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BC Ferries
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29 reviews for BC Ferries
29 reviews in English
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Review from Evahhh Y.
8/26/2011
Victoria to Vancouver 1.45 hours
Price is steep but I guess it's an introductory on what it's like on a cruise ship. It has all the necessary comforts for your daily routine- food, spa, business docks, and shops. It's a massive vessel that swallows cars and buses. It's clean and the crew are all in uniform which is very professional.
It provides entertainment for everyone, young and old. They even have a naturalist to educate you on the environment etc., which makes time pass by quicker.
Views are great, it's just a ride.
FYI, if you're going to the airport just take the bus then the sky train. It's the best 2.50 you've ever spent on your trip and cheapest, there's no tax! -
Review from Bert K.
6/20/2011
Easy to drive your vehicle on. Smooth 25 minute ride from Victoria to Salt Spring Island.
smooth and pleasant ride.
Customer service: ok. Clean bathrooms. -
Review from Tam F.
8/21/2010
I had never been on a ferry before so I had/have nothing to compare it to.The concierge at our hotel made reservations for us from Tsawwassen to Victoria and even advised us as to what time to leave the hotel in the morning and what time to make sure were in line to board the ferry upon our departure from Victoria.
Since we had rented a car we paid about $80.00 each way which seemed a bit steep in price, but when in Rome (err) Canada, you pay for the adventure.
The ride was seamless and there was plenty of people watching to be had. There were restaurants aboard from a buffet style place to a take and eat cafeteria style place. Gift shop, coffee shop, even a "spa" available for a quick mani/pedi. For an extra $10 per person, there is a separate lounge with less noise, less people and comfortable seats along with snacks and beverages. There was a small arcade and I passed some time playing Ms. PacMan which was great fun.
The service was wonderful as well and the driving on and off the boat was super fun (and my husband let me do it)! The ferry terminal in Tsawwassen had a great food court and even a Starbucks while the terminal in Victoria was much smaller with less food options/clean bathrooms. -
Review from Ed U.
8/7/2010 13 photos
Love, exciting and new
Come aboard! We're expecting you
Love, life's sweetest reward
Let it flow, it floats back to you...
What an operation. The model of efficiency. It works like clockwork. It's about an hour's drive from Vancouver to Tsawwassen where the ferry departs. Make an online reservation in advance, and you get to wait in a special lane where drive onto the boat first. You deserve it, right? It also gives you peace of mind because the occupancy capacity probably gets heady during the summer. Once you're on, you lock up the car and climb up to hang out on deck or in the seating area just a level below.
The Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure
Your mind on a new romance
The crossing through the Georgia Strait is gorgeous (see photos). It lasts close to ninety minutes, and there is even a nature specialist who gives lectures on the local flora and fauna. I'd avoid the movie-multiplex-level food since it's pricey and stale. This was my first time on the ferry as a motorist, and it does add up - C$46.75 for a standard vehicle plus C$14 per passenger. Yikes! I would have told Jamie W. to hide in the trunk.
And love won't hurt anymore
It's an open smile on a friendly shore
It's love...Welcome aboard
It's love!
The Swartz Bay side on Vancouver Island is even more commercial with a fast-food cafeteria in full operation while you wait. Food still looks awful, so make sure to fill up on those Nanaimo bars in Victoria before you head back to the mainland. Run fast when you get on the boat because everyone grabs a chair on the way back. It's exhausting to buzz through the Butchart Gardens, tea at the Empress, and make it back to the ferry queue for the 5PM sailing. But this is a must-do for any tourist, so just accept the consequences.Listed in: Vancouver, Victoria, Veni,…
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Review from Scotty D.
8/7/2008 1 photo
I LOVE THE BC FERRIES! anytime our family went into victoria this was our way of getting to the island. the fact of driving your car onto a large boat was crazy to me as a kid. all of these people and all of the cars make one heavy boat. it was always a pretty long trip back and forth but the scenery was always breathtaking. i always had to go up to the top deck and feel the brisk wind and hope to see the whales in the waters below. well i was lucky enough to see a family of whales once and it was remarkable. they seemed to be chasing along side us as they thought it was some sort of game. make sure you head down into the restarant or caferteria for some suprisingly good food. and the duty free shops are a must.
lucky for me i never get seasick so this will always be my way of getting around to the many different islands next time i'm up there. it's sure beats flying. -
Review from D.J. Y.
