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.
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Important
Important
Reservations are strongly recommended for this route.
Bear Cove terminal is located on the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island. The terminal is a 10 minute drive from the town of Port Hardy. Sailings from Bear Cove provide connections to BC’s central and north coast.
Check-in times
With a reservation – Arrive at the terminal 90 to 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Your booking will not be honoured and travel will be based on your order of arrival at the terminal if you arrive before booking check-in has opened, or after booking check-in has closed.
- Booking check-in opens 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
- Booking check-in closes 90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
Without a reservation – Travel is based on your order of arrival at the terminal.
- Ticket sales and check-in close 20 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
*Hostled vehicles – Reservation check-in and ticket sales for hostled vehicles close 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure.
Dangerous goods sailings information
Note: Schedules subject to change without notice.
Thru fares between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands
Thru fares provide an alternative way to travel between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands, via a connection at Victoria (Swartz Bay).
This is available for all passenger and vehicle types, at the same price as a direct ticket between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands.
If you are travelling thru fare, inform the ticket agent at your first departure terminal to receive a voucher that you will redeem at Victoria (Swartz Bay).
Reservations are strongly recommended for this route.
Prince Rupert terminal is located on Kaien Island on the northwest coast of BC. The terminal is at the west end of Highway 16, and is a 10 minute drive south of the city of Prince Rupert. Sailings departing from Prince Rupert provide service to Port Hardy and Skidegate (Haida Gwaii) with a connector service to Klemtu, Bella Bella, Shearwater, Ocean Falls and Bella Coola.
Check-in times
With a reservation – Arrive at the terminal 90 to 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Your booking will not be honoured and travel will be based on your order of arrival at the terminal if you arrive before booking check-in has opened, or after booking check-in has closed.
- Booking check-in opens 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
- Booking check-in closes 90 minutes prior to the scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
Without a reservation – Travel is based on your order of arrival at the terminal.
- Ticket sales and check-in close 20 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing departure for foot passengers and vehicles.*
*Hostled vehicles – Reservation check-in and ticket sales for hostled vehicles close 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure.
Dangerous goods sailings information
Note: Schedules subject to change without notice.
Thru fares between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands
Thru fares provide an alternative way to travel between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands, via a connection at Victoria (Swartz Bay).
This is available for all passenger and vehicle types, at the same price as a direct ticket between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands.
If you are travelling thru fare, inform the ticket agent at your first departure terminal to receive a voucher that you will redeem at Victoria (Swartz Bay).
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