Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions, answered!
Booking
At present, you can book sailings up to the end of September. As we get to know your travel needs, we’ll be launching our fall (October-December) schedule. We’ll be rolling out our schedule further and further as we get our sea legs!
Head on over to Create An Account page found on our booking site. You can use this account to get your discount code, and modify your bookings.
To get your $10.00 off, you will need to create an online account.
Once you’ve successfully filled out your information, you’ll receive a one-time discount code that is associated with your account. Enter that code at checkout and you’ll see your $10.00 applied!
p.s. If you’re not seeing the email, be sure to check your spam. Please also ensure you’re logged into your account at checkout, otherwise the promo code will not work.
We look forward to sailing with you! 🎉
Once your booking is made, your Comfort seat is automatically assigned and reserved just for you. Guests with reservations in Premium or Business enjoy free seat selection, while Comfort guests can opt to choose their spot for a small fee of $3.00. Smooth sailing all the way!
We value good company aboard Hullo, which is why we aim to assign seats based on your group size in Comfort. If you can’t find a sailing available, try adjusting your crew size. This may help you unlock available bookings.
Like the changing tides, we understand that plans can shift. That’s why we offer a 24-hour grace period, allowing you to modify your reservation within the first 24 hours of booking, provided it’s more than 24 hours before your sailing time. After the grace period, a nominal $5.00 fee will be charged for modifications up until 24 hours prior to scheduled sail time. Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged 50% of total ticket price. No modifications or cancellations can be made within 60 minutes of departure.
NOTE: All sailings for the month of August can be modified and/or cancelled up to 1 hour before departure time free of charge. If you cancel your reservation, please allow up to 3 business days for the refund to process and return to your method of payment.
NOTE: All reservations through the month of August can be modified free of charge.
Guests are welcome to make modifications to existing reservations! Please go to https://booking.hullo.com/en/booking-login/ or go to “My Bookings” on the main page, enter in your Booking Code you received via email along with your last name and you will have access to change your adventure.
Modifications can be made free of charge within the first 24 hours of your booking, provided it’s more than 24 hours before your departure time.
After the grace period, a nominal $5.00 fee will be charged for modifications up until 60 minutes prior to scheduled sail time. Please remember, no modifications can be made within 60 minutes of departure.
Our online booking system lets you gather a crew of up to 8 in a single booking. For those who choose Comfort, we’ll make sure your crew gets assigned seats all together.
Note: If your crew is looking to book a sailing and there aren’t enough adjacent seats, our system won’t let you make the booking in order to ensure your seats are booked together. If you’re willing to split your group to catch a particular sailing, you can make individual bookings in smaller clusters.
For instance, if your party of 5 is trying to book a sailing with 8 seats left, but those 8 seats aren’t all together, our system will batten down the hatches and stop you from booking your party of 5 in one reservation. You’ll need to divide and conquer – split your reservation to proceed with booking.
We appreciate your patience as we continue to tweak our systems to better accommodate your nautical needs! For groups larger than 8, please email us at [email protected] with your group side, ideal sailing date and time, and we’ll get right back to you!
Yes, you certainly can! As long as you book the ticket in your friend’s name and use their email account, you can book tickets for a future sailing. It’s the gift that keeps on giving – adventure, that is!
Service
Our full sailing schedule is ready for your viewing on our website. Highlight the dates, set your reminders, and brace yourself for an unforgettable Hullo sailing experience!
We also have a special event sailing schedule which offers later sailings.
We have two brand-new, high speed vessels purposely made with this journey in mind.
Absolutely! All of our crew is Transport Canada certified and have high speed craft type rating certification; we strictly follow their safety regulations and guidelines. Our vessels are purpose-built for the route and use advanced technology to safely transit the Salish Sea.
The journey from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo is but a swift 70 minutes, and with our convenient terminal locations, we’re docking extra minutes onto your day by landing where you want to be.
Safety is our first priority. We will sail only when the weather conditions are shipshape for travel. Rest assured, our vessels were ordered with these waters in mind.
