Beginning June 3rd, passenger-only ferry service will be offered by the Port free-of-charge on Mondays and Thursdays between Point Roberts Marina and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, located at 355 Harris Avenue.
Space is limited so advance reservations are required and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. These can be made for individual segments of the ferry trip. Passengers can make reservations at www.portofbellingham.com/pointrobertsferry.
If reservations are full, people are welcome to show up and ride ‘stand-by’ in the event there are no-show passengers.
Bikes are now allowed on the Point Roberts Ferry. Each ferry trip is limited to 6 bikes, and passengers must include the bike in their reservation. When making reservations, individuals need to check the box indicating they are planning to bring a bike.
Transit connections in Bellingham are available near the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at Fairhaven Station. WTA Route 1 services Fairhaven Station (Fairhaven Transportation Center) at :21 and :51 past each hour.
For transit schedules and route information, please visit http://www.ridewta.com. Face masks are required on both ferry and WTA connections, and the number of passengers will be limited.
The Port has been offering emergency ferry service from Point Roberts to mainland Whatcom County since August 2020 to help address unique transportation challenges caused by the ongoing closure of the US/Canada border to non-essential travel. Point Roberts is not physically connected to the continental United States but is part of Whatcom County. Point Roberts can only be accessed by crossing a vehicle through Canada, flying in on a small plane or by private boat. Due to its unique location, Whatcom County residents living in Point Roberts have been disproportionately impacted by US/Canada border restrictions.
The US/Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020 and border restrictions have been extended through at least May 2021. US residents entering Canada without COVID-19 symptoms are currently required to quarantine for 14 days.
The Port has been working with Whatcom County’s Federal Delegation and a US/Canada cross-border task force on a border exemption which would address the unique challenges of US residents living in Point Roberts. Transportation service to Point Roberts is being offered by the Port as a temporary, emergency solution until the US/Canada border is reopened to non-essential traffic or a border exemption is authorized.
The two-hour ferry ride between Point Roberts and Bellingham is provided on San Juan Cruises’ 100-foot vessel Salish Express.
Departure and arrival times as well as the sailing frequency may change based on passenger input and demand, so please check the Port’s website for the latest schedule information.Point Roberts to Bellingham Cruise Terminal Temporary, Emergency Ferry Service Schedule as of 6/3/2021:
Monday/Thursday Ferry Service
