Best to make ferry reservation for busy B.C. Day long weekend

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Making a reservation is best for those planning a trip to Vancouver Island on the first long weekend since B.C. entered Phase 3 of its COVID-19 restart plan.

Tessa Humphries, with BC Ferries, said if you are planning to take a ferry, buying your ticket in advance could save time.

“If you are planning on travelling this weekend without a booking to expect some sailing waits, particularly on the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route, as well as the Horsehoe Bay to Langford route,” she said.

“We do have limited reservation space available over the long weekend. It depends on which routes and it’s usually the early morning sailings or the late-evenings.”

Humphries added those two routes are expected to fill up for both vehicles and walk-on passengers.

“We are operating at a capacity of 70 per cent,” she said of passenger capacity.

“We do anticipate particularly on Sunday evening and on Monday, we could hit passenger capacity limitations, and that’s where you’d see the foot-passenger waits.”

Rather than taking Horseshoe Bay, she said BC Ferries is recommending alternate routes, such as Departure Day or Victoria to Tsawwassen.

Anyone boarding on foot or planning to get out of their car is expected to wear a mask, if physical distancing is not possible.

“If you are travelling in a vehicle, we do advise, please stay in your vehicle for the duration of the trip.”