BC Ferries Summer Schedule

BC FERRIES’
SUMMER SCHEDULE STARTS TODAY

BC Ferries’ peak season and summer schedule begins today, Wednesday, June 25, with more sailings on all major routes and some of the minor routes. In addition to extra sailings, BC Ferries is offering some travel tips to make summer holiday planning even easier this year.

On the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route, four vessels are in operation, providing up to 32 sailings per day. Monday through Thursday schedules start with 6:00 a.m. departures and end with the last sailing at 9:00 p.m. On Fridays and Sundays, the last departures from both Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay are at 10:00 p.m.

Three vessels, including the new Coastal Renaissance, will provide up to 22 trips between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay daily. Two ships will make up to 22 sailings per day on the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route from now through until Labour Day.

In order to make long weekend travel planning easier, BC Ferries has added a new feature to its website --- a calendar of historically busy travel times on the major routes. Customers can review this information to help make their travel plans.

If a specific sailing is desired, particularly on a weekend, BC Ferries recommends making a reservation for the Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island and Horseshoe Bay – Langdale routes. Reservation allotments can become fully subscribed at peak times on long weekends, so BC Ferries recommends booking these dates well in advance.

BC Ferries’ SailPass and CirclePac travel packages are a great way to sail and save money. SailPass is a single price ticket that lets the customer choose from up to 20 routes between the Mainland and Vancouver Island, the Northern and Southern Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast for travel over a four or seven day period. CirclePac is a special four-route package which includes a 15 per cent discount on regular, one-way fares from Horseshoe Bay to the Sunshine Coast, Powell River to Vancouver Island and return travel to Metro Vancouver.
Travellers on the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay and Duke Point – Tsawwassen routes are reminded that they will now have the opportunity to sail on BC Ferries’ newest ships, Coastal Renaissance and Coastal Inspiration. Sailing times for the new Coastal class ships are posted on BC Ferries’ website.

Finally, BC Ferries reminds customers to please park their cars within 24-inches of the vehicle in front of them when loading on vessel cardecks. This helps to maximize the number of vehicles the ferry carries and thereby reduces overloads at peak times. For full schedule details, package information and reservations, visit www.bcferries.com.

For complete Nanaimo Schedule BC Ferries Information use this Nanaimo Info LINK.

Late Night Sailings for Lions Fans Offered

The Canadian Football League kicks off tomorrow, and this year BC Ferries is once again offering late night sailings on four game nights so that BC Lions fans can cheer on their home team and return to Vancouver Island that evening.

The select sailings are scheduled as follows:

• Friday, July 4, departing Tsawwassen for Swartz Bay at 11:30 pm
• Saturday, September 13, departing Tsawwassen for Duke Point at 11:30 pm
• Saturday, September 27, departing Tsawwassen for Duke Point at 11:30 pm
• Friday, October 10, departing Tsawwassen for Swartz Bay at 11:30 pm

“This is the third season we’ve offered late night sailings to support Vancouver Island football fans,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “BC Ferries is proud to partner with the BC Lions and we’ve dubbed these extra sailings The Lions Express.”

BC Lions fans will also hear a familiar sound at home games this year. Whenever the BC Lions score a touchdown or field goal, BC Ferries’ ship’s whistle will sound throughout BC Place.
These special sailings coincide with BC Lions games, but are not limited to football fans. Reservations are encouraged to ensure a space on the late night sailings and can be made at www.bcferries.com.