The Future of Ferry Travel? | Riding the Hullo from Vancouver to Nanaimo | Review

The Hullo is the latest in a long line of attempts to operate a private ferry between Nanaimo and Vancouver -- will it work this time? Nav Videographer Ben hopped on board to try to find out...
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#hullo #nanaimo #nanaimobc #vancouver #BCFerries #transit #fastferry
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[@patallen5095]

Thanks for this. Am planning on exploring this option for visiting the Island. Friends have taken it and the feedback was positive. In this day and age, hoping that this kind of service can continue and flourish! 👍

[@mchozen2958]

Yes!

[@BA-zy2kb]

Hopefully Hullo takes note and reads the comments. I agree with you, their ability to keep to their scheduled sailings is key. When I worked downtown Vancouver I could not believe the number of people commuting from Nanaimo daily. Hope they make it work.

[@mchozen2958]

I loved the Hullo ferry, taking a return trip in early September, then taking the sky train to the airport where airport security was not so pleasant.

[@8bit_paul]

Took the ferry this past weekend, great experience. Thanks Hullo!

[@TheCanadianBubba]

If there is enough foot traffic wanting to get to downtown Vancouver quickly it might survive. It is pretty much three hours to cross on a BC Ferry and then bus into downtown. If they make allowance for bicycles the ridership numbers should improve as well. Nanaimo has gone crazy making downtown bike friendly. It would be no more than a five minute ride from the Hullo terminal to downtown Nanaimo. Wish them success and look forward to trying them should we have something happening in downtown Vancouver.

[@balutbatanglalaki]

THIS IS AMAZING! KEEP THE GOOD WORK UP!!

[@veedriving6210]

Thanks for this video. It looks so professionally done. I would like to record a journey on this ferry soon!

[@mchozen2958]

It’s awesome and I’ve taken a lot of ferries, including the catamaran between Victoria and Seattle, plus hydrofoils, float planes, bullet trains...

[@nicolaslemay]

Didn’t know about this service, which might be very convinient for us. They now have a 7:30 pm service from Nanaimo. Since we don’t have a car, going directly to downtown Vancouver, and faster, is definitely a big plus for us.

[@mmanning2319]

I wanted to use this service shortly after they started sailing, but I was told I wasn't allowed to bring my luggage onboard with me. I had a flight to catch out of YVR, so I had a large bag in addition to my carry on and personal item. But I try to limit myself to a handbag and a small carry on, if I'm staying in Vancouver for a few days. Hopefully soon I can give this service a try!

[@StreetDogSteve]

Apparently they're allowing it now.

[@elizabethcooper9552]

I used it on its first trip, with a carry on. No problem. Returning with a larger bag, no problem. Great staff, great ride. Wish there was a terminal in Vancouver and a bus in Nanaimo. Better signage on both sides is a must.

[@StreetDogSteve]

@@elizabethcooper9552 Larger being what? Still a carry-on sort of size?

[@elizabethcooper9552]

@@StreetDogSteve the next size up from carry on.

[@Zergcerebrates]

They should start a service to Seattle

[@fonkenful]

Victoria Clipper has been running from Victoria Harbour to Seattle since 1986, and it’s had some lean years. The demographic is probably not sufficient to support a Nanaimo to Seattle run - and quite a higher up front cost associated with Customs/Immigration, so the business use case needs to be pretty strong.

[@Blt-rr2lm]

At the beginning you showed the FastCat catamaran. Same idea, but couldn’t run at speed in choppy water. I wonder if this will be similar. This will fail if they don’t have warm cover while waiting in the winter. You didn’t mention the Hydroplane that ran from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria in the eighties. It was great (25bucks) but lack of interest killed it.

[@bradbest4418]

Update:---- Hullo now has a complimentary shuttle bus service which runs between their Nanaimo terminal and two downtown stops.......the Port Place BC transit bus Loop and Coast Bastion Hotel...... it runs continuously before the ferry get in... and after passengers disembark the vessel..... but it needs a ton of work......at this time......the shuttle bus only drops passengers off in downtown Nanaimo......but they do not pick up..... and take passengers to the ferry...... The onboard cafe is mediocre with No hot food items or hot drinks....Not even coffee..........they only have sparkling bubbly water, granola bars and chips......which are served on the Upper deck only for business and premium passengers......Comfort passengers on the main deck do not have access to the cafe.......during the sailings.....they block off the stairs due to as they call British Columbia High speed craft policy......which makes no sense because all the other private fast catamaran services you could roam freely around the vessel....like on BC Ferries...... The washrooms are okay......but have been finding sometimes the sinks work.....sometimes they don't..... and the toilets sometimes don't flush either..... In order for Hullo to #succeed is they need to start by having indoor waiting rooms at both terminals.... Nanaimo does have a small indoor waiting room....but it gets cramped in there......the Vancouver ticket office is rarely open......so if you are walking on without a reservation.... you may have a hard time getting a ticket....they really need hot food and drink options... I also suggesting to them other routes to Victoria and Sunshine Coast to boost their rider ship....Hullo has a lot to do before success

