[title]
If you’ve stood on the Maine shoreline for the last 13 years awaiting your ride to Nova Scotia, your lips buttery with lobster residue, you’re in luck. Now you can finally take the Bar Harbor ferry which has resumed service after more than a decade, as reported by Travel + Leisure.
Launching from the adorable Bar Harbor (‘Bah Hah-bah’ in local vernacular), the 3.5-hour one-way trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia is a speedy, wave-cresting ride on the CAT High Speed Ferry for all sizes of vehicles. Even RVs and tour buses can fit on this sturdy vessel. But if you’re traveling lighter, you can also board on foot or on your bicycle, and you can bring your dog along, too. Since Bar Harbor is the front door to Acadia National Park with its incredible biking trails, you can organize a trip that lets you bike in Canada in the morning and in the US in the afternoon. The ferry leaves Yarmouth each day at 9:30am and departs from Bar Harbor at 3pm.
The Cat’s service between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia was suspended in 2009, reports the Portland Press Herald, and the embarkation point was moved to Portland, Maine instead. The Portland route stopped in 2018 due to construction delays at the terminal — and then of course the pandemic reared its head. Many are thrilled to have The Cat return to Bar Harbor.
The ferry is more than just a place to park it and wait. Besides the gusty winds off the Atlantic and the ferry’s gorgeous sea views, there’s an onboard movie area where you can watch the film of the day, a cafe with homemade gelato, a cafeteria for more sturdy fare and a lounge for more liquid fare. There’s sometimes live music, or if you prefer to disappear into your headphones, the Bay Ferries Limited and Northumberland Ferries Limited have created a 3.5 hour playlist to listen to as you sail along. Bonus: depending on the time of year and your luck, you might spot a whale off the bow.
Check the website for discounts: right now, if you book two passengers and a vehicle, you can get three additional passengers on the ferry for free. Kids 6 and under ride for free all season long. And Nova Scotia residents get 50 percent off all passenger fares.
As for the small print details, make sure to have your passport, passport card or, depending on your home state, an enhanced driver's license or identification to board the ferry. If you are not vaccinated against Covid, you must do an on-arrival test in Canada, a Day 8 test and a 14 day quarantine—and all arrivals must register with the ArriveCAN system. Anyone entering the US who is not a resident is required to be fully vaccinated against Covid. Check website for more details.