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06-05-2014, 12:51 AM
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#1 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
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| BC Ferries
I'm planning a trip to the island and would like to know how early should I arrive at the ferry terminal if I don't make a reservation online? (Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay sailing)
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06-05-2014, 12:54 AM
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#2 | | MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD
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weekdays except for friday, I would say an hour before should give you ample time. Weekends including friday, expect a full one sailing wait. I used to travel a lot for work on the ferries. My suggestions are for both directions.
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06-05-2014, 08:19 AM
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#3 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
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Unless it's a long weekened or something, generally if you're there 30-45 minutes before the sailing you won't have a problem getting on.
The ferries are on summer schedule now so if even if you miss a sailing the next one is only an hour away.
I use the ferries a lot, and found that reservations are generally a big waste of money.
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06-05-2014, 02:40 PM
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#4 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Great68 
I use the ferries a lot, and found that reservations are generally a big waste of money.
| ^ This. I travel back and forth between the mainland and the island quite often and I have never made a reservation. I usually cut it a little close and get to the terminal about 15-20 minutes before boarding. However, I would not recommend this if you know it will be a busy sailing (ie. long weekends, holidays...etc). Check the status of the ferry online beforehand. There have been times where I drove straight from the ticketing area onto the ferry without stopping and have the doors shut right behind me 
If you want to play it safe, give yourself a bit more time, anywhere from 30-45 minutes should be enough, especially on weekends and holidays.
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06-05-2014, 02:50 PM
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#5 | | To me, there is the Internet and there is RS
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This may have changed in the last few years, but I've made a reservation for the latest I wanted to get on (say 6pm) and showed up early (2pm) and been let on the next sailing (3pm). More helpful for people traveling a ways before the ferry so you can leave yourself a big buffer for delays.
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06-05-2014, 04:10 PM
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#6 | | My homepage has been set to RS
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I am thanking OP for making this thread because I have been contemplating on whether to make a thread just like this for the past month, but I`ve been too lazy! I was actually going to just wing it, but reading other people's advice is comforting.
Anyways, we`re going to the sunshine coast tomorrow (Friday) and staying at a B&B then coming back home on Sunday.
OK I will try this without reservation, because $18.50 is quite a fee.
Question:
For Sunday the reservation list says there are no ferries for the two slots between the 11am one and the 6pm one. I guess I should try to aim for the one before the 11am one just incase it`s full if I don't want to wait for the 6pm one??
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06-05-2014, 04:33 PM
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#7 | | MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD
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Unless your company is paying for reservations, notworthit.
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06-06-2014, 09:22 AM
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#8 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
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Originally Posted by Matlock I am thanking OP for making this thread because I have been contemplating on whether to make a thread just like this for the past month, but I`ve been too lazy! I was actually going to just wing it, but reading other people's advice is comforting.
Anyways, we`re going to the sunshine coast tomorrow (Friday) and staying at a B&B then coming back home on Sunday.
OK I will try this without reservation, because $18.50 is quite a fee.
Question:
For Sunday the reservation list says there are no ferries for the two slots between the 11am one and the 6pm one. I guess I should try to aim for the one before the 11am one just incase it`s full if I don't want to wait for the 6pm one?? | What schedule are you looking at?
According to the ferries schedule, the following sailing times are scheduled for Sunday:
6:20am
8:50am
11:30am
2:45pm
4:50pm
6:50pm
7:30pm
8:45pm
So if you miss the 11:30am your next ferry is the 2:45pm
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06-06-2014, 08:33 PM
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#9 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
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Long weekends only. Most of the time, the ferry is nowhere near capacity.
Currently posting from a BC Ferry (Departure Bay > Horseshoe Bay), no reservation, showed up about 25 minutes prior to sailing.
Used to travel back and forth all the time (lived in Burnaby, worked on the island). Only time I had to wait for the next ferry (not including long weekends) was August 2012 ... And we would've been on if we had been 5 minutes earlier (missed it by 3 cars).
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06-12-2014, 02:41 PM
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#10 | | NOOB, Not Quite a Regular!
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An hour before is pretty good UNLESS its a long weekend. If you do reserve you still have to arrive early!
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06-12-2014, 03:43 PM
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#11 | | My homepage has been set to RS
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Great68 What schedule are you looking at?
According to the ferries schedule, the following sailing times are scheduled for Sunday:
6:20am
8:50am
11:30am
2:45pm
4:50pm
6:50pm
7:30pm
8:45pm
So if you miss the 11:30am your next ferry is the 2:45pm | Thanks,
I didn't read your message until now.
Actually I read the wrong ferry schedule online somehow.
Got in line at 12:00 (thinking there was a 1:00) and took the 2:45 ferry, but! We were still on the bottom level near the door. So, I think if we went any later we wouldn't have got on... crazy!
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