Each vessel hosts 354 seats across our three service tiers: Comfort hosts 264 guests, Premium hosts 60 guests, and Business hosts 30.
Each vessel has six non-gendered, individual bathrooms on board, just like a plane! One bathroom in each vessel is barrier free.
Connectivity is just as important to us as it is to you, that’s why we offer complimentary basic Wi-Fi, perfect for email and text for all guests aboard Hullo. Streaming is compimentary for guests in Premium and Business, and can be purchased by guests in Comfort, so you can TikTok from dock to dock!
Of course! In Premium and Business, each seat is armed with power, USB and USB-C charging ports. For our guests in Comfort class, we have power and USB charging points grouped across the seats. So, no matter where you’re seated, we’ve got your digital needs covered – stay connected and charged up all through your journey with us!
Yes, snag some privacy in a bathroom on the main deck to change your little ones. Look for the family icon on bathroom door and you’re anchors away…or more accurately its diapers away
All our seats promise a great journey but if you’re looking for something extra special, here’s the lowdown:
Comfort: Our standard seating option, offering a comfy ride and all the essential amenities.
Premium: Kick back with more room, upgraded seats, free seat selection, priority off-boarding, high-speed Wi-Fi for seamless streaming, and personal USB / USB-C charging ports
Business: All the perks of Premium, plus enjoy a complimentary snack and beverage served from the comfiest seats on board! Want to see what it looks like? Just take a peek at the Fares page on our website for more details.
While we’re still charting our course, there will be no liquor on board in early days of sailing. But hold fast, we’re looking into offering adult beverages in the future!
There will be! We’re in the process of perfecting our menu and can’t wait to serve you some tasty treats. Your feedback will be crucial in helping us craft the perfect onboard eats, so don’t be shy about telling us what you’re craving.
We’re well aware that we have all sorts of eaters on board, and we’re working our galley overtime to ensure there’s something for everyone. Stay tuned as we continue to enhance our offerings.
Our vessel hosts a set of stairs that gives access to both Premium and Business sections. Due to the safety of all those on board, we welcome anyone with a disability who can confidently navigate the stairs without assistance to enjoy Premium and Business. In case of an emergency, it is imperative that our guests can move quickly offboard.
Pricing & Discounts
Hull yes. When you book a round-trip voyage with Hullo, we dock off some from your fare. For a full peek at round-trip savings across Comfort, Premium, and Business, visit our Fares page. Say Hullo to savings!
All aboard the cashless cruise! We accept all major forms of credit and visa/debit cards, letting you pay in the way that floats your boat.
We look forward to bringing you special discounts and packages tailored for our frequent sailors. As we chart our course, we’re keen to learn more about your needs and travel patterns. Keep an eye out for these perks coming on the horizon!
Certainly! Guests 65 and above receive a discount when sailing Comfort. Please see our fares page for more information.
Your tiny companions aged 12 and under qualify for our child fares, and those under 2 years-old sail free of charge in Comfort class with an accompanying adult fare purchase. Because we believe in starting the love for the sea young!
Your journey with Hullo starts at just $29.99 (+ GST) when you sign up and book your first sailing online. Curious about the other service tiers? Sail over to our Fares page for the full breakdown.
Great news ahead– while we don’t have the capability to offer gift cards just yet, we’re sailing full speed ahead to make this happen soon. Stay tuned for updates!
We are pleased to host our own parking stalls on the Nanaimo side.
Here’s the scoop:
– 15 minutes – pick-up and drop-off for free
– 3 hours – $5.00
– first 24 hours – $14.00 daily rate
– additional 24 hours – $25.00 daily rate
We’ve got some exciting ventures coming soon. Keep an eye out for special offers in 2024.
Policies
Sometimes the seas aren’t as friendly as we’d like. If we have to cancel a sailing, guests will be rebooked onto another. If the new sailing doesn’t fit your plans, you’ll be able to adjust your ticket afterwards. We’ll always strive to keep your voyage smooth.
