Ovation of the Seas Location Question

[matthewthamm]

She looks to be about 125 miles of the coast today.

Looking forward to May, and her first sailing out of Vancouver!!  Hoping the train is crossing the border by then.  That is how we are planning to get to Vancouver.  Not an I-5 fan.

Edited January 18, 2022 by matthewthamm

[grayshark]

On 1/18/2022 at 2:09 PM, matthewthamm said:

She looks to be about 125 miles of the coast today.

Looking forward to May, and her first sailing out of Vancouver!!  Hoping the train is crossing the border by then.  That is how we are planning to get to Vancouver.  Not an I-5 fan.

Looks like on ground hogs day Ovation wants six more days of winter and is headed to Seattle arriving on February 7.

presumably to check in with her designated home port and make the ship available for periodic inspections by the coast guard in Seattle.

 

I am wondering if they might add a seattle to Vancouver add on cruise the day before she departs from Vancouver to Alaska.

if memory serves, I think they sometimes add a one day sampler cruise to pick up people in Seattle just before the Alaska season departures from Vancouver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[STEVE-O]

1 hour ago, grayshark said:

Looks like on ground hogs day Ovation wants six more days of winter and is headed to Seattle arriving on February 7.

presumably to check in with her designated home port and make the ship available for periodic inspections by the coast guard in Seattle.

 

I am wondering if they might add a seattle to Vancouver add on cruise the day before she departs from Vancouver to Alaska.

if memory serves, I think they sometimes add a one day sampler cruise to pick up people in Seattle just before the Alaska season departures from Vancouver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ovation does Seattle round trips to Alaska.  Coming out if limbo, there wouldn't be a reason to go to Vancouver.

 

Had she been coming from Australia via Honolulu, it would need to have a Vanc BC to Seattle sailing at the start OK the AK season

[Blizzard54]

Ovation has been coming into port in Seattle about once a month for provisions.  I am a little surprised that they have not changed her restart to Seattle in May.  With Hawaii cancelled she really does not need to go to Vancouver.  When she goes that they need to lower the stacks and carefully time going under the Lyons Gate Bridge at slack low tide.   

[grayshark]

1 hour ago, Blizzard54 said:

Ovation has been coming into port in Seattle about once a month for provisions.  I am a little surprised that they have not changed her restart to Seattle in May.  With Hawaii cancelled she really does not need to go to Vancouver.  When she goes that they need to lower the stacks and carefully time going under the Lyons Gate Bridge at slack low tide.   

Yes, I think given the present circumstances they would like to re-start in Seattle.

 

but I doubt RCI would cancel the Vancouver stop since so many people have already planned their cruise departing from Vancouver.

With COVID still around I would imagine the Canadian passengers would not want to deal with crossing the border before boarding.

 

that’s why I think they may add a sampler one day cruise Seattle-Vancouver since the ship will be available.

 

And. I Have seen these fairly regularly in Seattle just at the begining and end of the Alaska season

[Blizzard54]

I have kept track of those repos for many years and taken a number of them.  Royal has never done a 1-night repo.  Once in 2011 they did a 2-night from Vancouver followed by a few 3/4's our of Seattle at the end of the Alaska season.   On the other hand, others like Princess, NCL and HAL have occasionally done 1-nighters.   

 

[grayshark]

17 minutes ago, Blizzard54 said:

I have kept track of those repos for many years and taken a number of them.  Royal has never done a 1-night repo.  Once in 2011 they did a 2-night from Vancouver followed by a few 3/4's our of Seattle at the end of the Alaska season.   On the other hand, others like Princess, NCL and HAL have occasionally done 1-nighters.   

 

I think typically the One night samplers were the ships that are finishing up a pacific coastal  cruise in Seattle or Vancouver 

basically repositioning cruises that don’t need to make a stop at a foreign port.

Where normally ovation comes from Hawaii. And needs to make a stop in a foreign port.

This is a covid year and ovation is in warm layup.  So I think anything is possible —- that meets the current rules of course

[Blizzard54]

Yes, the one- night sailings we to prepare to move the ship at the beginning or end of the season but Royal has always just had the first or last cruise of the Alaska season start in one city and end in the other, so they did not need a one-night repo. 

