Well, maybe one reason Victoria is so fantastic is that it is HARD TO GET THERE!!
Some options --
1. Flying, from Vancouver or Seattle. An add-on flight will probably set you back an additional $150 US and constrain your options.
2. Ferry, from Vancouver. Check out www.bcferries.com for details. You want to go from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay...but note that neither is in the city. You need further transportation, which leads to:
(a) your own car, in which case the crossing costs $28-$35 CDN for the car plus about $10 CDN per adult, each way; or
(b) the PCL bus from Vancouver cruise ship terminal (downtown) to Victoria (downtown), which costs about $38 CDN one-way. www.pacificcoach.com for details.
3. From Seattle, you can take the 'clipper', which goes from Pier 69 in Seattle to the Inner Harbour in Victoria. Info at www.victoriaclipper.com, fares are about $100 to $133 return in summer, according to their website. Takes about 2 1/2 hours.
If you have a car and are in BC anywhere or Seattle or northern WA state, the BC ferries option is the best.
All options require planning to allow sufficient time! Don't worry, it’s worth the effort...