Getting to Newfoundland and Labrador by Sea

Make a sea cruise part of your travels when you visit Newfoundland and Labrador. Then you'll know why they say half the fun is getting there. Marine Atlantic's modern car ferries also accommodate recreational vehicles all year round from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland. Throughout the summer, a second ferry sails from North Sydney to Argentia, bringing you to within an hour or two of St. John's. Marine Atlantic ferries offer a wide variety of onboard accommodations and features, including deluxe cabins, dormitory sleepers, full meal and beverage service, live entertainment, movies, and children's activity programs.

A variety of ferries and coastal boats operating on year-round and seasonal schedules can take you to island and remote coastal communities. Communities on the Labrador Coast are served by one ferry between Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and two passenger and freight (no cars) vessels that serve the areas between Pinsent Arm and Cartwright, and Nain and Cartwright.

There's another vessel that takes you to that little bit of France called St. Pierre!

Whenever you're on the water, be prepared to be entertained and amazed by wonderful natural spectacles. Like humpback and minke whales that appear in season, or the many varieties of seabirds that roost in huge coastal colonies. Ferries are floating observation platforms. Along the eastern coastline, look for icebergs bigger than you ever imagined. Those who live by the sea swear that the best way to see Newfoundland and Labrador is from the water. Come see for yourself.

FERRY SERVICE
Nova Scotia to Newfoundland

Year-round vehicle and passenger ferry service is provided by Marine Atlantic between North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. Crossing time is 6 hours. (This ferry connects with the trans-island bus service operated by DRL Coach Lines.)

From mid-June to mid-September, an additional ferry operate between North Sydney and Argentia in eastern Newfoundland, which is 45 kilometres from Route 1 and 131 kilometres (78 miles) from the provincial capital of St. John's. Crossing time is 12-14 hours. Newhook's Transportation operates a bus service between Argentia and St. John's.

For rates and schedules, contact:

Marine Atlantic Reservations Bureau
P. O. Box 250
North Sydney, NS B2A 3M3
Telephone: (902) 794-5700
Toll Free Canada and U.S.: 1-800-341-7981
Fax: (902) 564-7480
Website: www.marine-atlantic.ca

Advance reservations are recommended. A toll-free telephone service is provided within most of North America.

Strait of Belle Isle

There is daily ferry service in summer between St. Barbe on Newfoundland's Viking Trail and Blanc Sablon on the Quebec-Labrador border. Take this ferry to reach Route 510. Crossing time is 80 minutes.

For reservations or information on schedules and rates, contact:

The Woodward Group
St. Barbe Ferry Terminal
St. Barbe, NL
A0K 1M0

Telephone: 1-866-535-2567

www.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules/J-apollo.stm

Provincial Ferry Services: www.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/

Confirmation of reservation will be made upon receipt of a non-refundable $5 deposit. Bus operators must make reservations. All traffic with reservations should be at dockside 1 hour prior to departure.

Coastal Labrador

There are three separate marine services on the coast of Labrador. The southernmost is a coastal boat that connects the communities of Charlottetown, Norman Bay, Pinsent Arm, Williams Harbour and Port Hope Simpson. The communities between Black Tickle and Nain are served by a coastal boat that also calls at Cartwright on the coast, and at Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Rigolet in Lake Melville. And there is a car ferry between Lewisporte in Central Newfoundland and Cartwright and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

For reservations and rates, please call 866-535-2567.

Sept Îles to Blanc Sablon Coastal Boat

A passenger ferry from Sept-Îsles to Blanc Sablon, Quebec (418-461-2656) operates April to January, and connects with the ferry from Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe, Newfoundland, and with Route 510.