BURST
All B.C. Ferries customers travelling by vehicle from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) must book and pay in advance, effective Oct. 15.
B.C. Ferries said the decision was necessary because vehicle space at the terminal is expected to drop by a quarter during major infrastructure works that are expected to last years.
“We understand this is a big change, and for a terminal that already has limited space, it may feel frustrating at first,” said Melanie Lucia, Vice-President of Customer Experience at B.C. Ferries.
“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. It also helps our crews manage the terminal more smoothly and safely, so they can focus on getting everyone where they need to go.”
Customers will not be able to reserve tickets by paying a $20 fee and then paying the fare at the toll booth.
Instead, they will need to book online using the prepaid and saver fare options, both of which require full payment in advance. For the first six weeks of the new system B.C. Ferries will waive fees to change the time of sailing.
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“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,” Lucia said. “We’re asking customers to plan ahead, and we’re doing everything we can to make that planning easier.”
The new booking policy will not apply to Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay trips.
To further support smooth operations during construction, B.C. Ferries is adjusting select sailing schedules this fall.
Beginning in October and during shoulder seasons, a new 6:10 p.m. sailing from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Sunshine Coast (Langdale) will replace the current 5:30 p.m. departure to help reduce terminal congestion and improve on-time performance.
Minor schedule adjustments will also be made to Sechelt (Earls Cove) to Powell River (Saltery Bay) and Gambier (New Brighton) – Keats (Keats Landing) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale) to align with this change. No schedule changes are planned for Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Bowen Island (Snug Cove).