Transportation: Getting to Nova Scotia
There are a number of ways to get to & from Nova Scotia by Boat:
- The Cat from Portland, Maine or Bar Harbor, Maine, to Yarmouth, NS (June to Oct.) 1-888-249-7245
- Bay Ferries from Saint John, NB, to Digby, NS (year round) 1-888-249-7245
- Northumberland Ferries from Wood Islands, PEI, to Caribou, NS (May to Dec.) 1-888-249-7245
- Marine Atlantic from Port aux Basques, NF (year round) and Argentia, NF (mid-June to mid-Sept.) to North Sydney, NS 1-800-341-7981
- Halifax-Dartmouth Ferries
Then there are the ferries that cut your communiting time dramatically, the
ferries between Halifax and Dartmouth.
Portland Maine to Yarmouth Nova Scotia on The Cat
Bar Harbout Maine to Yarmouth Nova Scotia on The Cat
The Cat, a fast 40-knot catamaran ferry connects Nova Scotia with New England, sailing across the Gulf of Maine.
The crossings between Bar Harbor & Yarmouth take 3 hours (covering 600 km), and the Portland-Yarmouth crossing takes 5.5 hours (covering 1000 km).
(From 1970 to 2004, the Scotia Prince ferry covered this route, in about twice the time.)
This ship carries up to775 passengers, 250 cars and 14 motor homes or tour buses.
The ship departs Portland, Maine or Bar Harbor at 8 AM (days of the week vary for the two ports),
and leaves Yarmouth, Nova Scotia daily at 4 pm (destination port varies by day of the week).
Please note that all times are local.
The province of Nova Scotia is within the Atlantic Time Zone which is one hour ahead of the Eastern Time Zone.
To entertain passengers, the ship has a retaurant, a lounge, a TV & movie loung,
and a Las Vegas-style casino. Passengers must be 21 years of age to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages on board the ship.
No smoking is allowed in cabins or any public areas. Smoking is allowed in the Casino
No pets are allowed in cabins or any of the public areas. The ship's staff has specific instructions to enforce this rule. Pets are allowed to stay in your vehicle, but visitation cannot be allowed.
In order to accommodate a maximum number of vehicles on the car deck, it is necessary to sort the vehicles according to size and height in the loading compound. This will mean that the order of arrival in the loading zone is not always the same as the order of boarding.
The car deck is not accessible during the voyage for safety reasons and luggage left in the car will be safe.
Fares & Schedules
Departure Schedule. Remember that Yarmouth uses Atlantic time and Bar Harbour uses Eastern time.
Fares for Passengers (with special day cruise pricing), Vehicles, and Buses are all in US Funds.
In addition to the published fares, there is a $5 US nonrefundable port fee for
all bookings plus a $3 US per person security fee each way.
Advance reservations are recommended, using a major credit card.
$50 US Cancellation Fee within 48 hours of departure.
$25 US Change/Cancellation Fee within 2 weeks to 48 hours of departure.
$100 US No-Show fee. Schedules, fares and fees are subject to change without notice.
Discounts are subject to availability and rules or restrictions – please ask for details.
Please note new 2002 departure times will be 8:00PM EST from Portland, ME and 9:00AM AST from Yarmouth, NS.
Saint John, NB to Digby, Nova Scotia via Bay Ferries
This ferry route is either a good shortcut to Nova Scotia (saving 582 driving kilometres), or a handy part of a "Great Citle Route"
for a trip around the Bay of Fundy.
Digby is served directly from Saint John, New Brunswick, by the automobile ferry Princess of Acadia.
The ferry will accommodate up to 650 passengers and 160 automobiles.
The 64km (40 mile) crossing takes three hours.
The ferry schedule is online and
fares vary for passengers, vehicle, commercial vehicles, and buses.
You can make ferry
reservation online or call 1-888-249-7245. A credit card is required to book all
vehicle reservations. A $25.00 Cdn charge to your credit card will result if
reservations are not cancelled 3 hours before departure time. For bus reservations,
call Elaine McGuigan, Bay Ferries Limited at
1-888-763-5229 or fax: 902-566-1550. Call 1-888-249-7245 to check departure times)
Northumberland Ferries
Northumberland Ferries depart from Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island,
on a schedule of about every hour and a half, offering a pleasant break from driving.
