||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
With statewide restrictions in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19, this will not be a normal Thanksgiving for ferry travel. If you absolutely must ride our ferries, please wear a mask anytime outside of your vehicle as one is required aboard our vessels and throughout our terminals in compliance with the state’s health order to help keep people safe. In addition, be aware that some sailing schedules are different from years past as they are dependent on our COVID Response Service Plan.
Our onboard galleys remain closed due to COVID-19, but our food vendor is still supplying their vending machines. As a reminder, masks are required unless you’re in a vehicle.
Lengthy wait times are possible for people driving a vehicle onto a vessel over the long holiday weekend, especially in the westbound direction Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25, through Thursday morning, Nov. 26, then eastbound Thursday afternoon through Friday, Nov. 27. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, there will be minor holiday schedule changes for the Edmonds/Kingston, Mukilteo/Clinton, Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes. The Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will operate on a weekend timetable that day. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedule page for each route.
Thank you to all my colleagues working over the long holiday weekend during this pandemic to maintain our vital transportation service.
If you must catch a ferry right now, I suggest signing up for our email alerts, checking terminal conditions and reading our COVID-19 travel updates.
Wild winds and waves
How about a shout out to all our vessel and terminal crews for braving this week’s wild weather!? They kept all our customers safe through strong winds and rough seas. I want you to know that each captain makes the decision prior to each departure and we will not sail if it’s not safe to do so. Thanks to Anacortes/San Juan Islands customer Mike Martin for capturing Tuesday’s treacherous conditions on video from aboard Chelan!
A wave crashes onto the bow of Chelan Tuesday during a morning sailing in the San Juan Islands. (Image captured from video by Mike Martin)
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