Hullo is a passenger ferry service between Vancouver and Nanaimo. It departs from the Vancouver Convention Centre near the Harbour Air Seaplanes terminal.
(Note: “HULLO” is pronounced “Huh-low,” so like “Hello” but with a “huh” instead of a “he.”)
Hullo Passenger Ferry from Downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo
Hullo is a relatively new passenger ferry service between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver. Launched in 2023, it’s similar to the now-defunct V2V Ferry which ran between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria until the company went bankrupt in 2020.
The differences between Hullo and V2V are their routes, the size and style of the vessels, and (hopefully) the success and longevity of the two companies. The vessels are similar, although with V2V there was an outer deck, so passengers could go outside. With Hullo, only crew can go on the outer decks. The Hullo vessel is also quite a bit larger.
What to Expect with Hullo Ferries
Hullo Ferries runs anywhere from three to six or seven sailings per day, depending on the day of the week and time of year. The trips are fast and comfortable (unless you travel during really windy and choppy weather). Each trip takes about 75 minutes.
There are three tiers for tickets on a Hullo sailing: Comfort, Premium and Business.
Comfort Class
The Comfort Class section is where you’ll find the standard seating on the lower deck. The seats are leather, high-backed and comfortable. Each seat has a place for a cup. Most have USB ports you can plug your phone into, and they’re also close to electric plugs. There is free Wi-Fi for everyone on board.
There are pairs of seats along the port and starboard sides of the boat by the windows. In the middle there are two sections with eight seats each, where four seats face the other four with tables in the middle.
The tables are high, so good for eating some food during the sailing, or playing a game of cards with those sitting across from you. Because of their height, the tables aren’t ideal for typing on your laptop. It is doable, however.
When the weather is calm, the journey is nice. The vessel travels at a fairly fast pace. It can sometimes get a bit choppy, though, since it’s pretty much all open water between Vancouver and Nanaimo. Thankfully, the swells of the water aren’t usually that noticeable, especially if you are sitting down.
There are washrooms on the vessels, and they are modern and adequate. There is also some basic food service, but not a ton on offer. If you want to have a proper meal on the ferry, you need to bring the food yourself.
Premium and Business Class
Premium and Business Class passengers sit in the upper deck of the vessels. The way that the Premium section is set up looks quite similar to Comfort Class. Some of the chairs face each other with tables in between, and others just face forward near the windows.
Premium Class passengers do get a couple of extra perks. They can reserve specific seats ahead of time, have better Wi-Fi, and get off the ferry before Comfort Class passengers. The seats in the Premium section are also a bit bigger and have a bit more room between them.
Business Class offers the same perks as Premium, with a couple of others as well. The Business seats are the comfiest on the vessel: they’re full recliners and have the most arm and legroom. Business Class passengers also receive a complimentary snack and drink for the voyage.
Hullo Terminals in Vancouver and Nanaimo
The ferry terminal in downtown Vancouver is super convenient. It’s right by the Vancouver Convention Centre, and just a 10-minute walk from Waterfront Station. You get on and off the ferry in the heart of the city.
The view of downtown Vancouver is spectacular as you arrive and depart from the terminal. It’s definitely the coolest part of the trip! The boat isn’t the best for taking photos from, however, as the windows get covered in water droplets from the ocean spray.
The ferry terminal in Nanaimo is nice, but it’s not as convenient as the one in Vancouver. It’s located a ways from downtown Nanaimo, so you need some sort of transport to get into the city proper (if you don’t want to take a long walk).
There’s a shuttle bus to and from the ferry, but it only runs up to six times a day from the terminal, and has just 20 seats. The bus is first come, first served. Otherwise, the options are to get picked up by a friend, or take a taxi or Uride (Nanaimo’s ride-share service).
The ferry is ideal for business people and workers travelling between Nanaimo and Vancouver. It’s also convenient for people wanting to travel between the two cities without their car.
Coincidentally, Hullo in Nanaimo shares its terminal with Helijet, which offers helicopter flight services between Nanaimo and Vancouver.
Booking Your Hullo Ferry Trip
When you book your trip with Hullo you select your time, date, and whether it’s one-way or roundtrip. Booking roundtrip saves you a few dollars compared to booking two one-way trips separately. If you don’t plan to return on Hullo, but have a family member or friend who does plan to, they can use the return portion of your roundtrip ticket! At least, that was the case when we travelled.
If you book your trip in Comfort Class, you have the option of choosing your seat (for an extra $3 fee) or having it randomly assigned to you. The main reason for paying to choose your spot would be if you want to sit at a table (in one of the middle sections) or if you definitely want to sit by a window.
When we travelled on Hullo we were assigned right beside one other person (whom we didn’t know), in a seat with no window view or table. The boat was pretty empty, however, and both us and the other person actually ended up moving and sitting somewhere else.
Wi-Fi is free for all passengers, although in Comfort Class it’s not good enough to stream video. Those on the lower deck can buy the same level of Wi-Fi given to Premium and Business Class passengers for an extra fee.
How Much Does the Hullo Ferry Cost?
As of early 2025, for adults (ages 19 to 64), a one-way ticket on Hullo costs about $40 for Comfort Class, $50 for Premium and $60 for Business. A roundtrip ticket costs around $75 for Comfort, $90 for Premium and $110 for Business.
Senior tickets are just $20 for one-way in Comfort Class, but the Premium and Business cost the same as a regular adult ticket. Children ages 2 to 18 cost $20 less than adults in all three classes. Infants under the age of 2 are free in Comfort Class (but not on the upper deck). Roundtrip tickets are slightly discounted for everyone.
Passengers are allowed to bring a backpack and a small carry-on item (like on a plane). Larger pieces of luggage or sports equipment like surfboards and skis cost between $25 and $30 to bring on a one-way ticket. Pets are allowed on for free as long as they’re in a pet carrier and held on a lap for the whole ride.
Bikes are not currently allowed on the ferry. Hullo says it’s planning on upgrading its vessels to be able to store bikes. Hullo’s hope is to allow bikes some time in 2025.
When Does the Hullo Ferry Depart?
The Hullo ferry schedule changes depending on the day of the week as well as what season it is. Weekends in the summer have the most sailings, whereas weekdays during the winter have fewer.
During last year’s summer, there were six regular roundtrip sailings per day. The first sailing of the day was from Nanaimo to Vancouver at either 7:05 am or 8:00 am, and the final sailing was from Vancouver to Nanaimo at either 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the days with the fewest sailings, at just three or four per day. The other five days of the week operate at peak level.
There are also special late night sailings on days when there are big events taking place in Vancouver. If there’s a big concert at Rogers Arena or the PNE, a Vancouver Whitecaps or BC Lions game, or it’s a holiday like Thanksgiving, then there can be special evening ferries. These extra sailings leave Nanaimo around 7:30 pm and head back from Vancouver at either 11:00 pm or midnight.
Other Information
For more information visit the Hullo Ferries website. For details on the Lower Mainland’s other ferry service check out our article on BC Ferries.
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