The 75-minute trip, spent enjoying a chat and a snack, lounging on the deck
and soaking up the sunshine and sea air, is often considered a vacation highlight.
The trip is both relaxing and picturesque in fair weather. The ferries, however,
are vulnerable to weather-related delays,so plan accordingly.
Wood Islands is the gateway community to scenic and lively eastern Prince Edward Island.
Wood Islands is roughly 60 km from Charlottetown, which typically
translates into 45-60 minute drive via the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1).
The fare for the ferry is paid only when leaving the Island. Ferries tend to be
every 3 or 4 hours throughout the day. Up-to-the-minute
schedule information
and fare information is available by telephoning, toll-free, 1-877-359-3760.
The ferry does not operate from the end of December until early May.
Year-round access from PEI to the mainland is via the Confederation Bridge
which connects Borden Carleton (west of Charlottetown) to Cape Tourmantine, New Brunswick, near Moncton
Marine Atlantic
North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques and Argentia, Newfoundland
1-800-341-7981
Marine Atlantic provides a vital link between the island of Newfoundland and the Canadian mainland. Its modern fleet includes Canada's two largest superferries,
MV Caribou and MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood. It also includes the MV Leif Ericson. Passenger and vehicle service is provided year-round between Port aux
Basques and North Sydney, with additional service in summer between North Sydney and Argentia.
These routes are served by the ships MV Caribou, MV Joseph and Clara
Smallwood, and MV Leif Ericson. North Sydney is 429 km (266 mi) from
Halifax and 457 m (284 mi) from Moncton. Argentia, on the eastern end of
Newfoundland, is 31 km (81 mi) from Saint John's, and Port aux Basques,
at the southwestern tip of the island, is 919 km (571 mi) from St John's.
Crossing times to Port aux Basques are 5-1/2 - 6 hours in the summer, and in
wintertme daylight crossings, though for wintertime night crossings, the
time is 7 hours. Crossing Times to Argentia are 14 hours, but just from June
21 to September 30. Schedules are available online or
by calling 1-800-341-7981, and you can check rates and make reservations online.
There are typically 1-3 crossing a day to Port aux Basques in off-peak
season, and 3-4 crossings during the summer. Summertime schedule: Ferries depart from North
Sydney at 9 am, 4:30 pm and 11:30 pm with Sunday & Tuesdays and extra ferry
1t 10:30 am, and Saturday at 00:30 am. Ferries depart from Port aux Basques
at 8 am, 3:45 pm, and 11:30pm, with bonus trips Sunday at 5 pm, Wdensday at
00:30, and Fridays 7 am and 9 am instead a single 8 am departure.
Argentia, on the eastern end of Newfoundland, is 131 km (81 mi) from
St John's. The ferry from North Sydney to Argentia runs Monday, Wednesday,
at 6 am and Friday at 3:30 pm, from June 21 - September 14, and just on Mondays from Sept
15-30. The ferry from Argentia to North Sydney runs overnight leaving at
11:00 pm on Monday, 8 am Thursday and Saturday June 21 - September 14, and just on Mondays from Sept
15-30.
The Non-Smokers Health Act: Smoking is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.
Passengers are not permitted to remain in their vehicles during the crossing. If it is necessary to return to your vehicle while at sea, you must
be accompanied by a member of the crew. Doors are locked and visits to the vehicle deck are scheduled.
Halifax-Dartmouth Ferries
The Halifax/Dartmouth ferry departs every 15 or 30 minutes from each side of the harbour on weekdays and half-hourly on Saturdays and holidays. Half-hourly Sunday service (Dartmouth service only) noon to 6pm, June to September. Another ferry runs between Woodside and Halifax, Mon. to Fri., peak hours only. MetroInfo: 490-6600.
The Halifax ferry terminal is located at the foot of George Street. The Dartmouth ferry terminal is on Alderney Drive at the foot of Queen Street. Another ferry runs between Halifax and Woodside (south Dartmouth) Monday to Friday, peak hours only.
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