If you’re planning to take the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay ferry later this year, get ready for a new rule: no more driving up last minute and crossing your fingers.
Starting October 15, all vehicles — including motorcycles and commercial trucks — heading from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) will need to book and pay in advance. The change won’t apply in the reverse direction, so you can still roll up without a reservation when heading back to the mainland.
BC Ferries says the move is to keep things moving smoothly during a multi-year construction project that will shrink the terminal’s vehicle staging space by about 25%. The work, which starts with tearing down the elevated structures and traffic control tower, is part of a major upgrade to the terminal, which saw 7.1 million passengers and 3 million vehicles in 2024 alone.
To make the transition easier, BC Ferries is rolling out some new perks this fall:
-
Saver fares will make up 40% of all tickets on this route until March 31, 2026, starting at $49 off-peak and $89 peak
-
No change fees for trips between October 15 and November 30
-
A Sailing Space Alert email system for sold-out sailings
-
A waitlist option to snag spots when cancellations happen
Once the rule kicks in, drive-up fares will disappear for this route in that direction, and passengers will choose between Prepaid or Saver fares. A portion of space will still be reserved for emergency vehicles and Medical Assured Loading customers.
If your preferred sailing is sold out, BC Ferries suggests travelling via Tsawwassen–Duke Point, which will keep offering drive-up fares. There’s also a seasonal 4:30 p.m. Tsawwassen–Departure Bay sailing running until September 1, returning during Christmas and Easter peak times.
BC Ferries is also tweaking some schedules this fall to cut congestion, including replacing the 5:30 p.m. Horseshoe Bay–Langdale sailing with a 6:10 p.m. departure.
“This isn’t just a booking change,” said Melanie Lucia, BC Ferries’ VP of Customer Experience. “It’s about keeping people moving safely during a major upgrade.”
For more info: BC Ferries Official Site
