With higher than usual traffic volumes expected due to a pair of national holidays happening over one long weekend, B.C. Ferries is advising travellers to book ahead and arrive early if they plan on taking a ferry this weekend.
For the first time in six years, Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day will occur on the same weekend, which is expected to translate into a lot of traffic and foot passengers crowding ferry terminals.
To accommodate the crush of expected travellers, B.C. Ferries has put four vessels on its busiest route — Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen — and is offering as many as 32 sailings per day.
The Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo (Departure Bay) route will use three ships offering 22 sailings per day. The Tsawwassen-Nanaimo (Duke Point) route will use two vessels offering 16 sailings per day.
Additional vessels will also be provided on routes to the Sunshine Coast and Southern Gulf Islands, where a second ship will provide two additional round trips Monday to Thursday and four additional round trips on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
B.C. Ferries has issued a series of tips to make travel a little smoother this weekend.
• Book in advance online (www.bcferries.com) to secure a spot and avoid sailing waits.
• Since parking lots at terminals tend to fill quickly on long weekends, if possible, use public transit or plan to be dropped off if travelling as a foot passenger.
• Customers with advance bookings are advised to arrive at the terminal 45-60 minutes before their scheduled departure. Walk-on passengers should arrive 45 minutes early for their anticipated sailing.
Next week, B.C. Ferries plans to discount pricing for travel on 11 of its inter-island routes at non-peak times.
From July 6 through Sept. 1, travellers on the short routes can save up for 75 per cent on vehicle fares when they travel on select early-morning or late-evening sailings on the following routes:
Swartz Bay to Salt Spring Island (Fulford Harbour)
Crofton to Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay)
Powell River to Sunshine Coast
Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island
Powell River to Texada Island
Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island
Chemainus to Thetis Island to Penelakut Island
Buckley Bay to Denman Island
Campbell River to Quadra Island
Port McNeill to Malcolm Island to Cormorant Island
Graham Island to Moresby Island
