193 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

That’s what you get with private industry in a competitive environment.

[Benezet]

Over 2,000 of you responded to our survey about our sailing schedule. We thank you!

We appreciate your feedback and have just released our Fall and Winter sailing calendar, packed with late nights for 50+ events, including hockey, Cirque Du Soleil, Grey Cup and The Boss.

And Swifties, are you ready for it? We’ve even got TWO ferries scheduled to get you back to the Island after every concert.





So now Nanaimo has better late-return ferry service than Victoria does.

BC Ferries added 22 sailings for the Taylor Swift weekend, back in February.

[Mike K.]

Yeah. I had a nice 3 hour wait at Tsawwassen on Monday.

[Victoria Watcher]

BCAA offers Hullo discounts

 

Hullo Ferries has formed a new partnership with BCAA, offering fare savings to members across the province.

 

The ferry company said BCAA cardholders are entitled to $5 savings on one-way tickets and $10 savings on round trip bookings year-round on trips from Nanaimo to Vancouver.

 

The automobile association already partners with Hullo on Evo Return Car Share and Evolve E-Bike Share at Hullo’s Nanaimo terminal.

 

 

https://www.timescol...lecole-10371868

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 March 2025 - 01:51 AM.

[Mike K.]

Cool.

BCAA is a great program. I highly recommend becoming a member. You also get 3 cents off per litre at Shell stations, and 10% off in-store.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya and you can be a member for just $4/mo.

[vortoozo]

Ya and you can be a member for just $4/mo.

 

...if you don't want their roadside assistance.

 

But - I've done exactly that since I already have no-cost roadside assistance coverage. In addition to the gas discount, there are good savings to be had on hotels, Via Rail, Blenz coffee, NAPA Auto Parts, IMAX, Canucks tickets, etc. Definitely pays for itself if you travel. All the discounts are listed here: CAA British Columbia

[splashflash]

Hullo Ferries marks second anniversary with 40% ridership growth, high reliability

https://dailyhive.co...ship-statistics

Hullo Ferries is marking its second anniversary this weekend with very strong ridership gains and a record of improving reliability since launching its fast ferry service across the Strait of Georgia in mid-August 2023.

In a news release, the company operating the high-speed ferry service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo reported a 40 per cent increase in ridership in its second year of operations compared to its first year, along with improved reliability — operating more than 95 per cent of scheduled sailings since launch and, since September 2024, departing within five minutes of the scheduled time on 90 per cent of trips.

[Mike K.]

We haven’t heard much about them, have we? Sounds like they’re doing a good job.

[Matt R.]

I only hear great things from people in Nanaimo.

[LJ]

Nobody, including myself, thought they would survive, but they seem to be doing just fine.

 

Good for them.

 

Must have a better management plan and/or equipment.

[lanforod]

Same!

[Victoria Watcher]

Workers with Hullo Ferries are holding a strike vote over the Labour day long weekend.

 

The union representing the workers said talks with the company broke down on Thursday.

 

About 80 workers under the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union have still yet to secure their first collective agreement after voting to unionize in September 2024.

Members will have until Tuesday to vote on whether or not they want to strike.

 

Union president Eric McNeely said face-to-face negotiations with Hullo Ferries have been going on for most of this year.

 

But the Vancouver Island Ferry Company, which operates Hull Ferries, declared an impasse in talks late Thursday night after wage issues were brought up again in bargaining, McNeely said in an interview.

 

The union had put a wage and benefits proposal on the table in early summer and the employer made its first wage and benefits proposal on Thursday afternoon, he said.

 

But when the union came back with a counter-proposal that evening, the company declared an impasse, prompting the union to call for a strike vote, he said.

 

“A strike vote is one of the ways to help the parties come back together and find a solution that works for everyone,” he said. “We want to see them come back to the table.”

 

McNeely said his union has been advocating for better worker wages, schedules and job stability.

 

The current wages, benefits and scheduling for Hullo Ferries workers don’t match up with those of their peers on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, he said.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...eekend-11147613

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 August 2025 - 02:25 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder how many people are driving up from Victoria to use these.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 September 2025 - 10:51 PM.