BC Ferries

BC Ferries

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
BC Ferries provides passenger and vehicle ferry services to 45 ports of call across coastal BC, with sailings to and from Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, and Northern BC. BC Ferries Vacations also offers over 100 travel packages, including return ferry and accommodation. When on board BC Ferries, there are plenty of options for food and shopping, along with great wildlife and sightseeing opportunities.
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  • Patty C
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing customer service
    We left my 5 year old grandsons Pokémon cards at the terminal in Nanaimo at departure Bay and didn’t realize until we were already at Horseshoe Bay. My grandson was devastated!! I went into customer service and Bridgette Loik was so incredibly helpful and saved the day. She called Michelle at Departure Bay and she also saved the day because she found the cards exactly where we left them and is arranging to send them back to Horseshoe Bay tomorrow. Brigette was an Angel. She was so kind and was so willing to help. Thanks Michelle and Brigette. Patty
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 12, 2024
  • Maria C
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Supervisor Superstar Christina
    Christina Duke Point Supervisor Superstar We had to get the mainland for a specialist appointment and did not think the ferry would be booked up on a Monday morning. I spoke with Christina as we were in panic and she assured us one way or another we would get on the ferry even if that meant walking on to make our appointment on the main land. She was professional and kind and put our panic into appreciation. Thank you for having such amazing staff.
    Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are so pleased to hear a member of our crew was able to assist you and put your worries at ease. We are certainly grateful for having such a wonderful individual on our team. Please know that your kind words have been documented with the appropriate department. We look forward to welcoming you on board again soon. Kind Regards, Hodan – Customer Care BC Ferries
    Written May 14, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 13, 2024
  • travelergail
    Crowsnest Pass, Canada13 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    No communication@!
    3 hour late departure from Prince Rupert to Skidegate. No one giving any info on scheduled departure or reason for the delay. 3 televisions in our seating area. Why are they not being used for updated information?? No communication from BC Ferries!!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 26, 2024
  • jeff k
    60 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Overpriced Ration meals
    The food on board the Ferries is over priced and frankly bad. Luke warm Whitespot food. Consider better options such as the Pacific buffet which was stellar now horrible food and line ups
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 9, 2024
  • Cat1426
    Vancouver, Canada8 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Prince Rupert to Port Hardy not a great trip for celiacs :(
    Took the Prince Rupert to Port Hardy ferry recently. The staff checking in at Prince Rupert and on the boat were decent, only one kind of grumpy gal running the cash register in the cafe. The gal running the kitchen was great at trying to help me but wasn't able to do much with the selection of food for a person with celiac disease. They advertised gluten free muffins but didn't stock any for that trip so the only other options were a couple smaller snacks and a quinoa salad which didn't look that great. There were NO hot food items I could eat. I brought some small snack items with me which came in very handy but I went the 16.5 hours trip from early in the morning to late at night, without a proper meal. We got into Port Hardy at midnight so no options for food then so really disappointed in that. We paid for seats in the Aurora lounge but the seats weren't that comfy. The reclining function worked but the leg support wasn't strong enough to keep your legs up and they seemed old and outdated. The area seemed busier than most others on the ship so not really worth the price of the seat. The scenery was amazing and the crew would let the passengers know when they spotted a whale which was nice. All in all, it was worth doing once, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do the trip again.
    Hello, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I am sorry you were not able to find any menu items that were appropriate for you. As space is limited on board, our team is cautious of contamination with gluten. For future travel, we are looking to expand our menu and accommodate a wide variety of dietary restrictions. As we are always looking for ways to improve the travel experience for all, your feedback is greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Michael – Customer Care BC Ferries
    Written July 22, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 17, 2024
  • Gundi
    Kitchener, Canada1,295 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great crossing as walk on passengers!
    Great experience as walk on passengers travelling from Swartz Bay to the mainland. The terminal at Swartz Bay is modern and easy to access. We took a cab after dropping our rental car at the airport. We had to wait to board, but everything went very smoothly, including checking our bags. This is as simple as putting your bag on a scale to ensure weight is not over the limit, and sending it down the conveyer. There is plenty of seating inside. We were on an earlier trip and heeded the advice of other travelers by heading to breakfast right away. It was a pleasant surprise to find that there were gluten free options for my companion, and that the food was fresh, good and reasonably priced. Service staff were so kind, helpful and pleasant. We spent our beautiful crossing mostly outside since the weather was favourable and the scenery was amazing!. Of note is the boutique, which has many decent Canadian manufactured items and fashions. When we arrive at Tsawwassen, we disembarked, picked up our bags and were on our way! .
    Hello Gundi, Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comprehensive review of our services. We are so pleased to hear you were able to enjoy a good meal with our gluten free options and take in some of the beautiful scenery the West Coast has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you on board again soon for your next trip. Kind Regards Michael – Customer Care BC Ferries
    Written July 22, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2024
  • kennetha863
    Salt Spring Island, Canada5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Grateful Regular User of the Long Harbour-Tsawwassen Crossing
    Thanks for some extraordinary service and prompt attention following a recent trip from Long Harbour to Tsawwassen some days ago. I happened to drop a USB chip for my camera and only realized it has been misplaced after I had disembarked and arrived at my destination. I managed to reach Sean via Customer Service. My request (which really was a long shot) was that he contact personnel on the ferry and to check the seat where I had been located. Within a short while I was overjoyed to have a call back from him. He had asked the bursar Renee to check where I had hoped it might be found. Renee took the time and trouble to search for it and I was very grateful when Sean called to confirm that the item had been found This kind effort speaks volumes as to the level of Customer Care which BC Ferries maintains. A grateful regular user of BC Ferries Ken Affolder
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written August 8, 2024
  • Debbie M
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great customer service
    Shout out (6 am Ferry Schwartz Bay to Tswassen) to Jason an attendant picking up trays etc. We asked Jason to explain the safety training and different roles the ship attendants have on board . He told us about the training involved and how one day he’d like to be a deck hand . He seemed very responsible , hard working , pleasant and informative . Thanks for being so patient and courteous Jason !
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 16, 2024
  • Sharel Y
    1 contribution
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don’t book bc ferries vacation package!
    Please double check the prices before booking with bc ferries vacation! I booked for a vacation package on their website for Nanaimo and it came out to around $580. However if I were to book the ferry rides and hotel separately it’s only $470 for the exact same date. Big difference! They won’t refund my package without charging a $25 cancellation fee. Feels like I got scammed, very annoying.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 17, 2024
  • David T
    6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Port Hardy to Prince Rupert some advice
    The ferry between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert is worth the money. I call it the poor man’s Alaska Cruise. Two pieces of advice which I could have used in advance were these. We were foot passengers and were told to be at the terminal at least an hour in advance for the 7.30 sailing. Far too long! We arrived at seven and that was sufficient. Secondly, we paid the $40 each for lounge chairs and it might be worth the money. If you book far in advance, you might have a seat in the front row and have a view, otherwise you are looking at the seat in advance. Also the seat has a foot rest which does not stay up so it is useless. But go on this ferry. The views are spectacular even in poor weather.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,815 reviews
Excellent
732
Very good
568
Average
184
Poor
86
Terrible
245

