FAQs

Our departure times between Seattle and Victoria vary seasonally. For more information, please see our Seattle-Victoria fast ferry schedule.

Standard Clipper Fare:  Changes or cancellations received 2 or more days before tour start date are fully refundable. 1 day before tour start date, the reservation is non-refundable, non-changeable.

Advance Purchase Clipper Fare:  The reservation is non-changeable and all cancellations are non-refundable. Should you want to change your booking in any capacity, a $15 USD fee will be charged and you must contact us to modify your booking.

Hotel Cancellation Policy:  Within 4 days before travel start date, the reservation is non-refundable, non-changeable.

Please submit all travel cancellation or change requests through our Contact Us page.

All valid travel credits have been extended for use through April 30, 2023. In order to book using your travel credit please reach out to a reservations agent using our contact us form.

The passenger-only round-trip fare for the Victoria Clipper ferry ranges from $115 USD – $160 USD for a 7-day advance purchase round-trip ticket depending on the time of year. SAVE on your Victoria Clipper ferry ride when booking a Seattle to Victoria overnight hotel package!

Advance Purchase Fare:  The reservation is non-changeable and all cancellations are non-refundable. Thus, the fare is less expensive. Should you want to change your booking in any capacity, a $15 USD fee will be charged and you must contact us to modify your booking.

Standard Fare:  Changes or cancellations received 2 or more days before tour start date are fully refundable. 1 day before tour start date, the reservation is non-refundable, non-changeable. Thus, the fare is more expensive but allows for more flexibility if your travel plans should change.

YES! We work with a highly-vetted portfolio of outstanding hotel partners to offer you great deals on overnight stays. In addition to receiving great hotel rates, you also benefit from a special discounted ferry fare if you add a hotel to your booking. This rate is automatically adjusted when you add a hotel to a ferry booking or book a package. The discount is even greater if you add multiple nights!

Please contact our expert reservations agents to inquire about discounts for group bookings of 10+ guests. We also offer special discounts for children and military personnel.

Please reach out via our Contact Us page with questions and we will assist as quickly as possible in responding to your inquiry. You may also reach our call center between 10am – 3pm Mon-Fri at 800-888-2535.

When traveling between Canada and the United States, it will be necessary to pass through Customs and Border Protection at the border. If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need one of the following travel documents:

• A Passport (required for air travel)
• Passport Card
• Enhanced Driver License or an Enhanced ID Card (EDL/ID) applicable to select states/provinces only, this is different than a Real ID
• NEXUS Card

When traveling by land or sea, U.S. or Canadian children under age 16 and infants are required to provide proof of citizenship. They may present one of the following documents:

• An original or copy of his or her birth certificate
• A consular report of birth abroad
• A naturalization certificate
• A citizenship card

If both birth parents are not present, you must provide a signed (preferably notarized) statement from the parent(s) authorizing the child to travel out of the country or proof of custody.

Children from countries other than the US or Canada will require a passport and possibly a Visa. Failure to provide such evidence may make you inadmissible to Canada.

Guests traveling on our San Juan Clipper fast ferry with domestic service between Seattle, WA and Friday Harbor, WA do not need to present identification other than a boarding pass.

Learn more about required travel documents.

Check out our virtual tour of the Victoria Clipper V!

ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:   

International travelers, including Canadian citizens, will need proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please have your vaccination card or a photo of it ready in the event you are asked to show it.

US citizens and US Lawful Permanent Residents do not need to provide proof of vaccination upon entry back into the US.

Please visit the US Homeland Security website for more information.

ENTERING CANADA:   

Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers entering Canada, regardless of citizenship, no longer have to:
– Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website
– Provide proof of vaccination
– Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing
– Carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation
– Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada

You will only need a valid passport (or other valid travel document, see below) to enter Canada. Please visit the Government of Canada’s website for more information.

ENTERING CANADA:   

Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers entering Canada, regardless of citizenship, no longer have to:
– Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website
– Provide proof of vaccination
– Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing
– Carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation
– Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada

You will only need a valid passport (or other valid travel document, see below) to enter Canada. Please visit the Government of Canada’s website for more information.

