Off-peak sailing discounts coming for major BC Ferries routes

A ride on BC Ferries routes between the mainland and Vancouver Island on a long weekend or other busy time will often include multiple sailing waits and long lines. The ferry system is beyond capacity during those times, and it can drive up passenger frustration.

In an effort to reduce that pressure on the ferry system, BCFerries is planningto remove reservation fees for certain sailings.

According to spokesperson Deborah Marshall, the hope is people will choose to travel when there's plenty of space on the ships.

"What we're looking at is offering discounts at off-peak times and the idea behind that would be to shift some of the discretionary traffic," said Marshall.

Marshall said the changes will only come to the three major routes between the mainland and Vancouver Island: Tsawwassento Swartz Bay;Horsehoe Bay to Nanaimo; and Tsawwassen to Nanaimo,

She said walk-on passengers and people who arrive without reservations won't notice any difference only people making off-peak reservations.

According to Marshall, the specific details will be revealed in the coming months, and BC Ferries is aiming to roll out the changes in the fall.