This website uses cookies. BC Ferries uses cookies to improve the BC Ferries website performance, to enhance your user experience, to perform analytics and for marketing purposes. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies on this website as described in the BC Ferries Cookie Policy.
Travel advisory: Busy Weekend Expected View ×

Posted: Friday, April 18, 2025

Easter Long Weekend
April 18 – April 21, 2025

Easter long weekend is a popular time for travel on the coast. Busy travel days are expected from Friday, April 18 through Monday, April 21 on the following routes:

•    Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
•    Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands
•    Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)
•    Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
•    Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale)
•    Vancouver Island – Gulf Islands

Historically, the most popular day to travel from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast is Friday, from our Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals. Monday is typically the most popular day for travel back to the Lower Mainland.

Customers planning to travel with a vehicle without a reservation should be prepared for sailing waits during popular times to travel. If reservations are sold out, the best option to avoid sailing waits is to travel during less busy times, typically mid-week days and early morning or late evening sailings, or walk on board.

Click here to view Travel Tips and here for Service Notices.

We look forward to welcoming you on board this Easter Long Weekend.

For schedule information and bookings, visit bcferries.com. For up-to-date travel information, check Current Conditions and follow @BCFerries on Twitter.

Read more

Route

Nanaimo (Departure Bay) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)

Switch direction

Easter Long Weekend (April 17-21)

Vehicle reservations are extremely limited on sailings departing the Lower Mainland on Thursday and Friday, and for return sailings from Vancouver Island on Sunday and Monday. If you are travelling from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) and don’t have a booking, expect sailing waits or the possibility of being turned away. Consider traveling on alternate dates or walk on board.

Read our latest news release for travel tips and check service notices for any changes that could affect your sailing.

Understanding current conditions

Current Conditions provides a forecast of deck space available based on the number of vehicles booked in advance and the number of drive-up vehicles in the terminal not including vehicles outside the terminal.

Some sailings may show as “Full” below, but may have space available for additional vehicles depending on how many customers do not show up for their bookings, the size of vehicles that arrive, and the ability of our deck crew to fit more vehicles.

Next sailing with vehicle space
The terminal ticket booth is now ticketing the next sailing with available deck space. Estimated space doesn't include vehicles outside the terminal waiting to buy a ticket. Tickets for next day sailings are not available for purchase at the terminal until the day of departure.
Departure

8:25 am

Sailing duration: 1h 40m Queen of Oak Bay
16% Details

Last updated: 7:46 AM Refresh details

Last updated:  7:46 am Refresh details

Departures Estimated vehicle space available

6:15 am  Departed  6:18 am
Queen of Cowichan

6:15 am  Departed  6:18 am Queen of Cowichan

ETA : 7:58 am

8:25 am
Queen of Oak Bay

8:25 am Queen of Oak Bay

Estimated vehicle space available

16%   Details

10:40 am
Queen of Cowichan

10:40 am Queen of Cowichan

Estimated vehicle space available

29%   Details

1:00 pm
Queen of Oak Bay

1:00 pm Queen of Oak Bay

Estimated vehicle space available

36%   Details

3:20 pm
Queen of Cowichan

3:20 pm Queen of Cowichan

Estimated vehicle space available

28%   Details

5:55 pm
Queen of Oak Bay

5:55 pm Queen of Oak Bay

Estimated vehicle space available

28%   Details

8:45 pm
Queen of Coquitlam

8:45 pm Queen of Coquitlam

Estimated vehicle space available

22%   Details

10:10 pm
Queen of Oak Bay

10:10 pm Queen of Oak Bay

Estimated vehicle space available

30%   Details

6:15 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Cowichan

6:15 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Cowichan

Estimated vehicle space available

20%    Details

8:25 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Oak Bay

8:25 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Oak Bay

Estimated vehicle space available

23%    Details

10:40 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Cowichan

10:40 am  (Tomorrow)
Queen of Cowichan

Estimated vehicle space available

20%    Details

Webcams

Last updated:  7:46 AM Refresh details

Traffic at the terminal

Traffic to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)

Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

# 680 Trans-Canada Highway, Nanaimo, V9S 5R1

Get directions

Sailing status by route

Select destination (city)

City Terminal

Very weak Weak Medium Strong Very strong password.strength.unsafepwd Too short Use %d - %m characters with a mix of any 3 [upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers & symbols] 8 32 Password must be more than eight characters and contain a mix of any three of the following: upper case letters, numbers and symbols. Password must be less than 32 characters and contain a mix of any three of the following: upper case letters, numbers and symbols. Enter current password Enter valid email address Password not valid Select account type Enter first name Enter last name Confirm Email Not Valid Password must be more than eight characters and contain a mix of any three of the following: upper case letters, numbers and symbols. Passwords do not match Enter valid postal/zip code Loading... Please wait... Stores loaded View schedule from View sailing status from Discover our routes from to