Before getting into discussing, the details of the ferry to Nova Scotia, you need to know why a lot of tourists visit Nova Scotia throughout the year.
Nova Scotia, a province of Canada, is the land of beautiful landscape, Acadian Culture, and rich history. Tourists come here to enjoy the beautiful scenery of 13,300 km long Eastern coastline of North America, Sea caves, and cliffs formed due to tides.
Nova Scotia is known for Joggins Fossil Center, which is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. With 160 historic lighthouses, including Cape Forchu in Yarmouth, and Peggy’s Point Lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove.
Yarmouth’s Art Gallery, Halifax’s Maritime Museum of Atlantic, and Digby’s Maud Lewis Memorial, one of the well-known folk artist of Canada, are Nova Scotia’s centre of attraction.
Now let’s find out why choosing a ferry is the best way to reach Nova Scotia if you are looking to enjoy your journey to this natural paradise. One of the major reason is the heartwarming visuals of shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
It saves a lot of your time as the route they follow are one of the shortest route possible. It is a comfortable journey, saves visitors from the exhausting long hours of drive to Nova Scotia.
You will get to enjoy food, onboard café, shopping, entertainment. On most ferries to Nova Scotia, they have Viewing Deck, where you can relax and capture the images of open sea and sky in your eyes. And if you are fortunate enough, then you might also see a whale.
It might cost a bit expensive than roadways but the pleasure you have during a ferry worth it all.
Some of the major Ferry Services to Nova Scotia are
1. The CAT
2. MV Fundy Rose
3. Northumberland Ferries Limited
4. Marine Atlantic
Let’s discuss them in detail
1. The CAT
The CAT provides it’s services from, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a high-speed ferry to Nova Scotia, with the capacity of carrying 866 passengers and 200 cars.
It covers the distance of 181 km in just 3.5 hours. Passengers are recommended to make an online reservation and arrive at the terminal 1 hour before the departure, so that proper screening can be done, during this Covid – 19 pandemic times.
Without reservation, boarding cannot be guaranteed due to safety reasons. Passengers can easily board their RVs, pickups, SUVs, cars, tour buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. Bicycles can be boarded free of charge.
Along with that you can travel with your pet, but they would have to stay in the owner’s vehicle or onboard kennels, so make sure to leave enough food in the vehicle for your companion.
The CAT has lots of features to make your journey comfortable. Scotia market Cafeteria, where you can enjoy coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Scotia Market Gift Shop, to buy some memory of this ferry. They have Children’s Play Area and Movie Area where you can watch the movie, chosen by the ferry management.
At Forchu Longue, you can get local wine, craft beer, along with snacks like bacon-wrapped scallop, cheese board.
Passengers with physical disabilities are provided special attention, and the ferry tries it’s best to make their journey comfortable. Passengers that are not self-reliant are allowed to accompany an attendant, without any extra charge.
This ferry to Nova Scotia, also have Green Marine Certification, for its effort to support the program to deal with greenhouse gases emission, underwater noise, oily water, and garbage management.
2. MV Fundy Rose
Since 2015, MV Fundy Rose, runs the ferry between Digby, Nova Scotia to Saint John, New Brunswick. It can carry up to 774 passengers, with the crossing time of 2 hours 15 min. For an adult, a one-way trip costs $50, and a round trip cost $85.
They have a special offer for Frequent Traveller Pass holder. These passengers get their fifth voyage free of cost. This ferry to Nova Scotia allows 15% discount for Canadian and US Armed Forces.
Online reservation and check-in 1 hour before departure are mandatory. They have a separate deck for cars and trucks.
Click here to check out the fares of MV Fundy Rose.
They have animal kennels for your pets. Even they also have Art Craft Toys and Stores for children.
The ferry offers breakfast, lunch, dinner at Acadia Eaters. Passengers can also enjoy pizzas, burgers, fresh seafood and popular flavours of coffee at Mid Ship Sip Café.
At the Viewing Deck, you will be mesmerised by the beauty of the coastline of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. You might watch various aquatic mammals and birds.
MV Fundy Rose, also have 2 movie lounge, for passengers to relax. Even there are musical performances by local artists.
They provide similar facilities for Physically disabled passengers, as in The CAT. And smoking is completely prohibited in this ferry.
3. Northumberland Ferries Limited
This ferry to Nova Scotia, sail between Wood Islands Harbour in Queens County, Prince Edward Island and Caribou Harbour in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.
It takes about 75 minutes for the ferry to cross from starting terminal to finishing one.
Click here to check out the fares of Northumberland Ferries Limited.
They have two conventional ferries:
1. mv CONFEDERATION
It has a capacity of 600 passengers and vehicle capacity of 200.
2. mv HOLIDAY ISLAND
It has a passenger capacity of 399, and vehicle capacity of 155.
Again they have made the reservation mandatory. There is the facility of parking at both terminals, which most of the ferries do not offer.
A viewing deck, passengers, get to view relaxing Northumberland Strait. Alcohol and smoking are completely prohibited on board.
4. Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic provides it’s service from Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland & Labrador, to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
It takes about 6 to 8 hours for the ferry to reach its destination. Passengers are recommended to make reservations and collect the ticket at least 1 hour before departure.
This ferry to Nova Scotia sails 7 days a week and twice a day. Click here to check out the fares of Marine Atlantic ferry service.
You will get to enjoy amenities such as TV, Internet café, viewing deck, Personal headphone jack, some games for kid’s entertainment.
So, choosing a ferry to Nova Scotia is the best way to reach Nova Scotia, as not only it gives a comfortable and relaxing journey but also let you enjoy the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. You are relieved from long hours of driving, and utilise this time in entertaining yourself and having some good seafood.
The ferry to Nova Scotia is recommended by most of the passengers who experienced it. So, now when you decide to have a visit to this beautiful province of Canada, that is, Nova Scotia doesn’t forget to consider ferry as a way of reaching there.
Last Updated on by jayeeta.saha
