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    Recommended Reviews - BC Ferries

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    Car deck 4
    Simon B.

    Unimpressed. An awesomely beautiful part of the world with sunny cool weather on our crossing from the Mainland to Vancouver Island today. Canada's west coast is gorgeous. Our review is purely for our transport experience. $103.75$ car driver 1 pax doesn't buy what it used to. West bound ONE WAY West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo = poor value relative to quality of booking process, check in and on board services. Back in the day, I paid 20 bucks, no bogus $10 reservation fee which was ignored when we checked in 1 hour 45 before stated sailing, placed in an ordinary line up boarded at tail end resulted in LAST OFF! DELAYS. behind buses trucks etc. WIFI onboard worked 4% of the time at best... multiple log offs log ins more time wasting. Over priced poor food. Unclean washrooms badly equipped with toy forced air hand dryers. Such a lovely scenic 90 minute crossing, native beauty. Government crown corporation owns the monopolist biz and they don't do anyone any favors in our experience. You want to get to the island, ya gotta go through em most of the time. Meh. 2 stars. And being charitable at that.

    Brooke P.

    I HATE these ferries. I wish I could give a half star. They've always been a pain to have to take to get to or from Vancouver island. It is too bad the govt won't allow a bridge to be built-it would be so much faster and more people would pay travel more frequently even with a toll. But still....decades later the ferries get to hold people hostage waiting for boats or next sailings etc. What I've noticed lately is that boats are often late now!! So add another half hour or more to your trip people! Not only do you have to show up around an hour early. But you'll probably be waiting an extra half hour as well. Wifi....it's not on all the boats and it's almost 2018!!!! And where there is wifi.....ITS TERRIBLE!!!!!! I've found better wifi in entirely remote parts of the world. Brutal or horrendous still don't accurately describe the low quality.. $$$; it was nice they had super saver ferries for $40-50 each way over the summer but that didn't last long. Only a few months. Was nice though. Shipping, you cannot ship stuff across and walk on. There isn't even a paid tier system for people moving that don't want to bring a car back and forth. I would think they'd want the money of having someone rent a baggage cart or something. Rewards programs...there aren't any, sorry to get your hopes up. I just came over to volunteer at a health & wellness show....cost me $80 each way just to ride the dang boat...to volunteer! Insane. Would be nice if there was a punch card system or something ha. Anyhow. Thought I'd put my extra 30min wait to good use.

    Important:  Map for Ferry Traffic

    RV and First Timers...Coming from Whistler take EXIT 4 (Not horseshoe bay exit). See attached map for correct routing. to load RV onto Ferry, take EXIT 4, then do 180 so you're turned back onto highway 1 in opposite direction, then take EXIT 3 and follow signage to load vehicle onto ferry. RVs stay to left. Pay balance at Toll Booth. See map attached. *get to ferry Early in case you get lost!! If GPS routes you to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in village, enter parking lot where it says "drop off and pickup"...go thru parking lot, exit by turning right I order to get back onto highway 1. Then follow my map and directions to exit 4.

    Nanaimo
    Pat K.

    Very nice ferry boat for people and vehicles! They lacked any service / facilities while waiting in queue. $45 for the car and $17 per person adds up. Enjoyed their very stable ride even during wind choppy waves. Decent cafeteria service but no alcohol! Knowing there was a slightly longer journey from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo, this journey albeit a shorter route was more traffic to get into Horseshoe Bay and when we landed in Nanaimo. See my other review for the BC Ferries Tsawwassen to Nanaimo trip...

    Need coffee......
    Dan G.

    Supereasy ferry from Horsehoe Bay to Vancouver Island. And who knew Vancouver actually is not on Vancouver Island. Things that make you go hmmm...... We bought our tickets online in advance and after checking in at the toll booth type dealy, we queued up in the row to await the ferry. The earlybird that I am, of course we had plenty of time to spare. There are many coffee and food options around Horseshoe Bay and on the ferry too. Driving on and off the ferry itself was a breeze. Comfy chairs and many different places to hang out, including the top floor sun deck. About 90 minutes later we arrived in Nanaimo and we were back on the long and winding road to Tofino.

    The guy behind me was sent to the first deck because the ferry was too full.  He was just out of VGH after a heart attack.
    Alistair S.

