BC Ferries posts travel advisory for main route ahead of busy weekend
BC Ferries is informing passengers of a busy weekend ahead, particularly for one popular route.
A travel advisory has been issued for Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) – Departure Bay (Nanaimo), as high volumes are anticipated from May 2 to 5.
BC Ferries said Friday and Sunday are expected to be the busiest travel days.
The ferry operator noted that the Queen of Surrey is out for refit until May 6, and no extra service will be available to keep travel moving during peak times.
Two extra sailings were added for Thursday to try to mitigate the anticipated high traffic, and encourage customers to travel a day earlier, if possible.
BC Ferries is reminding customers to book in advance to secure space on board. Those with reservations should arrive 45 to 60 minutes before their scheduled departure time. Walk-on passengers should arrive at least 45 minutes before their scheduled sailing.
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The company added that the first weekend of May is typically a busy time for travel to and from Vancouver Island.
“Midday and afternoon sailings are expected to be busiest, so if you can, aim for early morning or late evening departures, which tend to have more space,” stated BC Ferries.
“Or consider alternate routes to Vancouver Island like Tsawwassen–Duke Point or Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay. Checking all options and being flexible can make for a smoother trip.”
Ritinder Matthew, director of media relations with BC Ferries, added that the Horseshoe Bay terminal in particular is compact, which adds to traffic constraints. “So when demand spikes, it’s especially challenging to manage flow,” she stated.
The travel advisory comes after BC Ferries experienced a very busy Easter long weekend, particularly at Horseshoe Bay, as traffic was backed up and many passengers were left waiting several hours to catch a sailing.
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