Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay will change to reservation only in the fall, and BC Ferries is looking to make early bookings more affordable.
Saver fare availability will double to make up 40 per cent of all fares on the route and start at $49 for select off-peak sailings and $89 for peak sailings.
Vice President of Customer Experience at B.C. Ferries Melanie Lucia said requiring vehicles to book and pay in advance is a big change which may feel frustrating at first.
“By requiring advance bookings, we’re giving customers more certainty and a better chance of securing their spot, especially as space becomes even tighter during construction.”
The change is the result of multiple years of construction needed at the terminal, requiring this route only to have pre-booked sailings only starting on October 15.
The construction work starts with decommissioning elevated structures and the traffic control tower, with a portion of deck space continuing to be reserved for emergency vehicles and medical assure loading customers.
B.C. Ferries also announced their waiving change fees on the route between October 25 and November 30 and introducing a sailing space alert functionality digital tool and a waitlist capability tool.