Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 25, 2022 6:02:10 GMT -8
I tried to take the 12:25 Alberni Saturday was there by 11:10am and it was already at capacity for foot passengers. I dident even make the 1:25 on the Oak Bay. It was rediculas.
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Post by markkarj on Jul 25, 2022 15:44:11 GMT -8
I tried to take the 12:25 Alberni Saturday was there by 11:10am and it was already at capacity for foot passengers. I dident even make the 1:25 on the Oak Bay. It was rediculas. My most recent experience on a C class was the Queen of Cowichan a couple of weeks ago. It had been 25 years since I'd last been on board. While the seating wasn't at full capacity, it surprised me how much smaller the lounge space seemed to be compared to the S class ships I'd been on for so many years during my UVic days. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Jul 25, 2022 19:16:14 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries has to commit to what so many other operators around the world have done... building vessels that are truly dedicated to commercial traffic. Maybe three vessels, one on each of the major cross-strait routes. A Seaspan type vessel in terms of an unencumbered vehicle deck, adding a minimal accommodation deck with a basic lounge and perhaps a modest coffee bar service, or maybe just vending machines and microwaves. A pax capacity of no more than 250, reflecting the truck drivers to be accommodated. Minimal staffing. The current service model accommodates all traffic; that's not always done, in Europe or Asia. This could free up other vessels to be reconfigured to take more passenger traffic.
The Queen of Alberni was meant to be the first dedicated commercial traffic ferry, but she was very poorly designed for the role. In her redesign, her original purpose was even more watered down. Seaspan has built new vessels with a clear focus on what their purpose is. BC Ferries has lagged in this department.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jul 25, 2022 21:18:41 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries has to commit to what so many other operators around the world have done... building vessels that are truly dedicated to commercial traffic. Maybe three vessels, one on each of the major cross-strait routes. A Seaspan type vessel in terms of an unencumbered vehicle deck, adding a minimal accommodation deck with a basic lounge and perhaps a modest coffee bar service, or maybe just vending machines and microwaves. A pax capacity of no more than 250, reflecting the truck drivers to be accommodated. Minimal staffing. The current service model accommodates all traffic; that's not always done, in Europe or Asia. This could free up other vessels to be reconfigured to take more passenger traffic. The Queen of Alberni was meant to be the first dedicated commercial traffic ferry, but she was very poorly designed for the role. In her redesign, her original purpose was even more watered down. Seaspan has built new vessels with a clear focus on what their purpose is. BC Ferries has lagged in this department. I think Carrier Princess is still up for grabs  . |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jul 25, 2022 21:20:59 GMT -8
I tried to take the 12:25 Alberni Saturday was there by 11:10am and it was already at capacity for foot passengers. I dident even make the 1:25 on the Oak Bay. It was rediculas. My most recent experience on a C class was the Queen of Cowichan a couple of weeks ago. It had been 25 years since I'd last been on board. While the seating wasn't at full capacity, it surprised me how much smaller the lounge space seemed to be compared to the S class ships I'd been on for so many years during my UVic days. The cafeteria seating has been expanded in recent years on the Cowichan and Coquitlam, going well past the stairs leading up to the solariums. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 25, 2022 22:22:23 GMT -8
My most recent experience on a C class was the Queen of Cowichan a couple of weeks ago. It had been 25 years since I'd last been on board. While the seating wasn't at full capacity, it surprised me how much smaller the lounge space seemed to be compared to the S class ships I'd been on for so many years during my UVic days. The cafeteria seating has been expanded in recent years on the Cowichan and Coquitlam, going well past the stairs leading up to the solariums. Has that always been cases on those vessels? |
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jul 26, 2022 7:56:07 GMT -8
I just checked several Queen of Alberni sailings on random days throughout August including "off peak" sailings eg: Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is no foot passenger reservation space available on any of the sailings I checked, which seems to indicate they've blocked all the sailings from being reserved by footsies.
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 26, 2022 8:06:02 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni sails out of Nanaimo Harbour en route for Horseshoe Bay, with Entrance Island Light in the background.
