In downtown Victoria, harbour ferries are a common site.
But come Valentine’s Day there will be one boat that’s different from all the rest — The Love Boat.
“For us, it was just kind of a simple conclusion just to say let’s put a boat out during Valentine’s Day week and what can we do and how can we make it special,” says Victoria Harbour Ferry general manager Barry Hobbis.
For those who elect to take the mini cruise around the inner harbour, it won’t be a normal harbour ferry experience.
“We take them to the Delta hotel, they go up to the LURE Restaurant and they sit down at a table with candlelight, a rose and they enjoy a glass of champagne,” says Hobbis.
“Victoria from the water is different from Victoria on the land,” says harbour ferry captain Christopher Causton.
“You can’t walk on water but you can go in a boat on water, so there you go!”
Since announcing the promotion, Victoria Harbour Ferry has been inundated with bookings.
“Actually it’s kind of amazed us this year with our Sleigh Boat tours, our Haunted Harbour tours and now the Love Boat the number of people that have booked,” says Hobbis.
“We’ve had a couple of dozen bookings already and I think it’ll pretty well be sold out not too long from now.”
It’s part of a resurgence for a business that almost sunk due to the pandemic.
“For us, it’s kind of heartening, it’s an upswing and I’m looking forward to a great year,” says Hobbis.
To book a trip on the Love Boat, visit the Victoria Harbour Ferry website.
Cole Sorenson
