Coastal Vessels - Deck 5

[ras]

Hello All,

I am wondering if someone could help me with a query about the new Coastal-class.

I have seen a deck plan of the ships which lists Deck 5 as "Future Passenger Facilities". Do BC Ferries plan to add facilities here at some later stage? Any idea of the circumstances in which they'd do this? What is in this space now?

I'd also be interested to know if all three units are identical onboard.

Thanks in Advance,

Richard -> BC Ferries "fan" in London (who will miss the Coastal Celebration's visit on Monday)

[Balfour]

Deck 5 on the Coastals is fully furnished. It has a snack bar and state rooms. However, it is used only during busy times such as on Weekends and during the Summer. Otherwise Deck 6 has the major passenger amenities.

[cohocatcher]

May 8, 2008 11:49:40 GMT -8 @ras said:

I'd also be interested to know if all three units are identical onboard.

Thanks in Advance,

Richard -> BC Ferries "fan" in London (who will miss the Coastal Celebration's visit on Monday)

The Renaissance and Inspiration are identical (except for the decals). The Celebration will have an area for buffet meals instead of the coffee place.

[ras]

Thanks Guys. My deckplan shows a large seating lounge at one end of Deck 5 - with some side lounges and the snack-bar amidships and then conference room / smaller rooms at the other. Is this accurate? Does the large seating lounge exist?

Thanks!

[Scott (Former Account)]

May 8, 2008 12:59:57 GMT -8 @ras said:

Thanks Guys. My deckplan shows a large seating lounge at one end of Deck 5 - with some side lounges and the snack-bar amidships and then conference room / smaller rooms at the other. Is this accurate? Does the large seating lounge exist?

Thanks!

Everything you have mentioned is correct.

The large seating lounge at the number two end of the vessel is called the "TV lounge" as it has two large LCD televisions.

I have a bunch of interior photos of the various areas of the ship located here.

[Ferryman]

Hi Ras,

I'm going to question the wording of the "Future Passenger facilities". After taking a couple of trips on the Coastal Renaissance, I've noticed that Deck 5 dedicated as the overflow deck. I believe they only open this deck up for use when there is more than 800 pax onboard, yet the TV lounge on this deck will remain open. We haven't heard of any upcoming plans for this deck in the long term, perhaps this deck layout you speak of is the first sign of a change to come.

Also, you'll notice that Deck 3 is non existant, as it was hoped that one day there would be a hydraulic lift and lower deck suspended from the ceiling of the main car deck. There's even a leveled out spot in the staircase at this level, for a potential modification. But Markus, our FSG insider, has advised us that BCFS has seemed to have dropped this plan.

So I'm wondering if you might be confusing Deck 5 with Deck 3?

[Nick]

On the GA that I saw at BCF last year, there was a space designated as "future retail space". It was on deck 5, I think just "aft" of the TV lounge.

Possibly this is the same thing that Ras is wondering about?

[Political Incorrectness]

Would that retail space be for the Buffet?

[Nick]

No, it was on deck 5. The buffet is on deck 6 in place of the Sitka coffee lounge.

[Mac Write]

Where did you guys see these plans? Are they publicly available?

[Cascadian Transport]

Nowadays, what is the deck 5 situation on the Coastals? I know during the summer, Deck 5 is open on coastals operating routes 1&2, and it is never open on rte. 30. What i really want to know is the situation for Coastals on routes 1&2 during the rest of the year?

[Koastal Karl]

Deck 5 is always open on route 1! I don't think it's ever been closed on that route!

[Dane]

I don't travel on the Coastal Renaissance too often on route 2, but when I have Deck 5 has been open this year.

[Nick]

Nov 17, 2015 7:49:16 GMT -8 Cascadian Transport said:

Nowadays, what is the deck 5 situation on the Coastals? I know during the summer, Deck 5 is open on coastals operating routes 1&2, and it is never open on rte. 30. What i really want to know is the situation for Coastals on routes 1&2 during the rest of the year?

No matter which route it all depends on the passenger license. If BCF anticipates high passenger counts (Long weekend, friday/sunday afternoon etc), the ships are more likely to be running with A licenses and full passenger capacities. Slow periods allow the ship to sail with less crew by closing access to some passenger spaces. Route 30 never has deck 5 open because they very rarely ever sail with full crews, due to lower demand. 

[Deleted]

Nov 17, 2015 12:59:30 GMT -8 Nick said:

Nov 17, 2015 7:49:16 GMT -8 Cascadian Transport said:

Nowadays, what is the deck 5 situation on the Coastals? I know during the summer, Deck 5 is open on coastals operating routes 1&2, and it is never open on rte. 30. What i really want to know is the situation for Coastals on routes 1&2 during the rest of the year?

No matter which route it all depends on the passenger license. If BCF anticipates high passenger counts (Long weekend, friday/sunday afternoon etc), the ships are more likely to be running with A licenses and full passenger capacities. Slow periods allow the ship to sail with less crew by closing access to some passenger spaces. Route 30 never has deck 5 open because they very rarely ever sail with full crews, due to lower demand. 

I believe if they are operating on a B license on route 30 (very rare I'd imagine), the TV lounge is opened, but not the rest of deck 5. The washrooms on this deck on the Inspiration are shut off, and the snack bar is of course empty.