BC Ferries has changed the check-in time on the Skidegate-Prince Rupert route to 90 minutes before sailing, from the previous 60 minutes, spokesperson Deborah Marshall confirmed this week.
BC Ferries made the change when the Northern Adventure started serving the route April 1, she said.
The recommended check-in time is two hours ahead of departure. Customers who show up later than 90 minutes before sailing risk losing their reservation.
Ms Marshall said passengers are advised of the check-in time when they make their reservation.
The cut-off won't be changing back to 60 minutes even when the Queen of Prince Rupert returns to service, she said, because BC Ferries is going to start asking northern customers to provide ID, which will take extra time.
Several islanders who travelled on the Northern Adventure in the past month told the Observer that ferry staff at the terminal in Prince Rupert asked them if they were from the Charlottes. If they answered yes, they received a loud lecture about how they should know better than to be late for check-in.
Ms Marshall said BC Ferries does not have a policy of treating islanders differently than tourists.
"Certainly not," she said. "All customers are the sameÂ… On behalf of BC Ferries, I apologize if anyone feels they've been treated differently."