Know which Vancouver terminal you need
Metro Vancouver ferry travel may involve Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay, and they serve different routes. A driver needs the terminal and sailing information, not simply “BC Ferries.”
Foot passengers can book several major routes in advance
BC Ferries currently allows advance foot-passenger booking on routes including Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen–Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay. Travellers still need to redeem the booking and complete terminal check-in.
Allow road buffer before a fixed sailing
Traffic conditions can change the drive to the terminal. When a sailing matters, schedule the pickup around the ferry check-in requirement plus road buffer, not the posted sailing time alone.
Work backwards from the sailing requirement
A ferry connection should be planned from the required passenger check-in or boarding time, then add the road journey and a sensible traffic buffer. The correct pickup time can therefore be earlier than a simple map estimate suggests. Holiday weekends, weather and peak travel periods can make a larger margin worthwhile.
Know whether the vehicle is travelling on the ferry
There is a major difference between a chauffeur dropping passengers at a terminal and a vehicle travelling with them. Confirm which arrangement is being booked. If passengers are travelling as foot passengers, they need a clear plan for luggage handling and for the next pickup on the other side.
Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay are not interchangeable
The two terminals serve different routes and sit in different parts of Metro Vancouver. Always give the transportation provider the terminal name and sailing destination, not simply “BC Ferries.” This is especially important when connecting from YVR or a downtown Vancouver hotel.