8/8/2008
BC Ferries ROCK!!
This is how a ferry line should be run. On time, clean, and helpful staff. We've ridden the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run many times over the years. This is, in my opinion, the only way to travel to Victoria BC from the mainland. Take your car/truck/van and travel the island in comfort of your own vehicle, only down side is you'll need to convert Kilometers to Miles to figure out the speed limit!
The ferries themselves are in great condition, comparing the Washington State line to this would be insulting! Decently price food options are available and they offer both restaurant and cafeteria style dinning. Can anyone say White Spot!!! OH YEAH!!
Another really great item to note is the waiting/staging areas for your vehicle. While you wait for your ride, the Tsawwassen side has a very state of the art facility. A huge big screen, almost the size of a drive-in theater, keeps peeps entertained, updated on the boats and at the terminal itself, is wonderful. The market-style food and trinket vendors are well equipped to tickle your fancy! And there are plenty of restrooms!
Online booking of sailing reservations is suggested during the busy summer months. Check this out for time schedules and reservation information: http://www.bcferries.com/
Oh, hey, during your trip, the views are not to be missed, enjoy the top-side ride and check out the Orcas and bald eagles, what a treat!! -
Review from Amy Y.
9/8/2010
Ferries were on time, staff members keep everything running smoothly and keep everybody in check. Once on board, there's plenty of things to do- such as rush to the cafeteria so you can buy fries with triple O sauce, there's gift shop for you to browse. Seats are comfortable so you see a lot of people taking a nap. Restrooms are clean and well-supplied.
i would be happy to take BC ferries again next time. -
Review from jen d.
8/20/2008
Pretty good for public transportation! While they've gotten more and more expensive over the years, they've very rarely stranded us on Vancouver Island (nope, not Victoria Island). And they're almost always running on schedule - while growing up very close to where the ferries let you out (in Sidney), and working in the visitor information center a couple summers that caters to the ferry users, you can almost set your watch by the PCL busses that lead the "ferry traffic" down Pat Bay Hwy. You are always sure to commute to Victoria down 17 outside of the ferry traffic.
That aside, the ferries -- they're clean and they have white spot burgers in the cafeteria. Must try (get the BC burger), and worth suspending a diet for - they are pretty awesome and just as good as White Spot proper. Although I'm not sure they have the Sunshine Breakfast anymore. What a shame. The view is nice, and on rare occasions you may see a whale, which may be noted over the PA system by the crew. It's a very "west coast" experience with the salt air and forested islands.
Oh yeah, the last time I was on a BC ferry a few years ago I saw that comic steven wright. That was cool.
And finally, if you've never been to Vancouver Island, you can't drive around it in a day. It's about 6 hours to Tofino, and a full day to drive end to end. And yes, the roads are paved and we have electricity :) (this may seem ridiculous, but I did work in the visitor info centre and answered these regularly) -
Review from Tony S.
4/29/2010
Specific to the Mill Bay - Brentwood Ferry (north of Victoria, BC):
I find it hard to believe I am posting a 5 star rating for a 25 minute ferry ride (car and passenger). Hear me out....if this route works into your travels, hopefully you will be equal in praise.
This ferry run is advertised as the most picturesque, perhaps, of the BC Ferry offerings. We found it, indeed, to be that, and more. Personable, attentive, fortunately on time, and a great way to break up a road trip from Nanaimo into Victoria. Cost: modest ($26.25) for one vehicle and 2 adults. Wished, if anything, the on-the-water time was more than just 1/2 hour.
Pay as you board or purchase in-advance your fees at a local convenience store a short distance prior to arrival at the Mill Bay landing.
Bravo BC Ferries. -
Review from joe w.
Victoria, BC
6/15/2009
I'd rather swim to Vancouver!
No local residents enjoy taking this trip, we actually loath it. For some reason "mainlanders" enjoy it though.
Run to the cafeteria and save a seat, or you will wish you had.
Have a fries and gravy, play a game of Pacman, and hit the massage chair, really live and enjoy the voyage.