[@eugenetswong]

Thanks for the update regarding their complimentary shuttle service. I think that they need to take people to the ferry. It's insane to not do that. I think that it can get crowded in the shuttle, so maybe a separate trip for pickup?

[@bradbest4418]

the shuttle bus now does both drop offs/pick ups.............and BC transit... Nanaimo Regional transit also runs their own route to the terminal and goes to Wood grove Mall

[@eugenetswong]

@@bradbest4418That's great news! Way to go, BC Transit!

[@AlexPotvin]

Dude enough with the …….

[@lazloperry5242]

Holy crap dude, get a hobby or make your own video rofl. Ain't nobody going to read that wall of drivel

[@Railfan513]

This looks amazing 🤩 personally I think BC ferries is better yes I know it takes longer but you get way more on bc ferries plus there is a lot of room to walk around inside and outside and now on at least one BC ferries vessel there is a pet area

[@waynemanning3262]

It will fail like all the others! All the fast ferries underestimate the water conditions crossing the straight of Georgia, with can be brutally rough!

[@user-fb6ns4zq2r]

Fantastic review

[@marcschouten3527]

I’ll likely use it if they start allowing bikes as we do day trips on the island.

[@heather2185]

I’d pay that for the same service between Victoria and Vancouver…why isn’t this offered between Victoria and Vancouver?

[@mattfromyvr]

Probably because the trip from downtown Vancouver to Victoria is about 3-4x further than the one from Vancouver to Nanaimo, taking almost 4 hours in ideal conditions. This is part of the reason why I don't think we have a BC Ferry Route to Victoria from Horseshoe Bay either. I wonder if they'd consider this longer trip if the Nanaimo route gains traction though!

[@heather2185]

@@mattfromyvrthere used to be a route from downtown Vic to downtown Van but I think Covid killed it

[@Dbodell8000]

Victoria is too far out of the way.

[@FREDERIKREINARZ]

If you're retired, make it a cruise Monday through Thursday, foot passenger from Nanaimo to Tsawwassen and on to Victoria,sleep with the homeless and return when you feel like it. You can take a bike and a tent on your free cruise!

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Completely weather related. Expect at least 20 or 30 cancellations in winter storms.

[@AnimationPuppeteer]

Unfortunately, the walking route shown in the video on the Nanaimo side seems to cut through private property, which I didn't think is accessible, so the actual walk--at least for me--is about twice as far. Fortunately--and as a recent, previous commenter has mentioned--Nanaimo BC Transit has a route out there now; I only noticed what were likely going to be the bus bays in the sidewalk when I took it, probably around the same time Ben took it for this video. I might try the service again in the next few months. P.S. Is the channel related to the Malaspina (VIU) student newspaper? P.S.S. Unfortunate to see a few awful comments here.

[@jamescassidy4045]

Great Ferry! Horrible online customer service. On the few occasions I’ve needed to message them, regarding a trip, and some travel vouchers I had, my questions were not answered, and clearly not read properly. I had to message back to clarify, about 2 times, and every time it’s like they read one sentence, and gave me info I wasn’t asking for. Happened to a friend as well. I’m not trying to be a rude, but Hullo needs to take their customer service more seriously, because there’s no one you can talk to over the phone. Whoever has replied to me the couple times I has questions was very incompetent, or overworked so they couldn’t possibly put care into reading emails, and replying

[@barontaylor7139]

Harbourlynx had the wrong vessel according to their original business plan and their manager was the Mayor of Nanaimo right before Krog

[@eugenetswong]

I really want them to survive, but I think that they won't, because it's so expensive to run a reliable service. People like to complain so much, but it's not easy. I'm disappointed that they didn't go to the SeaBus terminal. That was the logical place for me.

