1. Home
  2. Travel Policies
  3. Important Travel Information

Important travel information

 

Foot passenger groups on southern routes

Applicable routes:

Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Bowen Island (Snug Cove)
Comox (Little River) – Powell River (Westview)
Powell River (Saltery Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Earl's Cove)
Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Salt Spring Island (Fulford Harbour) only
Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Southern Gulf Islands only
 

Arrive at the terminal 30 to 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure


{media1}
 
Check in with the Chief Steward

The leader of any youth group, sports team or school group must check in with the Chief Steward once on board the ferry.


 

Vehicle type and size

Your booking will only be honoured for the specific sailing you reserved and is valid only for your selected vehicle type and size.

To make changes to your booking, access your BC Ferries account online.


 

Booking cancellations and changes to ferry travel

A fee will be applied to any bus or group booking cancelled or changed within five days of the scheduled departure. A fee will be applied to any bus and/or group bookings that are not redeemed. Check BC Ferries’ Cancellation/Change policies for details.


 

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, 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.

 Masks recommended


Following direction from the Provincial Health Officer, masks are no longer mandatory in indoor public settings. Masks are recommended indoors at terminals and on board.

Please respect your fellow passengers and our crews if they choose to wear a mask, comfort levels will vary as restrictions change.

Transport Canada safety regulation

In accordance with Transport Canada safety regulations passengers must exit their vehicle on any closed lower deck on a ferry that is underway. A closed vehicle deck is a space that is closed at both ends with limited side openings. Exception: ferries in service on the Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale) route.

During boarding, passengers should advise the Chief Steward of any serious medical conditions. BC Ferries staff are trained in emergency first aid; however, there are no qualified medical personnel on board.

Follow us on X @BCFerries for service updates.

Booking change and cancellation policies

Foot passenger groups on southern routes
Prepaid
Routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island
 The non-authorized resale of a booking, reservation, or ticket is prohibited unless contracted through BC Ferries. Please see BC Ferries’ Conditions of Carriage and Rules & Requirements for more information.
  • Change booked sailing time and/or date: no charge, changes may be made up to two hours in advance of the booked sailing, for sailings still open for advance sales.
  • Change passenger type: pay or receive refund for any price difference.
  • Change booking to travel with a vehicle: If you have a foot passenger booking and want to change it to travel with a vehicle, you can change your booking online to include a vehicle* by accessing your BC Ferries account or from the link in your booking confirmation email. Your Prepaid foot passenger booking amount will be applied towards your new vehicle booking, based on the fare type you select.
  • Cancel booking up to 11:59 pm the day before booked sailing: Full refund.
  • Cancel booking on day of booked sailing: No refunds.
  • Unredeemed booking: No refunds.
  • Travel on an earlier or later sailing on same day as booked sailing: No charge, customer accommodated subject to space availability. Applicable only for the same day, route and direction of travel as booked.
* Subject to availability. The sailing with your confirmed foot passenger booking may be sold out for vehicle bookings. After you confirm the change(s), your booking will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of the fare choice you selected. You will be required to pay for any additional passengers not already covered by your original foot passenger booking.
Prepaid
Southern Gulf Islands routes

Prepaid

(Southern Gulf Islands routes - standard or oversize vehicle itineraries only)

 The non-authorized resale of a booking, reservation, or ticket is prohibited unless contracted through BC Ferries. Please see BC Ferries’ Conditions of Carriage and Rules & Requirements for more information.
The following changes are accepted online or by calling the Customer Service Centre up to time sailing is closed for advance sales:
 
  • Change sailing time ($5 change fee) - changes may be made up to one hour in advance of the booked sailing from the original port of departure for sailings that are still open for advance sales.
  • Add passengers: pay for additional passengers
  • Remove passengers: full refund (to original form of payment) of passenger fares paid for those passengers
  • Update booking to add or remove feet to vehicle length (for vehicles more than 20 ft. long only): pay or receive refund for any price difference subject to space availability.
  • Change to a different vehicle type: pay or receive refund for any price difference subject to space availability
  • Change to bus or commercial vehicle type: customers must cancel their booking and make a new booking for correct vehicle type. Customers who cancel their booking within 7 days of the sailing, will receive a full refund less the non-refundable cancellation fee ($25 for bookings departing Tsawwassen and $15 for bookings departing the Southern Gulf Islands).
 
Changes accepted at terminal on day of departure:
  • Arrived early: customers arriving in time for an earlier sailing, on the date they booked to travel, may travel on an earlier sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal. A cancellation fee will be applied to their booking. Applicable only for the same day, route and direction of travel as booked.
  • Arrived late: customers who arrive in time for their booked sailing, but have missed the reservation cut-off, may travel on the next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal. A cancellation fee will be applied to their booking. Applicable only for the same day, route and direction of travel as booked.
  • Arrived after reservation cut-off (as specified on the booking confirmation document): customers who arrive after the sailing has closed for loading, but on the day they booked for travel, may travel on the next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal. Applicable only for the same day, route and direction of travel as booked.
  • Customer no shows for sailing (booking not redeemed) departing from Vancouver (Tsawwassen): $25 no-show fee will apply.
  • Customer no shows for sailing (booking not redeemed) departing from the Southern Gulf Islands: $15 no-show fee will apply.
  • Add passengers: pay for additional passengers. No change fee.
  • Remove passengers: full refund of removed passengers to original form of payment
  • Remove ≤5 ft. (for vehicles more than 20 ft. long only) receive a refund for removed length. Booking will be honoured.
  • Add ≤5 ft. (for vehicles more than 20 ft. long only): pay for additional length at standard price. Booking will be honoured.
  • Remove > 5 ft. (for vehicles more than 20 ft. long only): receive a refund for removed length – booking will not be honoured, and customer will travel on next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal using the payment from the booking.
  • Add >5 ft. (for vehicles more than 20 ft. long only): pay for additional length at standard price. Booking will not be honoured, and customer will travel on next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal.
  • Change to a different vehicle type: pay any difference in price and travel on next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal.
  • Change to bus or commercial vehicle type: booking will not be honoured. Pay the difference in price and travel on next available sailing based on order of arrival at the terminal.
 
Cancellation:
  • Customers who cancel their booking seven days prior to their sailing will receive a full refund.
  • Customers who cancel their booking within seven days of their sailing will receive a full refund less the non-refundable cancellation fee ($25 for bookings departing Tsawwassen and $15 for bookings departing the Southern Gulf Islands).
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