Small pets including dogs, cats, ferrets, birds and hamsters are all welcome and travel for free.
Important: All animals (except guide and service animals) must remain in your vehicle or in a designated Pet Area. For more information about travelling with a guide dog or other service animals, visit our accessibility page.
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Travelling with pets
Pets are part of the family, so we want them to travel as comfortably as possible.
Travel Tips for Pet Owners
Check out some helpful pet travel tips from BC SPCA Accredited Dog Trainer, Bernadette:
Onboard Pet Areas
To help you and your pet feel comfortable and at home, Pet Areas on board are equipped with:
- Garbage bins
- Heating (available in select Pet Areas)
- Kennels (available in select Pet Areas)
- Seating
- Waste bags
- Water bowl
Top travel tips for pet owners
The BC SPCA has some great tips to make your pets as comfortable as possible on board:
- Give your pet some exercise before boarding the ferry
- Keep your pet hydrated with enough water, especially on hot days
- Bring your pet’s favourite blanket or toy
- Bring your own padlock if you wish to use our onboard kennels
- Keep dogs on a leash and under your care when outside your vehicle
- Clean up after your pet to help us ensure a clean environment for everyone on board
- Ensure all vaccinations are up to date and your pets are in good health
- Bring cats, ferrets and other small animals on board in a carrying case
- During the summer, the outer deck can become very hot on paws. In the winter, terminals and vessels may use de-icing compounds outdoors. Pet owners are responsible for their pets' welfare and should be aware of any associated risks.
- Foot passengers with pets must embark and disembark from the main car deck unless instructed otherwise.
Outer deck pet area expansion on select vessels and routes
You barked and we listened. The following vessels have expanded their pet areas with a designated upper area on the passenger deck:
- All vessels sailing between Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
- All vessels sailing between Tsawwassen – Duke Point (Nanaimo)
- All vessels sailing between Departure Bay (Nanaimo) – Horseshoe Bay
- All vessels sailing between Horseshoe Bay – Langdale
- Salish Orca – Sailings between Powell River – Comox
- Malaspina Sky – Sailings between Earls Cove – Saltery Bay
We love animals, but only well-behaved dogs on a leash and cats in carriers will be permitted in the outside pet areas on the upper passenger deck, with a maximum of two pets per handler.
- Leashes must be kept to a maximum of 3 feet (1 meter) at all times when on board.
- Access the outside pet area via a designated pet friendly stairwell and follow the paw prints. Crew can direct customers with accessibility requirements to a designated elevator.
- Pets must remain within the designated pet area, marked by yellow lines, when on the upper outside deck.
- Pets are not permitted in terminal lounges or on passenger walkways, inside the passenger lounge or Coastal Cafe areas of the ferry.
- Be considerate of fellow passengers who do not want to come in contact with an animal.
Driving on board
What you need to know about travelling on our ferries with a vehicle.
Dangerous goods
See what goods are classified as dangerous, and learn how to declare them before you travel.
Credit: Brian Jackson
Check-in baggage
Take advantage of our secure check-in baggage services - available for foot passengers on select routes.