughout the journey. And the coffee is the good stuff (I know, Seattle…). In addition, passengers can order more substantial items for purchase at their seat.

The Cabin & Seat

The Comfort cabin is located in the forward section of the upper deck. Seats are arranged in a 2+4+2+4+2 configuration. The best seats are on row 1, as these are forward facing and have an unobstructed view of the outside, which is quite spectacular. Possibly the worst seats up front are those on rows 2 and 3, as they are the only sets of seats facing each other.

The Meal – Breakfast

We depart on time at 08h00. Once we’re settled into the cruise, the service begins and I have a yoghurt parfait with granola and fruit and a hot spicy bacon sandwich with scrambled egg, both if which are very good. The hot sandwich is piping hot, both in terms of temperature and how spicy it is.

Arrival in Victoria

The journey from Seattle to Victoria takes about three hours give and take, depending mainly on the current. The jetty for the FRS ferry is conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Immigration formalities are conducted in a small building on the jetty. In fact, it’s so small that queuing takes place outside in the freezing cold. It’s much, much colder than it was in Seattle!

Conclusion

The ferry service from Seattle to Victoria makes for a highly enjoyable trip with excellent views (in good visibility). The journey takes three hours to complete, which passed much quicker than expected. The fact that you arrive right in the centre of Victoria is convenient.