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November 21, 2024
‘You Belong With Me’...Onboard! BC Ferries adds sailings for December 5-9 weekend amid high demand
VICTORIA, BC - With Taylor Swift’s concert series, Canucks games, and other major events drawing large crowds to the Lower Mainland, BC Ferries is preparing for an exceptionally busy travel weekend from Thursday, December 5 to Monday, December 9. Demand is expected to be especially high with the 60-year-old Queen of New Westminster out of service for repairs, reducing available fleet capacity. This makes early planning essential for all passengers.
To support travellers, BC Ferries has scheduled additional sailings on key routes:
- Friday, December 6: Extra sailings in both directions between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen at 5:00 am and 11:00 pm, providing more options to help ease daytime congestion.
- Sunday, December 8: Additional late-night sailings from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen at 11:00 pm and from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay at 1:00 am (early on Monday, December 9), for travellers heading back from weekend events.
To avoid long waits, BC Ferries recommends booking in advance. Passengers with reservations can expect sailings to run as scheduled, helping them travel when and where they want without delay. Those planning to drive on board without a reservation should prepare for significant waits and the possibility of being turned away if arriving during peak times.
“We know this is a big weekend for many travellers, and our goal is to help everyone get where they need to go smoothly,” says Melanie Lucia, VP, Customer Experience. “With the 60-year-old Queen of New Westminster out of service, space will be more limited than usual and parking at the terminals will fill up quickly. We’ve added extra sailings to boost capacity where we can, but we strongly encourage customers to book in advance, consider off-peak times, consider alternate forms of transportation, or travel as foot passengers to help us keep everyone moving with minimal delays.”
Terminals are expected to be extremely busy, so all travellers are encouraged to reserve early, consider off-peak travel times, or travel as foot passengers if possible. Reservations for vehicle and foot passengers, as well as discounted Saver fares during select off-peak sailings, are still available.
BC Ferries’ proactive scheduling adjustments for this weekend reflect its commitment to providing reliable service. The Queen of New Westminster’s extended repairs underscore the importance of BC Ferries’ fleet renewal strategy, including the upcoming New Major Vessels project and the expansion of its Island Class vessels to meet growing demand.
To meet customers’ expectations for reliable and flexible service, BC Ferries is also moving forward with plans to expand its fleet, including seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to add five new major vessels. The fifth additional vessel in particular is essential to enable BC Ferries to better serve the transportation needs of British Columbians while reducing strain on the aging fleet, especially during high-demand periods like this one.
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