SEATTLE (March 1, 2018) –  People traveling between Seattle and Victoria, B.C. will enjoy Clipper’s newest high-speed fast ferry, Victoria Clipper V (“five”), launching into service on March 9.

Victoria Clipper V is a 52-meter (170 feet) high-speed catamaran that carries 440 passengers and can travel at speeds up to 36 knots. Prior to arriving in the Pacific Northwest, the vessel operated in the North Sea between Hamburg and Heligoland, Germany as part of the fleet owned by Clipper’s parent company, FRS. The vessel was placed on a heavylift carrier and transferred on a 10,500 mile journey from Germany to its new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Victoria Clipper V features both an Economy and Comfort Class which serves as Clipper’s first-ever version of a business class. Comfort Class features priority boarding, a spacious private cabin area as well as and complimentary snacks and refreshments. The vessel also has a gift and duty-free shop with locally sourced goods, as well as a full galley and onboard menu featuring regional food and beverage options along with Clipper’s trademark in-seat attendant service from onboard staff.

“Clipper has provided reliable service to Victoria for more than three decades, and the company has deep ties to travel trade and tour operators in our region,” says Starr McMichael, Board Chair of Tourism Victoria. “This is a great upgrade to Clipper’s product line and represents a well-researched private investment that fits with what we are seeing in Greater Victoria’s tourism industry.”

“We are extremely excited to have the Victoria Clipper V as the newest vessel in our fleet, our first upgrade since 1994.” said David Gudgel, CEO of Clipper. “With four engines and a much larger platform, our customers are going to experience an even smoother ride between Seattle and Victoria as well as an enhanced level of service with our new Comfort Class.”

David Gudgel, Clipper’s CEO, is available for phone interviews. To arrange an interview, please see contact information below.

Victoria Clipper V images available upon request.

Additional Quotes:

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps

“As Victoria continues to grow into a top global travel destination, seamless access to our city remains a core focus,” says Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “After 31 years of servicing the Victoria market, we are thrilled with Clipper’s fleet expansion to help provide both locals and visitors with an excellent and reliable mode of transportation.”

About Clipper

Clipper, operator of Clipper Vacations, is well known as travel experts for the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Since 1986, Seattle-based Clipper has provided transportation, tours and accommodation packages for over eight million customers. Clipper offers opportunities to experience picturesque and popular destinations such as: Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, San Juan Island, Whistler, Portland and Vancouver Island. For more information about Clipper, visit www.clippervacations.com.


About FRS (Clipper parent company)

The owner of Clipper, Fast Reliable Seaways (FRS) looks back on more than 150 years of successful history. From a regional passenger ship shipping company, FRS has developed over the past decades into an internationally active group of companies with 64 ships and over 1,500 employees. FRS carries around 7.9 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles per year on its national and international shipping lines. Today, north German-based FRS Group has in its portfolio 24 subsidiaries located in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and North America. In addition to numerous international ferry and catamaran lines, FRS is also involved in wind-offshore transport with crew transfer boats and maritime consultancy.

Clipper Fast Facts

  • Local travel and transportation business since 1986
  • More than 150 employees based in Seattle, Washington and Victoria, B.C.
  • Operators of three high-speed Victoria Clipper vessels between Seattle, Victoria, and Friday Harbour
  • More than 80 hotel and tour regional partner relationships in place to provide full service, custom vacation packages
  • Packages include a range of diverse offerings such as wine country tours and whale watching
  • Since beginning service in 1986, Victoria Clipper catamarans have brought more than 8 million travelers between downtown Seattle and downtown Victoria

 

Contact
Scott Meis
VP of Marketing, Clipper
T 206-443-2560 x3307
C 773-308-4526
smeis@victoriaclipper.com