Shelby S.

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.

Steve C.

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.

Denise W.

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.

Andrea U.

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

Belle B.

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.

Simon B.

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!

Sean C.

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.

Brian B.

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.

April R.

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.

Jody B.

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.

Leanne K.

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.