Be sure to locate life boats, and remember what floor you parked on in case you get to stoned like I have in the past. -
Review from Eric B.
Victoria, BC
2/1/2010
It's not cheap but that's the government's fault for treating a critical piece of infrastructure like it's NOT a critical piece of infrastructure. Otherwise BC Ferries works pretty well - the ships are in good shape, there's decent food on board (though the selection is rather poor and it's not exactly cheap) and the scenery is great.
If you don't like being a captive on the ship bring an iPod or a laptop to watch a movie, the time will go by quickly. You can also go outside and enjoy the sights. -
Review from Katie F.
4/26/2010
3.5 stars.
Loved the ferry ride itself and the cleanliness... definitely did not like the price!
I haven't taken the ferry to the island since I was a kid, so this was a pretty novel thing for me! That being said, this ferry is fabulous compared to the stench and crowding I've experienced on the ferries in Greece and Mexico. It's reasonably well-organized, lots of seating, TVs, a kid zone, some workstation areas, and food ranging from $10 cafeteria meals to the $22/person dinner buffet.
The views to and from the island are great and the buffet isn't bad - salads, 2 soups, prime rib, salmon, shrimp and canneloni were available when we went. The time flies by if you eat on the ferry.
The wait time sucks if you come when it's busy - we lucked out on the way over but got stuck waiting a couple of hours on the way back to Vancouver.
It's pretty pricey to use - about $46-ish for a car and $14 per person each way. Didn't like the fact that there's a charge to make a reservation but I suppose I'll cough up the money next time if I don't want to risk waiting in line. -
Review from Shannon N.
11/16/2008 1 photo
Can't argue with this service - went from Victoria to Vancouver [Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen]. It's a bit expensive if you've got a car, but with a reservation, you get first on/first off privilege so that's nice.
Didn't feel any rocking but there was an odd vibration on the ferry the whole ride. Tons of tourist brochures near the rear of the ferry to help entertain you on the ride and find things to do at your destination.
I've added a photo from our view of docking at Tsawwassen from the front of the boat. Whee! -
Review from Susan A.
3/18/2009
Smooth sailing, good ferries! First experience riding on a ferry and driving a car into it so I was really happy with how smooth & flawless the transition was. Upper deck was closed both times due to weather and people on prior trips hurting themselves, which is unfortunate. During the wait to go on the ferry, there's a mini-plaza to walk around with food and trinkets which was pretty neat (both on victoria side and vancouver side).
On the ferry, you have the option of either cafeteria food or buffet-food. Also have coffee-bar,dessert, etc. And... last but not least, the "store" where you can kill some time browsing mags, books, and lotions, earrings, toys, randomness of sorts.
Seating area was vast, with different types. Tables, benches, facing each other, aisle-style, almost everything I can think of at least. They even have electric outlets for those laptops! TVs were out (thank goodness!) otherwise would have been subjected to non-stop Canadian hockey action... but for the hockey fans, sorry!
All in all, quite enjoyable. It's a lot for a boat ride though. But, since they are moving so many cars and people, I s'pose it can't be helped. However, I can't help feeling it's a huge monopoly. -
Review from Yiling W.
2/1/2010
Compared to the Washington State Ferries I've been on, the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry is awesome. It's huge, there's room to wander, there's a gift shop, a cafeteria/food area, a kiddie zone, a buffet restaurant, work stations, lots of vending machines, and relatively comfy seats. The bathrooms were pretty clean, and it just seemed well-kept and newly painted overall. The terminal at Tsawwassen, however, didn't have quite enough signage to get my friends and I to the right terminal, so we had to just ask some one random. Oh well.
Added bonus: they have those old-style coffee/hot chocolate vending machines. Small hot chocolate for $1.50!
(T)Sawwassen to teh Swartz Bay is teh awesome. Can't wait for the ride back. -
Review from Stacey E.
11/28/2008
If you're an islander the ferries are the bane of your existence. We never reserve unless we're attempting to travel on a really busy day (check the ferry traffic reports before you leave). The 9pm is hardly ever busy and is much quieter. If you aren't driving on, take the PCL. It takes half the time of the city bus.
