BC Ferries provides essential passenger and vehicle ferry service across coastal British Columbia, and overall, it's a reliable way to travel. We bought our tickets at the Capital City Station on Douglas Street in Victoria, and Sandy was absolutely wonderful, friendly, helpful, and patient. She even got us seats for October 13, 2025, which was Thanksgiving. Every company needs a Sandy, she deserves 5 stars for her service. Once we boarded the bus, things went downhill. Our driver, James wasn't very approachable. His responses were short, and he came across as a bit grouchy. It was a holiday, so we understand, but as first-time passengers, we found his instructions unclear and he seems to not welcome questions. When the ferry docked at Tsawwassen, we didn't hear it was time to reboard the bus to continue to downtown Vancouver. We missed the announcement and ended up being left behind, but our checked bags and personal items were still in the bus to Vancouver. Thankfully, the staff at Tsawwassen terminal were great. They guided us, called ahead to Pacific Station BC Ferries, and made sure we could retrieve our bags. When we finally reunited with the bus, James didn't seem particularly concerned or empathetic, which made an already stressful situation feel worse. We blame ourselves for missing the bus. But for future improvements, clearer announcements and louder overhead speakers would help first-time travelers. Even a quick name call for missing passengers would go a long way. read more

BC Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Such a cool experience. This was my first time on a car ferry and we had a great experience. We booked our tickets online in advance (cheaper). When you arrive the check in process is smooth- you pull through a kiosk then wait in line in your car to board the boat. Once on the boat you can hang out in your car, sit inside by a window, visit one of their many dining options or my personal favorite hang out on the upper deck. We booked morning options so it was fun to watch the sun rise (with a coffee from the dining area). We also saw a few whales in the distance. Definitely recommend taking the ferry to visit Vancouver Island if you're visiting the area read more

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Food was well seasoned, hot and fresh. The portions are generous and served attractively. read more

BC Ferries - Coastal deluxe combo - hamburger, drink and sweet potato fries - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We booked a ferry to go to Victoria Island when visiting Vancouver and it was such a neat experience! Honestly, the boat ride itself is worth the trip. You can hang indoors or outdoors, they have full service food options, and warm beverages for cold days. The ferry has tons of seating and so many options for departure times. We originally planned to take our car with us, but the slots booked up, so be sure to book your car in advance if you want to bring it. We encountered several great photo opportunities along the boat ride. Such a scenic trip! Definitely try and take a ferry somewhere if you can- it's such a beautiful area. Plus, we found it was really easy to change our reservation times even day of when opting to leave Victoria Island earlier than planned. read more

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Our trip on BC Ferries was pleasant enough. We actually took Wilson's Transportation bus from Vancouver downtown to Victoria downtown. The bus rides the ferry, which can hold an unbelievable number of vehicles. The ferry ride is scenic along the channels and waterways that separate the two cities. The ferry has an outdoor upper deck - try not to lose you hat in the wind. read more

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Well I feel like there isn't much to say about a Ferry. It got us across the water. Pretty cheap for a day pass, but it was clean inside, the windows were another story. I DO wish there was a deck seating but what can you do? read more

Overall a pleasant, on-time experience, no issues at all. However, this was a few days after their busiest-ever weekend (Canada Day on July 1) so the crowds (cars and walk-on passengers) were a lot lighter. Took the ferry from Tsawwassen (Vancouver BC) to Swartz Bay (Vancouver Island) and back with a car, both trips no reservation, drove up to the booth and paid, then lined up on the car lane leading up to the boat, not much of a wait. Concessions building at Tsawwassen has decent fast food options and a few souvenir shops. Getting on and off the boat with the car was orderly. Boats were clean and spacious. No wifi on the boats. Pleasant staff all around. BEAUTIFUL island views on the route. read more

Well this is the Ferry you get on to leave Victoria to Vancouver. View is always nice. The journey is super safe because its just 1.5 hrs straight across. There are some good restaurants there. Yes they have White Spot on the Ferry and yes you can get Pirate Pak. I find some of the announcement they make quite funny. One that I have to laugh at was a "gun and tank made out of lego was found in the arcade". Maybe they should have put the word lego in front. But its a good laugh. Seats are comfy somewhat. But of course they are kind of old. You can reserve your ticket early but because I am always travelling by foot, I don't bother. I know I will be able to get on. Also note that the ferry leave on the dot. So don't be late. If you are travelling on car. Please reserve online. There is no guarantee you will get on. Also note that they have promotion in the summer time. Check their website. Like going to Victoria for $39 one way. Etc. read more

