With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Thanksgiving long weekends fast approaching, BC Ferries is advising passengers to book in advance due to limited capacity and the risk of being turned away.
The 60-year-old Queen of New Westminster is undergoing repairs and will be out of service until spring, reducing overall system capacity and making advance travel planning essential.
“Both of these long weekends are an important time for families and communities to connect, and we play a key role in facilitating those connections,” said Mel Lucia, Vice President of Customer Experience at BC Ferries.
“We’re adding capacity where possible but having one of our major route vessels out of service and no resiliency in our fleet presents a challenge. Passengers are encouraged to book in advance, consider travelling during off-peak times, or walk on board to avoid disruptions during these busy periods.”
To manage demand over both long weekends, BC Ferries is offering discounted Saver fares at off-peak times for passengers with vehicles, along with special savings for foot passengers on select sailings.
Additional sailings, including early morning and late-night trips, have been added where possible.
During high-demand times, vehicles without reservations may be turned away.
BC Ferries also expects that space for foot passengers on sailings between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island may reach capacity at peak periods, requiring some people to wait for the next available sailing.
Customers without reservations are advised to target non-peak travel times and check current conditions before heading to the terminal.
The Thanksgiving weekend is the fifth busiest weekend in the system for BC Ferries.
In 2023, approximately 165,000 vehicles and 430,000 passengers travelled over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
BC Ferries had to cancel all Queen of New Westminster sailings through the end of the year, affecting about 6,500 bookings.
To learn more, visit BC Ferries.
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