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Post by Ferryman on Mar 2, 2008 0:24:13 GMT -8
Ok, so we have countless threads discussing the exterior appearance of every Ferry. It's time to discuss the interior of them, and what it's actually like taking a trip on them. I'll kick off the thread with the Queen of Esquimalt, seeming her days left in service seem to be down to single digit numbers now. Since 1963, she's been lengthened and lifted, just like her sisters. But her interior design, has been more or less the same since the beginning. On the promenade deck (Deck 5), you have the forward lounge, mid ship lounge, aft mid ship lounge, and the cafeteria. 3 out of 4 of these lounges have seating for food services in mind. Mid Ship Lounge with the Snack Bar.   Mid ship aft lounge, with the Gift Shop.   Cafeteria with the orange walls. The Esquimalt is unique for having these orange walls, seeming the Victoria and Vancouver have the wood panelling walls. But I'm assuming the Saanich would have had the Orange walls before her 1996 facelift. Now she has blue walls in place of the orange ones. Groovy Baby.   Upstairs, she once had a restaurant at the stern, back in her primetime days. Passengers would be seated by a waitress/waiter at a table with a white table cloth and would be given a menu to choose their meal. There was even a dedicated galley for this lounge, designed more for preparing foods. The actual cooking would go on downstairs in the main galley, and the food would be sent upstairs on a dumbwaiter (elevator for food trays). Later on this was transformed to more of a buffet type service, similar to what you see on the Spirits. I suppose as she grew older, more maintenance was required to keep this upper galley going, but the usage of the lounge was declining I'm assuming for this service to be cut. This lounge is hardly ever used, and will only be used when the crew is at full license, and needing a full load of passengers. The last time I was on the Esquimalt back in October '07, this lounge was actually being used just as another seating area. But the demand on Route 2 that day was there for it to be used. (I love the green flouresent lights in this lounge)   Also upstairs, is another seating lounge. This area was once two solariums, divided by a hallway which would go from the Wheelhouse, and eventually lead up to the buffet lounge. The Burnaby and New West still have their solariums like this. But here is how the V-Class had their solariums modified. This lounge is always the warmest during the summer, and the loudest with the kids play area being in here.   As far as onboard experience goes, there actually isn't alot of vibration to note. She always seems to rock back and forth just ever so slightly to barely even notice unless you're paying attention to the ship movement. Everytime she rocks to the starboard side, you'll hear a bit of a rattle. So it's intermittent vibrations. On a quiet sailing when you're travelling by yourself, I've found myself going a little bit crazy after listening to that on a 2.5 hour crossing on Route 30. Her outer decks are quite worn out, and are in need of desperate repair. You're actually able to take off small chunks of the cement on the outer decks. The last time I was on the Esquimalt, alot of the rust and pot holes had simply been painted over with the traditional greyish blue coloured paint, to blend the tripping hazards in with the rest of the deck. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 2, 2008 8:32:00 GMT -8
re the Esquimalt & Vancouver:
- on a quiet Route-30 morning sailing, I've always enjoyed sitting in the upstairs mid-ship lounge. Curling up in a window-seat, with a book in hand. I'd usually sit on the front-end of the port or starboard side, depending on what view I was wanting (Port-side dawn & sunrise on an early-morning Route-30 crossings; that's my idea of serenity).
- However, on a busier, afternoon Route-30 sailing, the upper-midship lounge is not where I want to be. The kids' play-area is being used and it's loud.
I think my favourite memories of the V's are those early morning (read 5:00am modified schedule sailings) on Route-30 out of Duke Point. That upstairs midship lounge was a nice quiet place.....
Chris: thanks for the photo essay.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Mar 2, 2008 9:15:10 GMT -8
Hi everyone...my second posting here. Just to briefly re-introduce myself....
Have had a love affair with the ferries since I was 5 years old and lived in Kamloops. We would travel to Nanaimo a couple times a year and this being in the early 70's I have many fond memories of the "B" class ferries in their post-stretching pre-lifting state. In the 80's when I moved to the coast I promised myself I would ferry-ride as much as possible which thankfully I've been able to do.
Thanks to Chris for the great photos of the Esquimalt's interior...they will mean alot when she's gone which apparently will be very soon. Chris, your assumption that the Saanich had the same orange walls in the cafeteria as the Esquimalt after being lifted is correct. They were changed to green during her facelift in the mid 90's. I think the yellow White Spot walls at the back really compliment the decor on both ships.......NOT!