BC Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Very nice morning, we cued up in front of the Fairmont waiting for our bus. James was a professional driver with a sense of humor. The ride was 45 minutes to the ferry. We left our belongings on the bus and spent an hour and a half exploring the boat. There was a Starbucks coffee bar, shop, buffet and $ 13 upscale lounge. There were lots of clean restrooms. We sailed for 90 minutes passing boats, islands, and sea lions sunning on the shores. There was an announcement to get back to our buses and we drove another 45 minutes directly to our hotel where James unloaded our luggage. This was an efficient and comfortable way to travel with a lot of bags from Victoria to Vancouver read more

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Incredible customer service!!! I had a question about wait times and a kind fellow in a vest promptly and accurately answered my questions! Didn't catch his name but best wishes to this man read more

BC Ferries took us from Vancouver to Victoria. The dock is a relatively short drive from the city. We were one of those people who made a reservation. It is not cheap to take your car on the ferry. You can make a reservation for a specific time, which is the most expensive option. You can also just drive to the ferry station, wait in line and hope that you will get on a ferry at a time that is suitable to your need, which is a less expensive option. You can also take a bus to the ferry (or get dropped off or park your car) and walk right on to the ferry (least expensive option). I had not taken the ferry to Victoria since I was maybe 12 years old, so I was really excited for the experience. We were the first car on the ferry, so I was able to watch all the crew prepare the ferry and then load the cars. It was fun driving onto the ferry and watching it depart from the dock. There are endless places to hang out on the ferry. You can leisurely sit inside and watch TV or enjoy the free wifi. There are some stores and food stores to peruse as well. You can also go outside and enjoy the fresh air. There are ample spaces on the all sides of the ferry in addition to going up to the top. It can get a bit chilly and windy outside, but it's a great view. I enjoyed both the ride to Victoria and the ferry back to Vancouver. read more

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Champagne pricing for 'beer service'. BC FERRIES are: Always the dearest option to and from Vancouver Island. Be sure to check out American services if u wish to land on the southern part of the "island". Sydney to Anecortes. Victoria to Port Angeles. And vice versa....offer motor vehicle passage. (Victoria to Seattle passenger only option.) Bonus of cheap petrol whilst outside Canada innit? BC FERRIES are a government owned monopolist ferry service who replaced private Canadian enterprises waaay back....40 plus years ago approx. STALINISM alive and well. Unimpressed with attitudes services quality of experience which is average at best, poor value for $ in our experience. Even the hand dryers in the men's room are el cheapo! read more

BC Ferries - Long queues high prices - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Loved the ferry service, clean, bright and all kinds of space. The views even when "dreary" are amazing and wonderful. Cannot wait to come back to see the blue skies and mountains. read more

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A good Ferry to Vancouver and the south Gulf Islands. It is efficient it such a level that I would almost all it 'Dutch - like'. I've got a superstitious belief based on empirical evidence of a 10 hour layover in the Netherlands that the Dutch are the most efficient group on the planet. So, I like this Ferry Terminal. This particular trip will take me to the Fulford Harbor on Salt Springs Island. I plan to find the legendary Salt Springs or debunk it. That should take a few minutes. The rest of the time I'll go for a walk and have some pie or whatever pastry strikes my fancy. Oh and I've got a lot of fancy to strike! Now unpack that thought dear reader and shoot me a message on what you thinks it means. read more

BC Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

OK... I never like government-run operations but in this case, I like BC ferries' attention to safety and detail. We have no options and should have but if not then so glad that we have such a helpful, safe, and skilled team helping us get to our destination. I especially liked the guy who was checking to see if all were wearing masks during covid and told my wife to put hers on! Haha She was just blowing her nose but it was a good moment. Thanks, BC ferries. read more

