‘Pleased with the volume of bookings’
CAT ferry begins a new and longer season between N.S. and Maine
YARMOUTH — The CAT ferry’s 2024 season will be longer in duration, giving travellers more opportunity to sail to Nova Scotia in what the ferry operator hopes will be a strong season.
May 17 marked the start of the Nova Scotia-to-Maine ferry service.
Bay Ferries Limited ( BFL) says as of May 14, it had booked 18,613 passengers for travel so far during the 2024 season. This represents an increase of 2,445 passengers – or 15 per cent – over the same period in 2023.
Last year during the entire season, the ferry transported 38,399 passengers to and from Nova Scotia.
“The team at BFL has worked very hard over the off-season to ensure we are well prepared for this 2024 season,” says Mark Wilson, acting Chief Executive Officer for Bay Ferries. “We are pleased with the volume of bookings and overall interest in the service and are optimistic on a strong season."
Wilson notes this year's increase in ticket sales to date marks a continued growth in ticket sales year over year.
The company launched its marketing efforts for the upcoming season earlier than ever last fall, and in the months since has ramped up efforts, along with offering early bird specials and promotions. Key areas marketing has targeted include the northeastern United States, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.
This year’s May 17 season start came earlier than last year’s, which began on May 25. The season is running to Oct. 15. Last year it ended on Oct. 9.
In addition to a longer season, the ferry has extended its number of daily roundtrip crossings. The ferry will sail daily from June 20 to Sept. 16 in 2024, compared to between June 29 and Sept. 4 in 2023.
Otherwise, the ferry will operate five days a week.
FERRY STUDY
The government of Nova Scotia contracts Bay Ferries to operate its international ferry service. Unlike other ferry services to and from the province that receive provincial and federal subsidies, this service only receives provincial funds.
“The budget for the Nova Scotia-to-Maine ferry for 2024-25 is just over $21 million,” says Gary Andrea, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works.
The province is undertaking a broad economic study of the service, which will take into account data from the 2023 and 2024 seasons to evaluate the economic return of the service.
Last fall the provincial government awarded a $180,000 contract to the consulting firm 21FSP for the study.
"This level of detail has never been gathered before on this service. It will help us determine if the service is providing good value to Nova Scotian taxpayers,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland at the time.
A final study report is expected in the fall of 2024. The government’s contract with Bay Ferries runs out in March 2026.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The CAT ferry sails between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, docking in Yarmouth overnight for its 9: 30 a.m. departures and 7: 30 p.m. arrivals.
“The importance of the ferry can’t ever be understated,” says Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood. “We have our fishery, but tourism is our mainstay as well. It’s important that the visitors come across.”
The 38,399 passengers the ferry transported to and from Nova Scotia in 2023 was an increase of 2,248 passengers over the 2022 season, which had been the ferry’s first year of operation following a three-year hiatus brought on by COVID and construction at the Bar Harbor terminal.
Last year came with uncontrollable challenges. The spring wildfires, the summer flooding, and the fall tropical storms saw people canceling trips due to travel apprehension. The tropical storms also saw canceled crossings.
This year brings a huge opportunity in the form of the 2024 World Acadian Congress being hosted in southwestern Nova Scotia this August, which will bring tens of thousands of new visitors to the province.
Wilson says looking at the ticket sales, the company sees a bump in sales leading into the Congress taking place Aug. 10-18.
"We're seeing, already, very high bookings leading into this event," he says.
“We’re very excited to see The CAT start over again for another season,” says Danny Muise, warden for the Municipality of Argyle, which, along with the Municipality of Clare, is hosting the World Acadian Congress this year. There will also be events in Yarmouth.
“The ferry service is something that we need, not just in this area, it covers the province. Even though they call it the Yarmouth ferry, it’s the Nova Scotia ferry,” Muise says.
Mayor Mood says the outlook for this tourism season is very positive.
“I’m just really excited for the season, especially with Congress coming in August. So many families from the U.S. will be coming and the easiest way to get here is through that ferry service,” she says.
As it has in past years, the ferry service is offering the Nova Scotia Resident Discount, whereby residents of the province can save 50 per cent on passenger fares all season for one-way or return travel.
Other travel promos can be found on the company’s website.
Meanwhile, a familiar name to the ferry service is gone. Mark MacDonald, who had been Bay Ferries president and CEO, died on May 5 after a battle with cancer. He was 67.
"Mark is going to be missed on many, many levels across our company," says
TINA COMEAU • SALTWIRE
Wilson. "He was very passionate about the company and especially this route and
the service The CAT delivers. It had a special place in his heart."