The capacity of the Toronto Island Ferry depends on which specific vessel you are boarding, but the largest ships in the fleet can accommodate nearly 1,000 passengers at once. The "Sam McBride" and "Thomas Rennie," the fleet's primary workhorses, are designed to carry roughly 915 to 1,000 people across the Inner Harbour to Centre Island, Hanlan's Point, or Ward's Island. During the peak summer season in 2026, these ferries run at full capacity every 15 minutes to handle the massive crowds heading to the beaches and the Centreville Amusement Park. In 2026, the City of Toronto has begun the transition to new electric ferries, which are designed with similar high-capacity decks to ensure that the roughly 1.5 million annual visitors can be transported efficiently. While the ferries are massive, they fill up quickly on sunny weekends, leading to long queues at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. It is a "pro" tip to buy your tickets online in advance and to consider taking a private water taxi if you want to avoid the 900-person "herd" during the busiest holiday periods.