BC Ferries announces 'big change' for folks travelling to Nanaimo starting this fall
If you frequently travel from Vancouver to Nanaimo, a “big change” may impact the way you book your trip through BC Ferries.
BC Ferries has announced changes to the Horseshoe Bay booking process, along with what they’re calling “customer improvements.”
Beginning Oct. 15, if you’re travelling from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay), you will have to pay in advance before you get to the terminal. This change only impacts travellers heading in this direction (Vancouver to Nanaimo).
The changes are partly due to construction taking place at the Horseshoe Bay terminal.
BC Ferries says that the change will help “keep customers moving and maintain safety through the multi-year construction program at the terminal, where vehicle staggering space will be reduced by 25 per cent.”
The ferry service provider acknowledges that the change may irk some people initially.
“We understand this is a big change, and for a terminal that already has limited space, it may feel frustrating at first,” BC Ferries vice president of customer experience Melanie Lucia said in a statement.
“No one wants to be turned away when they’ve made the trip to the terminal. By requiring advance bookings, we’re giving customers more certainty and a better chance of securing their spot, especially as space becomes even tighter during construction.”
Lucia says that it will also help crews manage the terminal “more smoothly and safely.”
Once the changes go into effect in October, terminal and reservation-only fares won’t be available when travelling from Vancouver to Nanaimo, but customers will be able to choose between prepaid and saver fares.
Folks driving commercial vehicles will also have to reserve in advance, but the fare structure will stay the same.
In a media release, BC Ferries said that it consulted with over 3,000 customers on how best to support them during the change. That consultation has resulted in three primary changes, including:
- Saver fare availability is doubling to make up 40 per cent of all fares for travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay.
- Change fees will be waived between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30 to make it easier for customers to change their plans
- BC Ferries is launching two new “digital tools” to reduce stress and help folks plan, including the Sailing Space Alert, which will offer customers the ability to subscribe to email notifications when space becomes available on sold-out sailings. BC Ferries is also introducing waitlist capability, which gives customers a better shot at getting a spot when their preferred sailing is full.
“Construction work will begin with the decommissioning of the elevated structures and traffic control tower. A portion of deck space will continue to be reserved for emergency vehicles and Medical Assured Loading (MAL) customers,” BC Ferries says.
BC Ferries has more information about the changes on its website.