Issued April 4, 2023: 

Busy weekend of travel April 6 – 11, 2023

This will be a busy Easter long weekend for travel starting Thursday, April 6 through Tuesday, April 11. We strongly recommend you book in advance to avoid sailing waits. 

We expect sailings from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Victoria), Tsawwassen to Duke Point (Nanaimo), and Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to be especially busy Thursday evening, all day Friday, and Saturday morning. Easter Monday and the following Tuesday morning are typically the most popular times for people to return to Metro Vancouver from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

We have scheduled more than 180 additional sailings to support travel over the Easter weekend between Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast as follows:

• 128 extra sailings between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• 42 extra sailings between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
• 16 extra sailings between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Sunshine Coast (Langdale)

Travelling as a foot passenger is a great way to avoid sailing waits. If possible, choose public transit or arrange to be dropped off at the terminal as parking lots at the terminals are expected to reach capacity early in the weekend. Foot passenger bookings are also available and can be made online or by calling us.

Thru fare sailings between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands:
Travelling thru fare provides customers more options to travel between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and the Southern Gulf Islands for the same cost as the direct route should direct sailings be sold out. For travel certainty, we recommend reserving the Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay) route by selecting the ‘Reservation Only’ option. Please note that Saver and Prepaid reservations are not valid for thru fare travel, and connections between Swartz Bay and the Southern Gulf Islands are not guaranteed. More information on thru fare travel can be found here.

Easter Long Weekend Travel Tips:

• Book in advance – Book early to secure a spot on the sailing day and time of your choice. Customers with flexibility in their travel plans can sail at off-peak times to avoid the rush, and take advantage of Saver fares on select sailings.

• Arrive early – Customers with a booking should plan to arrive at the terminal 45-60 minutes before their scheduled departure. Walk-on passengers should arrive 45 minutes before their anticipated sailing. Please refer to current conditions and plan accordingly.

• Expect sailing waits at popular times – Sailing waits are common during popular travel periods for customers without a booking. If bookings are sold out, the best option to avoid sailing waits is to travel during less busy times. These are typically mid-week days and early morning or late evening sailings.

• Consider parking options – Parking lots at the major terminals fill up quickly at peak periods. If possible, choose public transit or arrange to be dropped off at the terminal to avoid traffic congestion. When parking lots fill up, BC Ferries informs customers via Twitter @BCFerries and on the website.

• Travel the coast car free – Take public transit to and from major terminals. For schedule information visit TransLink or BC Transit.

• Ride-share, if possible – BC Ferries encourages customers to car-pool or travel as a foot passenger. Vehicle deck space can fill up quickly and will be sold out at popular times.

More travel tips for the Easter long weekend are available on our website here.

For full schedule information, current conditions, bookings, and promotional offers, please visit bcferries.com. For the most up-to-date travel information, follow @BCFerries on Twitter.