[@terrymckenzie8786]

@@eugenetswongHe’s. You can catch bus or sky train,

[@markgisborne8482]

You know what would be great? If the ministry of transportation invested into passenger ferries. Instead they focus on auto-centric BC ferries... Oh yeah, and BC Ferries gets their terminals leased to BC ferries for $1 a year. So good luck for anyone trying to compete...

[@AlexPotvin]

It’s a bit more egregious when you see the newer island class ferries don’t seem to have bike racks

[@christianlinkert]

The wifi didn’t work for me either when I crossed last week

[@jacobrocks7]

Love to see a route to the islands and Tofino

[@joealphons5772]

Tofino won't happen as the sea can be very rough on the West side of Vancouver island.

[@micahhelland2619]

Seems to be the same walking distance on either side to public transit. 1.0km = 12 min.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

Sounds good! Except for the vegan toothpaste logo... that's a superstitious no go for me...😒

[@BlurredVisi0n]

Great video, very informative

[@oceanside88]

Must we have wifi everywhere we go? Get a data plan if you must.

[@Mystic_Light]

No data plan works on open water. Not even cellular calls. The ship uses a much stronger antenna to pull wifi for onboard users, and the reason it doesn't always work for everyone (just like BC ferries) depends on how many users are logged on. There is only so much bandwidth to go around.

[@beaugalbraith3891]

​@@Mystic_Lightmy data plan works just fine on crossings. Never had a problem

[@StreetDogSteve]

@@Mystic_Light Not a big gap between VI and the mainland. Data coverage for most if not all of the trip.

[@AlCatSplat]

No one's forcing you to use wifi.

[@lazloperry5242]

​@@Mystic_Lightthere is a small 2 minute drop of 5g when on telus or koodo, there is zero need for wifi, they rip you off on this ship, and the staff won't give you the time of day

[@Broesky]

How long is the trip?

[@billfarley9167]

I lived on Vancouver Island for 10 years from 1991 to 2001. Island traffic at the time was horrific between Victoria and Courtney. But now in 2024 it is absolutley insane and the population increase goes with it. I do not recommend moving to the Island at anytime. Too crazy and the cost of living is over the top. For the long term, the potential of the big one (earthquake) is always a factor. Loss of life and chaos would be horrific. They are not prepared.

[@willyhwang1059]

why is Hullo sign orange when the boat is clearly green?

[@AlexPotvin]

They use both colors

[@happyfisherman4432]

not that much faster than a bc ferry horseshoe bay to departure bay is only 89 or 90 minutes and you get to bring your car as well. its a pain in the arse in Nanaimo. I don't think its gonna survive the summer

[@JS-jh4cy]

Maybe if it doesn't run on damn batteries

[@KBosch-xp2ut]

Steep price? Saves me an hour of riding a stupid bus each way. I was amazed that it was as cheap as it was. Umbrellas are a solution to your rain concerns. If you can’t live without wifi for an hour…. well, you have issues.

[@joealphons5772]

Agree. You can live without wifi for a hour or so. It is the West coast, it rains here, live with it, it is not that bad at all for you spoiled kids 🙂

[@StressfulGengar]

Wifi on a moving boat is so difficult, you can blame issues on SpaceX as that is where all these connections are coming from.

[@lazloperry5242]

Starlink is such a garbage service haha. I had it for 2 days and made them come and get all their junk. They said they would be a week, I said no issues, the stuff will be waiting in a cardboard box in the rain. They came the next day.

[@daveerik75]

ok so its 20 mins shorter than the horseshoe bay ferry walk on? better vancouver side access....cant walk around and enjoy being outside like you can on the big ferries. why? I could see if the sailing time was like only 45 mins or something super quick. but its barely faster than a big ferry. and they have horseshoe bay ferry expresses or tawassen express busses. I dont really see why this would even be a thing? I would just do a walk on at horseshoe bay. cafeteria, coffee, seating, being on deck if its nice out...this seems not well thought out. no wonder companies fold

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

Anything’s better the bc ferries.

[@bluffer8352]

You forgot to mention that if people walk they are walking right into zombies literally everywhere

[@stuckinlodi100]

$39 is steep compared to a wait laden or broken down BCFs $19 and 3-4 hrs? I was surprised at the positive difference.

[@hobog]

Was V2V not a ferry?

[@adiuntesserande6893]

It was, but it didn’t run to Nanaimo.

[@fonkenful]

Targeted more to the business / luxury day trip crowd. V2V says it all - Victoria to Vancouver. We took a ride a couple of years ago, and it was a nice enough vessel, but I felt the overall business model was doomed.