ENTERING CANADA:   

Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers entering Canada, regardless of citizenship, no longer have to:
– Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website
– Provide proof of vaccination
– Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing
– Carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation
– Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada

You will only need a valid passport (or other valid travel document, see below) to enter Canada. Please visit the Government of Canada’s website for more information.

ENTERING CANADA:   

Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers entering Canada, regardless of citizenship, no longer have to:
– Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website
– Provide proof of vaccination
– Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing
– Carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation
– Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada

You will only need a valid passport (or other valid travel document, see below) to enter Canada. Please visit the Government of Canada’s website for more information.

ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:   

International travelers, including Canadian citizens, will need proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please have your vaccination card or a photo of it ready in the event you are asked to show it.

US citizens and US Lawful Permanent Residents do not need to provide proof of vaccination upon entry back into the US.

Please visit the US Homeland Security website for more information.

ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: 

US citizens and US Lawful Permanent Residents do not need to provide proof of vaccination upon entry back into the US.

Please visit the US Homeland Security website for more information.

If you are a booked guest, you can quickly change or confirm your seats by visiting our seat selection portal. If you want to change your class of seating, you will need to reach out to our Reservations team.

Indeed!  Here are some great resources to check out:

• 150 Things to Do in Victoria
• 150 Things to Do in Seattle
• FRS Clipper Onboard Print Magazine
• FRS Clipper Online Magazine

For the quickest response, please use our Contact Us page to submit your request.

Masks are recommended onboard our Seattle-Victoria fast ferry service to help protect our staff and crew, but not required.

Please make sure you have reviewed the ID & Requirements required by the Canadian government prior to arriving at our Seattle terminal.

Felonies may also prevent you from entering Canada. This means anything that is considered a felony in Canada, even if it is not a felony in the U.S. Even a misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated conviction (DUI/DWI) is considered a felony in Canada and could result in you being denied entrance into Canada.

Yes. You can bring pets onboard the Victoria Clipper and San Juan Clipper ferries, if they are in a carrier and accompanied by a person (animals cannot be transported as cargo). Pet space is highly limited, so we strongly recommend you book in advance and use our Contact Us page to inform us of your pet travel plans.

Please learn more about traveling with pets.

Yes. You can bring bikes onboard the Victoria Clipper ferry. Bicycles are charged a $20 handling fee each way to Victoria, BC. Bicycle space is highly limited, so we strongly recommend you book in advance and use our Contact Us page to inform us of your bike travel plans.

Please learn more about traveling with bikes.

No. The Victoria Clipper V vessel is a passenger-only ferry. However, you can park your car at nearby parking garages before boarding the Clipper (Bell St. Garage near the Seattle terminal, hourly parking at the Victoria terminal or the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria).

Seattle Terminal

The terminal is located on Alaskan Way at Pier 69.

ADVISORY: Please refer to the Waterfront Seattle website and WSDOT website for updates and directions ahead of your planned travel and allow ample time for arrival to our Wall Street parking garage. Note that it can take between 5 and 20 minutes to walk from the Wall Street parking garage to our Seattle terminal depending on various factors such as train crossings. Please plan accordingly and allow sufficient time.

Victoria Terminal

The terminal is located Victoria’s Inner Harbour at 254 Belleville Street, which is about a block from the Hotel Grand Pacific.

Learn more about directions and parking.

Yes. In Seattle, the nearby Bell Street Pier garage is located at 9 Wall Street, directly across Alaskan Way from the Edgewater Hotel.

The garage offers parking for ONLY $10 per calendar day! You can obtain parking validation tickets from one of our agents in our Seattle or Victoria terminals or onboard the vessel. Note that it can take between 5 and 20 minutes to walk from the Wall Street parking garage to our Seattle terminal depending on various factors such as train crossings. Please plan accordingly and allow sufficient time.

In Victoria, very limited daily pay parking is available at the terminal and overnight pay parking is available at the Hotel Grand Pacific, which is about a block from the terminal. Robbins parking lot locations are also available for overnight parking.

