Preliminary Whales & Totems Adventure
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Maple Leaf Adventures Mail: PO Box 8845, Stn Central, Victoria, B.C., V8W 3Z1, Canada Courier: #209-1110 Government St., Victoria, BC, V8W 1Y2, Canada Phone +1.250.386.7245 Toll free 1.888.599.5323 www.MapleLeafAdventures.com Ranked one of the “Top 5 Guided Trips” in Canada by Explore Magazine How to Get There and Back – Preliminary Whales & Totems Adventure: October 14-18, 2017 Aboard MV Swell This is preliminary information, so that you have a good understanding of where the trip will start and end and can plan your travel. However, please note that external factors may cause us to slightly change dates and times well in advance of your trip. You will receive a final version of this document, with exact boarding and disembarking time, closer to your trip. These times will correspond to daily flights in and out of the port. Please check with us before booking non-refundable airfare at this point. Thank you. Trip Start Location Port McNeill, BC, Municipal Wharf (airport is Port Hardy, BC) Boarding Time TBD – We arrange our boarding times to suit some incoming flights on the day of the trip. These schedules may be available but are not yet confirmed by the airlines at the time of writing. Boarding times will be set after we receive the airline schedules, and we will send you an update. Typically, boarding times are in the afternoon. Where to Meet Meet at the entrance to the marina, at the top of the dock. Your crew will help you with your bags. Trip Return Location Port McNeill, BC, Municipal Wharf (airport is Port Hardy, BC) Disembarking Time TBD – We arrange our disembarking times to suit some outgoing flights on the day of the trip. These schedules may be available but are not yet confirmed by the airlines. Trip times will be set after we’ve received the confirmed airline schedules, and we will send you an update. At this time you may wish to book your local flight. Typically, disembarking time is midday. How to Get to the Ship Port McNeill is located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The municipal docks are located in the heart of Port McNeill’s downtown. It takes approximately 25 minutes, via taxi, from the Port Hardy Airport to arrive at the Port McNeill municipal docks. See map above. By Air: We have used Vancouver Airport as the starting point for these instructions. From Vancouver International Airport, you will fly to Port Hardy and from there you can hire a taxi to take you to Port McNeill. The taxi fare will be approximately $50 cash. Please have cash on hand prior to landing in Port Hardy as there is no ATM at the airport. Pacific Coastal Airlines: Flies direct between Vancouver and Port Hardy. 1-800-663-2872 www.pacificcoastal.com Note: Pacific Coastal flies from the (peaceful!) South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport. There is a regular shuttle bus from the main terminal and from the seaplane port. Allow at least 60 minutes from door to door, including check in time, to meet the required boarding and check in times. Taxi Services • Town Taxi, Port Hardy: 250-949-7877 By Car to/from southern Vancouver About 6.5 hours from Victoria. Take Hwy 1 north from Victoria. At Nanaimo, watch Island (Victoria, Nanaimo, etc.) for signs for Campbell River and exit onto Hwy 19. Continue north, past Campbell River to Port McNeill. At Port McNeill, exit onto Campbell Way. Follow it down the hill and turn RIGHT on Broughton Blvd, LEFT on McNeill Rd, RIGHT on Beach Drive and immediately LEFT into the parking lot for the wharf. At last check, parking was $5 per day (payable by cash or credit card). By Bus to/from Victoria, B.C. Bus Service: Vancouver Island Coach Lines operates one trip per day between southern Vancouver Island and northern Vancouver Island. The bus arrives in Port McNeill at around 4:50 pm (as of the time of writing). Tickets can be purchased through Greyhound. Check online at www.greyhound.ca for current fares and detailed schedules. The return bus departs Port McNeill at 10:15 am (as of the time of writing). This is a very long bus ride! How to Get Home By Air: Fly Port Hardy to Vancouver with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Your ship’s Captain will arrange a taxi for you to take from Port McNeill, where the trip ends, to Port Hardy Airport. This is a 20 minute drive. Cab fare is $50.00 cash and can be shared with other guests who share the taxi. Pacific Coastal Airlines 1-800-663-2872 www.pacificcoastal.com Note: Pacific Coastal flies to the (peaceful!) South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport. There is a regular shuttle bus from the south terminal to the main terminal. Pacific Coastal suggests allowing 60 minutes from door to door, plus check in time, to meet the required boarding and check in times for you connecting flight. Where to Stay However, if you would like to arrive a little early, to avoid stress of doing all travel in one day or worrying about flight delays, Maple Leaf Adventures guests have enjoyed staying at: The Artists Point Bed and Breakfast 1-250-956-2449 www.theartistspoint.com Haida Way Motor Inn 1-800-956-3373 or 250-956-3373 www.pmhotels.com If You Are Delayed Delays and If for any reason you are delayed on the day that you are to meet the ship, please Emergency Contact call us so that we can try to assist you in getting to the ship on time. Call us at: Mon – Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: 1-888-599-5323 or 250-386-7245 Other times: 250-888-8009 Ship Captain, or Maple Leaf’s Operations Manager at 250-413-7011 or president Kevin Smith 250-881-3671. If you miss the ship’s departure time and are able to make phone contact with the Captain, we will make every effort to assist you in finding alternative arrangements to reach the ship. Please note the ship cannot wait for passengers and small commercial vessels or float planes are usually relatively expensive options. These costs, should they be incurred, will be the sole responsibility of the passenger. Contact for Your Family in Emergency If there is a severe emergency at home while you are travelling, your family can use the contact info above to provide a message to you. Travel Agent and Medical/Trip If you would like assistance making your travel arrangements, we are happy to refer Insurance you to a travel agent who has worked with Maple Leaf guests before. We highly recommend trip cancellation insurance that protects you in case certain kinds of emergencies prevent you from making your trip. Ask your travel agent for information. It may be purchased at the time your payment becomes non-refundable. Due to the remoteness of the areas we travel in we highly recommend travel/medical insurance that covers possible emergency medical evacuation. Check your existing coverage to see if it’s included. Happy packing, and bon voyage! See you dockside. .