B.C. Ferries announces half-price sailings from September 8 to October 15
This weekend, it costs $16.90 for an adult to ride the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay.
But that fare will be cut in half on select sailings running from September 8 to October 15.
The 50-percent discount will be available over that period from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays in either direction on routes from Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gulf Islands going in either direction.
B.C. seniors will also receive 50 percent off their regular fare on these days.
The only exception is on Monday, October 12, which is Thanksgiving Day.
The half-price fare is also available on all sailings on northern routes from October 1 to October 31.
B.C. Ferries says that reservations are "strongly recommended" on all routes where discounts are being offered.
The government-owned company says it's looking into "possible vehicle discount promotions later this year".
As things stand now, it costs $55.40 for an undersized vehicle to travel on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route.
Comments
7 Comments
Pat glover
Aug 23, 2015 at 12:19pm
Reduce the car price and you will fill your boats. We paid for these boats through our taxes.
guystone
Aug 23, 2015 at 3:04pm
Pat - good point... They have a monopoly so they think charging more is ok - no competition... but... they get far less ridership and it doesn't cost that much more for more cars to be on-board - in fact, they probably make a bit more with what they sell
AND we paid twice for these boats thanks to the NDP!
horsesh_t
Aug 24, 2015 at 12:08pm
unless it is absolutely mandatory for you to ride the ferries, I say boycott them completely and these rates will become permanent. Ive been to Bowen and Saltspring among others and had a nice time but I refuse to ride the ferries anymore. Rich as_holes getting richer gouging the working class.
cathy
Aug 24, 2015 at 3:25pm
Doesn't matter how cheap the fares are if there is not buses to meet the ferries.
For example-there is no bus service to and from Duke Point on Vancouver Island.
The alternative is to hitch hike, take a very expensive taxi into Nanaimo or call the airport shuttle @ $24 each way.
The bus service on Saltspring Island used to meet the ferry from Tsawwassen at Long Harbour but now B.C. transit changed the schedule so you have to wait up to an hour for the bus.
The alternatives are either hitch hiking or taking a taxi into Ganges which is about $21.
Also for those ferries that have scheduled bus service at the terminals, why don't they sell bus tickets on the ferries?
The line ups to get on the buses especially at the Tsawwassen side are long and slow as many people have to search for proper fare especially when realize it is a three zone fare they have to pay. Everyone is delayed, this could be solved so easily.
Do the BC Ferries management and BC Transit/Translink management ever talk to each other?
Just a guy
Aug 24, 2015 at 7:02pm
Build a bridge.
J. Rotten
Aug 24, 2015 at 11:27pm
This is a really a fake discount as it is only a "loss leader" designed to get more vehicles on board.
That's why there is no discount for vehicles as they know there is no reliable bus service, in order to force people into paying higher fares. Yet another corporate marketing strategy designed to fail.
R. Tang
Sep 9, 2015 at 7:24pm
A chinese company is looking to either build a bridge across Anvil and Gambier Islands or a highway from Squamish to Gibsons for "free"(estimated to cost 1 billion dollars). In return, they ask for the ownership of a huge amount of land along the bridge/highway. Good for residents of Sunshine Coast, but I doubt the government is going to take the deal.