Latest news with #BCFerries'
Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
BC Ferries' new lounge menu prices have some passengers feeling at sea
BC Ferries' new Seascapes Dining Lounge menu is making waves — but not in a good way, with some passengers saying the prices are enough to rock the boat. Admission to the lounge is $6 per person, which includes unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks. However, the newly-released prices for food and other beverages could quickly rack up the bill. A bowl of cranberry and coconut oatmeal begins at $9.99 while a continental breakfast plate or banana caramel crepe will set you back $13.99. The lunch and dinner menu ranges in price from $9.49 for a bowl of soup, to $19.99 for a beef barbacoa and rice bowl. 'I think that's silly. We're paying to get on the ferry anyways,' passenger Lauren said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She was echoed by her friend and fellow student Georgia. Story continues below advertisement 'I would not be caught dead paying $14 for a breakfast as a student personally,' Georgia said. 'We know Vancouver is expensive. We know B.C. is expensive, but that's just totally, totally unreasonable.' 2:11 BC Ferries introduce new lounge with $6 entrance fee Alcoholic drinks may feel comparable to any restaurant on land, with beer, cider and cocktails ranging from $7.99 to $8.99, and wine goes for $14.99, but they must be accompanied by a meal. By comparison, a full dinner in the former Pacific Buffet onboard was $27, including unlimited dessert. 'I feel a bit sad that the buffet ended up closing, actually, because it was a very nice experience to be able to do that,' passenger Janine Mayers said. 'I understand that there is the need for cost, but I do think that it's not as good of an experience.' Story continues below advertisement BC Ferries says it ditched the buffet because it wasn't attracting many passengers and lost more than $1 million a year.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Outrage grows on North Coast over B.C. Ferries accessibility failures for 2+ months
A BC Ferries' vessel, which connects several North Coast communities, has been operating without a functional elevator since Feb. 20, creating major challenges for passengers with mobility issues. A critical link between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Haida Gwaii, the Northern Adventure ferry's broken elevator and stair lift have sparked concerns from the BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union and passengers over serious accessibility inadequacies. 'It's not a good situation for anyone to be in, and we think that prioritizing fully accessible vessels and terminals is important, especially so in the North where there's very limited options for people to travel. And in some cases, BC ferries may be the only option,' said Eric McNeely, BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union president. The union represents more than 4,500 ferry and marine workers across the province, including deckhands, terminal staff, engineers, and stewards. McNeely says that passengers with disabilities have been forced to crawl upstairs or pay others to carry them aboard the Northern Adventure. 'This is a clear human rights failure,' said the union president. Several front-line deck workers are union members facing daily tension and conflict as travellers requiring assistance are left without safe or dignified ways to access the upper decks. Some older adults have even asked to be carried, placing workers in a moral dilemma as they are caught between compassion and an employer policy prohibiting them from carrying passengers. For travellers from some remote coastal communities, this ship is their only lifeline to medical care, family, and essential services. 'Technicians have been on-vessel multiple times for repairs but have not been successful in finding a long-term fix for the elevator,' said Sonia Lowe, senior communications advisor at BC Ferries. The elevator briefly resumed operation in early April but failed again shortly after. Lowe explained that one of the challenges BC Ferries faces is that the original European elevator manufacturer is no longer in business, making it difficult to source replacement parts. To address this, the company is now collaborating with a new elevator supplier to develop a comprehensive repair plan and secure the necessary components, she said. Technicians are scheduled to be back on board starting repairs on Wednesday, May 7. 'Eleven weeks without an elevator seems like a very long time in a company that receives a significant amount of provincial and federal funding, and accessibility should be a part of their public obligation,' said McNeely. 'This shouldn't be happening in 2025. Delays sourcing a part are not an excuse. When people's dignity and safety are on the line, you find a solution fast,' he added. McNeely noted that passengers on this route are not permitted to remain in their vehicles and must exit and climb the stairs to reach the passenger area. Additionally, the washrooms are limited to the stairs only. 'There's quite a few elderly travellers at the northern routes. If anyone falls on those flight of stairs, that's a real is difficult to be part of a system that isn't humanizing the challenges that exist because of mechanical breakdowns. It's 2025, we hosted the Paralympics. Rick Hansen tries to travel around, like we could do better?' Lowe said BC Ferries is sorry about the situation. 'We understand the impact this has on passengers with accessibility needs and sincerely apologize for the ongoing inconvenience.' The company has offered customers the option to cancel or reschedule their booking at no extra charge. The BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union is calling for urgent repairs, immediate accommodations for passengers requiring assistance and a plan to prevent future failures.
Global News
06-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Cleaning up torched Queen of Sidney could take years, millions of dollars, experts say
Cleaning up the wreckage of a derelict former B.C. ferry that went up in flames this weekend could take years and millions of dollars, experts say. The former Queen of Sidney was retired from BC Ferries' fleet in 2000, and has been more on the Fraser River in Mission since it was sold in 2002 to Gerald Tapp. On Saturday morning, it was consumed by flames, sending a massive column of toxic smoke into the air and forcing hundreds of people to shelter in place. 1:59 Derelict Queen of Sidney ferry burns in overnight fire The wreck now represents a potentially significant environmental hazard. Story continues below advertisement But cleaning it up could prove both time-consuming and difficult, according to the B.C.-based Dead Boad Disposal Society. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Group co-founder John Roe said if the vessel is not sinking or leaking the Coast Guard will hand it off to Transport Canada. 'They will do an assessment and then they will look for money from the federal government to fix this,' he said. 'You are looking at probably $15 million to $20 million.' 1:38 Residents asked to stay indoors after fire guts derelict ferry in B.C.'s Fraser River The District of Mission has been trying to deal with the ferry's owners for years, but with no luck. Roe said Transport Canada will try and recover the cleanup costs from the vessel's owner through the courts, but that taxpayers will likely end up footing the bill. Story continues below advertisement In a statement, the federal government said a 2023 inspection of the vessel found no significant pollutants on board. Inspectors are now conducting an on-water inspection from a pollution and public safety standpoint. Further complicating the process is that British Columbia lacks the facilities to properly deal with vessels like the Queen of Sidney — meaning it is often easier for owners to abandon them than to properly dispose of them. 'This is a symptom of a bigger problem. We don't have any certified deconstruction facilities on the coast,' said Joe Spears, principal of Horseshoe Bay Marine Group. 'We need to build a facility where you can deal with all the toxic substances.' Spears said Ottawa's last survey of derelict vessels in Canada found some 1,700 nationwide, with about 70 per cent in British Columbia alone. 'It's the owner's responsibility, this 'polluter pays,' but if the owner isn't able to deal with this, then it's up to the government of Canada,' he said. Mission's mayor plans to introduce an emergency motion at council on Monday in an effort to pressure senior levels of government to take action.
