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BC Ferries "Mayne Queen", Saturna Islandspacer
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Tips From Travellers

A West Coast Experience!

  On November 2nd, 2009 at noon my friends and I went out for lunch at...

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tsix0910,

Campbell River

  There was so much to do on our last vacation we didn't know where to...

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Tarina Rissanen, Campbell River

A Torch Relay Day 1 Experience

  On Friday October 30, 2009, I was in Victoria to watch the start of the...

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jeanine, vancouver

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Vancouver Island Ferry Travel

One of the world's most sophisticated ferry systems operates in the Vancouver Island region, where ferry travel is a way of life for many people. In addition to sailings between points on the mainland and Vancouver Island, there are many popular routes to destinations in the Gulf Islands (a small chain of islands in the Strait of Georgia).

It's a good idea to allow extra time when you're driving to a ferry terminal during peak hours (3pm to 6pm weekdays and at the start and end of long weekends). If you're travelling in your own vehicle, you can avoid lengthy line-ups during busy weekends and holidays by reserving ferry tickets in advance. 

Ferry Services

BC Ferries

BC Ferries provides year-round, regularly scheduled services from Vancouver's Tsawwassen terminal to Victoria's Swartz Bay terminal and Nanaimo's Duke Point terminal as well as from Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay terminal to Nanaimo's Departure Bay terminal. Swartz Bay is located 30 minutes north of Victoria, at the end of Highway 17. Departure Bay and Duke Point are located 5 and 10 minutes respectively from Nanaimo, off Highway 1.

Year-round, scheduled services are also available between Comox and Powell River (on the north end of the Sunshine Coast) and Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. Seasonal services are available between Port Hardy and Bella Coola. The company also provides services to many of the Gulf Islands.
> BC Ferries details

Lady Rose Marine Services (M.V. Lady Rose and M.V. Frances Barkley)

Lady Rose Marine Services provides scheduled passenger/cargo services between Port Alberni and Bamfield. Seasonal services are available to Ucluelet and the Broken Group Islands. Coastal charters are also available.
> Lady Rose Marine Services website

Nootka Sound Services Ltd. (M.V. Uchuck III)

Nootka Sound Services Ltd. provides scheduled passenger/cargo services to Nootka and Kyuquot Sounds from Gold River. Some trips are seasonal.
> Nootka Sound Services website

Marine Link Tours (M.V. Aurora Explorer)

Marine Link Tours provides seasonal passenger/freight boat cruises from Campbell River to remote areas of the BC Coastal Inside Passage.
> Marine Link Tours website