BC Ferries sees massive wait times, limited reservations

Those looking to get on a ferry between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay this weekend will likely have a tough time, as dozens of travellers face limited reservation spots and long wait times.

This comes after BC Ferries announced on Wednesday that one of its vessels has been taken out of commission due to an ongoing mechanical issue.

Read more: BC Ferries sees massive waits after cancellations

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says the challenges that British Columbians have faced reserving a ride with BC Ferries are “awful.”

“I think it’s unbelievable that people are not going to be able to make a ferry reservation until August for the Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen route, that’s remarkable in itself,” Falcon said.

Although most sailings on the route appear to be sold out until August, a spokesperson with BC Ferries says there’s a reason for that, and more slots may open up.

“All passengers with bookings on the Coastal Celebration will be accommodated on other sailings. Our booking system is locked right now as the customer care team moves these bookings to other sailings,” Karen Johnston, the executive director of communications and engagement with BC Ferries, said.

She says once those are all moved, more bookings may become available.

Signs at BC Ferries show multiple sailing waits to Victoria on July 20, 2023, a day after the Coastal Celebration vessel was taken out of service due to an ongoing mechanical issue. (Ryan Lidemark, CityNews Image)

Johnston, says things are typically busy at this time of the year, but this weekend is seeing added delays at the terminals as the vessel is out of commission and as people travel to catch weekend events.

“We’re at the height of summer travel right now as kids are out of school. So family vacation traffic, as well as tourist traffic, is at full throttle and will continue, generally, the pattern as we see that continues through to the third week of August, by tradition. We’re also up year over year in terms of passenger and vehicle traffic. So this just means that it’s extremely busy,” she said.

“We know that there are two major events happening in Seattle, so many people are travelling to the States to see the Toronto Blue Jays, there’s two games there, and the Taylor Swift concert.”

#BCFHeadsUp
Additional late night sailings between #Tsawwassen & #SwartzBay are available to book in advance now.

July 21 & 23
11 pm departing #SwartzBay

July 22 & 24
1 am departing #Tsawwassen

Book now: https://t.co/E8XIdaKqvL ^at pic.twitter.com/cNq6wEpxAw

— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) July 21, 2023

In a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, it says the “disruptions are unacceptable.”

“The minister shares people’s concerns regarding the travel challenges that have been created with the Coastal Celebration again out of service, this time due to an oil leak. The timing of this disruption is extremely unfortunate, and both the minister and ministry staff have engaged with the BC Ferries board and BC Ferries to understand how this could happen with the ship recently returning to service from dry dock,” the statement reads.

“These sorts of disruptions are unacceptable for people and residents who depend upon BC Ferries for their travel.”

It adds that BC Ferries is planning for “significant and essential investments in the years ahead,” as $500 million over the next few years will be going to the corporation.

Related articles: 

• BC Ferries, borders busy as British Columbians head south for Blue Jays, Taylor Swift

• ‘Unacceptable’: B.C. transportation minister speaks out about BC Ferries’ long-weekend challenges

• BC Ferries cuts some long weekend Vancouver-Victoria sailings

There has already been considerable volume on some ferry routes Friday, and Falcon says he’s concerned about what the BC Day long weekend will bring.

“I witnessed this firsthand on the last long weekend, on the Canada Day long weekend, [which] went on total chaos at all the ferry terminals,” he said.

“Not surprisingly, we’re going to be facing another colossal, chaotic, long weekend, unfortunately, I see happening coming up for the August long weekend.”

“It’s awful. I mean, how are people supposed to plan? It’s a pretty basic thing to say, ‘I should be able to get on a ferry from the island to the mainland and vice versa.’ This should not become the chaotic kind of situation that it is today,” he added.

Johnston says once the Coastal Celebration is back up and running again — which is slated to happen late next week — the service is expecting things to get back to normal.

“We really do believe that once the celebration comes back into service that our capacity will be able to handle demand through the rest of July, and even into the long weekend,” she said.

The corporation recommends booking a spot now for those looking to travel over that weekend.

“With respect to long weekend, I think what travelers need to know that is that they’re is still booking room available. But we strongly urge to book now or make plans to travel as a flip passenger because over the long weekend, as is this weekend, arriving at a terminal without a booking will likely result in sailing waits,” Johnston said.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar

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Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the Coastal Celebration would return to service Monday, but it is not expected to return until late next week.