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BC Ferries |
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BC Ferries serves up to 46 ports of call on 25 routes throughout coastal British Columbia. The crossings between Vancouver Island and B.C.'s Lower Mainland can last from less than 90 minutes to two hours, depending on which run you take. There are three to choose from -- including their Vancouver-Victoria service -- with frequent sailings every day of the year. Shorter hops include BC Ferries service to the picturesque Gulf Islands (sailing from both Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland), and to friendly communities along the Sunshine Coast, northwest of Vancouver. There's also Vancouver Island's most beautiful shortcut, between Brentwood and Mill Bay, across the Saanich Inlet (near Victoria). If you're after more of a "cruise line" experience, consider a voyage through British Columbia's majestic Inside Passage. This one is particularly popular with international travelers, going from Port Hardy at the northern end of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, gateway to southeast Alaska. You'll enjoy the gracious hospitality of their flagship, Queen of the North, including all the amenities of their other large ferries, plus en route movies and a licensed dining room with live entertainment during the summer season. Day rooms are available, as well as overnight cabins for those taking the return trip.
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Of course, the main appeal of this memorable journey is the scenery: a constantly changing vista of mountains, fjords, wildlife, and passing ships.
BC Ferries traverses the Inside Passage all year long, including a summer schedule that turns the excursion into a 15-hour day cruise. If this sounds like your kind of getaway, click on the link at the bottom of this page for information and reservations.
Reservations are also a must on the eight-hour crossing from Prince Rupert to the beautiful Queen Charlotte Islands, where yet another remarkable facet of the British Columbia experience awaits. Sometimes referred to as the "Canadian Galapagos," the Charlottes provide habitat for many different species of wildlife. These islands are the ancestral home of the Haida Indian Nation, and feature many unique cultural attractions.
Speaking of unique attractions, BC Ferries has introduced a new summer route between Port Hardy and Bella Coola, opening up British Columbia's spectacular mid-coast. It's the Discovery Coast Passage, so named because it gives people a chance to discover a part of the province that has been difficult to reach in years past.
Choose from direct, same-day sailings between the two main ports, or experience extended journeys, with stops at McLoughlin Bay-Bella Bella, Denny Island, Klemtu and Ocean Falls. Try BC Ferries and set sail with a spirit of adventure!
For information about sailings and schedules, click on Schedules. For all other information, click here on the BC Ferries Fleet
2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Effective January 8, 2007, all travelers (including United States citizens) will be required to carry current passports to enter or re-enter the U.S. Click here for the State Department Summary. And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry!
