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    Black Ball Ferry Line

    3.6 (69 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Black Ball Ferry Line Photos

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    Jason V.

    Prior to "the COVID years", I don't believe I have ever been on a ferry in my entire life; at least none that I remember. During those trouble years, when everyone was going stir-crazy with cabin fever, and dining outside was our only option, my wife and I started venturing out on road trips seeking experiences in the PNW that were engaging, exciting, and new even to life-time WA residents such as myself. It was then that I started to realize how little I knew about my own state, and region. I've been to over a dozen different countries, but had barely explored my own backyard! And what a wealth of treasures we have surrounding us, within driving (and ferrying) distance! Beyond WA and OR, it's sometimes easy to forget that there's an entire other country resting on top of us ("America's hat", as I've heard it called), and having visited Canada almost a half-dozen times in the past few years, it's hard not to get the impression that our neighbors to the north have it better than us! Fortunately, all it takes is a short 90-minute ferry ride on the Black Ball Line's MV Coho, to experience what my wife and I believe may be the most elegant gem in the PNW: Victoria! Boarding in Port Angeles currently four times per day during this, the summer season, this ferry can quickly fill up all of its reservable vehicle spots, particularly on the weekend, so book in advance, if possible! However, if you're like us, who sometimes spontaneously dash out the door with a goal but very little in the way of a plan, you may be forced to do as we did, and choose the walk-on option instead which, fortunately, seems incapable of filling up. For $22.50/person each way ($90 round trip for my wife and I, plus our 2-year-old son, who was free), you can secure a berth onboard the 90-minute jaunt to Vancouver Island, and the capital of British Columbia, Victoria. Just be sure to arrive 30 minutes before departure, at the latest, for boarding. Let me tell you something, folks: If you've never experienced it, the approach to the city in Victoria harbor is truly breathtaking. As the ship slowly glides into the port, the almost eerie silence that accompanies the emerging vistas of old Victorian buildings, castle-like resort hotels, harbors, marinas and bridges has a spellbinding effect on the senses. The city itself seemed as still as the surface of the water below us. Almost everyone onboard was silent, breathless, or awe-struck, while simultaneously scrambling to snap as many pictures, selfies and videos as possible. The sensation was such that I doubt I will ever forget it, and I long to experience it again, as soon as possible. "Magical" and "enchanting" are the closest as adjectives can come to quantify it. On the more mundane side of things, Black Ball makes the whole process very simple, particularly for us walk-ons. There was no line to buy a ticket when we approached the counter, the attendant answered all of our questions competently and clearly, and as for the tickets, one each way accounts for your party by head count, and in all honesty, there's no need to purchase a round-trip ticket ahead of time, since you can always just grab one on the way back, but hey, it's good to plan ahead. Just be sure to bring your passport, as you will obviously need it both ways! Additionally, you will need to fill out a US Coast Guard form with the details of your entire party on the way out, as well as a Canadian Customs Declaration form, the first you will hand to the Captain of the ship upon boarding, and the second you will turn in to Canadian Customs officers, and both of which are simple. Upon returning to the states, there is no such document needed, although you will, of course, have to go through Customs and answer the usual questions. The ship itself, the MV Coho, has plenty of seating throughout, as well as a cafeteria, a souvenir shop, a Duty Free store (which only operates on the return voyage to the US), walkable decks, clean restrooms, and the potential for whale-watching during your jaunt(s) across the Juan De Fuca! There are other ferries to Victoria out there: one departs from Seattle, takes three hours, and costs an arm-and-a-leg more. There's another that disembarks from Anacortes, but drops you off at the dock in Sidney, 18 miles north of Victoria, which is far less convenient, unless you're planning on hopping over to Vancouver instead, but if that's the case, just drive there instead! In short, the Black Ball Ferry Line is your best, cheapest, most convenient, and most competent choice for escaping Gilead...err, I mean, America, and visiting our beautiful, welcoming neighbor to the north!

    Omar S.

    The Canadian side of the only ferry service currently running between Port Angeles WA and Victoria BC. This side is a lot smaller (waiting area) than the WA side, but there's a lot more to do immediately around it so you probably didn't want to linger in the tiny waiting room anyway. No need to arrive "early" unless you're queuing for a non-reserved vehicle spot. It's got several things going for it, including being able to be out on the prow of the ship for almost the entire journey. Cellular coverage the entire way as far as my t-mobile service went. This is a big ferry, and was nowhere near full on my off-season trip in early October. It's not super fast, but it's very calm. Passing customs/immigrations can be a little weird if you're used to the brusque professionalism of airports (on the US side, "one bored CBP guy").

    There was a lot of activity on deck as it was a lovely day for a boat ride.
    Navin K.

    Easy and inexpensive way to get from Victoria BC to Port Angeles WA. Our walk-on tickets cost us $78.75 (adults $22.50, kids half price) and we got through immigration early in Victoria (we arrived 45 mins before the 10:30 am departure time), which allowed us to secure a booth with a table. There were snacks and drinks available for purchase on board, plus a duty free counter, but we didn't indulge in either. The seas were smooth with little wind, and it was a sunny day, so we spent most of our time either playing cards indoors, or outdoors on the deck, with one person minding our luggage at our booth. The journey took about 90 minutes, and the customs check in Port Angeles took about 15. Strongly recommend this ferry and will happily sail with them again.

    View from the Ferry into Victoria
    David E.

    A great ferry that saved us about 1 1/2 hours of driving by being in Victoria and having service to Washington state. Very good accommodations with food and a souvenir shop. A great smooth ride, we will use Black Ball Ferry Line anytime we want to go back to Victoria BC

    Staging for landing a rig
    Roger M.

    How is this not fire stars? Service and queuing to get on the Coho ferry is systematically controlled. Our experience 2 times on the Coho ferry is great! It's spot on time. The ferry loads and unloads in a systematic manner balancing cars, trucks, RVs, and trailers, and on time. You get where you're going on time - everything's on time. And you can snack on board, bring your own grub too. Coho ferry has sandwiches and other goodies. You have several locations to sit and then move around from inside to outside, have tables or not tables, walk around the ship and take pics. You can exercise a little bit by walking so I'm on board with the pick up truck and a 25 foot Airstream travel trailer. They get my rig on and off easy peasy. On time. Customs has not been an issue. It's been easy peasy. The 24 mile float or one and a half hours on the water is fine. It's smooth. Why is this not a five star service Yelpers?

    Black Ball Ferry getting ready to depart.
    Brian B.

    Adventure time passing the Canadian-USA border by sea! Don't drive! Don't fly! Have an adventure by boat and float to/from Canada and the USA by this comfortable sea going vessel. The Black Ball Ferry in Victoria on Vancouver Island (no, not the same as Vancouver City) will take you to Port Angeles near Seattle. Go through immigration here too. A convenient landing is to be had upon arrival in historical downtown Victoria. Easy walk to several interesting sites. So many hotels, touristy areas and pubs are here. In fact, the Queen Victoria visited and had tea... and so should you!

    Victoria

    Hump day 5pm ferry to Victoria from Port Angeles. Start to finish smooth, from the greeter in the lot, check-in, traffic directors and clear instructions. Not nearly as big as a BC Ferry, but a quality introduction to a smaller carrier, the water was not smooth, but we could not feel it. Nicely done to the whole team.

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    It is fast and dependable. There isn't as much to see on this route, but if you are in a hurry, this is the ferry to take.

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    2 years ago

    Very well organized we did round trip on the way back we were on stand by we were advised what to do we made it on the early ferry

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    3 years ago

    Say you can board earlier if you pre-pay. It's not true. They treat you like cattle and pay no attention to their promise.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - Black Ball Ferry Line

    The Canadian side of the only ferry service currently running between Port Angeles WA and Victoria BC.

    Mentioned in 28 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Victoria Harbour Ferry - My favorite kind of taxi is a water taxi.

    Victoria Harbour Ferry

    3.9(40 reviews)
    0.2 km

    What a cool experience! It's a ferry that takes you to your destination when traveling around…read moreVictoria Harbour. You can totally see why it's needed just by looking at a map of the city. The harbor is divided into 4 active sections. The cruise ships dock at Ogden Point in the Outer Harbour. The water taxi services the Inner, Upper, and Middle Harbour. It's a great transport option that is more affordable than a standard taxi. There can be a wait time. You may want to book a water taxi ahead of time if you're traveling in a group. The boat can only take up to 12 passengers. Our BC Bites & Sights guide booked it in advance so there was only a 10 minute wait at the Fisherman's Wharf pick up point. We saw a couple of sights along the way. There was a great view of the seaplane port, and the Empress Hotel in the Inner Harbor. We also passed under the Johnson Street Bridge with its beautiful aqua blue lights. We arrived to our destination (Mermaid Wharf) in a matter of minutes. Yes, I know we could have walked to Chinatown. It was already part of the tour, so why not? It would have taken longer to walk, and it was a cold & windy day. Some people in our group said it felt like being near the Great Lakes. The wind around Shoal Point was brutal that evening. I'm sure it's much worse in the Winter. It was fun! I think this is considered to be a Top 10 attraction here, and not just a ferry service. They do offer tours of the Inner Harbour as well as the Gorge Waterway. The latter one would be great for wildlife enthusiasts. That's definitely a tour I'd like to take one day.

    Such a delightful way to get around Victoria's waterfront…read more These adorable little ferries are such a fun and scenic way to get around. Whether you're hopping between docks or joining a guided tour, the experience feels personal and relaxed. Boats seat just 11-12 passengers, making it a cozy ride with front-row views of the harbor. Even if you're just catching a lift, one-way fares are available and super easy to pay. QR codes at the docks make it seamless, and for those who are old-school, tickets can be purchased from a few local businesses or directly from the captains onboard. We didn't have time to jump on one of their narrated tours through historic waterways and neighborhoods, but it's definitely on our list for next time.

    Photos
    Victoria Harbour Ferry - Our water taxi captain

    Our water taxi captain

    Victoria Harbour Ferry - House boats near touristy fishermen's wharf

    House boats near touristy fishermen's wharf

    Victoria Harbour Ferry - Taxi tour dock

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    Taxi tour dock

    FRS Clipper

    FRS Clipper

    3.3(112 reviews)
    0.2 km

    My mother and I took the Clipper to and from Victoria for Mothers Day weekend and loved it. It ran…read moreon time both ways and the staff was very friendly and seating was comfortable. Much of their amazing staff has been let go with sailings cut due to the current political situation reducing ridership which is a shame. Also the terminal location in Victoria is quite confusing to be dropped off at as it is temporary and not well marked. Looking forward to riding the Clipper again.

    I've taken the ferry numerous times over the years and it's been wonderful. Easy travel and…read morefriendly staff. But this past trip was a complete nightmare. The date of my trip was changed due to a miscommunication on behalf of the agent. The manager at the Seattle terminal did not offer any alternatives. There was no email or phone confirmation about the change and did not find out until I arrived at the terminal. I made the trip weeks later and had to change my departure return twice. The first agent did not tell me that the ferry left at an earlier time on Thursdays. I did not receive a confirmation email and the only reason I found out about the earlier time was that I went to check my seat selections. I called again and the first representative I spoke to, Dana, was incredibly rude on the phone. I requested to change my departure date and she replied, "Do you have a booking number or what? What do you want me to do with this?" I asked for a different agent and she said I could call again. I ended up speaking with Gail, who was rudcondescending and kept interrupting. I'm not sure if these agents are overworked or not getting paid enough but they need a refresher on their customer service skills. It's a shame because I used to recommend the Clipper and looked forward to these trips which I usually take 2-3 times a year. But this past experience has made me hesitant and might consider using an alternative route.

    Photos
    FRS Clipper  - Departing Victoria

    Departing Victoria

    FRS Clipper  - Aboard

    Aboard

    FRS Clipper  - Sea

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    Sea

    FRS Clipper - The clipper we just arrived on

    FRS Clipper

    3.2(465 reviews)
    117.5 kmInterbay

    Who wouldn't want to take a fast ferry to another country? Start your morning in Seattle and end up…read morehaving an early lunch in the Victoria harbor with on the Victoria Clipper. We just did one upgrade to get window seats in the economy area, which was totally worth it. The boat was less than half full - if it had been fuller I would have gone for more of an upgrade as the seating in economy is a bit narrow if someone is near you. Staff were friendly and on and off boarding was easy. Food looked edible and it was nice to have servers come through the cabin - they also passed out motion sickness pills - although our ride was smooth. Nice views of the water and mountains all the way there and back. I wouldn't recommend parking in the Bell Street Garage. Although it was ten bucks a day we ended up locked in the garage upon return for more than an hour due to a broken machine and limited staffing. Clipper was not responsive or helpful when we offered feedback on this partnership, which makes me dock a star.

    If you can, this is the way to go to Victoria B.C. from Seattle. It's so convenient and not…read moreexpensive, relatively speaking. They have great package tours or you can just get the boat trip. You do pass the into Canada and have to go through customs. Also the leave time in the A.M. can be quite early if you're not a morning person. In the terminal they do have plenty of seating as well as food and beverages while you are waiting to board. You get off in a fairly convenient location in Victoria, pretty walkable to most spots and to hotels. Why not five stars? The experience just wasn't as "nautical" as I was hoping. I felt like I was on a bus - the interior of the vessel gives that impression.

    Photos
    FRS Clipper - Looking south

    Looking south

    FRS Clipper
    FRS Clipper - Waiting to board

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    Waiting to board

    Black Ball Ferry Line - ferries - Updated May 2026

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