Winter travel tips

Plan ahead

We strongly recommend to book in advance on the following routes:

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

If no bookings are available on these routes, consider booking travel between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Nanaimo (Duke Point) or travel during less busy times.

 

Popular travel times

The most popular travel times are usually Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, with lots of travellers departing from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals.

Lower vehicle decks

Passengers in vehicles on enclosed lower vehicle decks must leave their vehicles during the sailing to comply with Transport Canada’s safety regulation.

 

Parking

Parking lots fill up quickly, especially on holiday weekends. Check parking percentage availability at major south coast terminals with current conditions.

 

BC Ferries Connector

The BC Ferries Connector bus operates between the downtown Vancouver bus terminal (Pacific Central Station) to the downtown Victoria terminal (Capital City Station). View schedule.


 

Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Bowen Island (Snug Cove)

• On your day of travel, check Current Conditions on bcferries.com
• Follow @BCFerries on X (Twitter) for real-time updates

• Bowen Island bound customers uses ticket booth 8 in the far right lane
• Digital signs will direct you to the booth. Traffic control will guide you during peak times.
• Advise the traffic controller of your destination
• If there is a line-up, please stay in your lane. Vehicles are ticketed based on order of arrival
• Ticket sales and check in closes 10 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time
• Signs above the ticket booth will provide status updates:
  • SALES HELD – ticket sales will resume shortly
  • POSSIBLE WAIT – the next sailing is near capacity
• You do not have to pay to return from Bowen Island

• You will be directed to drive down lane 1
• Stop at the bottom of lane 1 where a terminal attendant will direct you to your lane
• If vehicle traffic is backed up in lane 1, we are boarding a sailing to Nanaimo. Stay in your vehicle and you will be directed to move after the Nanaimo boarding is complete
• Drive slowly and follow the direction of Terminal Attendants
• Note: The lane number on the ticket reads 69, you will be directed to lanes 65–70

• Ensure you are with your vehicle when the ferry arrives
• Wait to be directed to board the ferry by a BC Ferries Terminal Attendant
• When you drive onboard, follow the direction of our deck crew and park within 60 cm (24 inches) of the vehicle in front of you so we can maximize space on board

Bowen Island (Snug Cove) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)

• On your day of travel, check Current Conditions on bcferries.com
• Follow @BCFerries on X for real-time updates

• Do not park in the ferry line-up unless you are waiting to board the next sailing.
• There is no toll booth. The fare you purchased in Horseshoe Bay includes the return trip.
• Enter the ferry line behind the last vehicle in the line, or in the first open space closest to the ferry.
• Do not leave a gap. Park within two feet (or 0.6 metres) of the vehicle in front of you. If there’s a cross-hatched area behind the next vehicle, pull right up to the edge of the cross-hatched area.
• Do not stop or park any portion of your vehicle on the cross-hatched areas.
• In the two-lane area of the ferry line, enter the shorter lane. When vehicles start loading, signage will indicate to merge like a zipper at the point where it narrows to one lane.
• Do not stop or park beyond the “End of Ferry Line Up” sign. If the lanes are full you will not get on the ferry. Come back for the next sailing.
• Be in your vehicle at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure of the ferry.
• Drive safe. Speed limits are enforced by the RCMP.
• Motorcycles: will be loaded and unloaded before cars. Go right to the front of the line.
• Cyclists: load and unload with foot passengers. Walk your bike across the ramp.

• There is no toll booth. The fare you purchased in Horseshoe Bay includes the return trip!
• Arrive at the waiting area at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.
• Wait for ferry traffic to load or unload before crossing the street including crosswalks.
• Do not walk on the road after you cross the ramp. Move to the sidewalks so that vehicles can unload.
• For information on Bowen Island loading and transit check here:   https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/our-community/transportation/ferry-guide/ 

Peak travel times

If bookings are sold out for sailings to the Gulf Islands you can add yourself to a waitlist online. If we can confirm your booking prior to departure, we will contact you with the details. If we have not confirmed your booking within 24 hours of the scheduled departure, consider travelling via a thru fare that connects through Victoria (Swartz Bay).

To check if a sailing is sold out, select the Southern Gulf Islands route and dates you want to travel here, enter your passenger and vehicle information, then continue. If a sailing is full, you will see "Reservations sold out" and an option to add yourself to the waitlist. Select "Add yourself to waitlist" and complete the form to get on the waitlist.

 

Vehicle and foot passenger bookings

You can book vehicle and foot passenger travel in advance from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to:

• Pender Island (Otter Bay)
• Galiano Island (Sturdies Bay)
• Mayne Island (Village Bay)
• Saturna Island (Lyall Harbour)
• Salt Spring Island (Long Harbour)

Note: Sailings departing from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) provide service to Swartz Bay (Victoria), Duke Point (Nanaimo) and the Southern Gulf Islands.