Learn more about directions and parking.

Seattle:

Our terminal in Seattle is only open 6:30am – 8:15am for check-in and processing. We do allow walk-up day-of guests to purchase tickets if space allows.

Victoria:

Our terminal in Victoria is currently open 10am – 3pm. We do allow walk-up day-of guests to purchase tickets if space allows.

You can travel from SeaTac Airport to Seattle Clipper terminal the following ways:

• Sound Transit Light Rail: Approximately $2.75 each way for airport to Westlake Station in downtown Seattle. You would require about a 5-minute taxi to get to the Victoria Clipper terminal at Pier 69. No reservations are required.
• Taxi/Rideshare: Taxis and rideshare services are available on the 3rd floor of the Seattle Airport Parking Garage.

We strongly recommend arriving one hour before departure time for your sailing. Final boarding is 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

We strongly recommend that you check-in online prior to arriving at our terminals for travel. An email notification will be sent out 7 days prior to travel as a reminder for check-in. We recommend arriving at least one hour before your ferry’s departure. Health, Security and Passport checks are done at the ticket counter for all Seattle – Victoria passengers.

Pre-boarding is available on most departures if you need a little more time to settle in, such as families traveling with children ages 5 and under and those with difficulty walking.

Departing Seattle

Boarding starts 1 hour before your boat is scheduled to leave. If you are not on the boat 15 minutes before the boat is scheduled to leave, you forfeit your seat and your fare.

Departing Victoria

You are required to process through U.S. Customs & Border Protection Immigration processing before boarding any departure from Victoria. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will start processing passengers at least one hour before departure. Passengers will board the vessel after clearing through U.S. Customs and Border Protection Immigration processing. Please note that all passengers arriving in Seattle from Victoria will then go through a final clearance by U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection at the Seattle terminal.

Learn more about check-in and boarding.

When traveling between the United States and Canada it will be necessary to pass through Customs and Passport Control on either leg of the trip.

Arriving in Victoria

Upon arrival at our Victoria terminal, you’ll clear both Canadian Immigration and Customs at the same time.

Arriving in Seattle

You are required to pass through U.S. Immigration/Passport Control before boarding any departure from Victoria. U.S. Immigration/Passport Control will start processing passengers at least one hour before departure.

Upon arrival in Seattle, you will pass through U.S. Customs to verify any purchases made on the trip.

Yes. You are allowed to check up to two pieces of luggage on the Victoria Clipper V fast ferry at the cost of $15.00 USD per checked bag. Each checked luggage item must weigh less than 50 pounds with linear dimensions that do not exceed 62” (length + width + height) including handles and wheels. Luggage items over 70 lbs. will be charged $37.00 USD per leg of travel.

All checked luggage items must be fully closed and contained (no protruding pieces or unclosed parts) to be accepted. NOTE: checked luggage will be checked in and paid for (Credit Card ONLY, Cash is NOT accepted) at the FRS Clipper terminal on your day of travel. Please allow ample time in your schedule to check in required luggage.

You can also carry on one small piece of luggage and one personal item. Learn more on our luggage policy.

Seattle Terminal

2022 – NOT currently available in Seattle Terminal.

During the summer (when the kiosk is open) there is a luggage storage area at the Seattle Clipper terminal where you can store your luggage (for $10.00 per bag – Credit Card ONLY, cash not accepted) while you see the sights in Seattle.

Victoria

Luggage can be stored year-round (10am – 5pm) at the Victoria Clipper (for $10.00 per bag – Credit Card ONLY – Cast NOT accepted) while you explore in and around the city.

Learn more about luggage storage.

Most cell phones work just fine in Victoria, but some cell phone carriers charge additional fees for roaming and data without a Canadian or international phone plan. Before leaving for your trip, contact your local carrier for information on call pricing, text messaging and internet usage.

If you don’t have an international data plan, be sure to disable your phone’s data settings until you can find a hot spot to avoid charges.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across Canada, and ATM machines with 24-hour access are available throughout greater Victoria. The extent to which you can use your card and the fees that apply depend on your credit card company and bank. Be sure to call your bank and credit card companies before departing to avoid any surprise charges and to inform them of your travel plans to prevent your card from being deactivated.

