SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving week in years, with crews expecting more than 300,000 passengers to ride the system from Nov. 26 to Nov 30.

It is calm for now, but that will not last. By Wednesday, ferry terminals across Puget Sound are expected to see long lines and packed decks as holiday travelers head to and from the islands and Olympic Peninsula.

“Busy, probably running late, probably overcrowded,” said Mark Smith, a frequent ferry passenger, describing what he expects to see this week.

Regular riders say the holiday rush can get chaotic, with vehicle lines stretching nearly a mile in some places. “There have been lines going about a mile back from the ferry terminal,” said passenger Joey Broholm. “It gets pretty crazy. And then the term

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