Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, NS
 

Has anyone had experience with crossing on the Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, NS? Please give me a play by play for someone who has never been on a ferry let alone drive a car on one. For the 8:00 a.m. ferry on a Tuesday how early do you need to get there and what is the process regarding loading, customs, seating, breakfast etc. Thanks in advance for taking time to answer!

I'd be interested in this information as well. We'll be using the ferry in a week, and any help would be appreciated.

We usually try to get there by 7:30 am. You will then be lined up (in your car) in different lanes, waiting to board the boat. Like all car ferries, they will cram your car in pretty tight spaces one on the boat.

Once your vehicle is parked, you can go on to the boat deck. You will not be allowed back down in to your vehicle during the trip.

On the boat, there is a very small casion (i.e. slot machines) and the usual overpriced mediocre snack bar. I suggest bringing food if possible. There is also the token over priced gift shop on board.

The front of the boat is the rockiest, the back of the boat is the most stable. Last time I was on it was extremely choppy, and a good 2/3 of the boat was ill. This isn't the norm, but it happens. They do sell dramamine at the gift shop ;)

Once you come in to the port, you will go back down to your car. People start their cars way too early, so you will smell lots of exhaust. Keep your windows up to avoid a headache! Once you drive off the baot, you will drive up to the lanes where customs is. It is the quickest border crossing in my experience. They don't ask you as many questions as regular border crossings for some reason.

The Cat is great - if it is a clear day, you may see whales in the Bay.

Have fun!

That should read "Casino" not "Casion". Whoops!

I've taken the CAT twice, including just a few weeks ago. While their website instructs to get there an hour before departure, since so many cars are in line at the booths, there's no big rush. Getting there 40 minutes ahead of time is fine, and you'll still wait to board.
Once onbaord, bring a book or magazine to read as there really is very little to see for most of the trip. While the ferry boasts a speed of something like 55 mph, they NEVER go that fast, probably to save fuel and to reduce repairs. We averaged about 35 mph, not so high speed after all. Since the crossing takes about 3 hours, and the diatnce is about 100 miles, you can do the math.

They will have two movies showing at the same time, both in the rear seating area. On one side will be a kiddie movie; the other side is geared towards adults. Both are LOUD!!!

Other Notes:
1. The snack/food bars aren't that bad and offer a good variety. But taking along your own snacks is allowed.
2. If you don't want to listen to a myriad of constant dinging and coins falling into the payout trays, stay far from the casino area.
3. If you don't smoke and don't like the smell, stay at least 8 or 9 rows up from the rear outside observation deck as smokers congregate there and whenever the door opens (constantly), it pulls the smoke into the rear cabin area but dissipates quickly.
4. If you are prone to motion sickness, do not wait till you're onboard and feeling queasy. It's too late at that point to buy your dramamine. About the time you pull in line at the check-in booth take a minimal dose of the low-drowsy version of the meds. It's been my repeated expereince that the regular versions, which will make you more sleepy, don't do all that much more and you'll still be somewhat drowsy when you drive off 3 hours later, not a good thing if you are driving. The sea was relatively calm on both our crossings, but the ferry is flat bottomed and thus rides over the swells rather than through them.
5. Take a light jacket or sweater since the a/c is kept on and sitting around can make you chilly.

ALl in all, the ferry is ok and the reclining seats are comfortable. So the trip is worth it to save time in a car. Have fun in the maritimes!

Customs in Yarmouth may quick, but it doesn't mean they're not thorough. There was a report in the newspaper today of a couple of cases this summer of visitors arriving from the Cat with concealed firearms, which they didn't report. Searches turned up the weapons (in one case a .38-calibre revolver hidden in a closet in an RV, in the other, 12-gauge shotgun and a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol in concealed compartments in a motorhome). As is the usual practice with restricted or prohibited weapons, they were seized, but the visitors also had to stay overnight in Yarmouth, and when they appeared in court, they were each fined about $1,000 Canadian for failing to report the firearms.