SEATTLE — Tidal currents have prompted cancellation of several evening Port Townsend-Coupeville sailings today and Thursday.
Washington State Ferries personnel warned that space will be limited on the route during Thanksgiving because of the cancellations.
Today, the 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. sailings from Port Townsend have been canceled as well as the 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. sailings from Coupeville.
On Thursday, the 8:30 p.m. sailing from Port Townsend is canceled as well as the 9:10 p.m. sailing from Coupeville.
No schedule changes are expected for the Coho ferry out of Port Angeles.
Nearly 350,000 people are expected to ride a state ferry today through Sunday, some 50,000 more than would be anticipated on a typical Wednesday through Sunday in November, state ferries said in a press release.
The agency expects the heavier travel to be westbound this afternoon through Thursday morning, with more travelers going eastbound Thursday afternoon through Friday.
Historically, ridership is much lower Sunday than the other days of Thanksgiving weekend, state ferries said.
Customers driving a vehicle onto a vessel should plan for lengthy wait times during the long holiday weekend, the agency said.
Vehicle wait times of one hour or more are likely during peak travel times at the Edmonds, Kingston, Mukilteo, Clinton, Fauntleroy, Seattle (to Bainbridge only) and Bainbridge terminals, state ferries said, adding that people planning to drive on a ferry should sign up for ferry travel alerts for updates on vehicle wait times and check terminal conditions before leaving.
The agency suggested walking onto the ferry to taking an early morning or late evening sailing to cut wait times.
Vehicle wait times should be minimal on routes with vehicle reservations, which are highly recommended, state ferries said.
A few holiday schedule changes are in effect for the Edmonds/Kingston, Mukilteo/Clinton and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes Thursday.
The Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will operate on a weekend timetable that day.
For more information, see www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries.