For safety reasons, guests 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult for their journey with Hullo.
We are happy to accommodate space for Registered Service Animals at no additional cost!
Sailing
We suggest arriving at our terminal no more than 30 minutes prior to your departure.
You can snag your booking up until 15 minutes before we head out. Just make sure to arrive at the gate at least 5 minutes before departure – we wouldn’t want you to miss the boat!
We sail at quite a clip, so we do ask that guests stay seated for the journey, however you’re not restricted to stretch your sea legs or visit the bathroom.
As much as we love the open air, we’ll be making such good time that lounging on the deck isn’t practical or safe for any guests.
We aim for smooth sailing, but the Salish Sea can sometimes have other plans. Rest assured, our vessels are designed to handle waves with grace. If you’re prone to seasickness, we advise you to come prepared with your remedy of choice and we will have some soothing ginger snacks available.
Bringing things on board
Absolutely! Just remember, with us cruising fast, all drinks should come with lids.
Yes, we’ve got space to accommodate low-profile, foldable walkers on board.
Similar to our aviation friends, you are prohibited from using personal liquor or cannabis on-board.
We offer out guests a smoke-free environment on all our vessels as well as in our terminal locations. Please note that the use of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited.
We understand how passionate British Columbians are about biking and we are rapidly working on a system of allowing those who need a bike to be able to book limited spots. Right now this service is unavailable but stay tuned!
While we understand the call of the waves (or slopes), we’re focused on providing a safe, smooth service and can’t guarantee we can accommodate oversized sporting gear at this time. Stay tuned as we look for more ways to help you get your gear between Nan and Van.
We are more than happy to welcome your furry-friends! House cats and small dogs that weigh no more than 10 kg (including the pet carrier) are allowed to join at no additional cost. Please remember, all pets must remain in a secure pet carrier on your lap or at your feet during the entire sailing. Safe and sound, just like our human guests!
Guests are welcome to bring a carry-on sized bag and personal item aboard at no additional cost. As for larger bags, we’re charting the course and exploring ways to accommodate those on board in the future. Adventure awaits!
We know travelling with little ones comes with extra belongings, so we have space to accommodate collapsible strollers. We will assist you in accomodating your carrier in our assigned storage areas.
Each of our vessels has four allocated wheelchair spots for comfortable sailing. Similar to airline travel, passengers will be required to move to a fixed passenger seat. These dedicated wheelchair spots are located on the main deck for easy access and can accomodate a standard size wheelchair.
Location
Our downtown Vancouver terminal is located at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre at 1055 Canada Place. Our terminal in Nanaimo is located at the Nanaimo Port Authority at 100 Port Way! We can’t wait to welcome you aboard!
Yes! We’ve got over 350+ paid parking stalls at the Nanaimo terminal. In Vancouver, fear not, there are plenty of long and short term parking options nearby as well.
Whether you’re arriving by land or by sea, we’ve got you covered! In Vancouver, you’ll have access to city buses, seabuses, skytrain, carshare, taxis, commercial buses, and rentals. Nanaimo offers similar options, with the city bus, carshare, taxi, commercial bus, and rentals all available. And, we’ve got exciting news on the horizon – we’re working tirelessly to launch a free shuttle service. Keep an eye out for more updates coming your way.
Our terminals keep sailor’s hours – they’re open bright and early, 45 minutes before the first ship sets sail, and they close 30 minutes after the last one docks for the night. No need to rush – we’re here when you need us!
We are delighted to be receiving interest from so many island communities for expansion, our focus for now is on perfecting our Nan <> Van service. Keep an eye out for more updates on expansion routes in the future.
Hullo and Vancouver Island Ferry Company is proud to be headquartered in Nanaimo, BC. Our office is located at 10 Church Street, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5H4.
Business
Please direct all media requests to our email: [email protected]
We are! Interested candidates can find open positions here.
Book your trip today
Create an online account to get $10.00 off your first sailing, plus enjoy additional savings when you book round-trip! Terms and conditions apply.