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July 28, 2020
BC Ferries offers tips on travelling safely this long weekend
Wear a face covering, stay in your vehicle and practice physical distancing
VICTORIA – As BC Ferries welcomes more customers back to ferry travel, and with the August long weekend almost here, BC Ferries has some tips for customers planning to take the ferry to ensure a smooth and safe journey.
Travel tips:
- Booking in advance is strongly recommended to guarantee the sailing of your choice. Customers without a booking should expect sailing waits. Customers travelling without a booking on the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale and Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay routes should expect multiple sailing waits. If your schedule is flexible, travel at less busy times.
- For the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route, less busy times are the 9:25 pm and 11:30 pm sailings departing Horseshoe Bay, and the 6:20 am, 8:15 pm and 10:30 pm departing Langdale.
- For the Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route, less busy times are the 8:30 pm and 10:40 pm departing Horseshoe Bay, and the 10:40 pm departing Departure Bay.
- The most popular travel times are generally Thursday and Friday afternoon, as well as Saturday morning, with lots of travellers departing from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals. Historically, BC Day Monday and the following Tuesday morning are popular times for people to return from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. At these times:
- To avoid or limit sailing waits, customers considering travelling without a booking or as a foot passenger on the Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route should consider an alternate route, such as Tsawwassen – Duke Point or Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay. The Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route may reach passenger capacity at popular travel times.
- Arrive at least an hour before your sailing. Transport Canada COVID-19 screening is in effect and takes a little longer at check-in. Foot passengers should also arrive at least an hour in advance as sailings may reach passenger capacity.
- Bring and wear a face covering at terminals, on board and/or if you choose to leave your vehicle.
- Remain in your vehicle if you’re driving on board, where possible
- “Grab and go” limited hot food and items on select vessels and routes; take them back to your vehicle, or to an outside deck as limited seating is available in the cafeteria.
- Maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres from passengers and crew.
- Visit bcferries.com for resources that explain the new measures and procedures in place at terminals and on board ferries to keep our crew and customers safe.
BC Ferries continues to urge responsible behaviour while on board, including maintaining physical distance from other passengers while seated and moving around the vessel, and wearing a face covering when physical distancing isn’t possible to maintain.
BC Ferries does not tolerate any abuse, including verbal abuse, towards its employees. A customer who abuses an employee will be denied service. The company takes this issue very seriously and reminds customers to continue to heed Dr. Bonnie Henry’s advice to be kind, be calm and be safe. Vessel and terminal staff are working hard to adjust to changing circumstances and to implement protocols and procedures that keep everyone safe and healthy.
For full schedule information, current conditions and reservations, please visit bcferries.com. For the most up-to-date travel information, follow @BCFerries on Twitter.
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Media Contact:BC Ferries, Media Relations
Victoria: (250) 978-1267
Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 386-3431
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our emergency line at (250) 516-7211.