BC Ferries Connector — Attraction in Victoria

I will never be booking with this company ever again, worst experience and terrible customer service.

I booked a one way ticket from Downtown Victoria to Vancouver. I brought my carry on suitcase as I knew I would want to be bringing stuff home with me as well as making sure my items would be safe during my trip. I got to the check in counter, saw an attendant put a tag on my bag as I confirmed my “Broadway and Cambie stop. Watched them put my bag under the bus and onto the bus I went.

Once we were off the ferry and driving into Vancouver there were a few stops before mine. Once we got to Cambie and Broadway I hopped off the bus, watched the bus driver “Bob” take out the other people’s luggage but mine was nowhere to be seen. Very concerned I asked him where my bag is and he replied with “are you sure you had a bag”. I couldn’t believe he lost my bag, the bus driver was the only person touching the bags at each stop and he either gave it to someone else or left it on the sidewalk somewhere before my stop I have no idea what happened but he was no help what so ever and just told me to call the company (he also didn’t give me a number that I could call I had to google myself). I called right away and someone told me they would be looking into it for me. Hours go by with no follow up, I called back many times all going to voicemail. I had no clothes, no access to my medication, because it was all in my bag including expensive items such as an iPad. Someone finally got back to me in the evening (6 hours later) of no explanation of what happened to my bag. The bag was lost on a Sunday, 2 days later I messaged them for a follow up of what the company is going to do and I am told I wont get an answer until Thursday. On Thursday was told the bag is still missing and they did not know what happened to it.

4 days later I was given $100 for my missing bag (unfortunately the bag and contents inside were worth more then $100 but was better than nothing). I also requested my ticket to re refunded as this ordeal ruined my trip to Vancouver.

This has been the worst experience I have ever dealt with. As someone who works in the tourism industry I will never be...

Seamless travel between Victoria & Vancouver includes motorcoach and ferry transportation. It's great to treat myself occasionally: check-in and tag my luggage to my final destination (remember to carry a daypack), then board the bus which drives right onto the ferry.

50-minute ride to the ferry, get off on Deck 2, ride elevator or use stairs to Deck 5 or 6, enjoy the 90-minute crossing knowing my luggage is safe & secure.

Upon arrival, reboard the bus early - listen for the announcement - as the bus is first off the ferry upon arrival (also, you get to see the huge ferry doors open as we approach the terminal - quite the photo/video op!). Then another 50-minute ride to downtown.

This service offered from main bus depots, designated urban stops, and purchase available onboard. Flexible ticket purchase either station-to-station, to/from YVR (Vancouver International Airport), urban-urban, or to/from ferry terminals.

Challenges: limited service during off-season with only four daily departures (from Victoria 7:15a, 9:15a, 3:15p, 5:15p; from Vancouver 9:15a, 11a, 1p, 3p). There are more departures in high-season but may not match your schedule.

Also, sometimes you get a crumudgely though professional driver; sometimes a friendly, outgoing, helpful one, almost like a tour guide. I prefer the latter.

I highly recommend this option if: traveling with elderly, or small children; first time visitors; you are flexible & adaptable with your travel plans; aren't driven totally by cost. It's a bit more expensive than walking on/transit but huge trade-off in comfort, luggage storage, and point-to-point service...including stops by Canada Line Stations in Vancouver.

I recommend purchasing tickets online in advance and paying $5 extra (per person) for Front-of-the-Bus seat (only available station-to station not for...

BEWARE: YOU MAY NOT GET A SEAT AND BE FORCED TO STAND! I was surprised the first time I sat on the Connector bus that there were people standing because Wilsons had overbooked their seats. I decided to give them a free pass, because it appeared that the folks getting off at the airport bus (just 2 mins away from the ferry) freed up enough vacant seats. Then today, there were four people standing on the 9:45am bus all the way from Tsawassen Ferry Terminal to Cambie and 25th in Vancouver. That's a 40 minute bus ride - imagine standing all that time without any public safety handrails, worse than public transit. Additionally, getting off the bus for me was a hassle because people's suitcases were blocking the path, certainly a tripping hazard. I wonder if it's even legal to stand on a commercial bus all that time without proper safety handles like public transit. Had I not saved my seat by placing something on it, I would also have been standing. So, if you book with them, be aware that they overbook, and as a result, you may not get a seat, no better than public transit! And, in fact, it may be safer on public transit! I remember when this route was run by Pacific Coach, certainly a more reputable name. At least, everyone got to sit down!

My response to the owner: If it is not your practice to oversell your buses, then why were people standing all the way from the ferry terminal...