So did anyone have a chance to eat in the buffets when they were still in operation on the V-calss? I specifically remember dining in the buffet on the Victoria in the late 80's and more recently on the Vancouver in the mid-90's. When the Saanich had her makeover and the Upper Deck Restaurant was being used during the summer, the buffet on the Vancouver was also being used. I think this lasted until around 1998 or 1999. It's interesting to note that the Esquimalt still has all the serving equipment gathering dust in the buffet, but the Vancouver's had all hers stripped out and extra seating installed a couple years ago.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 2, 2008 11:00:40 GMT -8
And a few photos of the interior of the Queen of Vancouver. I like to compare them and see the differences Aft Lounge, notice how compared to the Esquimalt the Vancouver has one table by the window, with a space inbetween then two tables on the end. The Esquimalt are 3 together.  Giftshop, looks the same  Snackbar, only difference I notice between the Vancouver and Esquimalt is the Esquimalt has SNACKBAR written on the top. The Vancouver's is plain.  Mid Ship Lounge  Those are all the interior photos of the Vancouver I have. I need to get more! |
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 2, 2008 14:09:24 GMT -8
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Post by Dane on Mar 2, 2008 17:33:35 GMT -8
For me the biggest issue with the V Class, insofar as the onboard experience is concerned was the washrooms. They're disgusting, only the rock hard ferry fan, or perhaps a photographer from Urinals Online could find any love for them. I don't have a clear enough memory as to which one is the worst, but I imagine they're all pretty awful, I don't think the Saanich recieved that much in '96 as far as they were concerned.
Other than that I found the V class tolerable. Their somewhat inefficient passenger deck designs made them feel as crowded as a C on a busy day, and yet felt like a ghost town when it is quite which is never the case on a C. Those empty sailings on a V were always my favourites.
I will miss how every ship had been around long enough to develop a very strong personal flavour, but in another few years the C Class will be at that point too, and I will be able to remember when I rode the ships with their original interiors and such.
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Replying to an earlier post I have eaten in a V Class buffet, Queen of Esquimalt on route one, probably in 1996 or 1997? It was also my first sailing on a V class vessel that I remember, although I am near certain it was not the first.
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Post by CN2972South on Mar 2, 2008 23:45:29 GMT -8
Later on this was transformed to more of a buffet type service, similar to what you see on the Spirits. I suppose as she grew older, more maintenance was required to keep this upper galley going, but the usage of the lounge was declining I'm assuming for this service to be cut. Around 1998 I remember being on the Queen of Esquimalt coming back from Vancouver(when I was living in Sooke) and we ate in what was then the buffet. That was the last time I ever saw it being used though. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 31, 2009 19:50:49 GMT -8
Part of the onboard experience while riding the Queen of Cumberland is some education on BC History and a significant figure in BC's labour-movement history. Besides the fact that the very name of the ship is meant to honour the workers of a coal-mining town, there is a large plaque near the snack-bar that details the history. I'm glad that the plaque hasn't been removed after the change in government. Here are pictures of the plaque, in 3 pics so that it's easier to read:    |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 1, 2009 8:49:38 GMT -8
What would make you think "the change in government" would remove this plaque? It is a bit labour oriented at first glance, but in reading it, it is an excellent memorial to the souls that toiled the mines back then, and they are worthy of a memorial such as this one, since Cumberland had always been a mining town. A little too much politics in the thinking that "the plaque hadn't been removed after "a change in government". Good grief are we getting this low in our precisive thinking? Thought the debate as to what berths the Tswassen ferries use on weekends or when proejct work is being done was getting a bit too much. Back to ferries. I think Paul that this might stem from the dropping of the name of a certain stretch of the Inland Island Highway on Vancouver Island. The current government saw fit to remove the signs on that stretch of road... I am sure you know what I am talking about. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 1, 2009 9:06:17 GMT -8
Yes, I was thinking of the one-time "Ginger Goodwin Way" section of Hwy 19 near Cumberland.
I am intrigued by the plaque on the Queen of Cumberland because it does hearken back to the era of the former government. Not that I'm fixated on the former government, but that particular one lasted 8 years and so it was bound to leave some "memorabilia" to remind us of the thought & motivations from that 1991-2001 era.
The plaque is something unique in today's fleet, and I wanted to photograph it for its uniqueness and the glimpse back to the way things were in 1992.
