Toronto Island ferries can fit 200 more passengers all of a sudden

Toronto ferries can carry an extra 200 passengers back and forth to the islands this summer thanks to a rethink of the space on the service's boats.

In past years, 750 passengers could ride the ferries at capacity. This summer it will be 950. That's less waiting and more time on the Toronto Islands – the goal of the ferry service this summer, according to the city.

Transport Canada sets the passenger capacity of the city-operated ferries. This summer, after back-to-back record-breaking years of island visits, the city and the transportation regulator reviewed the ferry service and security protocols and decided to add more passengers.

The boats aren't getting bigger. The ferry operators will just allow more people to board a single ferry ride.

The focus is to decrease crowding during peak times, not necessarily up the overall ridership of the ferries, said a spokesman for Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

The move, however, prompted some questions online — as passengers wondered for what reason the capacity had suddenly increased.

In addition to the increased capacity, ferry tickets can be purchased online. That started last summer as a pilot program, and will be a permanent fixture of the ferries from this summer onward. Tickets are even discounted online by as much as 10 per cent when buying in bulk.

Ticket prices, ferry schedules and other information can be found here.