Absolutely terrible, my wife and I showed up at 1 pm and were told we could not sail until 830 pm. Fine, we waited and then got told that we were supposed to book the 830 pm sailing when we showed up at 1 pm. We ended up stuck in overflow and waited until we missed the last sailing at 1040 pm. We waited over 9 hours and still had to come back the next day. Absolutely terrible that they would keep us waiting rather than tell us we wouldn't be able to sail and to come back tomorrow read more

Huge ferries to ride to! We took a ferry from twassen mills to Victoria bc And it was my first time to try one so I was pretty excited! The moment we got in I immediately checked out the cafe, well I didn't like their buffet which was $21++ for a hot meal and dessert plus salads I just opted for the ala carte! I had chicken and Caesar's salad then my husband had the traditional breakfast with eggs, sausage and potatoes with a side of bread! The food was just okay, nothing special. read more

Enroute to Victoria from Vancouver on the BC ferries is so fast and efficient! This is a huge multi deck ferry that is both for passengers and vehicles. The time to load/unload is amazing and very efficient. They have tons of food choices as well on this ferry which was quite good. Next time I will try the private lounge for an extra $12 for nice leather seating, larger tvs and free drinks with lite snacks. This ferry also has charging stations and places to work which is really nice and convenient as well. Free WIFI is awesome and quick. The actual ride was quite smooth and the scenery is beautiful. It's like a setting you see on the nature or discovery channel. Don't forget a jacket if you are coming at night since it can be quite cold and drafty. read more

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Took this ferry from Tsawwassen port in Vancouver to Swartz bay in Victoria. I had a pleasant experience. First time in a ferry, I was surprised how smooth the whole experience went. Pricey, but worth the trip to Victoria. First off, if you reserve online is much easier. Click, click and you're done. Also, you are confirmed a spot in board but if you are extremely late ( they recommend you show up 45mins - 1 hour prior departure), you may get bumped to the next ferry. Even during winter time the ferry was completely full. However, plenty of space to roam around once you're parked. They also have a cafeteria and a little coffee shop. A small gift shop on deck 5, but be careful, while things are super cute but really over priced. I removed one star because the cafeteria food was "cafeteria flavored food" and ridiculously priced. read more

The Day Of The Teenager Shaped Demon Creatures. Swartz Bay to Vancouver - 11am sailing - Spirit of Vancouver Island A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was a boarding school brat. And for two years, every second weekend I would board the ferry from Swartz Bay to Vancouver with 60-100 of my fellow schoolmates. Without adult supervision, we would dutifully use the hour and a half to drink mickies of bad vodka snuck in under our jackets, smoke cigarettes, barrel through the hallways with loud chatter, skip into the food line up in groups of ten at a time, throw fries at each other in the dining area and general cause a complete and total ruckus for the one hour and forty five minutes of freedom we had between school and our parents waiting on the other side. I would like to take this moment to publicly apologize, on behalf of my entire teenage entourage, to ALL adults that travelled with us on those hormones fueled sailings. For keeping you from your much needed coffee while we held up the line. For our incessant and unnecessarily loud chit chat.... everywhere.... simply everywhere on the ferry. The inescapable chit chat. For bumping and shuffling into you on stairs, in the gift shop and in the walk ways. For chasing each other outside and screaming while doing so, or climbing over the chairs in the lounges. For playing that new song by the Gangnam Style guy exceptionally loud... over and over and over. (Ok. We didn't do that. Obviously the music was much better in my decade of teenagedom, but i'm sure we blasted something.) And for generally created an atmosphere of constant noise and chaos. Because today... I lived your pain first hand. And I am sorry. SO sorry. Dear BC Ferries - you should designate a specific area of the ship for this bi-weekly influx of obnoxious. It's been over a decade since I roamed the hall as one of the perpetrators and it looks as though, 12 years later, nothing has changed. Sane adults, with ear plugs and raised eyebrows over novels and laptops, quietly seek relief. I deem this a one-star not because the influx of obnoxious hormones was your fault but because absolutely every employee seemed to turn a blind eye. While kids were running up and down the OUTSIDE raised life jackets compartments - you emptied the ashtrays and carried on. No matter how annoying, you should always attempt to keep someone from putting themselves in a life threatening situation. While they climbed over chairs - you walked on. When they took over the elevator while parents waited with strollers - not a word. Even a service announcement would have given this a bump. But nope. You let chaos reign. And that is why I bring the one star into this equation. Also because your wifi sucks. Sincerely, The woman in the lounge that imagined a dragon swooping in to cart off the two screechy girls in the next row who continued to yell "touch yourself" for no apparent reason. read more