[@garygarside9782]

i hope so... bc ferries is a joke government monopoly

[@yurkshirelad]

Not a good option for someone with mobility issues.

[@DullerCrab]

Who doesn’t have a data plan at this point? Lmao

[@jl3059]

Somebody break up the criminal BC ferries monopoly

[@jamescassidy4045]

Sorry, how is it criminal? Curious to know why you think that?

[@onezerotwo]

@@jamescassidy4045some people just hate public services and want poor people to suffer and have bad lives, it’s just malicious small minded pettiness fuelled by raging ignorance

[@jamescassidy4045]

@@onezerotwo Yah, I don't really get that comment at all lol. Also Hullo is nothing to do with BC Ferries I don't think. Just ignorance I guess. I mean, I know I left a comment that could be considered negative about the customer relations/help online, but I tried to constructive about it, and it really was quite bad in my experience. I just want then to know(though they prob won't even read this) because the couple times I needed help online, it was quite important, and it just wasn't taken seriously at all, and you could tell they didn't actually read the email, probably because of lack of training, or being overwhelmed/overworked, and can't give proper service.

[@joealphons5772]

They might want to make the ship's name more prominent as people think that the ferry's name is HULLO. Her name is STHUQI. Strange name, hard to pronounce, meaningless to most except those in the know, hard to remember and unmemorable.

[@Mary6661]

They ain't gonna last

[@WorkingLens]

It will fail.

[@mymy3172]

Water jet propulsion requires more energy than propeller driven boats. With the rising cost of energy, this makes this type of ferry service less and less profitable, imo. Also, the terminal at the Nanaimo side is not "old" but rather "new" having been made for cruise ships that are very few and far between especially during the Covid era. A trail way short cut could easily be made along the the north end of the import car facility that would chop off a huge distance to walk to downtown. This is just poor planning. The Nanaimo airport has the same problem with transit with some buses going out there but never when a major plane arrives. Nanaimo is so backward and retarded when talking about convenient transportation.

[@arlyquino]

was all onboard until the irony of your take on Nanaimo being backward and 'retarded'...well done. don't forget your dunce cap.

[@davidascher1801]

Incidentally their website, shall we say...sucks.

[@lanebo6329]

Logo ain’t slick

[@OnwardsUpwards]

In india ferries too much good

[@Hoser584]

Why they just give there money away its never worked and never will, no car when you get there and who wants to go to Nanimo?

[@Dbodell8000]

Where do you live you sound jealous? Anytime someone puts down a beautiful spot it’s usually out of jealousy.

[@Dbodell8000]

Oh buy the way learn how to spell Nanaimo.

[@Dbodell8000]

You’re either jealous or know absolutely nothing about Nanaimo.

[@randoir1863]

It, too, will fail as we don't have the population to support such a service.

[@michaellabelle8956]

Don’t have the population? Are you kidding me?

[@randoir1863]

@michaellabelle8956 is there a vibrant business /tourist community that's going to travel enough between these 2 points to sustain this service ? How many customers does this service need annually to be profitable ????

[@Dbodell8000]

He’s probably from Victoria and totally jealous.

[@fnnnknorth]

The idea that $19 is cheap tells you how disconnected from reality and expensive over taxed NDP socialist BC is! Nanaimo doesn’t have transit to the ferry terminal. Government on all level of BC is incredibly stupid. I wish this company so much luck in overtaxed, inefficient, incompetent, #climatecult BC!

[@oceanside88]

It's the only ferry system in Canada that requires payment. It's a scam. It's part of the Highway system.

[@hugolafhugolaf]

@@oceanside88No it’s not.

[@frozen-curmudgeon]

@@oceanside88 That is so wrong on so many levels.

[@joealphons5772]

@@oceanside88 Ferries are not part of the highway system. Ferries require staff (crew) with specialized skills for which you have to pay. Ferries also require maintenance for which you have to pay and fuel for which you have to pay. They need to be insured for which you have to pay and the passengers also need to be covered with insurance for which you have to pay. Terminals need to be built for which you have to pay and access road to them for which you also have to pay and terminal use also cost money. Nothing is free my friend and you have to pay for everything, one way or another, directly or through your taxes. There is nothing that is a scam here and this is a private venture to boot.

[@wallacegrommet3479]

What a whiner

[@adamndirtyape]

There is simply not enough business to support this. It won't last. Pity.