All Your Ferry Questions Answered
If you’re planning to visit any of the Southern Gulf Islands, chances are your journey here will start aboard a ferry. BC Ferries operates multiple daily sailings from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay), as well as around the islands, transporting thousands of locals and visitors alike throughout the Salish Sea.
While island residents have long learned to navigate the complexities of ferry life with ease, for the uninitiated, planning a trip around a seemingly convoluted ferry schedule can feel especially overwhelming.
Whether this is your first trip or your 50th, we’re answering all your burning questions about ferry logistics, services, and need-to-knows about BC Ferries and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Q: How Do I Get to the Southern Gulf Islands by Ferry?
A: Between Salt Spring, Mayne, Pender, Galiano, and Saturna, there are so many routes and so many daily sailings that it would be impossible to cover them all in a single digestible guide.
Instead, we’ve created a series of guides to each of the islands, designed to answer all your questions.
Where are you headed next? Here’s how to get there:
Q: Should I Make a Reservation? When Should I Make it?
A: The only reservable routes to and from the Southern Gulf Islands are from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on the Vancouver side. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-888-BC FERRY.
If you’re planning to take a reservable route, it’s always recommended to book your ferry as soon as possible. It is essential to book during the busy summer season as well as long weekends, holidays, and Fridays year-round. Reservations open six months in advance, although in most cases, booking a month or two in advance of travel is sufficient.
Q: How Much of the Ferry is Reservable?
A: For the reservable routes, BC Ferries determines the breakdown of reserved vs. not-reserved deck space based on historic trends. It changes seasonally, ranging from 50 to 90 percent of deck space.
Q: How Early Should You Arrive To Catch the Ferry?
BC Ferries advises reservation holders to arrive at the terminal 45 minutes to 90 minutes before departure (please check your reservation for exact times). If you arrive within 30 minutes of the departure time, BC Ferries reserves the right to reclaim your spot, and you won’t get a refund.
What about the non-reservable routes? While there are no guarantees, for most mid-week travel, arriving an hour before your scheduled departure is sufficient. Plan to allow for more time for busy holidays, summer travel season, and rush hour traffic.
Q: When Do BC Ferries Start Boarding?
A: Whether you’re a walk-on passenger, a cyclist, or in a vehicle, you can expect to start loading on the ferry about 15 minutes before departure time. Be sure to pay attention to the terminal announcements and be close to your vehicle to prevent delays.
Q: What happens if I miss my reservation?
A: Maybe the traffic through the Massey Tunnel in Vancouver was backed up. Or maybe you put the wrong date in your calendar. You are not the first person to miss their reservation time.
If you still plan on traveling that day, head to the terminal and speak with the ticket booth agent. You likely won’t get a refund, but they will be able to advise on the best next sailing for your schedule. Otherwise, please call customer service at 1-888-BC FERRY to rebook.
Q: Can I take a ferry with a trailer, RV, or motorcycle?
A: The ferries can accommodate everything from a foot passenger through to transport truck-sized vehicles. The larger (taller/longer) the vehicle, the more expensive the fare.
Q: Can I take the ferry without a car?
A: Absolutely! In fact, it’s easier than you might think. All ferry terminals and vessels are set up for walk-on passengers, plus Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen, and Salt Spring ferry terminals are all serviced by public transportation options to get you to and from the nearest cities. While most walk-on fares are non-reservable, you’ll rarely face a sold-out boat as a walk-on (outside of a few key holidays, like Thanksgiving).
Q: How Much Does the Ferry Cost?
A: The short (and frustrating) answer is that it all depends on where you are going, when you are going, and how you are travelling on the ferry.
Shorter inter-island routes are cheapest, usually between $30 and $50 per vehicle and $15 per passenger. Longer routes, including those departing from the mainland, typically cost over $100 for a regularly sized vehicle and two passengers.
Rates can also vary depending on the season. Travelling at peak times increases the price. But on many of the shorter inter-island routes, BC Ferries only charges to get to the island destination, with lower or no cost for leaving.
What’s the cheapest way to travel on a ferry? Aim to hit non-peak travel times, travel by foot or bicycle, and use an Experience Card where applicable.
Remember, these are approximates only. For accurate ferry costs, use BC Ferries Fare Calculator.
Q: How Do I Get a BC Ferries Experience Card, and How Do I Use It?
The BC Ferries Experience™ Card is a prepaid, reloadable swipe card that provides discounted fares on select BC Ferries routes. It works like a gift card but is only valid on certain routes, serving smaller communities.
For example, it does not offer discounts on the major Vancouver–Victoria run, but you can save roughly 30 percent off the Crofton-Vesuvius fare, as well as other inter-island trips. Check the BC Ferries website for current eligible routes.
You can purchase and reload your Experience Card online at BCFerries.com or at participating terminals. Presenting the physical card at the time of payment is required.
Q: It’s Windy! Will My Ferry Be Cancelled?
Like any mode of transportation, there are times when BC Ferries has to cancel or delay scheduled sailings. Most often, this is due to high winds across the Georgia Straight or a mechanical issue.
Check current conditions and/or the service notices before heading out.
Q: How Fast Do BC Ferries Go?
A: BC Ferries travel at approximately 19 to 20 knots per hour, which translates to about 35 to 37 km per hour. Depending on the vessel class and route, some ferries might go slightly faster or slower.
Q: Do Ferries Have Food and Drinks?
A: Most of the larger vessels, including the main sailings from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to the Gulf Islands, have an onboard cafeteria serving up hot meals like burgers, platters, and breakfast options, alongside self-serve options. If you find yourself on one of the smaller boats, the only onboard options will be a smaller coffee and snack canteen and/or vending machines.
Q: Is There WiFi on BC Ferries?
A: In the past, BC Ferries did offer WiFi on the main routes, including between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. However, service was famously slow (and frequently nonexistent), which is why they eventually removed this option for all routes.
Can you rely on cell service coverage? Most providers offer little to no coverage on the routes in the Southern Gulf Islands, with service mostly centralized around each terminal.
Q: Are Dogs Allowed on BC Ferries?
A: Good news! If you are heading to the Islands with your four-legged friend, whether by foot or by vehicle, you can always take them with you. All BC Ferries allow pets on the vehicle decks, and often have a designated Pet Area for longer sailings. Pets are not allowed in the enclosed passenger areas.
Q: Will I See Whales on the Ferry?
A: If you are lucky, your trip on the ferry may encounter some spectacular wildlife along the way. In the Salish Sea, our most famous whales are the Southern Resident killer whales, with an honourable mention going to the Bigg’s (also known as Transient) killer whales that frequent these waters. Increasingly, there are also humpback whales, porpoises, harbor seals, sea lions, and more. Head to the outside decks and keep your eyes peeled—you never know what you’ll find!
