By Boat & Ferry in Halifax

By Boat & Ferry

Car ferries connect Nova Scotia with Maine and New Brunswick: Bay Ferries Ltd. sails from Bar Harbor and Portland Maine to Yarmouth, and from Saint John, New Brunswick, to Digby, Nova Scotia, between two and three times daily July through August and once daily May to June and September to October. Bay Ferries' Bar Harbor-Yarmouth and Portland-Yarmouth service uses a high-speed catamaran, which makes the crossings in 3 hours and 5 1/2 hours, respectively. Known as The Cat, this catamaran is very popular for both its convenience and speed, so reserve ahead.

Weather permitting, from May through December, Northumberland Ferries operates between Caribou, Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, making the trip several times a day. Marine Atlantic operates regular, year-round between North Sydney and Port aux Basques, on the west coast of Newfoundland, and a three-times-a-week service between North Sydney and Argentia, on Newfoundland's east coast, runs from mid-June through September.

Metro Transit runs passenger ferries from the Halifax ferry terminal at Lower Water Street to Alderney Gate in downtown Dartmouth and to Woodside Terminal (near Dartmouth Hospital) on the hour and half hour from 6:30 AM to 11:45 PM. Ferries are more frequent during weekday rush hours; they also operate on Sunday in summer (10 to 6, June through September). Free transfers are available from the ferry to the bus system (and vice versa). A single crossing costs $2 and is worth it for the up-close view of both waterfronts.

Contacts

Bay Ferries Ltd (902/566-3838 or 888/249-7245. www.nfl-bay.com). Marine Atlantic (902/794-5254 or 800/341-7981. www.marine-atlantic.ca). Metro Transit (902/490-6614 or 902/490-4000). Northumberland Ferries (902/566-3838 or 800/565-0201).