Washington State Ferries - Start of spring sailings between Anacortes and BC delayed due to COVID-19

Washington State Ferries has delayed service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC for one month.
©SueFrausePhoto

Washington State Ferries is delaying the start of its international service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. The one-month delay in the start of the spring service means the ferries won't resume running until April 28, 2020. 

Note: This does not affect domestic service. WSF will continue to make its regularly scheduled domestic stops in the San Juan Islands.

Reservations made on sailings to Sidney through April 28 will automatically be canceled. Customers may make new vehicle reservations for dates after April 28 -- but be advised this date is subject to change. 

Washington State Ferries: Sailings canceled between Anacortes - Sidney, BC Nov. 12 to Dec. 8

Walk-on passengers board the MV Chelan in Sidney, BC.
©SueFrausePhoto

If you're planning on taking a ferry between Anacortes and Sidney, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, note that service is canceled November 12 to December 8, 2019.

The only two ferries in the Washington State Ferries fleet certified to sail international waters, the Elwha and Chelan, will be out of service at that time for required maintenance. Simply put, that means international service to Sidney, British Columbia is canceled for 27 days.

WSF crew will be doing maintenance work on the two boats as it's the lowest ridership of the year. Service will resume on December 9 before the busy holiday season and continue through January 4, 2020. There is no ferry service between Anacortes and Sidney during the winter schedule, January through March 2020.

All vehicle reservations for the Sidney, BC route will be canceled during the four-week period, and no-show fees will be waived. Or customers may choose to change or cancel their reservations without penalty at www.takeaferry.com.

Other ways of traveling to Vancouver Island include BC Ferries (Tsawwassen/Swartz Bay), Black Ball Ferry Line, Kenmore Air and Clipper Vacations.

Washington State Ferries: Anacortes-Sidney ferry returns with spring sailing schedule

Washington State Ferries in Sidney, BC with Mt. Baker in the background. Photo by Sue Frause.

Yet another sign of spring, along with Daylight Savings Time and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, is when Washington State Ferries switches to its spring sailing schedule. During the winter, there's no ferry service between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island. 

On Sunday, April 6, WSF's spring schedule goes into effect and the international sailings between the US and Canada will include one round-trip sailing per day (the summer schedule begins June 15 and includes two round-trip sailings per day).

In addition to the return of the Anacortes-Sidney route, additional changes go into effect on April 6 with WSF's spring schedule :

• Weekend inter-island service in the San Juan Islands
• Three boats serving the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route on Saturdays and Sundays
• Four mid-afternoon sailings on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route will leave 15 minutes earlier to better match the schedule of the second ferry. It will join the route on Mother's Day, May 11.
• The last sailing departing Coupeville leaves 5 minutes earlier, at 9:10 PM
• New this year are round-trip tickets available between the San Juan Islands and Sidney, BC

Passengers boarding Washington State Ferries M/V Chelan in Sidney, BC. Photo by Sue Frause.