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Before boarding... We were told that if we arrived at the gate 60 minutes before our desired departure time we were likely to get on. Often you can cut it down to the wire provided that there is still room on the ferry. In other words, for most people, reservations ($$) are rarely necessary except perhaps for peace of mind in those situations when you must be in Victoria at a certain time. The cost-$147.00 one way for a van carrying 2 adults, 2 youth, and 2 children. Once aboard... The ferry is a large vessel providing a safe, smooth, scenic ride with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating options. It was a pleasant experience for first/second timers like ourselves. The food... Prior to boarding you will find a small market providing you with shopping mall like food options. On board, you will find a cafeteria style restaurant as well as what looked to be a decent buffet in another area of the ship. Note to celiacs... Gluten free options are limited. My daughters made do with an Amy's Burrito a Haagen Daz Ice Cream bar. Tips... 1) Do bring a sweater. You may find it to be cooler that you expect. 2) I would make my way to the back deck of the ferry. It seemed to us to be the best place to take in the scenery and catch some rays while avoiding the potentially cool/cold wind. 3) You may want to bring your binoculars. One of my sons spotted a whale from the front of the ship while we saw some harbour seals from the rear. 4) You may be wise to pack some food given the mediocre yet somewhat pricey offerings on the ferry. read more

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Kinda pricey, but definitely more luxe than the MV Coho that goes from Port Angeles to Victoria. We took BC Ferries from Victoria to Vancouver and had an uneventful trip. That's what you want, right? No one fell overboard and it didn't sink. You can remain in your vehicle on this boat, or you can go upstairs and relax in a comfy seat. I didn't check the whole ship out, but there's an arcade, gift shop, cafe, restrooms, and free wifi. They got the cars on and off the boat incredibly fast, and the boat left right on time. Just the high cost kept me from giving these guys 5 stars. read more

As someone who has motion sickness, the ride was pretty smooth. Pulling out/stopping is a bit crunchy, but nothing that would make me toss my cookies! (I did take a Gravol, but honestly think I would've been alright without it!) And despite the vessel being all indoors, I found the temperature varied quite a bit. Certain areas were warmer than others. Pretty empty for a mid-afternoon on Friday. GOOD: + free wifi on boat! Kudos to the genius who came up with that idea + plenty of seats available + some work stations available if you want to sit at a cubicle to read or do some work on your laptop + there was also a tv that was playing the Masters, but I'm not interested in golf + there are vending machines and apparently some kinda restaurant/Cafe, so if you're in a bind, you won't starve (I'm sure food isn't cheap though) + lotsa washrooms on-board + smooth ride + on-schedule + at $16 for an adult, I found the price alright - I mean how much do 1.5hr boat rides cost?? N.I. - apparently their renos are recent, but the seats weren't comfortable, were vinyl, and I kept sliding down on them - I don't think you can lift the arm rest up, to lie down, but I'll be sure to check on the way back - temperature inside cabin varies depending on where you're sitting. I found closest cabin to boarding at Tsawassen was warmest I found directions on TransitLink website as to how to get to Tsawassen sounded much more difficult than they actually were when all you needed to do was take the Skytrain towards Richmond, then transfer onto bus. Trip took a loong time tho, so be prepared! read more

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Quick efficient process. You pay more by booking in advance. It's $50 for a car + $15 per person. Book in advance and tack on another $11-18! Nice way to do the boat ride while getting the travel in too! In the fall dress warm so you can see the views from the deck! VEry nice boats! Good food options too - over priced but expected for convenience! read more

I have been riding these Ferry boats since I was a baby. Born in Victoria, and travelled lots since then. I think there is room for improvement, but I also think they do a mighty fine job, all things considered. The sheer volume of passengers, the weather, the seasons, the price of fuel, the staffing and training. I think people forget just how expensive it is to put a huge amount of steel on the water and make it all happen smoothly. Also, it is one of the biggest fleets in the world. I think BC Ferry Corp. pays out big wages and big cost, as everything is unionized. They should add wifi and charge for it. They should put small casino's in as well. We are lucky to have what we do. Canada is a vast country, and we are a small population . read more