It's ok that Paul and others might not understand how I see it, but this forum is a big place with different ideas of what is significant and what is irrelevant. I like being able to express what I see as being unique or quirky or just significant to me. The things that make me go "hmmmmm" and prompt me to think.
So as for me, I always get a kick out of seeing that plaque. And it's good history too.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Aug 1, 2009 13:32:22 GMT -8
Yes, I was thinking of the one-time "Ginger Goodwin Way" section of Hwy 19 near Cumberland. I am intrigued by the plaque on the Queen of Cumberland because it does hearken back to the era of the former government. It is something unique in today's fleet, and I wanted to photograph it for its political uniqueness. It's ok that Paul and others might not understand how I see it, but this forum is a big place with different ideas of what is significant and what is irrelevant. As for me, I always get a kick out of seeing that plaque. And it's good history too. Agree there. During the time of "that former goverment", the Second Narrows Bridge was renamed "Second Narrows / Ironworker's Memorial Bridge", but most Vancouver People still refer to it as "The Second Narrows Bridge", and even "The Ironworker's Bridge" is becoming a label. Initially why the bridge was renamed at all was a bit of a headscratcher since there has always been a memorial post at the south end for the workers who lost their lives, but within a short period of time, Vancouver People saw the need for it. You can tell someones age often by how they refer to renamed buildings/bridges/other edifices. Second Narrows is what comes first to mind for me, and definitely all my parents aged friends in West and North Van still call it that. If calling the bridge Ironworkers is to honor the lost lives, then most of the railway through the mountains should be named after the semi-slave Chinese labour who lost scores more lives. Just sayin  . There are also political ramifications as well to what you call something. Younger people in Montreal who are post Trudeau era, don't mind calling the airport there (YUL) Trudeau, but a large number of Quebecers (except tourist industry people) still call the airport by the former name Dorval. The hard core Separatists will never call it Trudeau. When you are in business and wanting to fit in you have to be atune to these things. During other times when you want to stand out, you go the opposite. You would think all of North America would be the same but it isn't. Asking where the restroom, washroom, toilet, toilet (French accent), or salle de bain is can make a difference believe it or not. Having a pop, soda, chocolate bar, or candybar can either ease your way to new business or become a reminder you are from "away". Being accepted as a local when you aren't can be a huge compliment. When a New Yorker asks you for your opinion of a restaurant you know you have the "deal in the bag." The only people that call the airport DCA in Washington, Reagan, are either hard core republicans or newbies to the city. Everyone else still calls it National. If you want to emphasize you aren't from "Inside the Beltway" is to call the airport by the "wrong" name" . DC is one of the most insular places and it takes years to be accepted there, and one gaff like that can be disastrous if you are in business. Then of course you don't want to "eh" when you should "huh", and call the thing on your house a rooooof, when it should be "ruff". Makes your head spin sometimes. Just make sure you get your Kwaffee after your chowdah, and never order a double double. |
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Post by Dane on Aug 4, 2009 11:10:44 GMT -8
I didn't know where to post this, but for your random information dose of the day. The Queen of Surrey got an ATM either on Thursday or Friday. Located near the entrance to the (main) male washroom on the main pax deck.
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Post by Barnacle on Aug 5, 2009 7:11:00 GMT -8
Just make sure you get your Kwaffee after your chowdah, and never order a double double. [ot] You know, we aren't all from Joisey...  [/ot] |
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Aug 5, 2009 9:20:31 GMT -8
Just make sure you get your Kwaffee after your chowdah, and never order a double double. [ot] You know, we aren't all from Joisey... [/ot] Now let's be clear, not from NORTH Jersey...that's a pretty offensive comment when uttered near a South Jerseyite...Jerseyian...Jerseyiod... ;D |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Aug 5, 2009 9:29:39 GMT -8
[ot] You know, we aren't all from Joisey... [/ot] Now let's be clear, not from NORTH Jersey...that's a pretty offensive comment when uttered near a South Jerseyite...Jerseyian...Jerseyiod... ;D Good way to get knee caped is to mix that up . |
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 10, 2009 16:06:21 GMT -8
I didn't know where to post this, but for your random information dose of the day. The Queen of Surrey got an ATM either on Thursday or Friday. Located near the entrance to the (main) male washroom on the main pax deck. Same with the Oak Bay, in the same described location above. She recieved two ATMs though. Still waiting for one to appear on the Cowichan. |
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