Note to tour group operators: I have a proposal for an onboard activity. Everyone in your group has to communicate without speaking until they get back on the tour bus. It's a traditional local custom... ummm.... and the whales like it. That's it, they'll be GUARANTEED to see whales. But no talking. See, I told you it was a good idea. -
Review from Carolyn C.
10/23/2008 1 photo
Nicest view ever for only $14 one way from Victoria to Vancouver [Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen].
It was a little crowed because it was Friday before Thanksgiving Day, but everyone was in a good mood since they had Monday and most likely Tuesday off as well.
Besides the fantastic two hour view.. they have many cafes, an arcade, gift shop, and numerous outlets to charge your electronic devices.
I really enjoyed taking the BC ferry and wouldn't mind taking it again.
It's a bit pricey if you're taking your car across since you're paying for each passenger plus the car. If you can, just walk onboard and leave your car elsewhere, it's less of a hassle anyway.
+ good fares
+ great onboard amenities
- the lines get extremely long at the cafes -
Review from cailen s.
Oakville, ON
3/25/2009
I've taken the Tsawwassen to Shartz Bay ferry a few times and it was beautiful. I absolutely loved it. It was about 90 minutes and I set outside the whole time enjoying the scenery.
Going back to the mainland I was able to purchase a bus ticket to the Vancouver airport while I was on the ferry which was very handy. -
Review from Dave D.
Victoria, BC
4/21/2010
You've got me trapped on an island and you privatized my only way off. What a surprise - the prices keep climbing "due to oil prices" even when the price of oil goes down.
The service itself is alright and if the price was better (or at least if they stopped jacking it up or perhaps gave a discount to people on an island who have no other way to get to the rest of the world) I'd be much happier. -
Review from Jean P.
8/21/2008
My family and I will never forget our last trip to Bristish Columbia. The day we drove into Canada after visiting relatives in Tacoma, we headed straight to the port at Tsawwassen in Vancouver to catch a BC Ferry to Victoria Island. There were 7 of us all together. I found it neat that we got to take our old school Toyota van on the ferry despite the wait time. Once we arrived in Victoria, we practically spent the entire day sightseeing and checking out the wax museum and gardens. My mother had with her a red Nina Ricci totebag which inside held all of our passports, some cash, credit cards, and precious jewelry.
By the end of the day, we headed back to the port to catch the ferry back to Vancouver. We were tired, beat, and exhausted. All we could think of was heading back to my cousin's house in Tacoma and crashing. When we were only a few minutes away from arriving at Vancouver, my mother gave her tote bag to my Dad's Aunt to hold while she went to the restroom. The line in the restroom was pretty long so we waited for her in the cafeteria up until we were told we could head back to our cars. The family decided to just to head to the van since everyone was leaving the ferry lobby/cafeteria and that my mom would just find us there. When my mom got to our van, everything was good up until about 20 minutes after we drove out the ferry boat on our way back to the U.S.A.
My mother asked my Dad's Aunt, "Oh can I have my bag?" "I need to get the passports ready." My Dad's Aunt responds (in Filipino), "HOLY SH*T!" "I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT!" "I LEFT IT IN THE FERRY BOAT!" "SUSMARIYOSEP!" My dad suddenly braked out of shock and busted a U-turn on the highway and drove as fast as he could back to the port.
By the time we got there, the ferry was gone. My mom, dad, and dad's Aunt went to the the BC ferry office to let them know what had happened and to have them locate and search the tote bag. It took them a long time talking to the authorities and reps at the office. In my mind all I could think of was that it was too late and that some stranger probably took the bag and kept it for themselves because of all the jewelry and money that was stored inside. Because it was going to take BC Ferries overnight to conduct the search, we had no choice but to crash in Vancouver since it was already pretty late. It was a good thing we had relatives living in the area because no one else had a credit card in thier possession to book a hotel room. Our relatives, who live in the Richmond district were kind enough to offer their place to let us crash.
By noon time the next day, BC Ferries called my cousin's house to let my parents know that they had found the tote bag and that it was sitting in the Vancouver office ready for pickup. When we got there, my mom was able to retrieve every single thing. According to her, there was nothing missing. All our passports, money, credit cards, and jewelry were all in the bag. Somehow, an employee of the ferry found the tote bag under the table in the cafeteria while she was cleaning and had brought it to the lost and found office in Victoria. A staff member at BC was able to get it transported back to Vancouver.
