BC Ferries

[Mike K.]

Playing pool on a boat would probably be the only way I could sink a whole set of stripes.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Sparky

VHF has also been a proponant of that. Imagine that Sea West Lounge with a Bar, some tunes, a pool table, and some slot machines.

Season's pass anyone?

Indeed. Because I see no difference between drinking a $7 beer on the ferry, a $7 beer at Save On Arena (or a $5 beer at Soprano's after the game) , or drinking a $5 beer at Ma Miller's. Someone in your party is driving when you leave.

[Holden West]

I'm on the ferry right now and think a pool table would be a brilliant idea, especially on boats that are really pitching and rolling. Now, you could somehow gimbel the tables but keeping them bolted to the floor would add some exciting randomness to the game.

Now I'm off to see if they have any raspberry jam.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Holden West

I'm on the ferry right now and think a pool table would be a brilliant idea, especially on boats that are really pitching and rolling.

OK, perhaps I didn't think that one all the way through.

While you are looking for Bob's jam, see if you can find those massage chairs. I road two ferries last weekend and spent half my trip looking for those rascals.

[VicHockeyFan]

Karaoke in the forward lounge! All the cruise ships have karaoke.



$5 to sing one song, money to charity.

[Sparky]

^ You need booze to make Karaoke work.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Sparky

^ You need booze to make Karaoke work.

I don't know. I'm a bit of a karaoke expert, and to be honest, the best singers usually don't drink much. Yes, in a room of 35 or 50 people, you need booze to get someone up, and they are likely lousy. But in a boat full of 2000 people all you need is the best 14. 14 decent singers out of any random group of 2000 is pretty easy to find. That's all we have time for here each sailing, 14, maybe 16 songs.

[Holden West]

JamHunt 2012 results:

Choices in both the cafeteria and buffet are:

Strawberry, orange marmalade, peanut butter, honey and "light" strawberry jam. Raspberry is still but a dream.

The last two trips I've been on now there have been groups of teenage girls practicing dance routines on the outer deck. It occurs to me a full-on "Ferry Idol" talent contest on every sailing would be a success. This takes your karaoke idea up a notch.

[Mike K.]

I'd prefer a vehicle auction. You like someone's car on the lower deck, bid on it. If they accept, swipe that credit card and its yours.

BC Ferries can keep 20% of the closing cost.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

I'd prefer a vehicle auction. You like someone's car on the lower deck, bid on it. If they accept, swipe that credit card and its yours.

BC Ferries can keep 20% of the closing cost.

Oh, what about betting pink slips at the terminal for drag races? Even at the peak times, there are always a dozen or so lanes left open and BC Ferries can take a cut.

[VicHockeyFan]

They could set up 175 exercise bikes attached to generators. The generators produce power that goes to help push the electric engines (I think the Coastal Class ferries have diesel-electric propulsion).

So 175 volunteers step up, and "ride" the entire 1.5 hours.

The winner, most miles ridden, gets a coupon for a free buffet on his next sailing. But the kicker, is that each sailing BCF saves about $416 worth of fuel due to the efforts of all the peddlers.



Or you know how they let you plug in your laptop? On every second sailing (random) they could rig those outlets to actually pull energy back out of your laptop battery, to go towards propulsion. When questioned about the energy drain, BCF can defer to BC Hydro, who has no clue what is happening with energy, whether it be in Smart Meters or that phantom outage last night. They can say they are "looking into it".

[martini]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

BC Ferries has effectively priced out vehicle crossings for casual visitors to Vancouver from the Island. I used to take my vehicle and zip around the lower mainland back when I could do it all for under $100 with a passenger. At $150 for a round trip plus the cost of gas, forget it.

^This.

On that note, I was pretty amazed at how effortless and seamless it was to take public transit from literally downtown to downtown on foot.

[aastra]

The last two trips I've been on now there have been groups of teenage girls practicing dance routines on the outer deck...

A few years back I almost went mad because some guy started playing a banjo in the hallway near the coffee tables. He just shows up, unpacks, and starts playing. After ~200 trips on those ferries, I thought I had seen it all. But I'd never seen that.

I don't care if you love the sound of a banjo... the acoustics in that space were terrible and he was playing it loud. It was nerve-rattling and percussive and you could hardly think for the racket. I was wincing.

Every tune that he finished, I prayed that he was done. But there was always one more, and always punchier and louder than the last. Would it have killed him to do something more on the mellow side? Some gentle strumming for our relaxing float among the islands? Apparently so.

The crazy thing was, the crew didn't seem to know what to do about it. Passengers seemed to be split, in the beginning at least. Some were stunned and otherwise gaping in disbelief, but others (tourists?) actually seemed to be enjoying it (at first). It was one of those moments that really made me wonder about the fragility of our social order. Had the "Do what you feel" episode of The Simpsons been made real? To hell with everybody else, all standards of respectful social conduct, and basic common sense?

