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Travel advisory: All Routes Status View ×

To view the up-to-date status of all routes, click here.

For the latest traffic updates or terminal conditions, please follow @BCFerries or visit Current Conditions.

View active travel advisories

Route

Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour) to Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay)

View return schedule

Printable version

This is a non-bookable route. Fares are paid at the terminal at the time of travel.

Apr 01, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024

Service notices

Sailing Cancellation - Operational Readiness Drills - Gabriola Island - Nanaimo Harbour - June 4, 2023-Effective Until Jun 04, 2023

	Mondays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:45 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	6:10 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	6:55 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	7:35 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Tuesdays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:45 am	6:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:55 am	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Wednesdays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:45 am	6:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:55 am	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am No passengers permitted - DG Sailing only. Dangerous goods only	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop
No passengers permitted - DG Sailing only. Dangerous goods only
Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Thursdays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:45 am	6:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:55 am	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Fridays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:45 am	6:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:55 am	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Saturdays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	6:55 am	7:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	Sundays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	8:10 am	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	6:15 pm	6:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	7:30 pm	7:55 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:10 pm	9:35 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:05 pm	10:30 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:00 pm	11:25 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	LEGEND Non-stop Transfer Stop Thru fare
	Printable version

Nanaimo Harbour terminal is located in downtown Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Sailings departing from Nanaimo Harbour terminal provide service to Gabriola Island.

Boarding is based on order of arrival at the terminal. Check-in and ticket sales close three minutes prior to the scheduled sailing for foot passengers and vehicles.

Nanaimo Harbour Tidal Restrictions
The following tidal restrictions are in effect to prevent vehicles from scraping or getting caught on the loading ramps.

Private vehicles
Avoid travel on sailings where the tide* is below 1.5m (5ft) or above 3.7m (12ft)

Includes:

RVs- significant overhang or low hitches
Receiver Mount Bicycle Racks
Low/Long Utility Trailers
Low/Long Horse Trailers
Large Under Mount Hitches

Commercial vehicles
Long loads: avoid travel on sailings where the tide* is below 1.5 m (5ft) or above 3.7 m (12ft)
Low-bed or low-overhang: avoid travel on sailings if the tide* is below 2.1 m (7ft) or above 3.4 m (11ft)

*For tide information see: https://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/en/stations/7917

Note: Schedules subject to change without notice.

Last updated: Jun 03, 2023.

Service notices

Current Conditions

Departures and arrivals

Calculate fare

Route

Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay) to Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour)

View return schedule

Printable version

This is a non-bookable route. Fares are paid at the terminal at the time of travel.

Apr 01, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024

Service notices

Sailing Cancellation - Operational Readiness Drills - Gabriola Island - Nanaimo Harbour - June 4, 2023-Effective Until Jun 04, 2023

	Mondays Depart	Arrive	DURATION	STOP DETAILS
	5:15 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	5:40 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	6:20 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	6:45 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	7:05 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	7:30 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	7:35 am	8:00 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	8:10 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	8:35 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	8:45 am	9:10 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	9:20 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	9:45 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	9:55 am	10:20 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	10:30 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	10:55 am	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	11:05 am	11:30 am	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	11:40 am Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	12:05 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	12:55 pm	1:20 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	1:30 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	1:55 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	2:15 pm	2:40 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	2:50 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	3:15 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	3:25 pm	3:50 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	4:00 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	4:25 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1
Non-stop
	4:35 pm	5:00 pm	25m	Non-stop

Non-stop
	5:05 pm Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1	5:30 pm	25m	Non-stop
Except on Dec 25 & Jan 1

Routes & fares

Book sailings

Travel & boarding

On the ferry

Deals & offers

Vacations

Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour) to Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay)

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay) to Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour)

Mondays