Cruise Talk: Gota Kanal Waterway Cruising

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Topic: Gota Kanal Waterway Cruising

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 12-11-2010 03:57 PM

Has anyone here experienced the Swedish Gota Canal? They have some very old boats, the Juno came out in 1874, the Wilhelm Tham is from 1912, and the Diana came out in 1931. These boats are still in operations and apparently provide a very luxurious, experience down memory lane and the sites in Sweden are wonderful. Anyone?

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 12-11-2010 04:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
Has anyone here experienced the Swedish Gota Canal? They have some very old boats, the Juno came out in 1874, the Wilhelm Tham is from 1912, and the Diana came out in 1931. These boats are still in operations and apparently provide a very luxurious, experience down memory lane and the sites in Sweden are wonderful. Anyone?

Yes, I did that many years ago. I traveled aboard Juno from Stockholm to Göteborg.
This was actually when I started filming. The material is not good but I might put some clips on my webpage somewhen (...if I ever get to it - it has been 'to do list' for ages...).

It is indeed a fantastic and very unique experience and whereas I personally consider that as luxurious some aspects of it are very basic and one has to be clear on that. Cabins are TINY (smaller some train compartments) and one has to share toilets. Also, some cabins have doors to the open deck only - I do not consider that as disadvantage but you have to go outside (even when it's raining) to go to the toilet. Nevertheless, I certainly recommend this very special trip.

[ 12-11-2010: Message edited by: Ernst ]

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 12-12-2010 10:33 PM

I might be cruising with Gota Kanal next year and didn't know much about it, and I'm trying to dig up what I can about these little boats. They look nice, a little rustic but classy.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Funnel
First Class Passenger
Member # 11251

posted 12-13-2010 01:24 PM

Welcome to my corner of the world!

Every summer I have seen these Göta Kanal ships from my summer house.

One thing though; it's not cheap to sail with them. From 1500 to 2600 USD for a 3 nights cruise and 2400 to 3700 USD for a 5 night cruise.

Juno is said to be the oldest ship in the world with cabins, still in operation. I don't know if it's true, but I think that alone is a good reason for sailing with her.

Wilhelm Tham seen from my summer house at Lake Vättern.

Diana in the small village Borensberg.

There are in total 66 locks of which 2 are operated by hand.
Operation of a manual lock.

Locks in Borenshult, close to the city Motala.

I hope you decide to cruise the Göta Kanal next year, LeBarryboat!

/Erik

Posts: 18 | From: Sweden | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 12-14-2010 04:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Funnel:
Welcome to my corner of the world!
Every summer I have seen these Göta Kanal ships from my summer house.
[...]

Thanks a lot for those lovely pictures!

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 12-15-2010 06:29 AM

Hello!
A thread about Göta Kanal in the Swedish Skärgårdsbåtsforum has a lot of pictures. Sadly some pics in old posts are removed.

/Jepp

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 12-16-2010 10:55 AM

Wow, thanks for posting that link...I couldn't read anything, but loved the photos!

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 12-16-2010 10:17 PM

Thanks Funnel and Jepp for the photos. These look like delightful little ships.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Funnel
First Class Passenger
Member # 11251

posted 12-23-2010 05:21 PM

Interseting to see how much Juno has changed since delivery 1874!
Hard to believe it's the same ship (or at least a part of the ship is the same).

/Erik

Posts: 18 | From: Sweden | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 12-25-2010 11:45 AM

Looks very interesting and rustic. I'm fascinated with the canal through Sweden, and the little boats.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 04-29-2011 03:49 PM

Just Arrived in Goteborg today and will be departing tomorrow morning April 30th aboard the Diana from Goteborg to Stockholm, a four-night journey. I already visited all three boats in the Gota Kanal fleet today and I must say they are very cozy little boats, with lots of wood and charm. Here's a link to my blog about this trip: Barryboat's Gota Kanal Journey

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 05-04-2011 02:13 PM

It was truly a charming experience to cruise the Gota Kanal on the 80 year-old vessel Diana. Food was good, except I'm not a big fan of herring, particularly raw...yuck.Weather was good the first couple of days but then got cold.

Just went to the Wasa Museum today in Stockholm. Saw MSC's Opera docked in Stockholm the other day. Lots of cool little boats here in Stockholm. Wasa Museum was spectacular! Stay tuned for a detailed video with interviews of the Wasa Museum.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 05-13-2011 12:27 PM

Some PHOTOS from my recent Gota Kanal cruise in Sweden.

Album Two - Gota Kanal

Album Three - Gota Kanal

[ 05-13-2011: Message edited by: LeBarryboat ]

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Funnel
First Class Passenger
Member # 11251

posted 05-21-2011 05:32 PM

I am glad you did this "cruise" and it's great to hear that you had a nice time here in Sweden and at Göta Kanal, Barry!
As you said, it's a very different experience from normal cruises. Not much other to do than experience the landscape, canal with locks, old ship and fellow passengers. Oh... and the food also, of course!

I agree about the herring; not a favourite of mine but the important thing with it is that you can have a "snaps" (flavored vodka) to go with it.

In Stockholm you can take a trip with steam ships in the archipelago. That can be a great experience.

Loved your photos!

/Erik

Posts: 18 | From: Sweden | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 05-24-2011 07:16 AM

Too bad I couldn't meet up with you Erik while in Sweden. I had the after dinner "port" dessert one night, like drinking gasoline...I'm not a drinker. I saw the hundreds of boats in Stockholm, and there was a decent collection of older boats in Gothenborg too. There was even an old ironside-like vessel similar to the Monitor from the U.S. that was very old...built in the early 1800's still floating. I got a laugh out of the fake ocean liner hotel restaurant in Gothenborg. Erik did you get a chance to see the Gota Kanal video?

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Funnel
First Class Passenger
Member # 11251

posted 05-24-2011 05:09 PM

Drinking gasoline...

That's what we do over here...

The only way to keep us warm during the winter!

A funny thing about the Monitor; it was originally designed by a Swede, John Ericsson, who also invented the propeller.

Barry, I saw the video on the C@ board (I guess it's the same video as here?) and thought it was great!
It gave a good insight in cruising the Göta Kanal and also of the people working on the small ships.

/Erik

Posts: 18 | From: Sweden | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

LeBarryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 5308

posted 03-06-2012 06:14 PM

I wrote an article about the Gota Kanal experience, "Steaming Through Sweden" which will appear in the March 2012 issue of Porthole Magazine Sample of article The article in the magazine has some pictures too.

Posts: 1955 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-27-2014 03:32 PM

...it took me a while to get some clips of my trip aboard Juno online. It's old, low quality footage - in the meantime much better videos became available online - however, I still decided to share it.

Juno, Göta Canal Video Clips - 1989

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

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