Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)
BC Ferries runs 7 to 8 sailings a day from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), the first at 06:15 and the last at 22:40. The crossing takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, and an adult ticket is C$21.
Every fare the operators publish on this crossing, for passengers and vehicles.
Passengers
Passengers fares
Class
Operator
Fare
Child passenger 5-11
BC Ferries
C$10.50
Adult passenger 12+
BC Ferries
C$21
Vehicles
Vehicles fares
Class
Operator
Fare
Motorcycle
BC Ferries
C$44.50
Standard vehicle up to 20ft
BC Ferries
C$89
Fares as published by the operators, in CAD, last checked . Fares move with the season and, on the busiest routes, with the sailing — check the operator's price for your day before you travel.
About this crossing
Cars can still board in this direction without a booking, because the book-and-prepay rule for vehicles covers only sailings from Horseshoe Bay. Unbooked traffic is served first come, first served, and the booth stops selling car tickets five minutes before departure, foot passenger tickets ten. The terminal sits just north of central Nanaimo, and local route 20 goes downtown. It closes overnight and no one may stay on the property outside service hours, so travellers aiming for the first sailing cannot wait there from the night before.
Common questions
How long is the ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)?
About 1 hour 40 minutes on the published timetable.
How many ferries a day go from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)?
Between 7 and 8 a day, depending on the day of the week. The most run on Friday and Sunday. The first boat leaves at 06:15 and the last at 22:40, local time.
Who runs the ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)?
BC Ferries runs this crossing. Tickets are sold by the operator; this site lists the timetable and does not sell them.
How much is the ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)?
An adult ticket is C$21 (Adult passenger 12+). Taking a vehicle starts at C$44.50 (Motorcycle). Prices as the operator published them on 5 August 2026.
