BC Ferries Cancels Sailings Ahead of Easter Long Weekend, Disrupting Island Travel

Travellers heading between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland this Easter long weekend are being urged to check schedules carefully, as BC Ferries cancels multiple sailings due to mechanical and maintenance-related issues.

Several sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point were cancelled Thursday and Friday after a vessel undergoing refit was delayed in returning to service.

Additional disruptions affected the Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen route, where schedule changes were made following mechanical problems with another ferry.

Holiday travel hit by recurring disruptions

The cancellations come during one of the busiest travel periods of the year across the Salish Sea — and local leaders say the timing is all too familiar.

Leonard Krog, mayor of Nanaimo, criticized the recurring pattern of long-weekend disruptions.

“You would think it was some kind of horrible holiday weekend ritual,” he said, pointing to repeated service issues during peak travel times.

Limited alternatives for travellers

While alternative transportation options exist — including seaplane services like Harbour Air and Seair Seaplanes, as well as Hullo Ferries — officials say they cannot fully replace ferry capacity.

Krog emphasized that ferries function as essential infrastructure for island residents.

“It’s our highway,” he said. “When you close the highway, there aren’t easy alternatives for that volume of people.”

With more than 850,000 people living on Vancouver Island, reliable ferry service is considered critical for both residents and the regional economy.

Future capacity and controversy

To address growing demand, BC Ferries has announced plans to add four new vessels to its fleet, expected to boost capacity on key routes by about 12 per cent.

However, the decision to have the ships built by a Chinese state-owned shipyard has drawn criticism.

The province has defended the move, noting no Canadian companies submitted bids and that European construction would have cost at least $1 billion more.

Fare increases also coming

Adding to travellers’ concerns, ferry fares are set to rise starting April 8:

• Vehicle + driver fares increase by about $5 (to ~$110)

• Foot passenger fares rise by $1 (to ~$21)

BC Ferries says it will expand discounted “saver fares” to cover more than 30 per cent of bookable sailings, particularly during off-peak times.

What travellers should do

With cancellations and schedule changes ongoing, passengers are advised to:

• Check sailing status before heading to terminals

• Consider alternative routes or travel times

• Book in advance where possible

As peak-season travel ramps up, the latest disruptions highlight ongoing concerns about reliability on one of British Columbia’s most critical transportation networks.