You may be correct that they may keep the Vancouver start so as to not have those already book need to change their plans.  

[crzndeb]

6 hours ago, grayshark said:

Looks like on ground hogs day Ovation wants six more days of winter and is headed to Seattle arriving on February 7.

presumably to check in with her designated home port and make the ship available for periodic inspections by the coast guard in Seattle.

 

I am wondering if they might add a seattle to Vancouver add on cruise the day before she departs from Vancouver to Alaska.

if memory serves, I think they sometimes add a one day sampler cruise to pick up people in Seattle just before the Alaska season departures from Vancouver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sure wish they would. I’m on that first cruise and I would much rather board at home, especially since the train isn’t running up to Vancouver yet and from what I’ve read, not until June. My choice now would probably be to make the quick trip on a plane. 
I remember the days when they would do 3 and 4 day trips from Seattle, and hit Victoria. Did a couple of those on the Radiance.

I noticed a couple of days ago, our pet was headed back North 😂😂

 

[grayshark]

15 hours ago, crzndeb said:

I sure wish they would. I’m on that first cruise and I would much rather board at home, especially since the train isn’t running up to Vancouver yet and from what I’ve read, not until June. My choice now would probably be to make the quick trip on a plane. 
I remember the days when they would do 3 and 4 day trips from Seattle, and hit Victoria. Did a couple of those on the Radiance.

I noticed a couple of days ago, our pet was headed back North 😂😂

15 hours ago, crzndeb said:

I sure wish they would. I’m on that first cruise and I would much rather board at home, especially since the train isn’t running up to Vancouver yet and from what I’ve read, not until June. My choice now would probably be to make the quick trip on a plane. 
I remember the days when they would do 3 and 4 day trips from Seattle, and hit Victoria. Did a couple of those on the Radiance.

I noticed a couple of days ago, our pet was headed back North 😂😂

 

Are you familiar with the QuickShuttle that runs from Sea-Tac to YVR airport and on to the cruise terminal in Vancouver?

it makes stops at the convention center and Tulalip and picks up passengers.

I took a cruise out of Vancouver several years ago and caught the bus at the Tulalip Outlet Stores.  Did some research and found out that I could park my car at the Tulalip Casino parking lot for free for up to three weeks. I live in the Lynnwood-Mill Creek area and made for an easy trip up to Vancouver.  I don’t know how the panademic has affected their service however.

[crzndeb]

@grayshark Since I’m in Brier/Lynnwood area, That might be an option, if they still leave out of Tulalip. I don’t think I would leave my vehicle there, but easy enough to get a ride. Do you remember how long the trip was? I will research it, but still would rather have a shorty cruise out of Seattle. 😉

[grayshark]

30 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

@grayshark Since I’m in Brier/Lynnwood area, That might be an option, if they still leave out of Tulalip. I don’t think I would leave my vehicle there, but easy enough to get a ride. Do you remember how long the trip was? I will research it, but still would rather have a shorty cruise out of Seattle. 😉

Their website is quickcoach.com

looks like Tulalip is still a scheduled stop.  For the timeframe I am not sure exactly how long it took. but the bus cruised up I-5 since it was a weekday morning with little traffic. The only other stop before the border is Bellingham airport and they did not stop there on that day.

but looks like they are down to two trips a day because of covid ——where I think they had four daily when I went years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

[Blizzard54]

We have used Quickshuttle quite a few times over the years.  We usually get on in Downtown Seattle.  They cut back the service every year.  They increase the number of buses as soon as the first ship is due in.   At one time the Tulalip, like Bellingham, was available.  They only stopped if someone had reservations.  The travel time was about the same as the train.  A benefit was that it took you to Canada Place instead of the train station.      

[matthewthamm]

The QuickShuttle sounds like a good idea.  However, I am coming from the other end of the state. Kelso.  So I am looking to take the Amtrak.  Have not seen any change in the border crossing yet.  Might end up bussing from Seattle Train (currently the last train station heading north) to Vancouver, which is not desired.  But we have a few months as we, too, are on the first one of the season.  

