We sincerely thank our customers for their patience and understanding this weekend.

We are at the height of summer travel right now as kids are out of school so family vacation traffic, as well as tourist travel, is at full throttle and will continue through to third week of August traditionally.

• There are two major events happening in Seattle. Many people are travelling to the States to see the Toronto Blue Jays games (x2) and the Taylor Swift concerts (Saturday and Sunday).
• Other ferry services  - the Coho and Seattle Clipper -  are sold out for this weekend’s travel to the USA.
• We’re also seeing the impact of the Washington State Ferry service not sailing in our region this summer, an option customers could have used in the past to travel to the States.
• As mentioned the Coastal Celebration had to be pulled from service and is slated  for drydock to fix a hydraulic oil  leak. This results in a reduction of 8 sailings per day and 2480 fewer vehicle and 12 832 passenger spaces between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay.

We are providing the following extra sailings:
July 20, 21, 23 at 11:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
July 21, 22, 24 at 1:00 am departing Tsawwassen

Customers can also travel:
On the Tsawwassen – Duke Point route, where three vessels are providing service this summer.
On the Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route.

Once the Coastal Celebration comes back into service, we are confident that our capacity will be able to handle demand through the rest of July  and into the long weekend. There is still booking room available over the BC Day long weekend but we strongly urge to book now or make plans to travel as a foot passenger. Arriving at a terminal without a booking will likely result in sailing waits.

Bookings
All passengers with bookings on the Coastal Celebration will be accommodated on other sailings. Our booking system is locked as Customer Care team moves their bookings to other sailings. The best time to look for recently unlocked sailings available for booking are 6 pm and first thing in the morning. If a customer needs to modify the booking to a different day/time or wants to cancel their booking they can contact the Customer Service Centre at 1-888-223-3779 for assistance. We strongly encourage those who plan to travel on BC Day long weekend to book their sailings now to secure their desired sailing time.

Space Allocation on Board
Standby room varies depending on the route, vessel, day and time. It is a percentage of deck space. For full details on how space is allocated additional details are available on our website: https://www.bcferries.com/allocating-space-on-board

Summer Travel Tips:
Be prepared for sailing waits if a booking has not been made in advance of travel – sailing waits are common during popular travel periods. If bookings are sold out, the best option to avoid waiting at the terminal is to travel during less busy times. These are typically mid-week days and early morning or late evening sailings. Also consider travelling as a foot passenger. Foot passenger advance bookings, free of charge, are available on the Vancouver Island - Mainland routes. Consider getting dropped off at the terminal, as parking can fill up quickly on long weekends.

• Multiple Sailing Waits - Customers without a booking will face multiple sailing waits and may not be able to travel. Consider travelling as a foot passenger or during less busy times of the day to avoid sailing waits. Foot passenger bookings are available on most sailings between the Mainland and Vancouver Island this long weekend.
• Ride-share, if possible – Vehicle deck space fills up quickly. Customers are encouraged to carpool or take public transit. For schedule information visit TransLink,  BC Transit or BC Ferries Connector Service.
  • The BC Ferries Connector Service, operated by Wilson Transportation offers service between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, including their ferry crossing.
• Consider parking options – Parking lots at the major terminals also fill up quickly. If possible, choose public transit or arrange to be dropped off at the terminal to avoid traffic congestion.
• Arrive Early - Customers with bookings should plan to arrive at the terminal 45-60 minutes before their scheduled departure to account for traffic congestion outside the terminal and to check-in on time for their booking.
• Prepare for warm weather – pack your sunscreen, a sun hat and plenty of water for you and your pets. Misting stations will be in place for customers to cool down at major terminals, as well as many minor staffed terminals.

For full schedule information and bookings, please visit bcferries.com. For the most up-to-date travel information, check Current Conditions and follow @BCFerries on Twitter.