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Julia Gösselsberger
Linz, Austria1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
We travelled with BC Ferries 6 times during our stay in Canada and we always had the best time. The app is easy to use and you can even presave your trips. The organisation of boarding and unboarding is great and the ferries themselves are very well equiped. We had rain and strong winds but also sunshine and hot weather and it was always a pleasure. One of our best memories we have from this vaction is the sunset ferry from Comox to Powell River, where the sea was extremely calm and we could see 6 humpback whales. On our last trip I tried the ice cream on the ferry from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay and OMG, this was one of best ice creams I have ever had…and this on a ferry?! A clear recommendation for this company!
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Arfon J
90 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
We used BC Ferries twice, to and from Vancouver Island. On the second occasion we were booked onto the 2pm but they allowed us to board the 11am ferry with no fuss. Embarking and disembarking was efficient and the price was very reasonable.
Once on board we were fed, again quickly and efficiently and did some shopping.
All in all travel with BC Ferries was a pleasant and stress free experience.
Written July 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, Thank you kindly for the great 5 star review! We are pleased to hear that you had an exceptional experience aboard our vessels. Our crew works very hard to provide a smooth sailing for all of our customers. We can't wait to welcome you aboard again in the future for more stress free adventures! :) Kind regards, Bailey E - Customer Care BC Ferries
Written July 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TravelMan
Bagneux, France731 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
BC FERRIES operates clean and well-equipped boats. The seats are comfortable but if you want to be really comfortable pay the extra 15 Canadian dollars for 1st class. It's the best and you have unlimited food and drink. Considering what the sandwich costs in economy class, you are a winner especially with children :)
Google
Written September 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adrianna M
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
I booked a ferry ticket online from Duke Point to Twassan for the last 10:45pm sailing. We arrived at 10:20 and were told we missed the check in and told to wait in lane 21- the stand-by lane. Apparently the lanes next to us were for bookings as they got on with no issue. Specifically, the lane next to us, lane 22, had quite a bit of room as it was half full. I thought it was incredibly odd that we, a car that had pre-purchases a ticket and therefore a confirmed spot on the ferry, were made to wait in line with non-booking passengers. What happened to the spot we bought? None of the cars in the stand-by lane made it on. Evidently, there must have been room as we had a confirmed purchase of a ticket...

