Article – The rollout of BC Ferries’ new Coastal Cafés premium lounges has ignited fierce debate among coastal residents, with many balking at the $20 entry fee that doesn’t include any food or beverages.
Walking through Tsawwassen terminal last week, I witnessed passengers doing double-takes at the menu board outside the newly unveiled lounge. A ham and cheese croissant priced at $14.75, a chicken salad sandwich at $17.50, and a glass of wine starting at $14 had travelers shaking their heads in disbelief.
“This is highway robbery on the high seas,” muttered Eleanor Jennings, a Nanaimo resident who makes the crossing monthly to visit her daughter in Vancouver. “We’re already paying higher fares just to get on the boat. Now they want twenty dollars just to sit in a special chair?”
The premium lounges, now operating on three major routes, promise comfortable seating, power outlets, and “enhanced menu offerings” according to BC Ferries’ official announcement released last month. But the pricing strategy has struck a nerve with regular commuters and occasional travelers alike.
BC Ferry Commission data shows base passenger fares have increased by nearly 4.2% this year alone, outpacing inflation. Add the new lounge costs, and a round-trip for two with premium access could easily exceed $300 before any food purchases.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming acknowledged the public reaction in comments to reporters Tuesday, saying, “We understand affordability is top of mind for British Columbians. While BC Ferries operates at arm’s length from government, we’ve requested a briefing on their pricing strategy.”
The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union, representing over 4,000 employees, has also waded into the controversy. “Our members are taking the brunt of passenger frustration,” said Union President Eric McNeely in a statement. “This creates an uncomfortable two-tier system that doesn’t reflect the essential service nature of our coastal ferry network.”
Social media has amplified the backlash, with #FerryFoodFail trending across Twitter and Facebook groups filled with comparison photos of airport lounges that include complimentary food and beverage for similar or lower entry fees.
What makes the situation particularly striking is the contrast with other transportation services. VIA Rail’s business class includes meals and beverages in the ticket price, while BC Transit has kept urban bus fares relatively stable despite rising costs.
“It feels tone-deaf given the cost-of-living struggles so many coastal communities are facing,” explained Dr. Melissa Chen, economics professor at the University of Victoria. “Ferry service isn’t a luxury for island communities—it’s essential infrastructure.”
During my visits to both the Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay terminals, I observed the lounges sitting mostly empty while regular seating areas remained packed. Several passengers mentioned they’d rather stand in the regular areas than pay the premium.
BC Ferries spokesperson Diana Mumford defended the pricing structure when contacted for comment. “The Coastal Café lounges represent an optional premium experience. Revenue generated helps subsidize our core operations and keeps base fares lower for everyone.”
This explanation hasn’t satisfied critics like Harold Spengler, chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee for the Southern Gulf Islands. “The core mandate should be affordable transportation, not creating exclusive spaces that most residents can’t justify using,” Spengler told me during a phone interview yesterday.
The timing couldn’t be worse for BC Ferries, which recently reported five sailing cancellations due to staffing shortages last month. Provincial data shows on-time performance has slipped to 88% system-wide, down from 92% in 2019.
The ferry corporation did make one concession following initial feedback—children under 12 can now enter the lounges free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult, revised from the original policy where only children under 5 received free entry.
For coastal residents like fisherman James Williams from Galiano Island, the premium lounge concept misses the point entirely. “We don’t need fancy lounges. We need reliable, affordable transportation. Maybe fix the staffing issues and mechanical breakdowns before adding luxury services?”
The situation raises deeper questions about the nature of essential services and how they’re funded. BC Ferries operates as a private company with provincial subsidies, creating an ongoing tension between profit motivation and public service obligations.
Premier David Eby, when asked about the controversy at an unrelated press conference in Prince Rupert, promised to “take a closer look at ensuring ferry services remain accessible to all British Columbians,” though stopped short of committing to specific pricing interventions.
Meanwhile, as summer tourist season approaches, some travelers are already planning workarounds. “We’ll be packing our own food and bringing travel mugs,” said Victoria resident Samantha Chen, waiting for the Tsawwassen ferry with her family of four. “Twenty dollars to sit in a special seat? I’d rather put that toward our vacation.”
Whether BC Ferries will adjust their pricing strategy remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—in a province where ferries represent lifelines rather than luxuries, the premium lounge experiment has touched a nerve that extends far beyond its menu prices.
