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British Columbia

Departure Bay (Nanaimo)

From Departure Bay (Nanaimo), ferries sail to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay): 51 sailings a week on 1 line. The crossing takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Crossings from Departure Bay (Nanaimo)

Times come from BC Ferries' printed seasonal timetables, read into this site on . Fares were last read on . Sailings change at short notice; confirm with the line before you travel.

Departure Bay (Nanaimo)Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)
06:1508:4010:5513:20+4 more, last 22:40
51 a week
fromC$21

Crossings arriving at Departure Bay (Nanaimo)

Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)Departure Bay (Nanaimo)
06:1508:3511:0513:25+4 more, last 22:40
51 a week
fromC$21

About the terminal

Three ferry terminals sit within 7 km of each other on this stretch of coast, and this is the northern one, running to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) in about an hour and forty minutes over 32 nautical miles. Duke Point, 6 km south, goes to Tsawwassen instead, and Nanaimo Harbour, 4 km off, is the small berth for Gabriola Island. Those names look alike on a booking, though none of the three terminals substitutes for another. Of the two mainland crossings, this is the one landing nearest the North Shore.

Ferries from Departure Bay (Nanaimo): common questions

Where can you go by ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo)?
One crossing leaves Departure Bay (Nanaimo) on the current timetables: to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) (51 a week).
How many ferries leave Departure Bay (Nanaimo) a day?
Between 7 and 8, depending on the day of the week. The first departure of the day is at 06:15, to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), and the last at 22:40, to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), local time.
Which ferry companies sail from Departure Bay (Nanaimo)?
BC Ferries runs every departure listed from Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
How much is the ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo)?
The lowest published passenger fare from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) is C$21, to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay). Each route page lists every fare class its operators publish.

Before you sail

Before you sail from Departure Bay (Nanaimo)

What to bring, when to arrive and what happens when the weather turns.

All guides