We were then turned away from the ferry as apparently it was somehow full.

If this had been a plane it would have been the equivalent of arriving to the gate before boarding and told to leave as they had given away your seat because they liked it empty better.

After facing our fate a man waved at us to turn around back to the kiosk at the entrance, which was closed. At the kiosk, which was still closed, another man waved at us to loop back to the direction we had just been waiting. In confusion, we asked a nearby hi-vis man what it was we were supposed to do. He pointed to his right, another loop, and informed us it was the exit.

Now I realize we were somehow supposed to be refunded for the purchase of the confirmed ferry spot that in reality existed in a Schrodinger level of both existence and non-existance. A coveted space of reality I had only dreamed existed to the likes of partical physics, eccentric theoretical scientists and now, as I have discovered, confirmed BC Ferries bookings.

If it is BC Ferries' goal to drive its patrons insane they have succeeded. Chutulu could not have constructed a better prison to torment the minds of the living. In the night, after having crawled into a motel, half asleep I heard the soft mutterings of a man informing me to return to my vehicle. The words STAND BY branded into my forehead as my confirmed purchased ticket turned to dust while I was made to loop the parking lot in endless circles.

This morning after awaking and realizing my nightmare was in fact reality we headed back to the ferry for the first sailing. I asked about a refund, the kiosk lady handed me a card with a number to call. As I drove away I looked down at the card and found not a number on either side, but a dog warmly reminding me to not turn on my cars alarm in a confirmed space.

Instead of a mistake that perhaps she meant to give me another card with relevant information I feel this was the kiosk lady's way of sending me a message. A reminder that we are all but Australian Shepard mixes in a confined space at the mercy of BC Ferries' car alarm
Written August 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

