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Post by Mac Write on Jan 7, 2006 15:17:28 GMT -8
Over the years the amount in the buffet has decreased. I am fine with just having 3-4 suasages, a couple slices of ham, some eggs, and a couple cups of coke and paying the buffet price. Why? I like the space and quiet in there.
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Post by Starbucks Queen on Jan 8, 2006 3:23:33 GMT -8
Well, if you eat a COUPLE Of eggs and drink COUPLE of Cokes then I understand of course that you need to go to the buffet to eat - as it seems one slice of pizza and ONE Coke or water is not enough for you.
But if you just want to eat something, and I mean EAT - and not stuff yourself - then the buffet is for sure too expensive.
About quiet places, of course I had just one trip yet by BC ferries and that on the Spirit of Vancouver Island but I found the seating area quiet and also the cafeteria was ok, but the best place is on deck, still.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2006 9:00:37 GMT -8
......re the Spirit's Buffet being Mac's favourite place.
The important difference between Mac and most of the rest of us, is that Mac gets a special low price to use the buffet. Therefore, his determination of economic value of the experience is different than ours. He pays less, so he can "afford" just to hang out there.
People like me work to subsidize that experience for him, and we also subsidize it when we pay full price to eat there (although I have never been in that buffet)....so I have not yet done "my part" in helping him out.
It's kind of like getting a very cheap fare on the Concorde, and then just using it to pass time on a weekend for no reason. (yes, I know the Concorde isn't flying anymore.....).
But that's what he likes to do, so that's ok, I guess.
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Post by Starbucks Queen on Jan 8, 2006 14:14:51 GMT -8
It seems like here, you can buy a ticket for a "cruise" and it is in fact a weekend-trip in which everything is included, the trip, cabin, breakfast-buffet, and sometimes other buffets too. I have done these, and I have been to these buffets and enjoyed it, as it was anyways with the price, though. These things here are though not subsidized but it´s a way for ferry-companies to get their ships full in winter time. Offer cheap trips, free buffet and rely on that passengers are spending onboard anyways - which you WILL do when you are onboard a ship one-way for 15 or more hours.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2006 14:18:41 GMT -8
....and rely on that passengers are spending onboard anyways - which you WILL do when you are onboard a ship one-way for 15 or more hours. Yes, I've been on 3 trips that are > 12 hours in duration, and I did spend lots of money on stuff during those trips. Newspapers, books, candy, gum, food, food, food (3 meals), souvenir stuff. |
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Post by Starbucks Queen on Jan 8, 2006 14:22:18 GMT -8
Which trip was that ? Just courious.. while was in US I thought that trip up to Alaska would be fun for sure, as well, bit like our long-route trips but going there in winter isn´t perhaps the best thing and most exciting thing to do for sure.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2006 16:55:24 GMT -8
Chivipcici:
my 3 long trips were all on BC Ferries, and were:
1) Port Hardy to Bella Coola - "Discovery Coast". approx 12 hours.
2) Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - "inside passage". 15 hours.
3) Port Hardy to Tsawwassen - end of season positioning-cruise. 12 hours.
The Alaska ferry from Bellingham Washington to Ketchican is approx 36 hours long......and there's not enough staterooms, so some people get to set up their tents on the outside decks (scary, huh?)
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 8, 2006 17:10:59 GMT -8
wouldent that be kind of cold outside on deck in your tent all night?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2006 17:37:22 GMT -8
wouldent that be kind of cold outside on deck in your tent all night? Karl: here's an excerpt from a travel article I found about a trip on the MV Columbia: "Passengers without staterooms piled belongings on reclining chairs in the TV lounge and observation rooms. Those without sleeping bags could rent blankets and pillows from the purser for a nominal fee. Dozens of heartier souls staked-out chaise lounges in the partially enclosed solarium, which has carpet and overhead heaters. Still others chose to erect tents and camp-out on the breezy stern. " click here for a picture....it's not 5-star accommodation: [ftp]http://www.largest.org/c0d3/image_gimme.cgi?i=1566&gid=5[/ftp] |
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 8, 2006 21:36:03 GMT -8
Wow! They actually allow that? Three reasons why I wouldn't want to camp out on the outside deck of a ferry. For one, like Karl said, it would be too cold. Second, the wind would keep me up all night. Third, the hard steel on the deck wouldn't be the most comfortable place to sleep on, with the loud wind and everything.