Many businesses in Victoria accept U.S. dollars, but they are able to set their own exchange rate, so the rates may vary from store to store and change will be given in Canadian dollars.

Yes. All FRS Clipper employees and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

There are three seating classes on the Victoria Clipper ferry. Within each class, there are upgrade sections as well. They are:

Economy Class – Situated on the lower deck of the main cabin, Economy Class offers locally sourced food, spirits and beverages available for purchase as well as an onboard gift shop.

Economy Panoramic – Upgraded window seats in Economy Class.

Vista Class – Located on the upper deck of the vessel, Vista Class offers leather seats with top deck panoramic views as well as ample table seating for small groups.

Vista Panoramic – Upgraded window seats in Vista Class.

Comfort Class – Features priority boarding, a spacious private cabin area on the upper deck, leather seating as well as complimentary snacks and refreshments.

Comfort VIP – Best of the best seats in Comfort Class!

Learn more about our Victoria Clipper V on our vessel information page.

On board the Victoria Clipper V ferry, A selection of locally-sourced meals, such as handmade sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, muffins and light snacks available for purchase on board. In addition, we offer a full range of beverages options, including locally-distilled spirits. You may also bring other food onboard, but no outside alcohol may be consumed onboard. See full menu.

PLEASE NOTE:  Clipper’s terminals and the Victoria Clipper vessel are cashless, meaning purchases must be made with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card. We do not accept cash, checks or debit cards requiring a PIN.

Yes. The Victoria Clipper V can accommodate both standard and motorized wheelchairs on the main deck of the vessel. Tie-downs are located at the front of the vessel on both the left and right side and at the back of the ship on the left side. Our vessel also features one wheelchair accessible bathroom onboard.

Due to limited loading capabilities, motorized scooters are typically not allowed in the cabin and are instead stored on the outside deck. If you are traveling with a motorized chair, be sure to bring along a charger in case your chair runs out of power during your trip.

When booking online, please mark the box noting that a guest will require wheelchair assistance and contact us with any questions so that we may add a note to your reservation.

Yes, there is. See our Virtual Tour of the Victoria Clipper V.

Our direct route between Seattle and Victoria, BC on the Victoria Clipper V ferry is around 2 hours and 45 minutes between Pier 69 in downtown Seattle and Belleville Terminal in Victoria’s downtown Inner Harbor.

No, there is no smoking or vaping onboard the Victoria Clipper V or San Juan Clipper.

Yes, both vessels offer a gift shop with a wide array of fun and unique Pacific Northwest apparel including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and beanies as well as stickers and postcards. Check out our sample Victoria Clipper V gift shop menu.

On our international route, the Victoria Clipper V also offers onboard duty-free sales.

Free Wi-Fi is available in both our Seattle and Victoria, BC terminal. Since our boats travel far from the shore on portions of our journey, we are unable to offer Wi-Fi onboard our vessels. We strongly encourage customers to take advantage of the time to unplug from technology! Soak in outstanding ocean vistas and the fresh air, relax and play a card game with friends or cozy up in your comfortable reclining seat with a good a book.

While we don’t normally sail over rough waters, occasionally it can be choppy once we’re underway due to Mother Nature and sudden weather changes in the Salish Sea. If you are prone to seasickness or motion sickness, we proactively provide complimentary ginger candies as well as Dramamine and Meclizine, which we recommend you take as soon as boarding is completed.

No. You cannot carry firearms, ammunition, explosives or any other form of goods considered dangerous on board the Victoria Clipper or San Juan Clipper ferries.

This service is currently not running in 2022. If you are seeking our whale watching tour options, please visit our Seattle half-day whale watching tour.

Our cancellation and refund policy for all trips booked on the San Juan Clipper fast ferry and all associated whale watching tours is the following:

Standard Fare: Fully refundable for cancellations received 2 or more days prior to travel, non-changeable/non-refundable within 2 days. Should you want to change your booking in any capacity, a $15 USD fee will be charged.