519den
Vancouver, Canada15 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Solo
I reserved a 5 pm ferry from Swartz Bay to Tswawwassen on a Saturday. I got there at 3:45, so well before the sailing and the cutoff. The very nice lady at the booth welcomed me and gave me a ticket for lane 3. There were cars in lanes 1 and 2, but I was first in line in lane 3. As time went on all the other lanes were filling but I was still the only car in lane 3. A car pulled up behind me but a B.C. Ferry employee talked to the driver and she moved to a different lane. I assumed that she didn’t have a reservation like me. As the ferry we were going to get on was emptying out in the opposite direction, lane 3, my lane, started filling up.
Long story short, they had stuck me in the late stand by lane, although I had a reservation and was there in plenty of time.
When I tried to speak with the employees directing traffic onto the ferry, they told me they will get me on the next sailing. I tried to plead my case but I was told I had to wait for a manager. As the ferry started filling up, I started to get frantic at the idea of waiting another two hours to get on a ferry.
Finally, the manager waddled out of his office, looked at my ticket and told his subordinate to get me on the ferry. So if I didn’t speak up, I would have missed the ferry. I asked him why they couldn’t have moved me earlier or bothered to check my ticket as I sat in an empty lane for over an hour, his reply was “ don’t get lippy with us”. His tone was very aggressive and I told him to take it down. He looked at my ticket again and told me that he’ll look into it. He then just started waddling back towards his office, I’m guessing to probably go back to playing solitaire.
Written September 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stuart R
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
BC ferry’s really need to sort out their booking system. We made a reservation months ago and prepaid for a 11:05 ferry from Naniamo to Vancouver. We arrived 35 minutes before departure time and waited in a queue to book in, only to be told we were 2 minutes late. We then had to watch the 11:05 ferry bording from the ‘stand by’ queue (which was huge!! - even bigger than the boarding queue!). After waiting 5 hours with numerous disgruntled passengers in 30 degC temperatures we finally got on (just) the 4pm ferry.
BC ferry’s obviously deliberately over book their ferries to maximise their profit. If a ferry is fully booked with prepaid customers, BC should not overbook standby car passengers.
No other transport system works this way!
Imagine if you arrived at a train station with a pre booked ticket and you found your seats occupied by passengers who had been resold your seat by the same train operator!
Don’t overbook your Ferries BC
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zulu
British Columbia, Canada642 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
Reserved on a sailing to the Southern Gulf Islands. It was for early evening. I don’t drive well in the dark, so I’d been at the ferry terminal for some time. It was a bit windy and raining hard. About 20 minutes before the ferry was scheduled to sail it was announced it had been cancelled. I couldn’t go home! All the waiting passengers were told to get refunds and leave the terminal. Many people were gulf island residents trying to go home. Many would have no where to go. Many couldn’t afford hotels. The ferry service completely ignored the safety and well being of passengers. Can you imagine the furor if an airline cancelled a flight and told all the passengers to leave the terminal! Instead of pushing people out with no where to go, the ferries should have allowed people to stay in the terminal, kept a washroom open and provided them with drinks and snacks. I seriously considered sleeping in my car because a night in a hotel would seriously whack my budget. However a night with nowhere to go to a washroom is too challenging for this elderly person. Apparently many people did sleep in their car in random places near the terminal. This isn’t safe. As well, reservations were lost and people had to try booking all over again. In a season plagued with sailing cancellations, some care for passengers should have been developed. The service grows worse. As the ferry service deteriorates perhaps treatment of stranded passengers could improve
Written November 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rocko B
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Well after waiting in line for food (expexted) I ordered a cheese burger... after 4 people that ordered from behind me got their food and left I was left standing there waiting with no one else around to find out he must have given my meal to one of the 4 behind me which means all 4 people got the wrong food and myself after 15-20 minutes waiting listening to the server joking with the kitchen crew and being totally ignored I decided to leave hungry. I'm 6 foot 6 inches tall and 240 pounds. I was wearing a bright floral shirt. I can't imagine I was hard to spot while Standing infront of their serving area the entire time as everyone walked around me. Maybe instead of joking and yelling around Maybe serve your customers first. Never again! Bring your own food! Don't expect to get the right food if any at all otherwise!
Written March 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Corey H
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
My recent experience with this company left me incredibly disappointed. Despite paying for a reservation and encountering unavoidable delays due to traveling with a small child who needed an emergency bathroom break, they revoked my reservation without any consideration for my circumstances. This highlights a glaring flaw in their reservation system, which seems more focused on generating revenue than accommodating customers.

It's frustrating to see the lack of empathy towards travelers, especially those with young children. The company's indifference to the challenges faced by customers reflects poorly on their commitment to customer service. Even more concerning is their consistent pattern of raising fares and implementing policies that prioritize profit over customer satisfaction.

What's particularly baffling is the substantial government subsidy they receive, amounting to 500 million over the next four years, while their CEO enjoys a hefty salary of 500k annually. This business model not only disadvantages BC residents financially but also erodes trust in our provincial government for supporting such practices.

Overall, my experience with this company has left me disillusioned and questioning the fairness of their operations. There is a clear need for greater accountability and transparency to ensure that customers are treated fairly and that taxpayer money is used responsibly.
Written February 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jake M
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
They are so busy and so understaffed that they over charge for reservations and have priority boarding card pay schemes that trump all regular un reserved travelers. For an essential travel service they have a horrible monopoly on travel to and from the island. Living on the island for 10 plus years they are such a headache 50% of the time.
Written October 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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BC Ferries - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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