WSF Weekly Report | Fall reservations up 63% on release day

||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Ferry riders made more than 20,000 vehicle reservations on Sept. 10, the day they became available for fall sailings (Sept. 27 to Jan. 2). That’s up from roughly 12,000 a year ago, despite a modified schedule that includes no international service due to COVID-19! Our biggest day for reservations came earlier this year for the initial summer season release with roughly 22,000. Kudos to our IT department for their work on improving our online vehicle reservations system and to our customer service call center for helping customers needing further assistance.

This jump is the result of people making multiple reservations. So the increase may seem misleading in the middle of a pandemic with many counties still under essential or limited non-essential travel orders under the Safe Start reopening plan.

Photo of Premera face mask decal on the ferry Wenatchee

Wenatchee keeping it safe with a face covering thanks to Premera. It’s a friendly reminder that masks are required on our vessels and at our terminals.

As a reminder, we will not be switching over to a fall sailing schedule. We will continue to operate our current schedules until further notice. As a reminder, any schedule changes are dictated by ridership, crew availability, vessel availability and funding as outlined in our COVID Response Service Plan.  I suggest signing up for email alerts, checking terminal conditions, reading our COVID-19 travel updates and making a vehicle reservation for our Anacortes/San Juan Islands or Port Townsend/Coupeville routes.

No-show fees for vehicle reservations resume Oct. 1

Starting Thursday, Oct. 1, we will resume no-show fees for vehicle reservations that are not canceled by 5 p.m. the day before travel. As a courtesy, these fees were suspended in March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic while travel patterns were disrupted and unpredictable. When reinstated, there will be new no-show fee rates dependent on route and vehicle size. The new rates are part of Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) ferry fare and policy changes approved in August 2019.

Photo of vehicles in the holding lanes at Anacortes terminal

No-show fees for those who do not cancel their vehicle reservations by 5 p.m. the day before travel will resume on Thursday, Oct. 1, with new rates approved by the WSTC.

Share your thoughts about us

The Washington State Transportation Commission is seeking feedback about Washington State Ferries. Casual, recreational and regular riders, as well as those who are interested in ferry issues and management are welcome to join the Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group (FROG) to share their thoughts about all things ferries. Thanks for your participation and input!