Because the employees of BC Ferries were honest, extremely helpful and responsive in retrieving our family valuables, they deserve 5 stars. If it wasn't for them, we would have had a lot of trouble getting back home to San Jose, California. -
Review from Randy T.
8/20/2008
The BC Ferry Experience:
-Drive up to a booth and pay your fare.
-Get in a lane and pull up to the car in front of you.
-Park car and enter gift shops to buy souvenirs, snacks to munch on, and trinkets you think might be great gifts for friends.
-Get into car and wait.........and wait...........and wait. Possibly take a nap while waiting as well.
-When time comes to board ferry, observe the mass of cars in the opposite lanes to the left fleeing the ferry at tremendous speeds.
-Drive forward and enter the lower car holding area of the ferry.
-Lock car, take a whiff of all the car exhaust, and hurry upstairs.
-Relax inside or outside the ferry and take pics of the scenery like a typical tourist.
-Upon arriving, get in line and be prepared to violate each other's personal space to get to the lower deck to your car.
-Enter car and wait patiently for cue to leave.
-Drive off ferry, accelerate like a madman, and continue to your destination.
Great trip to have and everyone needs to do this at least once in their lives. -
Review from Andrew P.
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
We took the Tsawassen-Swartz Bay ferry via the Pacific Coach bus. It was a nice way to get conveniently from Vancouver to Victoria. We made the crossing on a beautiful glassy smooth summer afternoon. The bus and boat left and arrived right on time. Both were clean and pleasant to ride. It was a really nice trip.
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Review from Fraulein C.
8/20/2008
I love that you can drive a car into a little ferry boat so you can tug it all the way to Victoria Island. Awesome I tell you! Along the way, you feel a bit queazy if you're not a "sea" type of person. I sure as hell felt sick, but after getting off the ferry boat...I was a happy kid standing on solid ground. Hehe! Anyway, you get the chance to take wonderful breathtaking views for a slight bit of Canada. Stuff like this...makes me want to go back and give BC another visit. Sucks that it takes a while to get from one place to another with all the "extra" weight.
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Review from Beth C.
Victoria, BC
10/13/2008
Haha, I love how all the four and five star reviews are tourist reviews. If it's something you don't have to do with any regularity, yeah, the ferries are novel enough (so beautiful with the scenery) to seem really wonderful. But once you get over the breathtaking surroundings and how cool it is to drive your car onto a boat.....BC Ferries is overpriced. They basically have a monopoly and drive their prices far too high far too often. The food sucks, and as if it wasn't expensive enough, if you're driving, they also basically either force you to get a reservation (by allowing so much of the boat to be reserved that drive-ups wait hours and hours) and spend another $20+ to do so, or wait out there for, occasionally, as long as 5-6 hours.
The main purpose of my gripe today is the new (ish) system they have for parking out there. I drove up on Friday to pick a friend up at the Swartz Bay terminal. She'd walked on in Tsawassen. When I got out there, a little man with a glow-stick waved me vehemently to one side, where I was greeted with a PAY parking lot (like I'm going to pay to pick someone up when I'm out there for 5 minutes?) and no free spots. It's confusing, maze-like, and vastly insufficient in size, as well as being too far from the terminal for a quick pick up. I was in a car accident recently and walking hurts a bit, but there were NO spots anywhere, and we joined the sea of confused, frustrated people driving in circles. My boyfriend jumped in the driver's seat for me and kept circling while I limped into the terminal to get my friend. While I was in the terminal I overheard at least three other people complaining about how ridiculously insufficent the parking was, and saw two people saying "we have to hurry, so and so is circling while I come get you", cutting off their hugs to run out to the stupid parking lot. and the arrivals area is supposed to be relished! It's where all the smiles and hugging happen!
As an islander, I'm stuck with BC Ferries and have no choice but to utilize them sometimes, but for the amount they charge, and how often they hike their fees, I expect better. -
Review from Matt B.
Victoria, BC
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
We ate at the Pacific Buffet for lunch. The poached salmon was very good and paired nicely with edamame salad. Grand Marnier cake for dessert too!
