Coastal Celebration ferry

MS Coastal Celebration ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel owned and operated by the Canadian company BC FERRIES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1,604 passengers and 310 cars. Launched in 2008, the vessel currently operates on the Vancouver Island ferry route Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay / Victoria BC, with a crossing time of 1.5 hours.

Cabins

The Coastal Celebration ferry has no cabins (passenger staterooms) due to the short duration of the crossing. Instead, the ship offers ample seating, including a Reserved Seating Lounge with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, satellite TV programming, its own bar, and comfortable leather recliners.

Reserved seating is available for pre-booking. SeaWest Lounge access includes Starbucks coffee, a selection of teas and juices (orange, apple), freshly made pastries, and a variety of newspapers and popular magazines. At an additional fixed price, guests can purchase a Morning Menu package that includes various baked goods, fresh fruits, a cheese platter, crackers, hot oatmeal, and yogurts.

Life jackets are stored in marked lockers on Deck 5 (outside) and Deck 6 (inside). The ferry is equipped with two types of life jackets—child (up to 41 kg) and adult.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Facilities aboard the Coastal Celebration include:

• Pacific Buffet (forward on Deck 6) is an all-inclusive restaurant with 2- and 4-seat tables and panoramic views from slanted floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers five menus—Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Light Buffet, and Dinner. The Regular Menu Items include: Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Ham-Sausage, Corned Beef Hash, Shrimp and Pork, Potato Pancakes, Oatmeal, Cereal, Cheese Platter, and various Salads. Brunch items include Omelettes, Squash or Mushrooms, French Toast, Blueberry Flania, Clam Chowder, and Soup. Lunch, Light Buffet, and Dinner feature Seasonal Vegetables, Clam Chowder, and Soup. The Salad Bar offers Cheeses, Seafood, Potato, Quinoa, and Spelt-Kamut salads. Beverages include Orange Juice, Milk, Tea, Coffee, and Coca-Cola products. Rotating menu items feature Roast Chicken, Roast Beef, Pork dishes, Chicken Wings, Rice, Roasted or Mashed Potatoes, Prawns, Salmon, Caper, Mushroom Ravioli, and Vegetable Spring Rolls. The Breakfast Bar includes Fresh Fruit Salad, Cottage Cheese, Yogurts, Dried Fruits, Mini Croissants, Toast, Waffles, Cream Cheese, Whipped Cream, Bran and Frosted Flakes, and Granola.
• SeaWest Lounge (forward-portside on Deck 6) offers reserved seating with leather recliners. Included in the fee are complimentary juices, tea, Starbucks coffee, fresh-baked pastries, Canadian and international newspapers, and magazines. The lounge features a large TV with satellite reception and its own snack and beverage bar.
• Coastal Cafe (aft on Deck 6) is a self-serve buffet restaurant with 4-seat tables and panoramic windows. The menu includes panini sandwiches (Bread Garden), burgers, fries, wraps, sushi, fresh salads, hot and cold entrees (via the “White Spot” station), dinner plates, Pirate Paks (kids menu), carving station, a variety of breads, desserts, light snacks, and beverages including beer and wine by the glass.
• Coast Cafe Express (forward-midship on Deck 5) serves snacks, freshly baked items, and hot and cold drinks including Starbucks coffee.
• Passages Gift Shop (forward-midship on Deck 6) sells gifts, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, cosmetics, skincare products, casual and fashion clothing, toys, books, magazines, and aboriginal silver giftware. Brands include Killtec (sportswear), Helly Hansen (outdoor apparel), FarWest (clothing), and Nine West (shoes and handbags).
• An ATM (cash machine) is located in front of the Gift Shop.
• Reception Desk (Chief Steward's Office, midship on Deck 6) provides passenger assistance, purser services, and tourist information about British Columbia and BC FERRIES amenities.
• Kids Zone (midship on Decks 5 and 6) includes two nautically-themed indoor play areas with toys, leather chairs, and TVs for cartoons and DVDs.
• Work/Study Stations (midship on Deck 5).
• Video Zone (midship on Deck 6) is a small cinema room.
• Passenger elevators serve all decks.
• Parents Room (forward-portside on Deck 5) includes a baby changing station.
• Sun Deck 7 features a Pet Area, outdoor space, and two indoor lounges (forward and aft) with 270-degree panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

The top deck also includes a helipad (helicopter landing area) for emergency use.

