NANAIMO – BC Ferries has announced that, starting June 19, the Queen of Alberni will sail one way to Departure Bay on its final sailing of the day, departing Tsawwassen at 4:30 pm.
Bookings for this new route are now open on the BC Ferries website and app. The service will run daily from June 19 through Sept. 1, 2025.
This new summer route will help with peak season demand, ease pressure on the terminals as well as offering options to customers.
“This new direct sailing to Departure Bay gives our customers more choice and convenience when travelling to central Nanaimo this summer and will help ease congestion for passengers at other busy terminals,” said Melanie Lucia, Vice President of Customer Experience at BC Ferries. “It also allows us to dock the vessel overnight at Departure Bay, maximizing our fleet utilization and improving operational efficiency.”
The news followed the announcement of fare ‘adjustments’ starting April 1st. BC Ferries will adjust fares in line with the 3.2% system-wide annual increase approved by the BC Ferries Commissioner. Rather than applying a flat increase to all fares, Saver Fares will be expanded.
These discounted fares encourage customers to book ahead and travel during off-peak times including early morning and late evening sailings or midday sailings during the week, improving availability on popular sailings and making better use of fleet capacity. Saver fares are also available for foot passengers for $15 when booked in advance on routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
“We expect that the addition of 350,000 Saver fares will help spread out demand, distribute traffic and reduce congestion on our major routes, especially as we head into our busy peak summer season,” said Joanne Carpendale, Chief Financial Officer for BC Ferries. “As we continue to face challenges with maintaining an aging fleet, we will continue to use every tool we have available to offer a broad range of fare options to better accommodate demand and meet customer expectations.”
Parking rates will increase based on location and aligned with market rates and there will be a 3.5% increase in food and beverage pricing to be implemented to reflect rising costs of ingredients, transportation and operations.
The company has proposed building five new major vessels and extending the life of two existing ships, adding a net new vessel to the system to increase capacity and improve service.
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