 

Thru fares

Thru fares provide more sailing options for customers travelling to the Southern Gulf Islands. With a thru fare, you can travel between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands via a connection at Victoria (Swartz Bay) for the same price. This is a good option when direct sailings are sold out. Learn more about thru fares.

 

Terminals without ticket agents

When you arrive at the terminal, follow signage and park in the first available vehicle lane. Some lanes at terminals are designated based on your vehicle type. You will be loaded on the next available sailing based on space on board.

 

Travel safely through coastal communities

Help us keep the communities we serve safe. Obey speed limits, watch for pedestrians and cyclists and maintain a safe distance. During popular times to travel there may be vehicles queuing on roads approaching terminals.

If you need to exit your vehicle, watch for oncoming traffic and cyclists. Please care for the community you’re in by leaving space around driveways, disposing of litter and respecting private property.

 

Waitlists

If bookings are sold out for sailings to the Gulf Islands you can add yourself to a waitlist online. If we can confirm your booking prior to departure, we will contact you with the details. If we have not confirmed your booking within 24 hours of the scheduled departure, consider travelling via a thru fare that connects through Victoria (Swartz Bay).

To add yourself to a waitlist, select the Gulf Islands route and dates you want to travel, enter your passenger information, select "Add yourself to waitlist" under the list of sailings, then complete the waitlist form.

Learn more about waitlists.

Book in advance

Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale) is one of our busiest routes. We strongly recommend booking in advance. If bookings are sold out, we recommend travelling during less busy days and times. These include:

• Mid-week days

• Early morning or late evening sailings

Seamless travel tips

Find more travel information for routes between Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, and Texada Island here.
 

Arriving at Horseshoe Bay in a vehicle

During busy travel times, look out for traffic flaggers as you approach the ticket booths at Horseshoe Bay. Let our staff know if you have a booking and they will direct you to the correct lane. Once at the terminal, listen to announcements and follow the direction of our staff who will guide you during boarding.
 

Arriving at Horseshoe Bay as a foot passenger

TransLink offers service between Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay via the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express or 250 Horseshoe Bay routes. Self-serve kiosks are available at the entrance to the departures building to purchase or your ticket or redeem your booking. Cyclists should buy their tickets at the foot passenger ticket office.

During peak travel times the pre-ticketing area can be busy, so arrive expecting a wait. Washrooms facilities are available but long lines can form quickly. Public washrooms are also available at Horseshoe Bay park from 7am to 10pm, a two-minute walk away.
 

Access to the village at Horseshoe Bay

If you arrive at Horseshoe Bay terminal with enough time to spare, you can leave your vehicle in your parking lane and walk into the village. Just remember to wait until your vehicle has been directed to its assigned lane and take your ticket with you.
 

Staying in your vehicle during the sailing

Passengers travelling between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale) can stay in their vehicle for the duration of the sailing regardless of which deck they're on.
 

Travel assistance

Inform the ticket agent when you arrive at the ticket booth if you are travelling with a Travel Assistance Program (TAP) form, or if you have accessibility requirements like a wheelchair or mobility aid access.

View details on Medical Assured Loading (MAL)
Learn more about accessibility options

Travel to the upper Sunshine Coast

The distance from Langdale terminal to Earls Cove terminal is approximately 90 minutes driving time and the duration of the sailing from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay is 50 minutes.
From Saltery Bay, it’s about a 25 minute drive to Powell River and Westview terminal with service to Comox and Texada Island.
View transit options available from your departure and arrival terminal

Book in advance

Our Central and North Coast routes are busiest during the spring and summer months. We strongly recommended you book in advance on these routes during those seasons.

 

Arrive prepared

If you have a booking, arrive at the terminal 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

 

Cabins and reserved seating

You can book cabins or seats on board the Northern Expedition and cabins on board the Northern Adventure when you book online or over the phone. If cabins are sold out, you can add yourself to a waitlist.

 

Waitlists

If sailings, cabins or amenities you try to book are sold out, you can request to be added to the waitlist and we will contact you if space becomes available.

To request to be added to a waitlist, select the Northern route and dates you want to travel, enter your passenger information, select "Add yourself to waitlist" under the list of sailings, then complete the waitlist form. You can also request to be added to a waitlist after you complete your Northern booking online.

If you are still on the waitlist on the day you want to travel, we recommend you try arriving at the terminal a minimum of three hours prior to the scheduled departure time. If customers with confirmed spots don’t arrive for the sailing, we fill their spots with waitlisted customers.

Learn more about waitlists.

 

Wi-Fi

There is no Wi-Fi onboard BC Ferries vessels and due to the region there may be limited cellular coverage, so plan with this in mind. We are currently working on expanding free Wi-Fi to select terminals along the Central and North Coast.

 

Points of interest

Northern route ferries feature Point of Interest announcements that highlight the coastal communities along the journey, showcasing the deep ancestral connections and rich histories of the First Nations in these areas: