We took the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. The ride itself was nice, though a tad rough. In order for you to make the crossing, you need to bring travel ID, like a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card, as you are crossing into another country. The ferry ride itself was about 90 minutes. It took another 30-45 minutes to get off the ferry and go through Canadian customs (border patrol). The ferry drops you off in a great location in the Victoria Harbor. We liked the ferry and the ride. Dealing with customs, whether USA or Canada is always rough. read more

August 8 & 11, 2025 - Port Angeles/Victoria As booked months ahead for our vehicle on the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria ($218 round trip). Boarding was smooth--staff guided us through every step, from passport and pet vaccination checks to parking on the ferry. The vessel was clean, comfortable, and had indoor/outdoor seating, snacks, and spotless restrooms. Crossing took about 90 minutes each way. Customs in both directions was quick and straightforward. Before our return, we got an email about a cycling event closing nearby roads--appreciated the heads-up so we could plan an alternate route. Overall, an efficient, well-organized, and stress-free experience for first-time ferry travelers. read more

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90 minute sail from Victoria to Port Angeles, WA, USA, this is a really convenient way to get to Seattle and it's cheaper than the Clipper. $22.50/per adult if passengers only and a vehicle under 18 feet is $76.50 including the driver. It's required to get in line 90 minutes before leaving. You can get online reservations in advance so you travel when you want to or take your chances and just show up. Located right across from the capital building, this is easily accessible for those on foot to get around downtown Victoria without needing a taxi. They have travel specials they've coordinated with hotels in the area on their website. read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Dec 2024, not many cars waiting for the ferry but this waiting lot is 100% full in the summer. Boat docks here. - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Booked a package with rooms and it was a great deal! The ferry ride is quick and smooth. Many tables get filled up quickly from walk ons but it's still comfortable no matter where you sit. There's food and a small gift shop. Would do it again! read more

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! read more

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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"). read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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. read more

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Two stars because on a return trip from Victoria back to Port Angeles, even though we were early, they put us in a lane where we got on last, and then stuck us in a spot where we had to back out. They were, in effect, penalizing us for getting there early. I asked the attendant why, out of curiosity he was putting us in that spot and he said because of the weight of the car. Meanwhile, I saw huge passenger vans that were far larger than the car I was driving in the regular lanes. Oddly, the attendance when we got there didn't give us the forms to fill out and the customs officer had to tell us to walk back and get the forms ourselves. Honestly, it felt like incompetence. However, the experience was completely opposite going from Port Angeles to Victoria. We got there early, and they put us into a proper lane and we got off earlier to reflect the fact we had arrived earlier. And none of the bullshit that happened on the Canada side. If not for the Canada return trip, I would rate it four or five stars. However, I know that it was probably the same boat and the same crew and the same concession workers. Whatever. read more

It's a feeey between port angeles and Victoria BC. It's a 90 minute boat ride. The shortest distance between two points. I highly recommend getting reservations, but they have show up people too. It's a a ferry, no 5 star restaurant here, but it's better than the alternative read more

Older ship but a nice ride to or from Victoria BC. Reserved in advance and getting on the ship is easy, crew is very good at what they do and load and unload the ship with precision, crew is very friendly and helpful. Arrival in Canada is easy and customs clearance is quick and easy. US customs takes a little longer and requires pre-clearance in Victoria and then another stop at the customs booth when disembarking the ship back in Port Angeles. Ride was smooth and fairly quick. Food and beverages on board, along with a duty free shop. Price for round trip was reasonable. Reservations are recommended. read more

I can't give 5 stars because I have no comparison (this was my first time taking a car in a boat and across a border), but the process was simple and effective. I traveled solo in a rental car from SeaTac, driven to Port Angeles, across to Victoria, and back to Port Angeles to return to SEA. As expected, Canadian CBP is far more relaxed than the US CBP. I'll write my review of the to-Canada trip on the Port Angeles side. You MUST be on site 90 minutes before the Victoria departure to clear US CBP (yes, on the Canadian side). They locked the man doors to Victoria promptly at 9am and I'm guessing the vehicle entry as well. There is a washroom in the controlled area but nothing else besides customs and cars. Bring entertainment or company, and if you need Starbucks order ahead or go well before your 90-min deadline. There is some expectation that you will already know what to do. Ask clarifying questions if you are confused so you don't miss a step. The customs agent asked me to step out of the vehicle as she was marking down my license plate, then handed me my passport and walked away without additional instructions. I had to ask if I needed to go to the customs kiosk with my passport (wasn't sure if that was just for anyone declaring items) - then I needed to get back in the car and close the windows and grab my purse with the car keys because I was traveling solo. No problem, but also no proactive communication. For traveling with others, it sounds like only one adult from the vehicle has to go to the customs booth. The was no conversation there, just handing over my customs form and passport and getting the passport back with a little pink paper indicating occupancy. This goes on the outside of the windshields under the driver windshield wiper. Loading is very buttoned up and efficient, as is unloading. I'm still sitting on the dock at Victoria so I'll update later with the debarking and US side customs info. Later: there's a lot to be desired from US CBP communication. Like with the gal on the Canada side, the guy I talked to leaving Port Angeles abruptly stopped talking to me without saying anything to the effect of "you can go now", "have a nice day", or anything else remotely similar to the conclusion of an interaction. It was fast and fine but if you're a details and instructions person just read ahead and prepare yourself for the utter lack of conversational convention you'll experience here. read more

Friendly, on time and smooth ride. The bathrooms and cafe are clean and well stocked. We went to the top deck and were enjoying the sunshine and fresh air read more

Dependable , timely, and comfortable transport. Friendly, efficient & well trained staff! Clean bathrooms & comfy seating. Might be a free whale watch (we saw 3 orcas) What's not optimal- victoria side is not very accessible- exit area is Rough (dumpster lined uphill trek with urine soundtrack in the summer heat ) Waiting room is tiny and also smelly. Also- thank you for the decently priced snack shack but- those $8 fish and chips served by that super friendly, efficient counter person were very possibly the worst food I've ever tried to eat. Go for the bagel. read more

My husband and I took an impromptu trip to Victoria, this week. I was only able to get the 7:30pm vessel coming back. This would have put us to the Kingston Ferry very late. I did read on the one the web site the ferry line keeps a number of spots for first come first serve vehicles. We checked in at the terminal last night to find out what time they opened up the line. We showed up this morning at 10:30 and got our spot. We were able to kick around the city for several hours and at 1:30 back to our car. We were one of the last folks on the ferry but we did get a table to eat our lunch and it did work out. It's such a beautiful ride between Port Angeles and Victoria, absolutely love it. Everyone we ran across was very professional, nice and did what they could to help. Thanks Blackball Ferry!! read more

So this company charges for a reservation that is strictly that, paying for the reservation, it doesn't go towards your fare for the ferry ride, they do allow as website says, 1 change. Now, it isn't posted on their website, but oversized vehicles are not allowed to go stand by, you have to pay the extra 18 dollars to be able to just get in line, although they say a portion is reserved for reservation and the rest are on a 1st come first serve. They adhere to their rules on the Port Angeles side, but not the Canadian side. They DONT POST THAT A RV or any oversized are not ALLOWED IN THE STANDBY. Also, we got 3 different answers on when you can line or park there as a vehicle with a reservation. Kids run the show on the Canadian side from traffic runners to ticket sales. No confirmation on any of their policies but, I think so answers. We have traveled this ferry for 25 years. Pretty bogus way to do business. Lucky we are retired and don't mind waiting, but it's the lack of following their own policies that are a joke. Money grubbers company. To say though, the Port Angeles WA side........ no problems read more

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 read more

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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? read more

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Highly recommend if you want to bring your car to Victoria. It was our first time using this ferry and it certainly will not be our last. If you are departing from Port Angeles, you'll need to be at the port 60 minutes prior to departure, however , if you are departing from Victoria, you'll need to be at the port 90 minutes earlier. This 90 minute ride through the Salish Sea was beautiful and relaxing, especially when the sun is out. Aboard the Coho ferry, you'll find a plethora of seats. There is also a coffee shop to purchase drinks, both alcohol and non-alcohol options , as well as cold and hot foods. Staff and border patrol were friendly and surprisingly, organized and easy going. As long as you follow the directions and you have your required documents, it should be relatively stress free. read more

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! read more

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A HUGE recommendation for the Blackball Coho ferry, which opened ferry service while everyone else delayed or shut down this year. We love being able to take our car over, hike the beautiful trails on the Olympic Peninsula, visit Hurricane Ridge for a gorgeous view and snowshoeing, eat at some of our favorite restaurants like Next Door and Haven. This year offered the added bonus of being able to take our baby to meet his grandparents for the first time since he was born. Thank you Blackball for being so wonderful!! read more

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.

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

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. read more

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Excellent trip to Victoria BC and Back. Got hurt last night of the trip and worried all night about getting on and off Ferry and standing in line. The staff at the terminal and on the boat were amazing! Got a wheel chair and they treated us like royalty. Helped on and off the boat with chair. So thankful and please with this crew. Thank you!! read more

No complaints about the Coho ferry! I don't love how early you have to get there, but I understand it! I appreciate that they're dog friendly! read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Highly recommend taking your car into the ferry and finding yourself in another country 1.5 hrs later. The trip was very comfortable. Plenty of seating, tables, power outlets at tables to charge your items and Public Wi-Fi. There's no need to pack snacks since they have a snack bar that sells healthy yogurt, cheese, fruits to concession stand items like hot dogs. We took two 6 yos and they enjoyed exploring the deck and sitting inside reading and watching iPads for the remainder of the trip. read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Appreciate this trip more than all other BC Ferries. It feels like transport more than tourism. I was able to reach an agent to ask questions and got helpful info from everyone I talked with. My only concern that online it still says you should be there 1.5 hours before boarding due to customs on Canadian side and many people say that's not the case - it would be great to know realistically how soon you have to be there! read more

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.

We booked a package deal that included a round trip ferry ride and a night at the Embassy Inn in Victoria. The package did not disappoint and we enjoyed ourselves very much. If you plan on driving all over and need to bring your car/motorcycle, then do what you have to do. But a lot of the complaints I saw on Yelp have to do with problems relating to vehicle transport. Folks: this is a ferry, with limited space and lots of people wanting to have their vehicles with them. Not to mention having to deal with Customs, Border Patrol and so on..... major stress, right? We walked on and walked off and it was a very pleasant 90 minute boat ride. Of course you still have to deal with Agents on both ends, have your passport and so on, but these guys handle so many people every day that they have pretty efficient systems in place. As walk-ons, we cleared customs and border patrol in about 15 seconds. In a vehicle, it looked to take substantially longer. Like 1/2 hour to an hour. Long lines! And don't sass any of these people unless you don't plan to be busy for the next few hours. This ship is nicer and more comfortable than the Washington State ferry vessels. The inside cabin filled up pretty quickly but there was lots of space outside, topside. Could be crowded down below when crossing in foul weather or the dead of Winter though. read more

Located right across from the Days Inn Hotel, my husband, myself and our little girl caught the 7:30 pm ferry back to Washington on a Friday. When we first arrived to this ferry port the day before from taking the 90 minute ferry from Washington, we unfortunately were held by customs when we drove off the boat (as we decided to take our car with us on this boat trip). It was rather annoying that we were asked to wait off to the side when we showed the employee our passports (the computers were down the day we came through) and answered some basic questions regarding our intention of coming into the country. The employee also looked inside our car and made sure our little dog had her rabies shot up to date (prior to being asked to go off to the side for additional questions). We waited at least 20 minutes before an employee came over to ask us more or less the same questions. When my husband asked why were we asked to wait off to the side, he said was a random search. But when my husband asked why there was no one else (I think my husband should have just kept his mouth shut instead of asking questions....*sigh*), he said there are others but we saw none. Anyways, after that initial impression of this ferry port, we were pretty turned off to this port. Well the next day, we arrived at 6 pm for the 7:30 pm ferry, as you are required to come 90 minutes prior to the ferry time. Here as you line up, you can stay in your car or are welcomed to walk around. The reason why you need to come 90 minutes earlier (when coming from Washington, we were required to come 60 minutes earlier than our depart time) is that this port needs to check each person's passports. After cars were boarded on the boat, we walked up stairs with our dog (dogs are allowed to be on the boat on a leash or in a pet carrier) and took a seat inside (too cold and starting to get dark, didn't want to be outside). On this ride, the waves shook the boat a bit that made me a little nauseated pretty much the entire duration of the trip (about a 90 minute boat ride). There is a small cafeteria, duty free shop and clean restrooms on board. When we took this ferry from Washington to Canada, we were able to use the free WiFi. Even though there was a sign for the free WiFi (with password), it was not on unfortunately. In the end, we did not enjoy this experience coming back to Washington as we did when we were going out to Canada. read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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This is for the Victoria Terminal which is right across the street from the Hotel Grand Pacific. This terminal is literally in the closest proximity to a large majority of the main tourist attractions if you're visiting as a tourist (Empress Hotel, Parliament buildings, BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, and downtown area) You can walk to all the above and it's only about a 5-10 min walk, Chinatown being the furthest away. You can take the bus but if you walk, you can go at your own pace and get a great view of the harbor and the seaplanes. The terminal is pretty basic. A waiting area for foot passengers, washrooms, and a ticket office. No frills, just simple but you can walk across the street to the Courtyard Cafe and grab a bite to eat before you head out or go a little further to find other restaurants. The ferry is actually pretty large in order to fit people, cars, trailers, and just about everything else. As many people have suggested, make reservations online, if possible. If you're not really pressed for time, you can try to show up a few hours before the next departure time and see if you can get on. I don't like taking chances, hence the online booking. One good thing is that, you can park your vehicle in the departure lanes if heading back to Port Angeles as soon as the prior ferry departs. This will save you on paying for parking elsewhere. If you're departing to Port Angeles, make sure you are in your care 90 minutes prior to the departure time as customs/border patrol does an inspection and you're it allowed to leave the inspection area after your car is inspected. If you didn't book any tours prior to getting on the ferry, they have a tour office on the ferry where you can buy tours. There is also a duty free desk where you can buy duty free items. Overall, this company is a great way to see Victoria & surrounding areas. I might just do the walk on service next time as it was a lot more expensive to bring a car, but not too expensive. read more

There are limited choices when going from Victoria to Washington by vehicle. Sadly, there is nothing direct to Seattle, so you'll have to settle for Port Angeles (which is kind of a hike from Seattle, depending on how you look at it. It'll be a good half day of travel time, probably more) They tell you to arrive 90 mins early, which really isn't a bad idea. They do take care of your ticket and put you in line super quickly though, but I think due to the cramped space it is always better to arrive early just to avoid panic and cardiac arrest. There really is no terminal, and you can't really go anywhere once your car is in the queue. On the boat itself, I HATE the car parking situation as it is like a zoo. Your car will likely get dinged by an adjacent car if you're lucky to even get out of your vehicle in the first place. It's nothing like the WSF that leaves enough room to safely get out. This leaves barely enough room and my side mirrors were constantly knocked by people walking by. The people that sail are 90% old people, and some young families. I was so out of place there. The ride itself is very bumpy and rocky. If you're sea sick, definitely pop some tablets prior to leaving because you will need them. Also.. once you're out of the car area and sailing starts you can't go back to your car! So bring a book or jacket or whatever you need (windy and cold on the deck). The cafeteria is pretty sad. They don't have every item on the menu on display (weird) and the "Ivar's" chowder usually isn't ready. The prices are right, at least. The seating area near the cafeteria is probably the nicest area, imo. As far as customs are concerned, I must have the WORST luck or they must just profile the "artist" because of all people, he's definitely the biggest threat. Though, when I think about the demographics I guess a 30-something guy with spikey hair would look more suspicious than a white haired man with a cane and a "Vietnam Vet" cap. Anyway, on BOTH sides they gave me a lot of trouble because I said I was a photographer and had an old license plate in my car. Like, really? I realize they're bored and have nothing to do, but please don't take that out on me. I just smiled and nodded though and I think was probably out of there as fast as I could given the circumstances. At least they were fairly nice about it. Bottom line, if you need to get to Washington from Victoria.. then this is probably the best way to go. Nor here nor there. read more

Black Ball Ferry Line - Ferries Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I learned that The MV Coho was built in 1959 and still in service...the hull swallowed up a semi like a whale that swallowed Jonah...can carry up to 110 cars We made the port Angeles to Victoria crossing in much less time than the stated 90 minutes...comfortable double decker seating $178 for car + 2 passenger round trip (Written by the husband) read more

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This was our first time traveling from the US to Canada and everyone in the US was really great, super helpful, and explain everything that we needed to know. Headed back, however was not the same experience. They were really rude and blatantly disrespectful. One of the officers who were doing check in yelled at me that "THIS IS HOW WE DO THINGS IN CANADA!" Which is fine, I just didn't need yelled at. The second was the guy that was flagging us into the shit. Big red headed guy that told us where to go (by pointing) and when I asked "lane 3?" He rolled his eyes and made a huge gesture to where he wanted me to go. Super rude, super disrespectful. Aside from that, it's expensive and the ship is dirty. If you can skip it, I would recommend skipping. read more

For going between Portland and Victoria, the Coho ferry is the fastest way to go. The ferry leaves from the harbor downtown, about a block away from the parliament. They have one boat that goes back and forth 3 times a day (4 times in summer months), so if you miss one, it's not too big of a deal, just leave your car parked there and explore downtown. Everything is very organized and my ferry left right on time. The deck on the top level is awesome on a sunny day. Partly covered to protect you from the wind or totally open if you want to bask on the sun. You can reserve online to save a spot ($11) or what I would recommend is to come RIGHT after the previous sailing have sailed off. You'll be in front on the first come first serve line and pretty much guaranteed a spot. You can leave your car and explore the many walkable sights near the harbor (I spent my time at the Royal BC museum, which was awesome, btw) and come back 90 minutes before your sailing time. And THAT'S efficient! read more

A great and easy way to get to and from Vancouver Island from NW Washington state. This is also makes for a fun family experience too. There are many sailings a day. The one ship carries cars, trucks and walk-ons (hikers, bikes, etc). Especially in the summer tourist season, reservations are almost mandatory. It gets busy! busy! busy!. There is a small cafeteria on board to keep you fueled during the 90 minute transit. As well, there is an on board gift shop. The views from the stern deck and bow can be spectacular as you sail to the Olympic Peninsula or Victoria's inner harbor. read more

If you have mobility issues, this is not the option for you. The MV Coho is a relatively small ferry, and they pack cars in *very* tightly. On one of our sailings, I couldn't open the driver side door more than 4 inches. I had to crawl over the center console from the passenger side. You will likely have to squeeze through 6 inch spaces between vehicles multiple times, and you'll have to get over any embarrassment about shoving your crotch in someone else's car window. If you need crutches, or a cane, or a walker, you will have serious difficulty. They also don't have an elevator, so you will be climbing a couple flights of stairs. read more

Very pricey ferry ride from Victoria to Port Angeles! Around $90USD, they pack in the cars VERY tight- so tight wife couldn't get out of her door, so had to get out via drivers side! Diffidently the tightest I've seen done on a ferry. The ride itself was much smoother then the ride from Vancouver to Namino. And we got to see a whale! They also do have a cute sound that the Caption plays sometimes lol, the ferry ride itself when you're walking feels like you're drunk but you're not lol. read more

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A little spendy for the food ($6.50 for a bowl of chili, $6 for a light beer) but we had a great time up top riding from Coho to Victoria. On the way back was a different story. I was hungover and then the water was rough. I held it together but just by a hair. The captain had to stop the boat and turn it around because we all saw a life jacket floating in the sea, but it had to have just fallen from a small craft because there was no one out there to be rescued. It's nice that they stop for stuff like that - just in case. That turnaround made me nauseous - but it was for a good cause, so I begrudge no one. It's a little bit older boat so there weren't any frills but it was fun to do...twice (round trip). read more

The best way to get to Victoria from the Kitsap or Olympic Peninsulas. It's only $15.50/person one-way, compared to around $100 on the Clipper from Seattle, and 90 minutes (exactly) vs. 3 hours (not counting getting to Seattle). You don't need to make a reservation if you're just walking on to the ferry (in fact, I don't think you can). The boat rocked a lot close to Port Angeles (both ways), but I thought it was pretty calm for most of the trip. Yes, it's a pretty old-looking boat with very limited amenities, but I'm pretty happy with this cheap and easy mode of transport to Victoria. read more