Starting in October, vehicle passengers on a BC Ferry travelling from Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo's Departure Bay will be required to reserve and pay in advance. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

reservation required

BC Ferries requiring paid reservations for vehicle travel from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo this fall

Aug 10, 2025 | 8:46 AM

VANCOUVER — Changes are coming to BC Ferries, with vehicle passengers wanting to travel from Vancouver’s main ferry terminal into Nanaimo will soon be required to book a reservation and pay in advance.

Starting Oct. 15, all customers travelling by vehicle, including motorcycles, from Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay into Nanaimo’s Departure Bay will be required to book and make payment before arriving at the terminal.

Once the changes take effect, drive-up at the terminal and reservation-only fares will no longer be available going from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay only.

In a news release, BC Ferries said the changes are due to the multi-year construction project on the Horseshoe Bay terminal, which is expected to reduce vehicle staging space by 25 per cent.

The number of saver fares will be doubled between Oct. 15 and Mar. 31, 2026, with lower fare deals making up 40 per cent of all fares going from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, according to BC Ferries.

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They are also waiving change fees for travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30, if travellers have to change their plans during this time.

They’re also launching two new digital tools in both directions of the route.

The ‘sailing space alert’ will send email notifications when space becomes available on a previously sold-out sailing, while ‘waitlist capability’ will also be introduced, giving customers a better chance at finding a spot when their preferred sailing is full.

Drive-up and reservation-only fares and assured loading tickets will remain available on the Tsawwassen to Duke Point route.

The Horseshoe Bay terminal has been in operation for 65 years, serving over seven million passengers and three million vehicles last year.

BC Ferries announced the changes were coming in May, with more information here on the BC Ferries website.

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