    Okay, bear in mind that BC Ferries is an extension of the BC highway system. It was never specifically tooled to accommodate the passages of holiday-makers who want to head over to the island once per year, and should never be confused with a low-rent cruise ship service. If you had to DEPEND on BC Ferries, you would find the service provided to be execrable. On my last run to Langdale, I asked to be placed on the top car deck so that I could extract some joy from the passage. As we were being marshaled onto the ferry, traffic was diverted from the top deck, presumably because it was full. I, and many others, were directed to the bottom deck. I've submitted a picture of the top car deck on a ferry that was described by the BC Ferries website as having 100% deck space committed. The fellow behind me on the bottom deck had just been released from VGH after heart surgery. In front, an elderly couple-just barely able to walk without assistance-made their slow, painful way towards the stairwell. I was horrified to see that the top deck was still largely empty. While a party of injured and aged persons clambered up the stairwell from the depths, I spotted a chubby millennial in her SUV parked on the top car deck, feet up on her dashboard, and eating grapes as she thumbed through a magazine. Another thing that annoys me: who hired the terminal staff at Horsehoe Bay? It's as if they plucked-up every unwashed bum from the DTES, and quickly kitted them out in Ferries livery. Unwashed clothing, unshaven, dirty boots, with boot laces trailing behind their ever step. This is the face we want the world to see when they come to BC Ferries? The ships are very quickly approaching their service life. I rode the Queen of Surrey when I was a little kid, back when she first plied the Strait in 1977. Her designers could never have envisioned the overcrowded and sweaty hell (reminiscent of Soylent Green) that Vancouver would descend into, and the ship's replacement needed to appear on the scene at least a decade ago to keep up with the demand. No, that isn't going to happen anytime soon. However, BC Ferries is pleased to bilk you with a de facto fare increase in the from of a reservation service. The May long weekend has just passed. BC Ferries made the news for its atrocious service. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a few of the delusional people who tagged BC Ferries with four-stars spent 5+ hours in a queue sweating it out waiting for a ferry last weekend. Maybe they will now get a feel for what it is like to have to depend upon this service.

    Denise W.

    Get there on time. The ferry left 5 mins ahead of schedule. But again this is expected. Its better to wait then to take the next one. I always like taking the ferry. Nice view. As well there are food on the ferry. So don't worry about starving if you didn't have breakfast or dinner. As well there was not once, I couldn;t get a seat. So plenty of seating space. Washroom is always clean as well. Depending where you go you can just relax and snooze. The ferry is very stable probably due to its size.

    Kandi R.

    I don't know quite why people seem to dislike this ferry service so much...we absolutely loved every minute of our experience to and from Nanaimo - Horseshoe bay! Both ferries left within 5 minutes of scheduled leaving time. They loaded exactly when they said they would and despite waiting 1 hour the way to Vancouver Island...the way back we made the ferry exactly on time and loaded straight away. Despite having our pooch Irie with us and being confined to car dock 4 we absolutely adored the view and thoroughly enjoyed walking around to all angles of the ship stickin our heads out the open large windows with the cold ocean air spraying our faces. The only annoying thing is the ship's movement sometimes caused some very sensitive car alarms to continuously go off kinda breaking the peaceful sea voyage but other than that spectacular friendly amazing service! Thanx for showing us Quebecers a spectacular view!

    Cafeteria in the ferry
    Hope C.

    * PASSENGER REVIEW ONLY * We took the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, there on a weekday, return on the weekend. Total novices when it comes to ferries, here are the things I wish I'd been told beforehand: 1) Put your baggage in baggage drop-off on the ground floor of the terminal (in the area for ticketed passengers). It's reliable, fast, and will save you some real hassle. 2) The best views are from the front, so head away from the docked portion of the boat once you enter the passenger deck. 3) The free wifi is finicky and will keep kicking you off. This is likely because many people being laptops and so demand for the limited bandwidth is high. 4) Get in line for White Spot immediately upon boarding. (* No. 4 I learned by watching the crazy crowds queuing and stepping over each as soon as they got on board. I had no idea what White Spot was. "There's got to be a coupon for this place or else's it's some legendary fast food chain," I thought to myself. Apparently some variation of the latter is true. White Spot in Vancouver is like Checkers in the USA: mediocre, old school, gimmicky comfort food). I loved this boat. It was huge and the bathrooms were clean. Only $15.50 each way - to my nautically naive self, this sounds like a good deal? Well it felt like one. On-time departures and arrivals and, on the way back to Van, the pleasure of hoards of Japanese schoolchildren stomping up and down stairs and boisterous Canucks fans plotting their descents into inebriation before the match. O Canada! indeed. No alcohol on board. Only cabs and buses for transportation into Van itself from Horseshoe Bay. Price of cab around $40.

