Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry to begin on New Year's Day

[Old git]

Hua Hin and Pattaya are poles apart - if you like the scene in one, you'll hate the other - and vice versa.

It follows that a ferry only makes sense as a short cut for vehicles - not footie tourists..

I also know that the townsfolk of Hua Hin are not enthusiastic - they think it will bring more trouble than THB..

[Smiles]

According to this news in Pattaya One ( http://pattayaone.news/en/pattaya-hua-hin-ferry ), the ferry service is set to begin on January the 12th.
Cost of the service is said to be about 1200 THB one way.

Interesting quote, but I'll only be a believer once it's started.
That quote focuses only on Pattaya's pier problems ... but in fact it's also a problem on the other side. Unless this rather secretive new pier apparently being built between Hua Hin and Cha Am is ready on time, there is no other pier that I know of which can take that size of boat.

I also know that the townsfolk of Hua Hin are not enthusiastic - they think it will bring more trouble than THB..

Well that's a pretty broad generalization, especially the " ... I also know ... " part. I've lived here for ten years now and the best generalization I would even pretend to give was that most of the folks I've talked to are simply underwhelmed regarding the whole concept.

[Surfcrest]

This article now from the Bangkok Post today includes photos of the boat and more information about the proposed service..

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in...e-until-jan-15

Surfcrest

[gerefan2]

According to that Bangkok Post article the vessel can carry 329 , yes 329 people! Enjoy your crossing...

[arsenal]

gerefan2 wrote:
"According to that Bangkok Post article the vessel can carry 329 , yes 329 people! Enjoy your crossing..."

Yes. And stay near the life jackets at all times.

[arsenal]

Here you go. Nice looking boat. And I particularly like the company name. The Royal Passenger Liner Co. Nicely grand and in honour of the great trans-Atlantic liner companies of yesteryear such as Cunard and The White Star Line.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...e-until-jan-15

[bobsaigon2]

Perhaps poster meant to say "Stay IN your life jackets at all times". That's certainly what I would be doing.

[destiny]

while I would certainly stay near the life jackets at all times, it still might (actually it WILL) be safer - albeit dearer - than Minivan-rides from PTY to BKK and further on to HH. No life jacket has been invented yet to rescue your squeezed body from a chunk of metal after your Minivan-Madman-Driver swallowed one of those funny coloured pills too many

[Smiles]

Well, we shall see what happens tomorrow morning. I'm walking over there to the fisherman's wharf around 8 am and will let you know ASAP. According to the Bangkok Post the first regular customers will be taken over to Pattaya at 8:30am ... with a return sailing back to HH at around 3:30pm.

I'm still somewhat skeptical about this, but cannot but be less so now than I was a few months ago. That HH wharf not so long ago was a mess and in need of a makeover, but perhaps that has already happened ... if so then it's not Thai-like (which would be to take 6 months fixing it up) but one mighty renovation in the dead of night.
If all this comes to pass I will try it out during the the 'free' dates.

[Smiles]

He said sheepishly . . .
Sorry, I missed the boat time (8:30am) at Hua Hin pier. Woke up this morning with a splitting headache. No idea why
So still have no knowledge whether it went, didn't went, or sunk.
Back to bed ...

News published when known.