Coastal Renaissance gets thumbs up from ferry fans
Coastal Renaissance wows visitors at Canada Place
Ian Austin, The Province
Published: Monday, January 21, 2008
More than 4,000 eager visitors hopped aboard the Coastal Renaissance yesterday to get a first-hand look at the newest addition to the B.C. Ferries fleet.
The 22,000-tonne vessel, which can carry 1,650 passengers and crew, was a hit with most of the ferry fanciers who showed up at Canada Place for the first of three open houses. It's the first of three Super C-class ferries that will be added to the fleet at a cost of $542 million.
"It's huge -- it's amazing," said Ursula Bohn of Delta. "I like the colour of the interior.
"They have nice photos of B.C., and nature. but I think they should have built it here."
The German-built vessel won the approval of Scott Arkell, who made the trip from Nanaimo for the viewing and is a member of the ferries-devoted website forum ferriesbc.proboards20.com.
"The fit and finish is pretty spectacular, compared to a lot of the older vessels," said Arkell, whose parents both work for B.C. Ferries. "The views from the decks are going to be pretty spectacular. There's a lot of room to move about."
While, generally, the captain gets the best seat in the house on the Coastal Renaissance, the upper deck is given over to the cafeteria and the Sitka Coffee Place, arguably the spot that the early boarders will flock to for the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay run starting in early March.
"I have a feeling this is going to be a busy spot, and the spot to be," said Cheryl O'Connell, a catering attendant handing out cookies and pop to an appreciative audience.
"It's just so open. It's going to be a lot quieter than the cafeteria -- it's quiet, it's laid back, it's relaxing."
Wood-veneer walls, comfy leatherette seats and spectacular photos lend an upscale atmosphere, and nowhere is there the rusty, salty aroma that plagues some of the fleet's older ships.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are featured in some of the lounges, and fans of White Spot and the Bread Garden will see some familiar menu items -- breakfasts ranging from cold cereal at $2.39 to the all-aboard breakfast with two eggs for $9.29, burgers from $4.99 to $8.79, and full meals ranging from chicken strips and Caesar salad at $8.09 to baked wild salmon with dill sauce at $11.99.
Capt. Harald Stokke welcomed the visitors to his new office, a huge, well-appointed bridge.
"It's great that we can open the bridge and the engine room, so [yesterday's visitors] can see the area that they can't usually see," said Stokke.
"She's a huge, complicated ship, so we want to make sure everyone's up to speed. It'll be a really great day when we get her running between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay."
Rosalba Buffat and her family lined up for a souvenir photo that will be e-mailed to every visitor who took an extra minute to pose for a photographer.
"It was great -- we had a lot of fun," said Buffat. "They did a great job. We're trying to book a trip so we can get on the ship."
More than 4,000 people lined up yesterday at Canada Place to get a look at the new super ferry, which drew praise from most who stepped on board. It begins service from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay in March.
Photograph by : Les Bazso, The Province
Enjoying the view from prime seats on the main passenger deck of the Coastal Renaissance yesterday were, from left, Daniel LeBlanc, his son David and daughter Danike .
Photograph by : Les Bazso, The Province
More than 4,000 people lined up yesterday at Canada Place to get a look at the new super ferry, which drew praise from most who stepped on board. It begins service from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay in March.
Photograph by : Les Bazso, The Province
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