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BC Ferries adds 93 sailings over busy Thanksgiving long weekend

Thanksgiving long weekend traditionally busiest weekend of the year for walk-ons
It’s going to be a busy long weekend for BC Ferries and its passengers. Photo iStock
It’s going to be a busy long weekend for BC Ferries and its passengers. Photo iStock

BC Ferries will add 93 extra sailings for Thanksgiving long weekend on routes between Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

The ferry operator notes that Thanksgiving long weekend is traditionally the busiest weekend of the year for walk-on traffic. As a result, some of the sailings may reach passenger capacity and some walk-on passengers may have to wait for the next sailing.

Between Thursday, Oct. 10 and Tuesday, Oct. 15, BC Ferries is adding:

• 74 extra sailings on the Vancouver-Victoria route (Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay), the most popular route in the fleet, including: 6 a.m. departures from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen on Oct. 11, 12, 14 and 15
• 13 extra sailings on the West Vancouver-Nanaimo route (Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay)
• six extra sailings on the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast route (Horseshoe Bay-Langdale)

BC Ferries states that the most popular travel times are Thursday and Friday afternoons, as well as Saturday morning for traffic moving from the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. However, the most popular travel day will be Thanksgiving Monday, with traffic returning from the Departure Bay, Swartz Bay and Langdale terminals.

Vehicle passengers are advised to make a reservation in advance in order to ensure sailing of choice. Customers with reservations should plan to arrive at the terminal 45 to 60 minutes before their scheduled departure. In addition, BC Ferries suggests arriving about 45 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing for walk-on passengers.

For sailing status, current conditions, travel advisories and service updates throughout the weekend, check the website here.

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