BC Ferries announces fall requirement for advance bookings for sailings to Horseshoe Bay, bound for Nanaimo.
Advance Booking Required for Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay Ferry Travel
Starting October 15, all vehicle travellers from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo-bound) will be required to book and pay in advance. This change is due to critical infrastructure construction at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, which is expected to reduce vehicle staging space by 25%.
This new requirement eliminates the option for drive-up or reservation-only fares in this direction; only prepaid and saver fares will be available. The goal is to give customers more certainty about securing a spot and to maintain safety and efficient traffic management during construction.
Melanie Lucia, the company's vice-president of customer experience, explained, "This isn't just a change in how you book, it's part of a bigger effort to keep people safely moving during a major terminal upgrade."
The construction involves decommissioning elevated structures and a traffic control tower at Horseshoe Bay terminal. Emergency vehicles and medical-assured loading passengers will retain reserved space. If sailings are full, customers may consider alternatives such as Tsawwassen to Duke Point sailings.
This change applies only to travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, not the return trip from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay. From Oct. 15 through March 31, Saver fares for vehicles will make up 40% of all available vehicle fares in the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay direction.
To help customers plan their trips, BC Ferries is introducing two new digital tools: Sailing Space Alert email notifications and the ability to add oneself to a waitlist for a preferred sailing. BC Ferries is also waiving change fees for the route between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30.
Despite the changes, Lucia acknowledges that they may feel frustrating at first. However, she emphasizes that BC Ferries is asking customers to plan ahead and is doing everything it can to make that planning easier.
Additional information about the terminal construction work and the changes it will necessitate can be found on the BC Ferries website. The changes are part of a multi-year renewal project at Horseshoe Bay, a key and busy terminal serving nearly 7 million passengers and over 3 million vehicles annually.
- In light of the terminal construction at Horseshoe Bay, BC Ferries is implementing a new policy for travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, requiring advance booking and payment.
- The transit industry change aims to provide more certainty for customers, ensure safety, and maintain efficient traffic management during construction.
- With float planes, public transit, and Tsawwassen to Duke Point sailings serving as alternatives, customers are encouraged to consider other transportation options if sailings from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay are full.
- To facilitate easier planning for customers, BC Ferries is introducing new digital tools, including Sailing Space Alert email notifications and the ability to add oneself to a waitlist for a preferred sailing, as part of a lifestyle shift towards more organized travel arrangements.
