BC Ferries
BC Ferries
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
66 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
19
Average
10
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Lana L
Nanaimo, Canada36 contributions
Oct 2022
I live on Vancouver Island so use the ferry frequently. My advice is Always get a reservation! Gives updates right to your phone. Ferries can break down or be cancelled due to weather or have super long lineups. Reservations are a must in our experience. Nothing better then driving past the long lines of people without one.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canucksontheloose
Victoria, Canada781 contributions
Aug 2020
If you want to make your trip cheaper, it may be worth it to get a BC Ferries Experience Card as it gives discounted fares on select routes but you have to have quite a bit of money loaded onto it. Try to show up within reasonable time for this one because you can't reserve ahead but there are plenty of crossings daily (almost hourly) and it's just a 10 minute ride! Great scenery and well-organized in car-boarding and departure. The terminal is close to a shopping centre so you can kill time and grab snacks there but be back in your car 10 minutes before sailing time. Your ticket price includes the return trip from the Island. Riding BC Ferries is awesome!
Written November 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SCR
Campbell River, Canada28 contributions
Dec 2019
Ticket selling agent at the gate is nice and pleasant, once on the ferry, all staff are more or less "Please do not bug me, I will get you there" kind of attitude. With the exception of the White Spot Restaurant staff, they are cheerful and helpful.
No body is rude or something like that, it is just the typical bureaucratic "I am ignoring you" government employee with the ferry staff.
Mostly the sailing is on time, the ferry is clean and well maintained, as a link to Vancouver Island, this is a good service.
No body is rude or something like that, it is just the typical bureaucratic "I am ignoring you" government employee with the ferry staff.
Mostly the sailing is on time, the ferry is clean and well maintained, as a link to Vancouver Island, this is a good service.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belle B
2 contributions
Jul 2021
They shut the gate right in my face while 4 people were still making their way to the ferry. These people were 30 seconds ahead of me and didn't even make it half way to the ferry when I arrived. I am physically disabled, yet I run for the ferry and yelled 'one more'. The woman who closed it refused to reopen it and said 'I'm sorry it's the captain'. What is that suppose to mean?!
That's very nice that BC Ferries cares enough about the optics of providing disabled IDs to customers with physical disabilities, only to shut the gate in front of them.
The ferry is not accessible. There is no pathway for disabled (or any) foot passengers to make it to the other side of the ferry where they could sit without having to climb the stairs. They have to wrestle past cars, squeezing through and getting car dirt on themselves, trying to avoid car mirrors. It's nearly impossible to do so with a shopping trolley.
That's very nice that BC Ferries cares enough about the optics of providing disabled IDs to customers with physical disabilities, only to shut the gate in front of them.
The ferry is not accessible. There is no pathway for disabled (or any) foot passengers to make it to the other side of the ferry where they could sit without having to climb the stairs. They have to wrestle past cars, squeezing through and getting car dirt on themselves, trying to avoid car mirrors. It's nearly impossible to do so with a shopping trolley.
Written July 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Accessible Travel Guy
Yukon, Canada1,554 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
I’m incredibly impressed that for such a small island (Quadra Island) this type of ferry service exists (especially going every 30mins) to Campbell River.
We’re visiting friends on the Island and are so happy with the ferry services so far!
Staff are organized, friendly, and work hard to keep an efficient service operating.
I was happy to see accessible bathrooms on board, thanks.
Amazing views and experience on this ferry
Thanks everyone for helping to contribute to making our Christmas vacay a great one.
We’re visiting friends on the Island and are so happy with the ferry services so far!
Staff are organized, friendly, and work hard to keep an efficient service operating.
I was happy to see accessible bathrooms on board, thanks.
Amazing views and experience on this ferry
Thanks everyone for helping to contribute to making our Christmas vacay a great one.
Written December 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MyCoachEd
Toronto, Canada198 contributions
Aug 2020
Excellent adventure and very good service. Even under Covid-19 protocol, food was available and everything was very clean.
Do please check and re-check the schedules and book ahead, if you can. Although the whole boarding process is easy, it removes some of the travelling stress, to book ahead.
Do please check and re-check the schedules and book ahead, if you can. Although the whole boarding process is easy, it removes some of the travelling stress, to book ahead.
Written November 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FarFlungStarling
Qualicum Beach, Canada960 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
BC Ferries takes you from Campbell River Terminal to Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island. Drive, or walk on for the 10 minute crossing. Ferry runs hourly and provides access to a further ferry to take you from Quadra Island to Cortez. The service was on-time and reliable. This trip we discovered the "Experience Card" which you purchase for $115. and use for your B.C. ferry trips. Using the card reduced the cost of our passage from $45. to $26.80. True, they have your money but if you plan to explore any of the islands, then it is well worth the investment.
Written June 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oldgang598
Bristol UK108 contributions
Sept 2019
Did not actually sail from here but called in and enquired about the experience card. The member of staff on duty was extremely helpful and I purchased the card which I used successfully during the remainder of our trip.
Written November 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicola129
18 contributions
Sept 2019
We took the Ferry 4 times, in total during our stay in Vancouver, with the trip from Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo, and then back again a week or so later when we headed back to main land Vancouver. We also took a shorter ferry return journey when we did a day trip to Quadra Island.
The Ferry bookings for Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo were easy to do online, and once we got there we were glad we did so, because we hadn't anticipated that it would be quite so busy. We made sure to get there 45 minutes before our boarding time and even with the Ferry time pre paid and booked, I think it was just as well that we did because there seemed to be a lot more people waiting than would have been able to get on board and go at the designated Ferry departure time. I would also strongly recommend that you double check the Ferry departure times as it varies on different days.
The Ferry itself is clean and tidy with shops and facilities onboard, which are also clean and kept well maintained.
I do worry though about the price, the return trip that we did for Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo, and I would hope that residents of Vancouver and Vancouver island are entitled to some sort of discount as regular travel would otherwise cost a fortune.
The Ferry bookings for Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo were easy to do online, and once we got there we were glad we did so, because we hadn't anticipated that it would be quite so busy. We made sure to get there 45 minutes before our boarding time and even with the Ferry time pre paid and booked, I think it was just as well that we did because there seemed to be a lot more people waiting than would have been able to get on board and go at the designated Ferry departure time. I would also strongly recommend that you double check the Ferry departure times as it varies on different days.
The Ferry itself is clean and tidy with shops and facilities onboard, which are also clean and kept well maintained.
I do worry though about the price, the return trip that we did for Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo, and I would hope that residents of Vancouver and Vancouver island are entitled to some sort of discount as regular travel would otherwise cost a fortune.
Written November 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wanderwoman50
Belleville, Canada119 contributions
Sept 2019
Great and short trip over. You pay at the start and not coming back. Line up early on the return trip. Coffee and great egg sandwiches are available at the pier.
Written September 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivann Friskey D
Vancouver, Canada
Cost of ferry ride from campbell river to quadra island. Truck and 27 ft fifth wheel trailer two passengers.
Written March 23, 2017
We have taken our dog with us but left her in the car during the Campbell River to Quadra Island crossing. It's only ten minutes and hardly worth getting out of your vehicle.
I can't see why dogs wouldn't be allowed for walk-on passengers. You'd just have to remain below with the vehicles as dogs aren't allowed upstairs in the passenger-only area.
Written September 2, 2016
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