The ferry is equipped with 22 liferafts—20 with a 100-person capacity each and two with a 50-person capacity. Four inflatable marine evacuation slides are deployed from Deck 5 and marked as “Marine Evacuation Slide” on deck plans.

Each Coastal-class ferry is equipped with 36 controllable CCTV cameras located throughout the vessel, allowing bridge officers to monitor all onboard areas.

Fire safety equipment includes numerous fire extinguishers across all passenger-accessible areas (indoor and outdoor), manual fire alarm pull stations, and the HI-FOG Water Mist system. The vehicle decks feature manual deluge (sprinkler) and drenching systems.

For passengers with disabilities, a limited number of wheelchairs are available upon request, with reservations required at least 24 hours before departure.

Service dogs are allowed both in ferry terminals and onboard.

All emergency instructions are displayed at muster (assembly) stations, on TV screens, and in public areas. In an emergency, elevators must not be used.

BC FERRIES deals

Gift certificates can be purchased online or onboard at the Gift Shop in denominations of $10, $25, $50, and $100. They can be used for ferry fares, onboard purchases (Gift Shop, restaurants, SeaWest Lounge), and for booking BC Ferries Vacations packages.

• BC Ferries Vacations packages include roundtrip ferry transportation and a one-night hotel stay at discounted rates.
• Most packages offer 2-, 3-, and 4-night accommodations at resorts, hotels, or inns. Extended stays of 5, 6, 7, and 10 nights are also available.
• Many 3-night island destination packages include a “3rd Night FREE.”
• Packages typically cover ferry tickets for two adults and one vehicle.
• Most include complimentary parking for BC FERRIES customers.

Getaway packages are available for destinations across British Columbia, including: Campbell River (with fishing trips), Cowichan Bay, Victoria, Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Courtenay, Chemainus, Nanaimo, Sooke, Tsawwassen, Langley, Burnaby, Parksville, Ucluelet, Salt Spring Island, Madeira Park, Powell River, Mayne Island, Pender Island, Quadra Island, Galiano Island, Qualicum Beach, Kelowna, Whistler, Brentwood Bay, Kamloops, Penticton, Vernon, Tofino, Osoyoos, Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, and Haida Gwaii.

“Inside Passage” 1-day ferry cruises (with overnight crossings) are available during summer (June–September) with departures from:

• Northern Expedition or Northern Adventure from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy, Bella Bella, and Klemtu
• Northern Expedition and Northern Sea Wolf from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, Bella Bella, Klemtu, Bella Coola, Ocean Falls, and Shearwater
• Northern Expedition from Bella Coola to Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Ocean Falls, and Shearwater
• Northern Sea Wolf and Northern Expedition or Northern Adventure from Bella Bella to Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Bella Coola, Ocean Falls, and Shearwater
• Northern Expedition or Northern Adventure from Klemtu to Port Hardy and Prince Rupert
• Northern Sea Wolf and Northern Expedition or Northern Adventure from Ocean Falls to Port Hardy, Bella Coola, Bella Bella, and Shearwater
• Northern Sea Wolf and Northern Expedition or Northern Adventure from Shearwater to Port Hardy, Bella Coola, Bella Bella, and Ocean Falls

On select holiday sailings, BC FERRIES offers discount fares for early morning and late evening departures. Prices start at $39 (for one standard vehicle with driver). These fares are available on the following routes: Vancouver–Victoria (Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay), Vancouver–Nanaimo (Tsawwassen–Duke Point), and West Vancouver–Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay).

Car decks

Car deck safety procedures include:

• Passengers with disabilities or special assistance needs should contact the ship’s Information Desk (open 24 hours).
• Apply the handbrake, put the vehicle in park or first gear, turn off the ignition, alarms, electrical devices, and headlights. Close any gas cylinder valves and lock the vehicle.
• Take only essential valuables and hand baggage from your vehicle.
• Remember your vehicle’s location and garage deck number/stairwell.
• Access to vehicle decks is prohibited during the voyage.
• Smoking is not allowed on vehicle decks, in cabins, or in passenger lounges.
• Wait for the official announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To prevent air pollution, do not start your engine until instructed.

BC Ferries (fleet), founded in 1960 and headquartered in Victoria, BC, Canada, is a Canadian state-owned company providing scheduled daily passenger and vehicle (RoPax) ferry services between mainland Canada and British Columbia’s islands. It is the largest ferry operator in North America and the third largest in the world, following Washington State Ferries.