kayd

We are thinking of making a driving tour of Nova Scotia and would like to have your comments/comparisons of the Portland 10-hour overnight cruise ferry and the Bar Harbor 3-hour cat. My preliminary research indicated that there is not a huge cost difference, if one can take advantage of package deals on the cruise boat.
Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Tanya

A friend took the CAT last year and said it was a great experience and would highly recommend using this service. I would suggest you save time even with the driving distance in Maine.

elberko

A few years ago, we took the Scotia Prince from Portland to Yarmouth, spent a week in NS, then the SP back to Portland. Haven't been on the CAT. We enjoyed our trip, but felt 1 week was too short for NS. Hope you're planning a longer trip!

capebreton01

Hi my suggestion to you would be to take the Cat.If you want to try to see all of nova scotia it saves you some time. And the the ride is only 3 hours. It gives you a head start on what to see if you only have a limited time frame.

Molly2

kayd, I have only been on the overnighter, twice. I thought that it was an enjoyable, though perhaps not restful {stayed up late to watch the shows} experience. I wouldn't hesitate to use the ferry service again.

Since my husband and I went, the ferry service has added some features to make it more like a cruise experience. Personally, I enjoy those activities in limited doses {enjoyed the hokey shows and the "horseracing" and movie on the return trip}, but as long as I can settle into a quiet corner overlooking the water with a book, I'm content. They do offer bingo, slots and other gambling. And now I see that they have a hot tub - trying to imagine how well that works with several hundred people lol!

The food package,including breakfast and dinner buffet on the return trip, turned out to be a good deal. Nothing gourmet, but good enough, and surprisingly attentive, relaxed service.

If you go, take seasickness precautions - I was miserable on our first trip over. And remember where you parked your car!

Craig

Do not go on the overnight ferry from Portland if getting a good night's sleep is a priority. With the "entertainment" going on all night long, people will be passing by your very un-soundproof cabin talking, laughing and shouting. You won't get much sleep. There are many on the ferry that take the overnight trip to gamble, enjoy the entertainment and return the next day, especially on weekends.

Molly2

My husband and I didn't have the same experience with loud folks that Craig did on either of our trips, for some reason. Lucky, perhaps.

orca

Two years ago we vacationed in Maine and then took the CAT out of Bar Harbor to NS. We returned via the Scotia Prince, 10 hrs. to Portland arriving about 8pm. We found both a pleasure. The CAT was fast and fun and we were anxious to arrive in Yarmouth (however several people did get seasick the first 1/2 hour out). The return on the Prince was fun, very smooth. We booked a day cabin to relax in and also participated in some ship activities, watched the show (kinda hokey but we were tired from our trip so easily amused)and had a good dinner buffet. Bottom line, they were both fine, just depends on whether you want a leisurely trip or time saving. Don't miss Lunenburg.

davidess

ttt

gail

Some of it may depend on your starting point. From Boston area 3 years ago we drove to Bar Harbor, spent 2 days, then took Cat, drove to Digby and began our tour from there.

We returned via 10-hr day ferry to Portland since then it was a relatively easy drive home from there. The day ferry was a nice way to relax after our trip - we had 2 kids (9, 14) with us. I would suggest you get a cabin, even if you take day ferry as it was a nice place to park our stuff and served as a meeting place. Either route can tend to have rather rough water, so if you are prone to motion sickness make sure you take something. (Another reason to get cabin, seas were rough, we took medication and then took a nap!)

I think Cat is a new ship since we took it, but it was nothing all that exciting when we took it - seemed a little "tired" even though it was rather new. The Portland ferry has decent food, a little casino and we saw whales and dolphins during the trip as an added bonus.

LaurenSKahn

We took the Scotia Prince from Portland back and forth in 1992. At that time they gave you a discount on the day cruise, as many people prefer to take it one way to NS at night. We had a cabin both ways. There is a nominal charge for one from NS to Portland during the day.

It is hard to get a full night's sleep because the ferry is noisy--and you get awakened early in the morning in preparation for off loading in Yarmouth. Having said that, I was the only driver and, yes, it was worth it.

Please note that cabins may already be entirely booked for the height of the 2003 tourist season.

For my kids, by the way, the ferry was one of the highlights of the trip. I still have a photo of them with the Scotia Prince Lion (OK, it's some poor devil in a lion suit) on my wall!