One thing I'd like to know, is how they keep all of the tents from blowing away? Would they put a bunch of weights in and around the floor of the tent? I dunno, that really doesn't seem worth it at all. It probably would be cheaper to sleep in a stateroom, and you'd probably still get a better sleep too.
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Post by Balfour on Jan 8, 2006 21:45:54 GMT -8
The Cold wouldn't bother me (I've camped in temps around -25 C before), and the hard steel could be solved with a thick foamy.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2006 22:06:40 GMT -8
One thing I'd like to know, is how they keep all of the tents from blowing away? It probably would be cheaper to sleep in a stateroom, and you'd probably still get a better sleep too. 1) use lots of duct tape and rope to secure your tent to the floor and to the side railings. Secure your tent to anything attached to the ship. 2) on the Bellingham-Ketchikan route, all the staterooms sell out by early spring for the summer season. Seriously, they sell out early. |
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Post by cascade on Jan 9, 2006 8:55:27 GMT -8
We seem to go from food to camping out on decks on a trip North of Vancouver.
No wonder this forum sometimes is interesting.
I guess the next thing will be skiing off the funnel on to the frozen waters of some inlet somewhere.... Stronger Skier over to you....
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Post by Starbucks Queen on Jan 9, 2006 12:14:56 GMT -8
Yes, this one here is on to very exciting and unusual directions  - Just two things: Wouldn´t there be any safety-issues with people using their tents on deck ? I mean deckspace does also play "some" in case of an emergency, not to mention the general inconvenience of a ship what has more passengers onboard than what it´s facilities are built for. 1) Port Hardy to Bella Coola - "Discovery Coast". approx 12 hours. 2) Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - "inside passage". 15 hours. 3) Port Hardy to Tsawwassen - end of season positioning-cruise. 12 hours. That sounds interesting, due my lack of geography-knowledge of this area I will refrain from more questions but instead look on a map and ask google. I didn´t know you have this kind of longer passages too ! Though, re. Buffets since you mentioned that some people - perhaps even on this forum are quite much out of shape eeh.. in need of extra- extra - large pants. etc and that the BC ferries buffet might play a role in this - I think, wouldn´t that be a good possibility to SUE them for providing unhealthy food ? I´m just thinking... if it worked with a certain fast-food chain why shouldn´t it work for ferry lines as well ? For any of you skiing- freaks, well although we talk cross-country here, THIS would the ship to go for you... Enjoy a holiday on the Baltic Ice  www.faktaomfartyg.com/corbiere_1970_bild_10.htmAlthough the ship is nowadays on a route in Canada - for Woodward Group St Barbe - Blanc Sablon (Newfoundland). |
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Post by Mac Write on Jan 9, 2006 16:21:01 GMT -8
The tax payer isn't subzidizing my food on the ferry. my mom gives me $15/ each way when i go the Island as part of the requirement that I be out of the place I live in XX days/month. $10 for food and $5 for ticket. so I only pay $6 for the buffet. I do however get a subzidized price for the ticket though. I get "Disabled Passenger" Rate which is 50% off on all routes (except hen I come from Fullford on through fare since I have to use that ticket machine and it won't allow me my discounted rate). As for sueing BCF why? I barely eat in there 2 times a month and don't like like 3-5+ plates of food.
As for $6 for a slice of pizza on board. That is is such a rip off it isn't funny.
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jan 9, 2006 17:16:40 GMT -8
1) Port Hardy to Bella Coola - "Discovery Coast". approx 12 hours. 2) Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - "inside passage". 15 hours. 3) Port Hardy to Tsawwassen - end of season positioning-cruise. 12 hours. That sounds interesting, due my lack of geography-knowledge of this area I will refrain from more questions but instead look on a map and ask google. I didn´t know you have this kind of longer passages too ! Yes actually. Here is a photo from the terraced deck of the German-built Queen of the North (formerly Stena Danica "II") in the Inside Passage.  |
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Post by Mike C on Jan 9, 2006 17:24:39 GMT -8
cool pic. ;D
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Post by Curtis on Jan 9, 2006 19:02:08 GMT -8
Nice Pic alright
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