With a fleet of 35 vessels, serving 25 routes and 47 terminals between Lower-Mainland BC, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Discovery Islands, Sunshine Coast, BC Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in the whole world. Taking a ride on a BC Ferry is part of the whole Vancouver Island vacation experience.
How many ferries are on Vancouver Island?
Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Ferries
There are two BC Ferries terminals in the Lower Mainland – one at Tsawwassen and the other at Horseshoe Bay. Ferry departures are usually once every two hours from 7 am or so until about 9 pm, but hourly in the summer.
How many BC Ferries routes are there?
About BC Ferries
With 25 routes throughout the west coast of BC, we serve as advocates for the coastal environment and communities where we operate. Operations began in 1960 with just two ferries providing service on a single route.
How often does the ferry run to Vancouver Island?
The crossing between Vancouver Island and the Mainland typically takes 90 to 120 minutes. Trips between Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast are are around 30 minutes.
BC Ferries Routes.
| Route | Crossing Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Sechelt – Powell River | 50 min | every 2 hours |
Where does the ferry go to on Vancouver Island?
Swartz Bay terminal is located at the end of Highway 17, to the north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Sailings departing from Swartz Bay provide service to Tsawwassen (Vancouver), Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) and the Southern Gulf Islands.
What is the biggest BC Ferry?
MV Spirit of British Columbia
MV Spirit of British Columbia is an S-class ferry, part of the BC Ferries fleet active along the British Columbia coast. It and Spirit of Vancouver Island represent the two largest ships in the fleet.
MV Spirit of British Columbia.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Length | 167.5 m (549 ft 6 in) oa 156.0 m (511 ft 10 in) pp |
| Beam | 32.9 m (107 ft 11 in) |
| Decks | 7 |
How long is the ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island?
90 minutes to two hours
The ferry crossings between Vancouver (Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay) and Vancouver Island (Victoria and Nanaimo) take 90 minutes to two hours, depending on which route you take.
What is the busiest ferry in the world?
Staten Island Ferry in New York City – 23.9 million passengers annually; busiest single-line ferry in the world.
Which ferry goes to Nanaimo?
Ferry. Nanaimo is your gateway to Vancouver Island, with two ferry terminals offering service from the Vancouver area. Depart Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver and arrive 1 hour 40 min later to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay. Depart Tsawwassen and arrive in Duke Point, 15 minutes south of Nanaimo just 2 hours later.
What is the largest ferry in the world?
In terms of gross tonnage, the largest ferry in the world is the 75,156-ton Color Magic, built by Aker Finnyards of Finland, and operated by Color Line on the route between Oslo in Norway and Kiel in Germany. Its sister ship Color Fantasy comes a close second in tonnage.
What percentage of BC Ferries is reservations 2022?
Increase reservation space: from 40-50% on average, to 95% of the vessel. Provide free reservations on all Saver and Prepaid fares. Significantly lower your fares for travel at less busy times with a reservation.
Do seniors still ride free on BC Ferries?
Passenger fare types. BC Seniors travel free on select routes1 Monday to Thursday2 with one of these valid IDs: BC Services Card. BC Driver’s Licence.
What is the closest point between Vancouver Island and the mainland?
The shortest possible distance across the Strait of Georgia is 19.1 kilometres. Setting out from the very tip of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, that’s how far it takes until you hit the first rocks of Galiano Island.
What is the best way to get to Vancouver Island?
( updated Apr 2022 ) BC Ferries is the most common way to get to Vancouver Island. There is scheduled vehicle ferry service from: Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal in Delta to Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal near Sidney (1 hour 35 minutes), operating every two hours normally and up to hourly in the summer.
What is the cheapest way to get to Vancouver Island?
What is the cheapest way to get from Vancouver to Vancouver Island? The cheapest way to get from Vancouver to Vancouver Island is to car ferry and drive which costs $30 – $140 and takes 3h 47m.
Which ferry to take to Victoria from Vancouver?
BC Ferries offers 90 minute sailings to Victoria’s Swartz Bay terminal from the Tsawwassen terminal, approximately 45 minutes south of downtown Vancouver. Ferries run at least every two hours (at the top of the hour), increasing to hourly during peak season. These ferries take both vehicles and walk-on passengers.
Where is the longest free ferry in the world?
The ferries in our region are free, including the tourist attraction, the Kootenay Lake Ferry, which is the longest free ferry in the world. It’s a 35-minute journey covering 8km, and operates year round.
What’s the newest BC Ferry?
Introducing the Salish Heron
Our new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled ferry joins the fleet in Spring 2022 with service to the Southern Gulf Islands.
How much do BC Ferries employees make?
BC Ferries Salary FAQs
How much does BC Ferries pay? The average BC Ferries salary ranges from approximately $55,667 per year for a Deckhand to $130,000 per year for a Captain. The average BC Ferries hourly pay ranges from approximately $24 per hour for a Customer Service Representative to $30 per hour for a Deckhand.
Which is better Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen?
I think you should head to Horseshoe Bay. It can be more crowded and longer lines than the Tsawwassen to Duke Point crossing, but its prettier and a shorter sailing time. What time of day/year? You should probably make reservations, which means to need to allow some flex time for the sailing.
How many ferries go to Nanaimo?
BC Ferries operates two sailing routes between Nanaimo, Vancouver Island — approximately a 30-minute drive from Parksville Qualicum Beach — and the terminals of Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen in Vancouver, with sailing times of 1.5 to 2 hours based on your mainland destination.