Spring Break Schedule adjustments

[Balfour]

"Extra sailings are scheduled on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay and the

Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay routes to accommodate customers travelling for the start of Spring Break.



On the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route from Friday, March 18 through Monday, March 21 sailings are scheduled every hour from 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. with a final sailing from both terminals at 9:00 p.m.



On the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay route on Sunday, March 20, an extra sailing has been scheduled to leave from Departure Bay at 4:00 p.m. and from

Horseshoe Bay at 6:00 p.m.



This extra sailing requires the cancellation of the 3:15 p.m. sailing from Duke Point to Tsawwassen and the corresponding 5:45 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen back to Duke Point on Sunday only.



The Spirit of Vancouver Island is back in service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route. The vessel was removed from service on Sunday for emergency dry-docking after a rope got caught around one of its propellers.



The sister vessel, the upgraded Spirit of British Columbia is expected to return to service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route in time for the Easter long weekend.



BC Ferries asks drivers traveling at peak periods to keep space between vehicles to a minimum on the car deck. Parking with 24 inches of the vehicle ahead means additional cars can be accommodated on each sailing."


I'm guessing the New West will serve the extra sailing on Route 2

[Koastal Karl]

Those cancelled sailings on the Duke Point run are the Alberni's sailings. What the hell is going on?? Why dont they use the Esquimalt seeing she will be free and the Vancouver should be free too if both Spirits are back. Actually no wait, the Vancouver will be sailing still on route 1 as an extra. So where is the Esquimalt going then if they arent going to use her???

[Retrovision]

I think they might feel that they need the faster ship (she is faster, isn't she?) to get back to Duke Point in time for her next sailing.

[Koastal Karl]

What do you mean?? They wouldent need to move the Alberni if they used the Esquimalt. And how come the 3pm from Swartz Bay today was cancelled due to weather? Was it windy at Tsawwassen or something. If so how come the Vancouver departed?

[Retrovision]

I was quite windy here in Tsawwassen for the first half of the day, then it seemed to calm down.

[Koastal Karl]

BC Ferries dosent even say why they are cancelling sailings on the Duke Point run?? I know why, but they should at least tell people, people will wonder why they are pulling anothe vessel to do extra sailings when they have another free vessel they can use. I just dont get that!

[Retrovision]

btw, my comment before was under the assumption that the Queen of Alberni was only being used because they planned to use the Esquimalt elsewhere.

[Koastal Karl]

Apparently according to the RBI the reason they arent using the Esquimalt on the Departure Bay run is because she is on the Swartz Bay run doing the Vancouver's extra sailings. The SOBC is not coming back till Tuesday!! Damn it all! They sure like to confuse people. The service notice says the SOBC will be back in time for the Easter long weekend which is next weekend. Not the start of spring break. I was going to go to Vancouver on Tuesday now that is going to be the first day she will be back in service if the RBI is correct. But check it out, the Vancouver is listed till Tuesday replacing the SOBC.

[nolonger]

Rediculous scheduling. Once again management has shown a complete disregard for commercial customers and regular users of rte 30 on Sunday for what? Normally what happens here is people show up for the 3:15 out of duke Pt. onlt to be told that sailing is cancelled so go to Dep. Bay and there will be an extra sailing there. Problem is that it's already full and they ave to wait for the 5:00. Morons!

[nolonger]

Sorry for the typing errors, but you get the idea. Everyone should just stay home and the heck with the ferries!

[Curtis]

I agree

[NMcKay]

cept for harbourlynx. she will be running her usual Run, and will not be stopping for anything (they've got an extra crew standing by should anything go wrong with her)

[Balfour]

The Esquimalt will be the 4th vessel on rte 1, because they are running an hourly shcedule from 7AM - 7PM.