    Spirit of Vancouver

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    Great public transportation service. Seemed very reasonably priced and the ferries are nice. An enjoyable scenic trip too!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Review Highlights - BC Ferries

    I went from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale on the weekend, and on the way back had a slight fall before driving to the terminal.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal - Before sunrise. Nov 2023

    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal

    3.6(24 reviews)
    0.2 kmHorseshoe Bay

    Go to BCFerries.com to book sailings and find out all you need to know about your destination…read more Here are some tips about foods and driving to the terminal. Tip 1: There are only vending machines for snacks and drinks - don't expect gift shops or cafes inside this terminal. If time permits, one can park the car in the ferry lineup and walk over to the horseshoe bay village for takeout foods. As walk on ferry passengers, it's easy to look for food options at the village across from the ferry terminal. Tip 2: Do make sure you have a pre-paid vehicle booking for all sailings departing here, except for vehicles heading to Bowen Island. Drive on the right-most lane if you are heading to Bowen and purchase a ticket at the end of the lane. Tip 3: Highway driving - pay attention to switch to the right lane before exit 3; it's simply a nuisance if you miss turning off on exit 3 when rushing for a ferry sailing. Tip 4: Transit via bus 257 is convenient from downtown Vancouver or Park Royal - good transit option for getting to this terminal. Tip 5: Delays "sometime" occur with ferry sailings so please brace yourself, plan accordingly, perhaps take some photos and soak up the view. Bon Voyage!

    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal -- smooth, scenic, and surprisingly easy…read more Used the Horseshoe Bay Ferry terminal recently and had a really solid experience. The whole setup is straightforward: signage is clear, traffic flow makes sense, and even with a busy terminal vibe, it felt organized rather than chaotic. The best part is the location--gorgeous views of the water and mountains while you wait. There are decent spots to grab a snack/coffee, bathrooms were available when we needed them, and it's an overall clean, well-run terminal. Tip: arrive early if you're traveling during peak times (especially weekends), because the lineup can build fast. But once you're in, the process is efficient and the staff keep things moving. Would absolutely use Horseshoe Bay again--great gateway to the islands and a pretty relaxing start to the trip.

    Photos
    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal - Waiting for 730 am ferry to Langdale

    Waiting for 730 am ferry to Langdale

    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal - July 22, 2025.

    July 22, 2025.

    Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal

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    BC Ferries - Sunrise from the ferry

    BC Ferries

    3.4(62 reviews)
    14.8 kmDowntown, Coal Harbour

    BC Ferries provides essential passenger and vehicle ferry service across coastal British Columbia,…read moreand 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.

    Such a cool experience. This was my first time on a car ferry and we had a great experience. We…read morebooked 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

    Photos
    BC Ferries - Entrance.

    Entrance.

    BC Ferries - Sunrise from the ferry

    Sunrise from the ferry

    BC Ferries - View from the ferry

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    View from the ferry

    False Creek Ferries

    False Creek Ferries

    4.0(66 reviews)
    15.0 kmGranville Island/False Creek

    A really nice way to get across false creek from one side to the other. The tickets are pretty…read morecheap at a few dollars each depending on where you're going - even if you don't have a particular destination, it's fun to just ride along. It's pretty hard to tell which direction the ferry is going next though unless you're very familiar with the routes, so make sure you ask the driver just in case. I find that the ones I've interacted with all ask you where you're going before letting you on, so at least I haven't taken the wrong boat yet. They have a zone system for ticketing and at first it was a bit confusing for which zone ticket was needed to go where. But they have nice maps at each stop so it wasn't too hard to decipher after awhile. The boat drivers were also pretty nice and were happy to answer questions about tickets. I took the boats during the Big Picnic event at David Lam park. There were other people on the boat but it was not crowded at all. Boats also came all the time and so we didn't have to wait much before ours came. The boat doors were left open when I rode the boats and so it was really nice to be able to take pictures and videos without obstruction from the windows or clear screens. The creek is relatively calm most of the time and the rides are short, so most people probably won't get sea sick.

    A fabulous way to get to Granville Island from Vancouver's West End…read more We walked down Thurlow to the corner of Beach and found the False Creek Ferry docked near the aquatic center. They leave every 5 minutes. For a modest sum we ferried across to Granville Island. What a pleasant experience and easy way to go to Granville Island!