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Review from Amanda F.
Victoria, BC
7/10/2011
bc ferries does not have a separate reservation line-therefor-most likely you will pay for a reservation and it will not be honoured as the line up to pay is too long. this is a rediculous system-back woods to say the least. On board, the food is awful, the staff seem to hate their job. Residents need to wrap their head around having a bridge instead of paying for rediculous ferry fares and staff wages.
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Review from Chris T.
9/8/2008 2 photos
Took my car both ways too from Vancouver and the Island last summer. Awesome experience. Its just freakin beautiful out there especially if you catch a sunny day.
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Review from Patrick R.
Victoria, BC
6/6/2009
I am very fond of the ferries. I find my self taking a trip across and back, with or without my car at least once a month, usually more. I always take time to marvel at the view on the way across (even at night. If there are no clouds, the stars are breathtaking).
Being a regular on Route 1 between Swartz Bay and Tswassen, I'm most familiar with the two Superferries (the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver Island). I adore these two. They are big and comfy with plenty of space. I'd recommend going to the top deck lounges, which fill up more slowly than the main deck, and sport TVs with children's programming in the forward lounge and a news broadcast in the rear lounge (though avoid the rear lounge during any playoffs if you do not like sports)
The cafeteria is large and well designed with two queues for hot entrees (and quick through-ways for cold), though long line-ups can develop. If you are on any ferry, try to wait til about mid-voyage to dine in the cafeteria, you'll get through a lot quicker.
If you are in the mood for a nice meal, the Pacific Buffet is well worth a visit (and well worth the price). The food placed out is of wonderfully high quality and I have never been disappointed.
The other amenities available on the Superferries are nice, though since I don't really use them and other reviews note them so I won't go into detail.
The Coastal Celebration is the other ship I am familiar with on the route (the fourth ship was switched, so I cannot speak to it). It matches the Superferries for amenities, but not space. The Coastals feel cramped and maze-like compared to their larger cousins, though I must note that if you are traveling with kids, the ship is a bit better designed with properly enclosed play areas and the Caf view is to die for (again wait til mid-voyage when the ship is close to the islands). While you may have a different experience, I'd recommend aiming for a sailing at an odd-numbered hour to ensure passage on the Superferries.
BC ferries scheduling is one of the annoyances of traveling with them. While they make an admirable effort to keep on schedule, they are easily delayed and often fall behind. (There have been occasions when it was as much as an hour or more, however cases such as this are rare and usually the result of mechanical failure or medical emergency). I find the best thing is just to bring your patience and a book.
I'll also note here that if you are traveling by vehicle, be prepared to wait. It is minimum one hour between sailings, two in the off-season, and if it is busy there will usually be sailing waits for vehicles. If you're traveling during a busy time, make a reservation and make sure to show up at least a half-hour early like they say (you -will- lose your reservation if you don't, regardless of circumstances)
Price wise, I find the ferries to be quite reasonable. The single passenger cost is very cheap and makes it easy to make several trips. The vehicle cost can be a little more prohibitive though. At $45 +$14/vehicle occupant one-way the cost for frequent passengers can get pretty steep. However, when compared to the cost of flying, it is still the cheaper way across (especially when you consider that you are able to take your car). I'll also note that BC Ferries will also sometimes do fare-sales where the cost will drop significantly, so it's worth keeping an eye on their website. -
Review from Brenda G.
8/27/2008
This was my first time on a vehicle transfer ferry and I liked it a lot. It's pretty expensive, it cost $76 CD for a car plus two people. It's $12 per person so the car is what gets you. It's like others say, drive to the booth, pay your fare, get in line and drive onto the ferry. The BEST advice I can give regarding the ferries is MAKE A RESERVATION. If you are coming or going on the weekend the wait can be up to two hours to get on the ferry. Thank goodness they have facilities and food at the port. Last Friday, we were leaving Victoria heading to Vancouver and they took one of the large ferries out of comission for the weekend. Instead of making a reservation, we headed out to the port and had a 1.5 hour wait then the 1.5 hour ride. The ride itself is great. There are a couple of decks, you can go outside and look at the wonderous view, sit inside, read, eat, whatever. Clean bathrooms to boot. All in all, it's great.
