Starting Friday, a fourth boat will be added on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route to operate a full fall schedule on a trial basis. With new hires and agreements with unions, this is the first step in service restoration. New vehicle reservations for the run remain suspended until it is certain that all four vessels can be fully crewed on a regular basis.
Washington State Ferries says all vehicles on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route are loading on a first-come, first-served basis, but existing reservation holders are prioritized over those without one.
If you’re planning to catch a ferry over Thanksgiving weekend, stay up to date with our latest sailing schedulesonline. If crewing allows, daily sailings may be added on routes operating reduced service. We switched to alternate service schedules on most routes Oct. 16, to reduce last-minute sailing cancellations caused by crewing challenges. Also sign up for ferry email alerts and checking terminal conditions before heading out the door.
Long waits are possible for people driving a vehicle onto a vessel, especially westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 24, through Thursday morning, Nov. 25, then eastbound (or off island) Thursday afternoon through Friday, Nov. 26. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, there will be a few schedule changes on some routes.