Live terminal webcams for this route
See the vehicle queue at the terminal before you leave.
View live terminal webcam — Departure Bay Ferry Terminal (departure)
Swipe for more cameras →
Live webcam via BC Ferries. Images refresh every few minutes; the timestamp is shown on the image itself.
View live terminal webcam — Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (arrival)
Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Horseshoe Bay — Live Capacity & Wait Times
The Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry runs about 8 return sailings a day from Nanaimo across the Salish Sea to West Vancouver — see live wait times and vehicle-deck capacity for each crossing today below.
Live via community BC Ferries API. Crossing time: About 1h 40m.
Today's sailings
Show 8 past sailings
About the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry
The Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry is the return leg from Nanaimo to West Vancouver — the shortest driving route into downtown Vancouver from central Vancouver Island. Sunday afternoons and holiday returns are the busiest windows, and wait times can stretch across multiple sailings.
This page shows live BC Ferries current conditions for every scheduled Departure Bay → Horseshoe Bay sailing today, with vehicle-deck live capacity updated every five minutes.
The crossing takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. If a sailing fills, the next one is usually about two hours later, so glancing at live capacity before leaving Nanaimo is worth the ten seconds.
Book or check the official schedule on bcferries.com.
Vessels on this route
Ships that typically sail this crossing. Tap for current position and vessel info.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive for the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry?
BC Ferries recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early with a reservation, and 60–90 minutes early without one — especially on summer weekends and holidays when the Departure Bay → Horseshoe Bay route fills quickly.
How long is the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry crossing?
The crossing takes about 1h 40m, depending on weather and traffic in the Strait.
Can I reserve the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay ferry online?
Yes. Reservations for the Departure Bay → Horseshoe Bay route can be booked at bcferries.com. Reservations are strongly recommended on summer weekends, long weekends, and any Friday or Sunday sailing.
How often is the live capacity updated?
Live vehicle-deck capacity on this page refreshes every 5 minutes using data from the community BC Ferries API. If a sailing shows full here, it is very likely already sold out on bcferries.com.
Related BC Ferries routes
Live capacity and wait times for related crossings.
Something different at the terminal?
Report what you're seeing. These are traveler reports — always secondary to the official data above.