BURSTThe last long weekend of summer traditionally starts early aboard BC Ferries, proven by the near-sellout of Friday (Sept. 4) and return Monday reservations.
Island residents can expect an influx of visitors with the Friday ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay nearly sold out, with only the first sailing of the day with space for those taking a vehicle. The final Friday voyage is the only boat left with vehicle space from Tsawwassen to Duke Point.
BC Ferries is aware of the impact an extra day can have on travellers and has put together a tip sheet for potential drivers. Travel tips issued Sept. 1 include what has become the norm for the least expensive mode between the islands off the coast of B.C. – make a reservation, avoid peak travel times, consider leaving the vehicle behind as a walk-aboard, and arrive prepared by using the app or website to gather intel.
Non-peak travel, the intel suggested, includes grabbing a boat on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and 9, to get out of terminals on Vancouver Island, the mainland and the Sunshine Coast. So far, the ferry data trend seems true. As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, space remained on each sailing of the day out of Swartz Bay just outside Victoria, Duke Point in Nanaimo, Tsawwassen on the mainland and Langdale on the Sunshine Coast.
A quick peek at the reservations reveals perhaps folks are lining up for Labour Day travel to and from Vancouver Island.
When looking to book from the North Saanich terminal, hourly boats still have space Friday, except the 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Those Island-bound travellers, however, have filled boats from 7 a.m. through the end of the day. With those heading for the Nanaimo terminal at Duke Point filling the bookings up to 10:45 p.m. Four sailings the next day to Duke Point are also full between 7:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Labelled “advanced bookings sold out” means the sailing can’t be reserved in advance, but may have some drive-up space for vehicle and foot passengers. BC Ferries suggests planning ahead with the “current conditions” tab at bcferries.com.
As noted in its tips, foot passenger space rarely sells out.