BC Ferries warns of busy long weekend — weeks in advance

Passengers walk out of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, where a sign shows a noon sailing is cancelled due to mechanical issues with the Coastal Celebration. — The Tsawwassen BC Ferries terminal on July 25, 2023. A number of sailings were cancelled over multiple days due to the Coastal Celebration being pulled from service because of a mechanical issue. (CityNews Image)

Posted July 24, 2023 7:46 am.

Last Updated July 25, 2023 6:26 am.

BC Ferries isn’t waiting until the last minute to warn travellers about anticipated volume for the B.C. Day long weekend.

It’s already urging people to plan ahead, as it expects Aug. 4-7 weekend to be a busy one.

“Booking in advance is recommended,” an ad playing as early as Monday, July 24, says.

“Consider travel on early-morning or late-night sailings, or walk on board.”

The Canada Day long weekend was a chaotic situation for many trying to get between the mainland and Vancouver Island, in part because of the increased demand but also because one of BC Ferries’ vessels that was supposed to be back online wasn’t.

The past few weeks have also seen the corporation face challenges due to the issue-plagued Coastal Celebration, which was taken out of service as of July 19 due to ongoing mechanical problems.

Signs at BC Ferries show multiple sailing waits to Victoria after a vessel was taken out of service due to an ongoing mechanical issue

Signs at the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen 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)

Most recently, BC Ferries terminals saw massive waits this past weekend, as there were limited reservations available for sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay due to the vessel being down.

BC Ferries previously said dry dock space was secured for July 24, with the Coastal Celebration “anticipated” to be back in service later in the week.

#BCFHeadsUp #Tsawwassen – #SwartzBay
All customers with bookings affected by July 26 #CoastalCelebration cancellations have now been moved to alternative sailings. Sailings have been reopened. Limited reservation space is available on all sailings that day exiting #Vancouver ^at

— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) July 24, 2023

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Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show BC Ferries previously said dry dock space was secured for July 24, and the vessel was “anticipated” to be back in service later in the

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