Nanaimo-bound Horseshoe Bay sailings will require advance booking this fall, BC Ferries says

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is shown in this file photo.

In an effort to accommodate construction at the aging Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, BC Ferries will begin requiring all Nanaimo-bound travellers with vehicles to book and pay in advance this fall.

The change is scheduled to take effect Oct. 15, and applies only to travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, not in the opposite direction, BC Ferries said in a news release Thursday.

“We understand this is a big change, and for a terminal that already has limited space, it may feel frustrating at first,” said Melanie Lucia, the company’s vice-president of customer experience, in the release.

“No one wants to be turned away when they’ve made the trip to the terminal. 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. It also helps our crews manage the terminal more smoothly and safely, so they can focus on getting everyone where they need to go.”

The multi-year construction program at the terminal is expected to reduce vehicle staging space by 25 per cent, necessitating the elimination of drive-up vehicle traffic, according to BC Ferries.

Once the changes take effect, only “Prepaid” and “Saver” fares will be available for travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay. “Drive-up” and “Reservation-only” fares – the latter of which require only a $20 booking fee to be paid in advance – will no longer be available in that sailing direction.

“Commercial vehicles will also need to reserve in advance, but their fare structure and payment process will remain unchanged,” BC Ferries’ release reads.

To help travellers adjust to the change, the ferry service is doubling the availability of Saver fares in the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay direction. From Oct. 15 through March 31, Saver fares for vehicles – which start at $49 for off-peak sailings and $89 for peak sailings – will make up 40 per cent of all available vehicle fares.

BC Ferries will also be waiving change fees for the route between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30 and introducing two new digital tools to help customers plan their trips. Travellers will be able to subscribe to “Sailing Space Alert” email notifications, which will inform them when space becomes available on previously sold-out sailings. They’ll also be able to add themselves to a waitlist for their preferred sailing.

The ferry service is also adjusting sailing schedules for other routes departing Horseshoe Bay this fall to improve on-time performance and reduce terminal congestion.

Additional information about the terminal construction work and the changes it will necessitate can be found on the BC Ferries website.

“This isn’t just a change in how you book, it’s part of a bigger effort to keep people safely moving during a major terminal upgrade,” said Lucia. “We’re asking customers to plan ahead, and we’re doing everything we can to make that planning easier.”