Dining Aboard BC Ferries and other Victoria, Canada Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The food aboard BC Ferries can, in general, only be described as crap. In the cafeteria I would suggest getting a bowl of soup... apparently the White Spot burgers don't compare to the real thing. Also, if you order a kids meal you get some pudding, which is probably the healthiest part of the meal.

The only exception is the Pacific Buffet breakfast. For only $11 you get unlimited breakfast treats with the nicest view and quietest seating on the boat. You can toast your own waffles (add strawberries and whipped cream) and toast and have some oatmeal, then go back for eggs, sausages, squash, muffins and danishes. There is lots of tea, coffee and juice as well.

For lunch the buffet serves a more expensive salad bar, and for dinner they do a roast. I personally don't like either idea so I haven't tried it, but unless that sounds really appealing to you (and worth $15 or more), consider eating breakfast in the buffet and packing any other meal you might want to eat while aboard.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: If you're coming to Victoria from "up island" (or leaving Victoria and travelling up island), consider taking the Mill Bay Ferry instead of the Malahat Highway. The Mill Bay Ferry is a small, vehicle and passenger ferry that runs from Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay (on the Saanich Peninsula), allowing drivers and other travelers to skip the slow-moving, dangerous Malahat highway. Your fare will be collected by the crew aboard the ship (cash and travellers cheques only) and the trip only takes about thirty minutes. The drive from Brentwood Bay into Victoria is beautiful and takes you through scenic Saanich farms and rural areas.

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Phone: 1-888-BC FERRY
Website: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/bbmb-current.html

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The Coho Ferry is an easy vehicle and passenger connection between downtown Victoria and Port Angeles, Washington. Between two and four ferries leave each port daily, depending on the season. At only $11.50 for passengers it's a steal, while the price goes up to $44 for a vehicle (including driver). Because this ferry crosses an international border, it is recommended that all passengers carry a passport. At the time this tip was written, US and Canadian citizens could make the trip with only a valid driver's license.

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Phone: (250) 386-2202 (Victoria)
Website: http://www.cohoferry.com/
Other Contact: (360) 457-4491 (USA)

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The Victoria Clipper is a passenger ferry linking downtown Victoria to Seattle, Washington. Significantly more expensive than the Coho (which only takes you to Port Angeles, not right into Seattle), a round-trip on the boat reaches $140 in the high season. However, that convenience may be worth it! On board, passengers can purchase a variety of sightseeing packages and tickets to local tourist attractions. Keep in mind that this boat crossses an international border, so normal documentation restrictions will apply.

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Phone: 1-800-888-2535
Website: http://www.clippervacations.com