Port McNeill ↔ Sointula

Port McNeill and Sointula both board by order of arrival, with check-in closing five minutes before departure for vehicles and foot passengers. That is the cutoff, not a good arrival time. Twenty to 30 minutes is a reasonable quiet-day margin; use more when the next sailing is too late.

BC Ferries marks the three-terminal route as a return fare, so the fare collected for the trip covers the return journey. The rule is stable, but the dollar amount isn't, so check the current calculator rather than trusting an old screenshot. Terminals accept cash, debit, major credit cards and the Experience Card.

Port McNeill has limited paid parking nearby. Sointula lists no terminal parking. At Sointula, arrange a drop-off, pickup or island transport rather than treating the approach road as an unofficial lot. If you are leaving a car behind, Port McNeill is the practical end, but limited means limited.

Yes. A bike is useful on Malcolm Island. It travels free with your passenger fare. E-bike charging is prohibited aboard, so begin with enough battery for the island ride. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes early, identify yourself at check-in, walk aboard and use the crew-designated securing point.

No. Vehicles board first-come, first-served, and beating the five-minute cutoff doesn't guarantee deck space. Look at current conditions before you drive over. On a busy island weekend, leave enough slack to take the following sailing.

Sointula's terminal page describes direct service to Port McNeill, but the wider operation is a three-terminal loop with Alert Bay. The route name is not enough; the timetable is your itinerary. Trust the stops shown for the exact date and departure you choose, not a remembered pattern.

The terminal is on 1st Street on Malcolm Island's south coast, and BC Ferries lists no public transportation. Arrange a ride, bring a bike or choose a walking-scale day before boarding. The waiting room, nearby coffee, shopping and fuel are helpful; they aren't a transit network.

It counts booked customers and drive-up vehicles already processed through the booth; it doesn't count vehicles still outside the terminal waiting to buy a ticket. A short unseen queue can still change the answer. On a first-come route, that makes the percentage a useful snapshot instead of a promise.