Important travel information
Travelling between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
Standard or oversized vehicles
Check in with the ticket agent 30 to 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure
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What you need to redeem your booking
When you arrive at the terminal, provide the ticket agent with your booking reference number or the phone number on your booking. You will need government-approved photo ID for proof of age as applicable (e.g. BC Seniors).
Bookings will not be honoured and travel will be based on order of arrival at the terminal if you:
- arrive after the booking check-in has closed, 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure;
- arrive before the booking check-in has opened, more than 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
If your ferry travel is part of a vacation package, you will need to present your ferry travel voucher to the ticket agent when you arrive at the terminal. Tour operators are required to present ferry travel vouchers for all tour members.
Vehicle type and size
Your booking will only be honoured for the vehicle type and size you reserved.
If your reserved vehicle height differs at check-in, your booking will not be honoured. If your reserved vehicle length differs by more than 5 feet (1.5 metres) at check-in, your booking will not be honoured. To make changes to your booking, access your BC Ferries account online.
Reservation and change fees
- Reservation only: Pay reservation fee at time of booking. Change sailing for $5 up to one hour before booked sailing.
- Prepaid and Saver: Full payment at time of booking. Includes a reservation. Change sailing for $5 (plus any difference in price, if applicable) up to one hour before booked sailing.
Note: Reservation and change fees are non-refundable.
Cancelling your booking
Booking cancellations are subject to the terms and conditions of the fare purchased and applicable fees.
- Reservation only: Reservation fee is non-refundable.
- Prepaid: $5 cancellation fee up to 11:59 pm the day before departure; $15 cancellation fee on day of departure, up to one hour before booked sailing. Unredeemed bookings will be automatically refunded less a $15 fee.
- Saver: $5 cancellation fee four days or more before departure; $20 cancellation fee three days or less, up to one hour before booked sailing. Unredeemed bookings will be automatically refunded less a $20 fee.
BC Ferries Vacations customers: If your ferry travel is booked as part of a vacation package, any change or cancellation is subject to Terms and Conditions for BC Ferries Vacations Packages.
Check BC Ferries’ Cancellation/Change policies below for details.
Sailing cancellations
If you check-in at the terminal and the sailing is then cancelled, we will make every effort to load you on the next available sailing where space is available.
Customers with a booking on the next scheduled departure will be loaded in advance of customers from the cancelled sailing. If we are unable to load you on the next available sailing, you will be loaded in order of arrival at the terminal.
If you choose not to travel, return to the ticket booth to check out of the terminal. Your fares and any reservation fees will be automatically refunded to your original form of payment after you check out. Any changes made to your booking at the terminal will also be automatically refunded, with the exception of cash or cash equivalent transactions, which need to be processed by a ticket agent at the terminal. View more information about sailing cancellations.
If your sailing is cancelled and you have a return booking you will no longer be able to use, call 1-888-BC FERRY (223-3779). We will cancel your booking and refund your fares and reservation fees.
Conditions of Carriage/Rules & Requirements
By purchasing a booking, you acknowledge your acceptance of BC Ferries’ Conditions of Carriage and Rules & Requirements (available upon request at any terminal, onboard any ferry, or at BC Ferries’ head office). You further acknowledge that the non-authorized resale of a booking, reservation or ticket is prohibited unless contracted through BC Ferries.
The non-authorized resale of a booking/reservation is prohibited unless contracted through BC Ferries.
Health and safety
To support the health and wellness of our customers and employees, all BC Ferries vessels and terminals are smoke and vape-free environments. BC Ferries has a zero tolerance policy for passengers under the influence of drugs or alcohol and any unacceptable conduct that can be associated with impairment. The consumption of drugs and alcohol on BC Ferries’ vessels and at its terminals is prohibited. We all deserve to feel safe and respected—violence and foul language will not be tolerated and may result in denial of service.