We have booked 2 nights in the Fairmount Empress in Victoria, bargain at £100 a night. However we need to plan the ferry crossing. We are looking at sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay

We are pretty much landing and staying one night not far from ferry terminal. Is it advisable to book on the ferry for October 23rd - 25th ? As this is pretty much off peak as far as the summer holiday season we are not too sure if we can turn up and cross ?

Thanks

JET

You may need to book if your taking a car accross as they have limits on no.of cars per ferry, but you can normally turn up and walk on as a foot passenger - also they run fairly regularly - so if you miss one its usually ony an hours wait! .

More regular users of the ferry may have more accurate info regarding the peak periods for the ferries but for what it is worth we made the journey you are considering in July, never booked and managed to get on the next ferry both times. On the journey over to the island (Saturday lunchtime) we arrived at the terminal with less than 30mins to spare and still got on with the car. On the return journey we didn't want to cut it as fine so arrived at the terminal in plenty time (about 50mins in advance) and were about first in the queue.

No you don't need to book, especially for travelling on a Thursday at that time of year. You might want to reserve for the return trip on the Sunday, but even that is unlikely for end of October. Unless it's a long weekend.

Remember that if you do book, you have to be at the terminal 40 minutes prior to sailing otherwise you lose the reservation with no refund.

I agree with startwin. No need to book.

They will be running the winter schedule by October so the ferries usually run every two hours, though they do add a couple of extra sailings on a Sunday. At the very worst you will have a sailing wait, but if you turn up 45 minutes before sailing time I can't imagine you will have any problems.

Famous last words ...

Thanks.

As the prices are one way and the same for each ferry. We may consider catching the return ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay - as we know somebody who lives in Qualicum Beach. Anybody done the run from Victoria up north on the island ? Is it a one road straight run ?

Thanks again

JET

Yes it is pretty well a one road straight run.

Here's a link to the driving directions from Google Maps.

Victoria to Qualicum Beach

You can refine the directions by putting in the street address of your friend and your starting location in Victoria.

Cheers
Steve

it is one road straight up from Victoria to Nanaimo about 1 1/2 hrs drive from Victoria.

the Fairmont Empress is actually not close to the Ferry the Ferry is in Sidney the Empress is downtown Victoria 25 to 35 minute drive in from the ferry depending on the ferry traffic.

Island Girl

Hi JET747

No need to book the ferry, just get there with 1/2hr to spare ... their website is http://www.bcferries.com/ don't forget to look in the 'upcoming schedule' thingy when you search as schedules change in mid October.

As for the drive it's almost 1 straight rd from the hotel ..... Douglas St to Nanaimo is approx 90mins then by-pass Nanaimo as you get here by following the signs to Parksville & Campbell river