The Labour Day long weekend is one of the busiest for BC Ferries, and the company is warning travellers to expect possible delays and to book a reservation before heading to the terminal.
The ferry authority says this time last year was incredibly busy.
“Last year we saw more than 90,000 vehicles and 270,000 passengers on our major routes, so between Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. And more than 200,000 vehicles and 500,000 passengers across all of our routes and vessels and we expect this year will be the same thing,” Ceilidh Marlow, senior communications advisor at BC Ferries tells 1130 NewsRadio.
She adds that BC Ferries is trying to add additional sailings wherever possible.
“Anyone looking to travel this weekend, go ahead and take a look at the schedule and see what’s available. We do our best to add capacity as we head into these busy long weekends. We expect about 30 per cent more vehicles and 50 per cent more passengers compared to a non-holiday weekend,” she adds.
With an increasing number of Canadians side-stepping travel to the U.S., BC Ferries admits it has been busier than usual.
“Last summer was our busiest summer on record, and this year we’re on track to be well in range of last summer and potentially even beat it, so it has been a very, very busy summer season for us. We have done a lot to prepare for that, but overall, it has gone very smoothly.”
She maintains their vessels haven’t seen any major mechanical hiccups this summer, despite a fleet of aging boats, or any major staffing issues.
Marlow says if you can be flexible, it’s best to travel early in the morning on a weekend or on a Tuesday or Thursday to avoid heavy traffic.
“There has routinely been space available all summer long… and we’ve seen a lot of people take advantage of Saver Fares, which allows you to save a little bit of money if you can sail at those off-peak times — later in the day or early in the morning.”
She says the peak season isn’t over yet, and BC Ferries is still waiting for statistics as fall brings a slowdown in ferry traffic.
source: CityNews