Would you be able to get away with that sort of thing inside a bus or on an airplane? If not with a banjo, then how about with an electric guitar? Or drums? Or a harmonica?

Anyway, eventually he moved on. I didn't notice anybody ordering him to stop so I think maybe he finally clued in to the general vibe, which was obviously darkening with each passing minute. He'd finish one tune (Yay!) and begin a new one (Oh, for the love of God, enough!), and the meter of collective goodwill would drop a few more notches.

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

Oh, what about betting pink slips at the terminal for drag races? Even at the peak times, there are always a dozen or so lanes left open and BC Ferries can take a cut.

I tried to wake up the turbo boarding the ferry once... The deckhands made me sit in the little room with the dogs.

[vandervalk]

[quote=VicHockeyFan;184524]I agree.

I'm surprised the tourism industry hasn't raised more concerns. Maybe I'm not that surprised, as I don't think our tourism industry association does a very good job on this front. They are OK marketers, but not great government lobbyists. Bah, maybe they aren't great marketers either, or we'd see lots of hotel packages that include ferry fares.[/QUOT

BC Ferries just started to follow me on Twitter and they sent a package deal with the Best Western Prestige Hotel in Sooke. Interesting. Actually a good deal.

http://www.bcferriesvacations.com/pa...ls03081103.php

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by vandervalk

I agree.

I'm surprised the tourism industry hasn't raised more concerns. Maybe I'm not that surprised, as I don't think our tourism industry association does a very good job on this front. They are OK marketers, but not great government lobbyists. Bah, maybe they aren't great marketers either, or we'd see lots of hotel packages that include ferry fares.[/QUOT

BC Ferries just started to follow me on Twitter and they sent a package deal with the Best Western Prestige Hotel in Sooke. Interesting. Actually a good deal.

http://www.bcferriesvacations.com/pa...ls03081103.php

It's OK, but not great. It's $124 per person, based on double occupancy. So that's $248, $150 of which is ferry fare. The rack rate for the room is $129, so you're saving about $25. However, since this particular hotel is part of a chain (Best Western), it is likely available online for less.

EDIT: I actually tried booking online at the hotel's website, using their BCAA rate and also using their seniors rate: $107.96. So this BC Ferries vacation package is a bit of a suckers' deal, imho.

EDIT EDIT: When I tried putting in the BC Goverment rate, the price shot up to $179.96! LOL!!!!!

EDIT EDIT EDIT: When I tried putting in the Internet Only rate - so basically, no other affiliation required - I got $107.96. Seriously, screw you, BCF.

[LJ]

Well I was on the ferry on Saturday in the reservation line, getting ready to board I tried to start the car. Click click click, uh oh. Go tell the girl directing traffic, she says no problem I will call for help. Two minutes later guy comes over with a hand held battery pack, hooks it up and vroom, it starts right up.

I pull ahead a bit and look over at the girl directing traffic, she stops the line and waves me on. As I board I stop at the guy directing traffic and tell him I may have a problem starting and does he want me to go somewhere specific. No sir, just go right down this lane and we will help you out if it doesn't start.

I start car 10 minutes early, it works, whew. Good service BC Ferries.

Car, I don't know. Battery showed 12.6 volts, running, alternator charging at 14.7 volts, load tested battery, showed 12.1 volts. Appointment made to have system checked.

[VicHockeyFan]

I don't think I have seen this before:



They look so small prior to lengthening and deck additions.

[Nparker]

Wow! That is historic. Imagine a time when ferries could not only be built locally but also be allowed into the Inner Harbour? Wasn't anybody thinking of the children?

[sdwright.vic]

^^ did they actually leave from the inner harbour?

[Bingo]

Still going strong



The Sidney Class consists of the original two ferries built for the British Columbia Ferry Corporation in 1960. The design for the ships was based on the MV Coho ferry with changes made to accommodate loading of vehicles through the bow of the vessel.

The BC ships even have the same number of port-holes (8) in the hull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_class_ferry

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

I don't think I have seen this before:



They look so small prior to lengthening and deck additions.

[Kikadee]

My parents, who grew up in Victoria during the 1940s-1960s, remember embarking on BC Ferries from the Inner Harbour on their trips to the mainland.

It would have added quite a lot of time to each crossing, that's for sure!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Kikadee

My parents, who grew up in Victoria during the 1940s-1960s, remember embarking on BC Ferries from the Inner Harbour on their trips to the mainland.

It would have added quite a lot of time to each crossing, that's for sure!

Those would have been Canadian Pacific Railway Ships operating the Triangle Run between Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWFwguXqE7Y

and video at

http://www.bcpcc.com/prop_cpr.php

[sebberry]

I think it's the Costal Celebration I saw sitting in Esquimalt today. Anyone know why it's out of service and if she'll be there over the long weekend?

[martini]

Originally Posted by sebberry

I think it's the Costal Celebration I saw sitting in Esquimalt today. Anyone know why it's out of service and if she'll be there over the long weekend?

Hmmm, not sure if this is related?
http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Fe...372/story.html