What can be said but they get you to and from the BC islands quite efficiently. My tip is to read the schedule and play it safe with a reservation for the few extra dollars. Unfortunately, you still have to be there early to board but it's true piece of mind. There's everything onboard for your comfort and also a play area for families with children and an area for pets, too. It would be nice if they and all of Canada would offer senior discounts, too. read more

Stunningly efficient: catch a bus at the downtown Vancouver train station. Ride the bus onto the ferry. Enjoy a 90 minute ferry ride to Vancouver Island. Get back on the bus and get dropped off in downtown Victoria. All for $70 cds. Amazing scenery today as well. read more

BC Ferries - One drawback. No beer. - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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My experience with BC Ferries during a holiday weekend was good. We traveled the popular Tsawwassen-to-Swartz Bay ferry to get from Vancouver to Victoria. I took two stars off because it is expensive if you bring a car onboard--some $50 each way if I recall. Other than that, adults were $15.50 per ride. Longterm and day parking prices at Tsawwassen were fair and there was no shortage of parking spaces. (I ended up leaving my rental car in longterm parking for $16 for 15 hours and just took public transportation in Victoria. Note: Victoria deserves at least an overnight stay.) Their ferries had lots of seats and BC Ferries often tweets the occupancy of various boats. The ticket-buying kiosks were easy and fast to use. The boarding process was really smooth. The boat, the Spirit of British Columbia, was also a comfortable ride. Movies, free Wifi, computer workstations, a cafe, and a gift shop are some of the terrific amenities onboard. read more

Read realistic review. Very bad experience with BCFerries. If you planing to go to any Island with the BC Ferries don't do any reservation on their website! Just go there without reservation, They have hidden reservation fee cost you extra $44 for a round trip. Surprise 1!!! This morning we decided to go Victoria Island and I visited their webpage when I waked up @8am. On their reservation page they're showing all Ferries full until 1pm. Anyway I got little confuse than I reserved to 1pm than they charged me $44 for round trip. I was thinking they just gonna keep this money's for reservations but when I got an email about my reservation I saw that money was gone! Surprise 2!!! We went Tsawwassen Ferries places before 12pm and then their officer ask us"Would you like to go @12pm? because there is a lot of space in the Ferries" What!!! We are shocked because we were not expecting they have lot of space on the Ferries. This is kind of "despoliation". On their webpage they shows no space before 1pm and they pussing you to ''do reservation and pay more money" They are very good smile and f..ck people very easy. Very disappointed. Suprise 3!!! If you're going there with your visitors or your family(3-4 people) it's gonna cost you almost $300. That is like air plane tickets for couple km. I ever never seen like that cost on the Ferries. Very expensive for regular family. Also why they provide wireless Internet that's not working very well. Victoria was amazing not BCFerries. read more

Compared to the BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen, the terminal at Swartz Bay is a bit lackluster. They do have free wifi, which is a huge plus, but there's only one restaurant to get food at if you want to eat before the ferry ride. This is disappointing, because food on the ferry is quite expensive ($23 for two meals). As for the line for the ferry, we arrived at 11am (just missed the 11am sailing), but the 12pm sailing on Sunday was really quiet (maybe 1/3 full of cars). For two people in a car, a one-way sailing to Tsawwassen costs $77.80 without any promotions or previous reservation. Loading and unloading is very organized at this ferry terminal, but I would highly recommend eating before you arrive. read more

When you really want to see some beauty of the Vancouver/Victoria area, you need take BC Ferries. I enjoyed my ride both to and from Victoria, BC on BC Ferries. There is plenty of seating, so there is no reason to rush onto the ferry. I prefer the upper areas of the boat and walking around the outside of the ferry. It is so beautiful, but wait until you get to the islands before go outside as it can be wet and cool. There's no reason to spend a lot of money buying food on the Ferry when you can bring a snack and drinks on the ferry. If you are going to buy food, there are some good choices and they taste pretty good, but they also come with a price. The station was clean and accessible to public transportation (which is important to me and my non-car owner people). So get out there and As Always.... Have Fun!!! read more

