Issued: December 20, 2023

December 21, 2023 – January 2, 2024
 

BC Ferries is preparing for another busy travel season and has added more than 150 sailings on select routes between December 21, 2023, and January 2, 2024:

• 112 extra sailings between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• 34 extra sailings between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
• 6 extra sailings between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Sunshine Coast (Langdale)

Typically, the most popular travel time over the holidays before Christmas Day is December 23 for traffic moving from the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. The most popular travel days over the holidays after Christmas Day will be December 26 and 27, with traffic returning from the Departure Bay, Duke Point, Swartz Bay and Langdale terminals. BC Ferries is also adding a number of additional sailings between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Due to traditionally low demand on December 25 and January 1, BC Ferries reminds customers that sailing schedules are reduced on some routes. Please check individual schedules online when making your holiday travel plans.

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, 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.

Holiday Travel Tips:

• Check Current Conditions and All Routes at a Glance for the status of your sailing on your day of travel. Follow @BCFerries on X for regular updates, seven days a week.
• 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 as they’re common during popular travel periods for customers without a booking. If your preferred 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.
• Parking lots fill up quickly at major terminals during peak periods. Public transit, ride-share or drop-offs are good options if they work for you. For schedule information visit TransLink, BC Transit or BC Ferries Connector.
• Be prepared for winter conditions - stay updated with road conditions by following @DriveBC and dress for cold and wet weather including appropriate footwear to avoid slips, trips and falls.
• Car Alarms - Please consider disarming your car alarm while on board for the benefit of other passengers, their pets and our crew. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to do so.
• Assured Loading Tickets (ALT) and Experience™ Card – To avoid delays at the terminal, load your ALT and Experience™ Card in advance of travel on bcferries.com
• For full schedule information, current conditions, bookings, and promotional offers, please visit bcferries.com.

We look forward to welcoming you on board this holiday season.