Spirit of British Columbia ferry

MS Spirit of British Columbia ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel owned and operated by the Canadian company BC FERRIES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 2,100 passengers and 470 cars. The vessel was launched in 1993 and currently operates on the Vancouver Island ferry route Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay / Victoria BC (crossing time 1.5 hours).

Cabins

The ferry Spirit of British Columbia has no cabins (passenger staterooms) due to the route’s short crossing distance. Instead, the ship offers plenty of seating, including a Reserved Seating Lounge with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, satellite TV programming, its own bar, and comfortable leather recliners.

Reserved seats are available for pre-booking. These deals (SeaWest Lounge entry fees) include Starbucks coffee, a variety of teas, juices (orange and apple), freshly baked pastries, and selections of newspapers and popular magazines. At an additional fixed price, passengers can purchase the Morning Menu (food and drinks package), which includes baked goods, fresh fruits, a cheese platter, crackers, hot oatmeal cereal, and yogurts.

Life jackets/vests are stored in marked lockers on Deck 6 (outside) and at the forward end of Lounge A (inside). Life jackets on the ship are available in two types — for children (up to 41 kg) and for adults.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Facilities onboard Spirit of British Columbia include:

• Pacific Buffet (forward on Deck 5) — an all-inclusive restaurant with 2- and 4-seat tables and panoramic views through slanted floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu includes five meal periods: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Light Buffet, and Dinner. Regular menu items include Breakfast dishes (scrambled eggs, grilled ham and sausage, corned beef hash, shrimp and pork, potato pancakes, oatmeal and cereals, cheese platter, salads), Brunch items (omelets, squash or mushrooms, grilled ham and sausage, French toast, blueberry flan, shrimp and pork, clam chowder, soup), and Lunch/Light Buffet/Dinner selections (seasonal vegetables, clam chowder, soup). A salad bar (cheese, seafood, potato, quinoa, spelt, and kamut) is available during Brunch, Lunch, Light Buffet, and Dinner. Beverage options include orange juice, milk, tea, coffee, and Coca-Cola drinks. Rotating menu items include roast chicken, roast beef, pork dishes, chicken wings, rice, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, prawns, salmon, capers, mushroom ravioli, and vegetable spring rolls. The Breakfast Bar offers fresh fruit salad, cottage cheese, yogurts, dried fruits, mini croissants and Danish pastries, toast, waffles, an oat bar, cream cheese, whipped cream, bran flakes, frosted flakes, and granola.
• SeaWest Lounge (forward on Deck 6) — a reserved seating lounge with comfortable reclining armchairs (leather recliners) available for booking at an additional fee. Reserved seating packages include complimentary juices, tea, Starbucks coffee, fresh-baked pastries, and Canadian and international newspapers and magazines. The lounge also features a large satellite TV and its own bar serving snacks and drinks.
• Coastal Cafe (aft on Deck 5) — a self-service buffet restaurant with four-seat dining tables and panoramic views through slanted floor-to-ceiling windows. The cafe offers a variety of healthy and fast-food options including Bread Garden panini sandwiches, burgers and fries, wraps, sushi, fresh salads, hot and cold entrees (including the “White Spot” food station), dinner plates, Pirate Paks (kids menu), carving station, breads, desserts, light snacks, and beverages (including beer and wine by the glass).
• Coast Cafe Express (forward-midship on Deck 5) — offers snacks, freshly baked food, and hot and cold beverages including Starbucks coffee drinks.
• Passages Gift Shop (forward-midship on Deck 5) — offers a wide selection of gifts, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, beauty products (cosmetics and skincare), fashion and casual clothing, toys, books, magazines, and aboriginal silver giftware. The boutique carries brands such as Killtec (sports clothing), Helly Hansen (outdoor apparel and shoes), 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 5) — provides passenger assistance, purser services, and information about British Columbia tourism destinations and BC Ferries services.
• Kids Zone (midship on Deck 6) — two indoor nautically themed playground areas with leather chairs, toys, and TVs for cartoons and DVDs.
• Work / Study Stations (midship on Deck 6).
• Video Zone (midship on Deck 5) — a small cinema room.
• Elevators (passenger lifts) providing access to all decks.
• Parents Room (forward-portside on Deck 6) — a baby changing facility.
• The top deck features a helipad (helicopter landing area) used in emergency situations.

The ship is equipped with liferafts (each with capacity for 50 or 100 persons).

Each Coastal-class ferry is fitted with 36 controllable CCTV cameras placed throughout the vessel, allowing Navigation Bridge officers to monitor all onboard areas.

The Wheelhouse / Navigation Bridge (forward on Deck 7) is inaccessible to passengers.

The vessel is equipped with six marine evacuation chutes (located on Deck 6 on both port and starboard sides) used for emergency passenger evacuation. Each evacuation station is fitted with two canister-type liferafts (capacity 200 persons each). There are also two rescue boats located forward on Deck 6.

Numerous fire extinguishers are located throughout all passenger-accessible deck areas (interior and exterior), along with manual fire alarm pull stations. Passenger decks are equipped with the modern HI-FOG Water Mist fire protection system. Vehicle decks are equipped with manual deluge (sprinkler) and drenching fire suppression systems.

For passengers with disabilities, the ship provides a limited number of wheelchairs. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours before departure.

Service dogs are permitted in ferry terminals and onboard the ships.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed on TV screens and at the ship’s assembly (muster) stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

BC FERRIES deals

The company offers gift certificates for purchase both online and onboard (in the Gift Shop). Denominations are available in 10, 25, 50, and 100 dollars. Gift certificates can be used for ferry fares, onboard purchases (Gift Shop, Restaurant, SeaWest Lounge), and BC Ferries Vacations packages.

• "BC Ferries Vacations" are ferry-and-hotel packages combining roundtrip ferry travel with a one-night hotel stay at discounted prices.
• Most ferry-hotel packages include 2-, 3-, or 4-night accommodations (in resorts, hotels, or inns). Longer vacations of 5, 6, 7, or 10 nights are also available.
• Many three-night accommodation packages for island destinations offer a “3rd Night FREE” promotion.
• Package ferry tickets typically include two adults and one car.
• Most ferry vacation deals include complimentary parking for BC Ferries customers.

These vacation packages are offered in destinations throughout British Columbia including Campbell River, 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" one-day ferry cruises (with overnight crossings) are offered in summer (June through September) with departures from:

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

On select holiday voyages, BC Ferries offers discounted fares for early morning and late evening departures. Ticket prices start from $39 (for one standard car with driver). These discounts apply to routes including Vancouver-Victoria (Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay), Vancouver-Nanaimo (Tsawwassen–Duke Point), and West Vancouver–Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay).

Car decks

Follows a list of car deck-related safety procedures:

• Passengers requiring specific assistance should visit the ship’s Information Desk (open 24 hours).
• Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or first gear. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. Gas cylinders, if present, must be turned off. Lock the vehicle.
• Take only valuables and essential hand baggage when leaving the vehicle.
• Note the vehicle’s location and the garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship’s vehicle decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in passenger lounges, is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To avoid air pollution, do not start the engine until instructed.

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