Should you reserve BC Ferries? Here's how to decide
BC Ferries reservations cost $17-22 per sailing, $34-44 round trip. For a Tuesday morning crossing that rarely fills up, that's money you don't need to spend. For a Friday 5pm sailing in July, it's probably worth it.
The table below shows actual fill rates so you can decide for yourself.
How often do Friday sailings fill up?
Friday is the busiest day of the week. Here are the sailings that filled up most often, based on capacity data collected every 15 minutes from BC Ferries over the past 12 weeks.
Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (busy times only)
| Sailing | Full sailings | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | 58% (7/12) | High |
| 9:00 AM | 42% (5/12) | Moderate |
| 11:00 AM | 58% (7/12) | High |
| 1:00 PM | 67% (8/12) | High |
| 2:00 PM | 42% (5/12) | Moderate |
| 3:00 PM | 25% (3/12) | Moderate |
| 5:00 PM | 67% (8/12) | High |
Capacity data collected every 15 minutes from BC Ferries, past 12 weeks. Showing sailings that filled up more than 20% of the time.
When to reserve
- Friday afternoon or evening
- Sunday afternoon or evening
- Long weekends (Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day)
- Spring break or Christmas/New Year
- Summer weekends (June through August)
- Any time you have a flight or appointment you can't miss
When standby is fine
- Tuesday through Thursday
- Mid-morning sailings (10am to 2pm)
- October through April, outside holidays
- Any trip where waiting an extra sailing wouldn't be a big deal
Reservation rules worth knowing
- Cancellations: Full refund if you cancel at least 2 hours before sailing. After that, no refund.
- Arrival: Show up at least 30 minutes before departure or your spot may be released to standby.
- Oversized vehicles: RVs and trucks with trailers have separate booking from standard vehicles.
- Booking window: Reserve online at bcferries.com, usually months in advance.
Going standby
If you'd rather skip the fee:
- Arrive early. 60-90 minutes before sailing on busy days, 30-45 minutes on quieter ones.
- Take an early sailing. The 7am and 9am departures are almost always lighter than afternoon ones.
- Check current capacity. BC Ferries shows how full upcoming sailings are in real time.
- Have a backup. If you miss one sailing, the next is usually 2 hours later.
Use the data
If a sailing filled up 8 out of 12 similar days, book a reservation. If it never filled up, save the money.
For more context, read BC Ferries peak travel times or browse historical capacity by date.
Frequently asked questions
Is a BC Ferries reservation worth it?
For Friday afternoon and Sunday evening sailings, yes. Those fill up regularly and a missed sailing means a 2-hour wait. For mid-week and off-peak travel, standby is usually fine and saves you $17-22.
How much does a BC Ferries reservation cost?
BC Ferries reservations cost $17-22 per sailing depending on the route, on top of your regular fare. Round trip that's $34-44 just for reservations.
What happens if I don't reserve and the ferry is full?
You wait for the next sailing, usually 2 hours later. Arrive 60-90 minutes early to improve your chances as standby. Most standby passengers get on during off-peak times.
Can I get a refund on my BC Ferries reservation?
Yes, up to 2 hours before sailing time for a full refund. After that, the fee is non-refundable. Cancel online at bcferries.com.
How early should I arrive without a reservation?
For Friday afternoon or Sunday evening, arrive 60-90 minutes before departure. For off-peak sailings, 30-45 minutes is usually enough.
Do you need a reservation for BC Ferries?
Reservations are optional. For high-demand sailings like Friday afternoon, Sunday evening, long weekends, and summer travel, they're strongly recommended. Otherwise standby is usually fine.