BC Ferry from Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay to Vancouver --- This ferry was alot bigger than the one I took from Port Angeles to Victoria. The good thing abou this ferry was free Wi-Fi and the service I felt was very good, the workers were very nice and down to earth. Again the cost was about $70 (2 persons and 1 car) 1 1/2 hr ride to Vancouver which was great, saved me alot of driving time. The cool thing about this ride was all the little island you pass by, the view and the fresh breeze. This felt like I was on a cruise to Hawaii. lol But nope, it was just a short trip on a ferry.. I really loved the service on the Canadian side you can really tell when someone works for the U.S and one for Canda... Canada seems happier.. Great ride, fun for kids and adults, lots of seating and tv and even sun bathing. (^.^)v read more

We use BC Ferries fairly often to go places such as Vancouver, Powell River and Texada. They always get us to our destination safely and on schedule. It's very pricey though. It's over $17 each way for a walk on between Victoria and Vancouver and I feel that is too much. Also, it would be nice if you only had to pay to get off the island as opposed to on and off. In NS where I'm from, you only have to pay to get off PEI but you don't have to pay to take the boat there and that's great! The reason we walk on to Vancouver and not take our car is again, because it's too expensive. If you want to take an oversized vehicle or camper, forget about it. It's outrageous. Not everyone can afford a huge ferry cost as a start to their vacation. The actual boats are always clean and well kept inside and there is plenty of indoor seating. The only complaint with the inside, is that it's FREEZING!!! They have the air conditioner on bust. We are always bundled up and cold no matter how warm and sunny it may be outside. They really need to adjust the temps. I look around and see others with sweaters and jackets on, looking chilly as well. It's actually uncomfortable. A big bonus is the outdoor sightseeing opportunities. You get an up close look at some smaller islands as you go by. There's always a chance of seeing a dolphin or whale in the water too. The views of the open ocean and mountain ranges are magnificent. Obviously, I'll continue to use the ferry system as I live on the island and it's a necessity. For the most part, it's good. It would just be nice if they dropped the fees and not the inside temperature. read more

well... I will say that they have free Wi-Fi at the Swartz bay terminal now, which means I can write this review on my laptop instead of using my 3G powers to fight the dark-evil-beast that is the ferry terminal. If you always take the Victoria-Vancouver route, you will be pleasantly surprised when/if you have to visit the southern gulf islands. Never a line up at all! *SHOCKING I KNOW!* I wish this trip was one of those, but instead I'm waiting for the Coastal Celebration so that I can get robbed on board with the high prices of a Starbucks coffee or white spot burger - although you can get a free upgrade to yam fries right now - so instead of 20 bucks its only 18... I digress... happy thoughts happy thoughs... I will leave you with one quote from Spaceballs: May the Swartz be with you. read more

Very good ferry, but beware the little shops before you board. The apple cider was terrible, and the almond brittle is the worst candy ever. At least they were expensive! ... And we had to use US funds because they didn't take plastic. Pathetic read more

BC Ferries - Departing Swartz Bay - Ferries Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

DO NOT make an online reservation. It is useless and also a rip off at $18.50 which DOES NOT count toward your fares. Just arrive at least one hour early and even during peak times you will make on your sailing time. Also don't expect ANY customer service at all at this Crown corporation! read more

They get 2 stars because ultimately they get me where I am going. They charge too much, The food is not very good and the "kids area" is a joke but I arrive. If there was another choice I would likely go with them but there isn't. read more

Very difficult to review as they sure do perform well, every day of the year. My only gripe is that when you arrive 15 minutes before a ferry leave, and it isn't full, you are still not allowed to pay and board. I understand that this policy is in place for a reason, but it could be more flexible. read more

Efficient load and unload. The trip from Vancouver to Victoria also included an educational session about the local wildlife. Beautiful view, be sure to bring your camera. read more

bad wifi, bathrooms aren't very clean. I do like perusing the little shops. This last experience will definitely reinforce, it is worth the crazy inflated price of the buffet! It's usually quiet in there, with a small bathroom just for that section, easy access to outlets and a spot to sit the entire ferry ride with out having to move or have people glare at your bag on a chair. read more