Terminal upgrades at Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver are forcing a new reservation procedure for travel to Nanaimo. (BC Ferries)

By Alex Rawnsley

book ahead

Mandatory reservations coming to Vancouver-Nanaimo ferry route

Oct 14, 2025 | 6:34 AM

NANAIMO — Reservations will soon be required for travel to Departure Bay from the Lower Mainland.

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 15, BC Ferries will require all vehicles and motorcycles leaving Horseshoe Bay, destined for Nanaimo’s Departure Bay to have a reservation and prepay for their travel.

Company spokesperson Shiryn Sayani admits it will be a big change.

“Booking and paying in advance is only required for travel in that direction, from Vancouver over to Nanaimo, and that’s part of keeping customers moving and helping to maintain safety while the multi-year construction program at Horseshoe Bay is going on.”

Foot passengers and those with bicycles are unaffected by Wednesday’s change.

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A new booking alert system will be deployed on the route through the company’s website, with customers able to be emailed if space on board opens up.

BC Ferries implemented the reservation model as a way to better manage vehicle traffic, with construction causing an approximate 25 per cent reduction in space at the terminal.

A multi-year upgrade to Horseshoe Bay terminal is underway with early geotechnical site investigations and both on water and on land construction activities.

Part of the project includes construction of a new control tower and pedestrian footbridge, maintenance work to the vehicle transfer decks to extend their operating life and securing the rock face wall on the northern side of the terminal.

Horseshoe Bay sees almost seven million passengers every year, a majority headed to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay.

It also hosts sailings to and from Langdale on the Sunshine Coast, and Bowen Island.

The first few days of the change are expected to be challenging for travellers, and the company, however passengers will have around two months to get used to the new procedure before the busy Christmas travel season.

“We just really want to make sure that people are aware of that well in advance, that they are remembering to make this reservation and so they also have more certainty in a better chance of securing a spot (on board),” Sayani added.

BC Ferries state the upgrade project at Horseshoe Bay will span “several years”.

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