[crzndeb]

1 hour ago, grayshark said:

Their website is quickcoach.com

looks like Tulalip is still a scheduled stop.  For the timeframe I am not sure exactly how long it took. but the bus cruised up I-5 since it was a weekday morning with little traffic. The only other stop before the border is Bellingham airport and they did not stop there on that day.

but looks like they are down to two trips a day because of covid ——where I think they had four daily when I went years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t see anything available, either from Seattle or Tulalip, May 3 or 4, but it’s still early. Once ships start sailing, there may be more availability.

Amtrak says they have 4 daily buses doing the run to Vancouver, but I prefer they get the train route going again.

[Blizzard54]

1 hour ago, matthewthamm said:

The QuickShuttle sounds like a good idea.  However, I am coming from the other end of the state. Kelso.  So I am looking to take the Amtrak.  Have not seen any change in the border crossing yet.  Might end up bussing from Seattle Train (currently the last train station heading north) to Vancouver, which is not desired.  But we have a few months as we, too, are on the first one of the season.  

Quickshuttle's downtown stop is at the Convention Center. Amtrak may have busses from the King Street Station.   Another option could be to pick up Quickshuttle from Seatac.  The lightrail has stops at King Street and the Airport.

[Baowen]

Ovation has docked here in Seattle this morning. they are docked at Pier 66. I hope that this means the crew will be able to get off and get provisions.

 

[Baowen]

[grayshark]

3 hours ago, Baowen said:

Ovation has docked here in Seattle this morning. they are docked at Pier 66. I hope that this means the crew will be able to get off and get provisions.

 

Yeah

i happened to see it coming up to the pier on the channel 4 news at 7 AM this morning

they have that live shot of the waterfront from one of the skyscrapers as they wrap

up the broadcast

 

Might  be a lot of people in that area today

the boat show is going on at Bell Harbor Marina

but Monday is probably a slow day for the boat show

[Ferry_Watcher]

Anyone know when its expected to leave Pier 66?  I am hope to get a photo as she sails by.

[crzndeb]

4 hours ago, Baowen said:

Ovation has docked here in Seattle this morning. they are docked at Pier 66. I hope that this means the crew will be able to get off and get provisions.

 

My post #45 was when she was docked at Pier 66 last time for provisions. Several of us keep track of her every move. 😂

Now I wish they would add some 3/4 day RT’s from Seattle in April. And one to get me up to Vancouver for her first sailing in May to Alaska. 😉

[Baowen]

24 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Anyone know when its expected to leave Pier 66?  I am hope to get a photo as she sails by.

I don't see a departure time listed on the Port of Seattle. Last time she was her for approx 10 hours and the time before, she was here for approx 12 hours.  So, I am assuming it's expensive to dock at Pier 66 and they will be leaving today but who knows?

Edited February 7, 2022 by Baowen

[Oceansaway17]

14 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Anyone know when its expected to leave Pier 66?  I am hope to get a photo as she sails by.

usually stays in port 12 hours or so.

I have wondered why she doesn't use Los Angeles but I guess they have an agreement with Seattle.

 

I just wish she would come in say 8am when it is easier to see the ship.

I am enjoying looking at my Ovation Crystal though

[Ferry_Watcher]

6 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I just wish she would come in say 8am when it is easier to see the ship

LOL, I know!  When I read your post about the Ovation docking around 7am, I commented that she 'snuck by me again!'  At least I have the Marine Traffic on my phone, so I will keep checking throughout the day.   Thanks,  @Baowen and@Oceansaway17

Edited February 7, 2022 by Ferry_Watcher

[Oceansaway17]

11 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

LOL, I know!  When I read your post about the Ovation docking around 7am, I commented that she 'snuck by me again!'  At least I have the Marine Traffic on my phone, so I will keep checking throughout the day.   Thanks,  @Baowen and@Oceansaway17

Love your name Ferry Watcher.  You live in a great place for that.  I enjoy Pugent sound and did a small boat from Victoria down to Seattle back during the World's Fair in Vancouver.  Never forgot about it.

I have done 3 cruises out of Seattle so far and doing two more this year.  Quantum OTS and also Encore.