    Photos
    False Creek Ferries - September 2023

    September 2023

    False Creek Ferries
    False Creek Ferries

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    Granville Island Water Taxi - Courtesy of website

    Granville Island Water Taxi

    4.1(7 reviews)
    15.0 kmDowntown

    One of my absolute fave things to do in Vancouver and it is probably one of the least expensive…read moreadventures to pay for (with priceless views). You can grab a water taxi at Granville Island and they have a few different stops throughout the waters, but if you're like me, this is a great way to enjoy the city views from the comfort of an intimate water taxi. I really enjoy my time out on the water taking in everything and just seeing the skyscrapers, statues, and local happenings. It's also nice to see all the boats around. Definitely worth checking out and I can't recommend it enough!!

    * Vancouver Vice *…read more Ok, so we wanted to go to Bowen Island for the day and starting looking into the options. It was either BC Ferries or Granville Island Water Taxi. To take the ferries you have to get all the way out to Horseshoe Bay, which either means catching a long bus ride from downtown or driving (including dealing with the Lion's Gate Bridge traffic) and paying a lot for parking. The ferry by itself costs about $18 round trip and then you have parking, bus, hassle, etc. on top of that. Enter Granville Island Water Taxi. It leaves from the convenient dock near the False Creek Ferry portion of the Granville Island docks. It costs only $25 round trip to Bowen Island. It was a no brainer. You can book reservations easily online for any of their trips (which generally run every 90 minutes or so). The boat is much smaller than a ferry and only holds 12 passengers. You definitely feel the speed - as the captain revs up the engines the front half of the boat lifts out of the water. Picture Miami Vice but instead of loud neon suited cops there are a bunch of west coast laid back types with their bicycles and dogs. Vancouver Vice. From GI to Snug Cove it only took about 25 minutes. It could have taken that long just to get across the Lion's Gate bridge! We had a lovely day out on Bowen Island: http://www.yelp.ca/list/bowen-island-getaway-bowen-island This is DEFINITELY the way to go. I'll have to get a neon jacket and get the full Miami Vice feeling next time! Or then again - maybe not.

    Harbour Cruises - MV Britannia Night

    Harbour Cruises

    3.6(62 reviews)
    13.4 kmCoal Harbour

    We had an overall enjoyable evening. We found friendly staff seating us and taking our beverage…read moreorder. Beverages which are not included in the ticket are reasonably priced. Live music by Tony and Mike added to the evening. Music choice was right for the demographic and comments by Tony were at a minimum--appropriate for folks sharing and chatting with friends. Food was acceptable. Not stellar but it's a buffet catered in. Highlights: salad selection, vegetable lasagna, desserts. Some may criticize, I wouldn't. Cruise was lovely, starting before sunset (7:00 pm, mid Sept) and lasting well after sunset until disembarkation at 9:30. City lights are beautiful. One suggestion (I hope management is following these): turn off the LED rope lights in the cabin after dark so there's no or less reflection on the windows. That reflection makes it impossible to see through the window and enjoy the city lights. Yes, you can go outside, but if chilly that's not ideal for all passengers. That is the biggest negative. Overall a positive experience. Now turn off those lights so we can fully enjoy an evening cruise in Vancouver.

    Unreliable. Sail at your own risk!…read more Harbour Cruises of Vancouver completely failed to deliver on the promise of their Indian Arm cruise. They claimed smoke in the engine room and limped back to port before we even turned into the Arm. Other reviews have reported unexplained itinerary changes that eliminated the main part of the trip. One has to wonder if they don't go up the Arm simply to save money when it's not fully booked or if their boats are that unreliable. While I understand mechanical issues, their compensation policy was completely inadequate. They offered a free drink on board and a coupon for 15% off a future cruise. Anyone booking on the internet can get a 20% discount off any cruise! After much back and forth they finally offered a 20% refund. The final price after this discount was approximately double the price of a narrated harbor tour. We received an un-narrated tour of the container port instead of a tour of the natural environment, which is what we were promised. We feel cheated by Harbour Cruises of Vancouver. Sail at your own risk!

    Photos
    Harbour Cruises
    Harbour Cruises - MV Harbour Princess

    MV Harbour Princess

    Harbour Cruises - MV Princess

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    MV Princess

    BC Ferries - ferries - Updated May 2026

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