How do you get to Victoria? It’s on an island, right? And there’s no bridge, right? So, the only sane way to get to the island is either by boat or by plane. (I say ‘sane’ because there have actually been a number of people who have arrived here from Port Angeles, Washington by swimming the 18 mile Strait of Juan de Fuca—but that was many years ago.) One of the most exotic ways to arrive into Victoria’s quaint little harbour is to take the Victoria Clipper from Seattle, Washington (operated by Seattle-based Clipper Navigation, Inc.)
The ‘Clipper’ ships are high speed passenger-only catamarans, each powered by two waterjet propulsion jet turbines. Two vessels, Clipper I and Clipper IV, operate regular daily service connecting the two cities from harbour to harbour. Built in Bergen, Norway, Clipper IV, the larger of the two, is one of the fastest passenger vessels in the Western Hemisphere, travelling at speeds up to 30 knots. It is over 130 feet in length and is 28 feet in width. It has a passenger capacity of 330 and carries up to 10 attendants.
The journey takes less than three hours. It is a picturesque voyage with a variety of birds and sea life to view along the way, not to mention various sea-going vessels large and small.
There is onboard food service available during the crossing, including a childrens’ menu. There is also a duty free shop onboard as well as a small gift shop.
Reservations may be made well in advance. At the date of this blog post tickets are being offered at rates beginning at $55 round trip through a Web Special. Currently a Round Trip Clipper + 1 Night Victoria Hotel is being offered at $100 pp/dbl. Clipper Vacations offers special pricing for hotels, tours and packages.
Generally, coming to Victoria from Seattle via the Clipper is more convenient than travelling by air. In most cases going through customs and immigration tends to be quicker and simpler than air travel. What do you need to enter Victoria (Canada)? Check with Victoria Clipper and read "Some Important Things To Know Before You Cross The Border!"
One final thing--check the weather before making the journey. If the ocean is calm during the voyage, it’s smooth sailing. If it is quite windy and the sea is very choppy… Well, you can take it from there.
Just one more reason I like living in Victoria.
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