6639 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Can walkons even get a reservation?

 

yes.

 

 

 

June 24, 2021

 

BC Ferries introduces online foot passenger bookings on routes between Vancouver – Vancouver Island Bookings available as of June 24 and redeemable through self-serve kiosks for faster check-in

 

VICTORIA – BC Ferries announced that starting today, June 24, customers travelling as foot passengers on the three routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island can now book in advance online and have travel certainty and a faster check-in process at the terminal.

 

Routes include Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen – Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2021 - 07:44 AM.

[Barrrister]

Thanks for the info on walkons; passed it on to my wife. Hopefully Sunday is less full.

[Victoria Watcher]

Thanks for the info on walkons; passed it on to my wife. Hopefully Sunday is less full.

 

it's likely the walk-ons will be full on QoNW.

 

1332 pass. vs. 2100 for spirit.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2021 - 07:49 AM.

[Barrrister]

She booked a reservation. Again thanks for the great tip.

[lanforod]

Great! I'm on the ferry right now 😂

[Victoria Watcher]

Final Island Class ferry en route to Victoria

https://www.timescol...oria-1.24363727




Still nobody knows why they have the arches at each end?

seems it makes it hard to load an extreme overweight load,

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 October 2021 - 03:24 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

overheight I mean

[Victoria Watcher]

News 1130:




BC Ferries cancels more than a dozen sailings Monday due to powerful storm

They say this is due to "anticipated adverse weather conditions."

Western sections of Metro Vancouver are expected to experience the strongest winds on Monday morning with gusts potentially exceeding 80 KM/H.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 October 2021 - 12:50 PM.

[Nparker]

And if the storm doesn't materialize as forecast, will the sailings be restored?

[Mike K.]

As of 6:40PM. They are calling tomorrow's forecast “extreme.”

Please be advised that there is an extreme weather system forecast for tomorrow, Monday, October 25 which has resulted in the following cancellations:

Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay)
7:00 am departing Swartz Bay
7:00 am departing Tsawwassen
9:00 am departing Swartz Bay
9:00 am departing Tsawwassen

Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Nanaimo (Duke Point)
5:15 am departing Tsawwassen
5:15 am departing Duke Point
7:45 am departing Tsawwassen
7:45 am departing Duke Point

Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
6:15 am departing Horseshoe Bay
6:15 am departing Departure Bay
8:25 am departing Horseshoe Bay
8:25 am departing Departure Bay
10:40 am departing Horseshoe Bay
10:40 am departing Departure Bay
1:00 pm departing Horseshoe Bay
1:00 pm departing Departure Bay
Sailings after 5:00pm will operate on a modified schedule. See our service notice for details.

Comox (Little River) - Powell River (Westview)
6:15 am departing Little River
8:05 am departing Westview
9:55 am departing Little River
11:50 am departing Westview

Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Southern Gulf Islands
6:20 am departing Long Harbour to Otter Bay
7:10 am departing Otter Bay to Village Bay
7:45 am departing Village Bay to Sturdies Bay
8:20 am departing Sturdies Bay to Tsawwassen
9:55 am departing Tsawwassen to Sturdies Bay
11:00 am departing Sturdies Bay to Village Bay
11:35 am departing Village Bay to Otter Bay
12:10 pm departing Otter Bay to Long Harbour

Reserved customers will be advised of the cancellation and their reservation will automatically be fully refunded.

The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us. We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations. We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of these cancellations.

Strong winds that may cause damage are expected on Monday. Easterly winds through Juan de Fuca strait will strengthen overnight Sunday to reach 70 km/h as an intense low pressure centre approaches Vancouver Island. Strong southeasterly winds reaching 70 km/h will develop over exposed coastal sections near the Strait of Georgia and are expected to ease late Monday afternoon as the low pressure system moves onto Vancouver Island and weakens.

[Sparky]

If we could make the wind cancel these ferries 24/7/365 we wouldn’t have a housing shortage.

[Victoria Watcher]

Still nobody knows why they have the arches at each end?

seems it makes it hard to load an extreme overweight load,

 

i asked BCF on twitter.  their team does not know.

 

somebody must know.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 October 2021 - 10:54 AM.

[Sparky]

My first thought was that they are to guard against overheight vehicles that wouldn’t clear under the bridge, but they appear higher than the clearance under the bridge.

[JohnsonStBridge]

I wouldn't say my engineering record is all that spectacular but the arches would appear to be necessary to mount bow and stern navigational antenna. All other fleet vessels of a similar build (open deck) have this same feature albeit less prominent. The Kuper (Chemainus- Thetis), Quinitsa (Crofton - Vesuvius), Skeena Queen (Fulford - Swartz Bay), Quinsam (Nanaimo - Gabriola) also have arches and they do not interfer with loading overheight loads. 

[Victoria Watcher]

News 1130:

BC Ferries cancels afternoon sailings due to weather

BC Ferries says all major routes connecting the mainland and Vancouver Island will be suspending service until at least the evening, depending on conditions.

Most morning sailings, mainly between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, had already been cancelled due to this latest major storm, which has brought strong winds and rain to the B.C. South Coast.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 October 2021 - 11:45 AM.

[LJ]

Tried to book the Coho for November 8th, what a gong show that was. Website locked up, phone tells you that you are 54 in line, sheesh,

 

Called later in the day and the 8,9, and 10th are fully booked for the morning departures.

[Mike K.]

Tons of snowbirds are fleeing the coop.

I’d be so stoked to be one of the first people pulling up to PA

[LJ]

According to the guy I talked to all the reservations were for over height/length vehicles.

[lanforod]

RVs!

[Barrrister]

But Victoria has perfect weather and all these snowbirds will be missing out having lunch all winter at picnic point.