On-board amenities you'd like to see

[jjr]

Back to amenities - I would like to see quiet lounges with no running yelling kids, no music, no video games - and big signs QUIET.

[Retrovision]

Hahn actually specifically mentioned having "tv-free zones" on the vessels with televisions. I'm sure I got that on video, and will post when I find and upload it.

[Low Light Mike]

I suppose that a cell-phone-free zone is not a realistic wish?

I think that's more of an overall society issue, but it's always an apparant issue on a ferry for me. I'll have to develope a signal-jammer, to use for fun.

------------------------

The thread in the Ferry-travel-advice page has some comments on lack of amenities on the MV Nimpkish....on it's very long journeys. This highlights an issue of minor vessel amenities.

On the NIP last month, we enjoyed the vending machines, especially the Dasani water. There was even a change-making machine. I'm not sure if these are typical of minor vessels.

Interesting that minor vessels often have a "community hall" feel to them, as they are a meeting place and a place to stay in touch with community issues. MV Tenaka had an overflowing bulletin-board, and so did the PRQ. So ample bulletin boards seems to be a well-used amenity on some minor vessels.

[ruddernut]

flugelhorn said:

I suppose that a cell-phone-free zone is not a realistic wish?

Is it not physically possible to set up a room that is blocked to cell phone signals?

I notice my cell phone can't connect to the network in the change room of the rec center that I go to.

[Neil]

re: 'Nanaimo's comments on minor ships: there is a real problem with vandalism on some of the minor ships with school students, so any little 'extras' can be a target. I know my brother refuses to travel on the after school sailing to Bowen; he calls it the 'zoo trip'.

[Koastal Karl]

I have seen that sailing it's a crazy one with all the school kids. Back to amenities. How about making all the kids play areas on the ferries, enclosed. It's especially bad on the Spirit ships as the upper lounge they have to two kids play areas on each side and it can get pretty noisy and annoying with all little kids up there. They should make those ones enclosed and any other ship that has them open they should make them so they are enclosed like on the C's. But I guess that is why they have the Seawest Lounges. Of course if you want quiet you have to pay $7.00.

[Retrovision]

I'm sorry to report that it's now $10 for entry into the SeaWest Lounge...

www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/amenities/ship/seawest.html

"Seawest Lounge

With Starbucks Coffee, tea, juices, tasty pastries, a choice of newspapers and magazines and a quiet place to work or relax, for one all-inclusive price of $10.00 per person."
__________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2005, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

[ruddernut]

tsawwassenterminal said:

I'm sorry to report that it's now $10 for entry into the SeaWest Lounge...

Take away the included paper and refreshments, and they should be able to bring the price down to $5.

[Retrovision]

Would defeat part of the appeal to a large number of their patrons, the buisness community.

[ruddernut]

tsawwassenterminal said:

Would defeat part of the appeal to a large number of their patrons, the buisness community.

Buying them a la carte would be too much to ask of them?

[Retrovision]

I wish it were simply a matter of asking them to adapt, but in today's world such specialty services must cater to those who they're aimed at in order to survive, let alone prosper. As much as I agree with you, ruddernut, I'm a realist at heart and can't see the core group of people that the SeaWest Lounge concept is aimed at making another cash transaction after already doing so to simply enter the lounge.

To use Dan(Mugshot ESP)'s analogy of the new BCFS to an airline, I've never heard of any airlines' first class lounges in airports requiring much more than confirmation with a ticket, let alone further cash interactions to access food, etc.

Maybe a compromise would be to have 2 seperate access fees, one with extras, one without. Better yet, add the option to charge at the toll booth, adding more of the appeal of the airline model.

[Barnacle]

These are all interesting to someone like myself who works for the ferries on the other side of the 49th. Next time I get on one of the ferries, I will be certain to hunt up the SeaWest Lounge to get away from the kids.

That having been said, is anyone here aware that Washington State Ferries allows the sale of beer and wine on board its vessels by the cafteria vendors? Sales are cut off at a given point in the crossing (not sure when; I'm a crew member, I don't get to partake ). And WSF has been 100% non-smoking for nearly a year now. But our vessels aren't as comfortable as, say, the Oak Bay.

We do have WiFi on SOME of our routes, but not the San Juan Islands; we have enough trouble getting cellular coverage in the islands.

[Political Incorrectness]

That is for sure, barnacle, I live in Washington and I am in the Central Sound area. I have been on the BC Ferries and their seats are superior to the WSF system. WiFi is going to come at a charge soon yet I see not many taking a chance to use it. Alcohal must be consumed within the galley area due to state law.

[Koastal Karl]

Do they serve alcohol on the routes that are only 10 -20 mins sailings??? I wouldent think so!

[Barnacle]

You wouldn't think, would you? ;D

They do on the Mukilteo-Clinton (Whidbey Island/Columbia Beach if you're an old-timer) run (16 min crossing), and I think they do on the Fauntleroy-Vashon Is./Southworth run (15 min. per leg) as well as the 30-minute-plus sailings. I've had heartburn with this issue for years, but there we are.

[ruddernut]

So there's really no good reason not to have it on a 95 minute sailing.

Lots of time to recover if you set a reasonable cutoff time.

[SS San Mateo]

barnacle said:

They do on the Mukilteo-Clinton (Whidbey Island/Columbia Beach if you're an old-timer) run (16 min crossing), and I think they do on the Fauntleroy-Vashon Is./Southworth run (15 min. per leg) as well as the 30-minute-plus sailings. I've had heartburn with this issue for years, but there we are.

They do serve alcohol on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route, but only on the vessels that regularly serve the route. Sound Foods (which handles the food service on that route) did have a licence to serve alcohol on the Sealth back in 2005, but I don't know if they still have that license.

[Low Light Mike]

ruddernut said:

So there's really no good reason not to have it on a 95 minute sailing.

Lots of time to recover if you set a reasonable cutoff time.

Except that different people have different recovery-times. I rarely drink, and so when I do drink, the alcohol affects me differently (and quicker and longer) than someone who is a more experienced & regular drinker.

I'm of the opinion that alcohol & transportation systems, especially those with confined spaces like airplanes and ships, should not mix. Yes, my main arguement for this premise is the old rant about alcohol being society's #1 drug, and the cause of many problems....yada yada yada.

That's my opinion anyways. Bottom line for me: serving alcohol on a 95 minute crossing is a bad idea.

[Doug]

ruddernut said:

flugelhorn said:

I suppose that a cell-phone-free zone is not a realistic wish?

Is it not physically possible to set up a room that is blocked to cell phone signals?

I notice my cell phone can't connect to the network in the change room of the rec center that I go to.

I don't even want to know what you're doing with your cell phone in a change room....