25 July 2022
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jul 30, 2022 15:06:11 GMT -8
I just made a round trip on the Alberni to Departure Bay and back. We used berth 2 with the overhead at HSB and I noticed that that there's been a modification made to enable use of the walkway. The "pickle fork deck" has been extended slightly forward and a second access gate has been installed just ahead of the original gate which is used at Tsawwassen. However there is no sundeck gate for the walkway at berth 1. We used berth 3 with the overhead at Departure Bay. Apparently the berth 2 overhead at DB doesn't fit the Alberni according to a friend who is a ticket agent there. I took a round trip on the Alberni today departing HSB at 10am. At Departure Bay we used berth 2 with the overhead, so the berth 2 walkway fits the Alberni after all. |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jul 30, 2022 18:48:44 GMT -8
The cafeteria seating has been expanded in recent years on the Cowichan and Coquitlam, going well past the stairs leading up to the solariums. Has that always been cases on those vessels? The original layout for the cafeterieas on the C's was designed for basic food service only, as these ships were intended to be deployed on the scuttled Gabriola-Iona Island route, which would have had a crossing time of about 1 hour. However, these ships ended up on route 2, and the capacity of the cafeteria area was woefully inadequate for a 90 minute crossing. The painfully long wait for food on these ships when they went into service in 1976 was one of the first passenger complaints...that and the often broken escalators. Originally, the cafeterias on the C's did not extend past the upper deck stairs. |
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Post by markkarj on Aug 4, 2022 13:52:50 GMT -8
Has that always been cases on those vessels? The original layout for the cafeterieas on the C's was designed for basic food service only, as these ships were intended to be deployed on the scuttled Gabriola-Iona Island route, which would have had a crossing time of about 1 hour. However, these ships ended up on route 2, and the capacity of the cafeteria area was woefully inadequate for a 90 minute crossing. The painfully long wait for food on these ships when they went into service in 1976 was one of the first passenger complaints...that and the often broken escalators. Originally, the cafeterias on the C's did not extend past the upper deck stairs. Oh the escalators! I remember reading in Gary Bannerman's book that BC Ferries didn't include them in the Surrey or Oak Bay (although I'm surprised they remained in the Alberni for a time after the ship was lifted). I remember having too much time on my hands on the Alberni while sailing on what I think was first day of route 30 service in 1990. I decided to sneak away from my band trip group, and try to "beat" the escalators as they moved in the opposite direction in which I was going. Then as now, I needed a life. |
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Post by 1foot2ships on Aug 4, 2022 23:44:41 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries has to commit to what so many other operators around the world have done... I'm not writing this to troll, enrage, or set your keyboard on fire, but it's impossible for me to disagree more against your thesis. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 5, 2022 0:21:18 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries has to commit to what so many other operators around the world have done... I'm not writing this to troll, enrage, or set your keyboard on fire, but it's impossible for me to disagree more against your thesis. What? |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Aug 5, 2022 18:47:40 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries has to commit to what so many other operators around the world have done... I'm not writing this to troll, enrage, or set your keyboard on fire, but it's impossible for me to disagree more against your thesis. In other words... "I really, really, really take issue with what you're saying... but I can't quite get motivated to say why."  |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 10, 2022 16:38:14 GMT -8
I took a route 2 sailing on the Queen of Alberni today from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, here are on it wow she feels crowd on full sailing compared to the rest of major vessels, but I have say the crew are making it work for her. We used berth 2 at Departure Bay with overhead walkway, I found it funny how they just slapped paper to cover Duke Point but for Departure Bay but not for Tsawwassen. I guess it good thing that actually put through and went through adding more gates for overhead walkways at the terminals. But I personally think that BC Ferries missed a good opportunity in 1990s to expand her passenger lounge deck because I think she can better handle busy sailing and probably carry a little more passenger.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 17, 2022 21:43:32 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing round trips on route 3 starting September 6 to October 10. When was the last time the Queen of Alberni was on route 3?
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Post by hwy19man on Aug 18, 2022 6:13:04 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing round trips on routes starting September 6 to October 10. When was the last time the Queen of Alberni was on route 3? |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 18, 2022 11:10:15 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing round trips on routes starting September 6 to October 10. When was the last time the Queen of Alberni was on route 3? I assume you mean that the Alberni will be doing the 'L' route (Departure Bay - Horseshoe Bay - Langdale) once we get past Labour Day. This means simply that refit season is almost here, and the first up for refit is the Coquitlam. As the second boat based at Departure Bay is now the Alberni, it will be the one to do the 'L' service. I guess this also means that two Coastal class vessels will continue to serve on route 30 into the fall. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 18, 2022 12:56:18 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing round trips on routes starting September 6 to October 10. When was the last time the Queen of Alberni was on route 3? I assume you mean that the Alberni will be doing the 'L' route (Departure Bay - Horseshoe Bay - Langdale) once we get past Labour Day. This means simply that refit season is almost here, and the first up for refit is the Coquitlam. As the second boat based at Departure Bay is now the Alberni, it will be the one to do the 'L' service. I guess this also means that two Coastal class vessels will continue to serve on route 30 into the fall. Yes I do mean she will doing 'L' run past Labour until Thanksgiving. Two Coastal Class vessels will continue until sometime in December. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 24, 2022 13:42:12 GMT -8
I wonder if Queen of Alberni will be doing the same thing moving to Horseshoe Bay routes between late June to early October until her retirement or it’s just a this year thing.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 24, 2022 16:24:21 GMT -8
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Post by 1foot2ships on Aug 24, 2022 18:06:28 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing a round trip tonight on route 3 I try to be balanced raising complaints and giving compliments, but it's human nature. I remember learning a long time ago, the ratio of complaints to compliments, companies/businesses get is something like 4:1. I'm sure that ratio is much worse these days in the age of instant anger and public shaming, so here's a rare compliment: GJ, BCF on re-deploying the Alberni to clean up this mess (not anybody's fault btw...). Having the intelligence + willingness to adapt and adjust on-the-fly is what is really impressing me. You won't be able to please everybody and somebody will always be sacrificed, but from this incident and in the other ones just previously: well done, all things considered. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 24, 2022 18:45:06 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will doing a round trip tonight on route 3 I try to be balanced raising complaints and giving compliments, but it's human nature. I remember learning a long time ago, the ratio of complaints to compliments, companies/businesses get is something like 4:1. I'm sure that ratio is much worse these days in the age of instant anger and public shaming, so here's a rare compliment: GJ, BCF on re-deploying the Alberni to clean up this mess (not anybody's fault btw...). Having the intelligence + willingness to adapt and adjust on-the-fly is what is really impressing me. You won't be able to please everybody and somebody will always be sacrificed, but from this incident and in the other ones just previously: well done, all things considered. I am going to both directions, I am glad that they can add sailing at anytime. I personally think they should apply to other routes if crew availability works in favour of to help reduce cancellation, I know they did this last Saturday on Southern Gulf Island routes. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 24, 2022 18:50:40 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni will close deck 2 on route 3.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Oct 2, 2022 17:20:39 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni departing Horseshoe Bay for Langdale for her only round trip for today. I am posting this photo because we don't have that many photos of her at Horseshoe Bay.  Queen of Aberni by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr I wonder what BC Ferries plans for her in the next couple of years?
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