For the quickest response, please use our Contact Us page to submit your request or call our Reservations team at 800-888-2535.

No.

Masks are recommended for the safety of our crew, but not required.

The Salish Sea is world famous for observing a vast array of whales and sealife. Please check out this 2022 guide to Seattle whale watching.

As part of our Whale Watching Guarantee, if you don’t see whales on your San Juan Clipper whale watching trip, you will receive a voucher for another trip on us. Please note that the voucher is not valid for seeing a specific whale species and is also not valid for a cash back exchange.

No, there is only one class of service but a lower and upper deck for indoor seating. You will select your seats when making your booking. The top outer viewing deck is open to all guests to use during our trips. View vessel seating chart for San Juan Clipper.

Yes, we offer a variety of locally-sourced food, drink and snack options that you can view on our online menu as well as various gift shop items.

Correct, all reserved seating is located indoors and you will select your seats when booking your trip. You can also modify your booked seats at anytime by visiting our seat selection portal.

The top outdoor viewing deck of San Juan Clipper is open and available to all guests during our trips and has bench seating but is not used for reserved seating.

While there is only one class of service on San Juan Clipper, you are able to select your seats on either the upper or lower deck during the online booking process.

Our seats include both table options on the upper and lower deck as well as window seats. You will select your seats when making your booking. All guests are welcome to use the top outside viewing deck as desired during our trips. The outside viewing deck does not have reserved seating.

Lower Deck Seating

Upper Deck Seating

If you are a booked guest, you can quickly change or confirm your San Juan Clipper seats by visiting our seat selection portal.

Once onboard the vessel, an announcement will be made to retrieve parking validations at the galley. Should you miss this announcement, our crew will make sure you receive a parking validation ticket when arriving back at Pier 69 in Seattle.

Yes, our San Juan Clipper fast ferry can accommodate standard manual wheelchairs and has a standard manual wheelchair accessible restroom onboard. When booking online, please mark the box noting that a guest will require standard wheelchair assistance and contact us with any questions so that we may add a note to your reservation. Please note that we are unable to accommodate motorized wheelchairs on San Juan Clipper due to space and boarding constraints.

For our Seattle to San Juan Island fast ferry service and full-day whale watching tour, we allow 2 free checked bags per our luggage policy. When you arrive on the day of your trip, you will check in with your luggage and drop your bags off while boarding the vessel.

Yes. You can bring pets onboard the San Juan Clipper fast ferry, if they are in a carrier and accompanied by a person (animals cannot be transported as cargo). Pet space is highly limited, so we strongly recommend you book in advance and use our Contact Us page to inform us of your pet travel plans.

Please learn more about traveling with pets.

Yes. You can bring bikes onboard the San Juan Clipper fast ferry. Bikes are charged a $20 handling fee each way. Bike space is highly limited and we do have limitations on the types of bikes we can transport on our San Juan Clipper vessel. We strongly recommend that you book in advance and use our Contact Us page to inform us of your bike travel plans.

Please learn more about traveling with bikes.

As a domestic route between Seattle and Friday Harbor, WA on San Juan Island, you do not need a passport or any identification. All that is required is your boarding pass at check-in.

For guests on our full-day Seattle to San Juan Island with Whale Watching tour, you will remain on the vessel in the same seats and depart from the Friday Harbor pier once those guests who are not participating in the tour disembark the vessel. We then depart at 12:15pm from the Friday Harbor pier to begin our whale & sealife search.

Full Schedule:

8:15 AM: Depart Pier 69 in Seattle
12:00 PM: Arrive Friday Harbor (if you are going whale watching, you stay on the boat)
12:15 PM to 2:45 PM: Whale & Sealife Search
2:45 PM to 5:00 PM: Free time in Friday Harbor
5:15 PM: Depart Friday Harbor
8:00 PM: Arrive Seattle

Lots! We are very passionate about Friday Harbor and San Juan Island and have mapped out 25 of our favorite things to do when visiting the island. Let us know if you need more ideas!