BC News'7 to 9 hour wait': Tips from BC Ferries to avoid summer travel mayhem7 to 9 hour wait on FerriesPhoto: . People have experienced long waits for BC Ferries trips between Vancouver Island and the mainland heading into the weekend. BC Ferries schedule: Book in advance or miss outThankfully, the traveller was able to drive to Victoria and catch a 5 p.m. ferry to Vancouver, but not all vacationers will find such luck, advises BC Ferries. BC Ferries also shared a graphic showing peak travel periods over the BC Day period based on what the company has seen in past years (see photo gallery). For customers travelling without a booking, the best way to check availability is through the BC Ferries website.