The crossing is approximately 3.5 hours.

The CAT ferry departs from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at 9:30AM Atlantic and from Bar Harbor, Maine, at 3:00PM Eastern.

Advance booking is strongly recommended to ensure space is available on a particular departure. Reservations may be made online or by calling toll-free 1-877-762-7245.

A complete list of current offers and promotions can be viewed on our Special Offers page. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more traveling on foot or bicycle. Please contact our Yarmouth Ferry Terminal at [email protected] for group rates.

• A valid passport and/or VISA is required for entry to Canada or United States; permanent resident card; enhanced driver’s license (MI, MN, NY, VT, WA; ON, BC, MB); or passport card. Please note that NEXUS is not available in Yarmouth or Bar Harbor.
• Dates of birth (for all passengers)
• Credit card
• Email address and mobile number where you can be reached while traveling
• If you are traveling with a vehicle: license plate number and overall length and height of the vehicle or vehicles with items attached to the roof/back or towing.

If using a rental vehicle, please enter “RENTAL” in the license plate field when booking online.

All travelers are required to show a valid passport to enter both Canada and the United States. For more information on identification requirements, please check for Canadian requirements, http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at https://www.cbp.gov/.

When traveling by land or sea, U.S., or Canadian children under age 16 and infants are required to provide proof of citizenship. They may present one of the following documents:

• An original or copy of his or her birth certificate
• A consular report of birth abroad
• A naturalization certificate
• A citizenship card

If both birth parents are not present, you must provide a signed (preferably notarized) statement from the parent(s) authorizing the child to travel out of the country or proof of custody.

Children from countries other than the U.S. or Canada will require a passport and possibly a Visa. Failure to provide such evidence may deem you inadmissible to Canada.

In advance of your travel, be aware of border measures and travel documentation for entry to Canada and the U.S. For the most up to date travel information, please refer to the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency websites.

Your dog must be healthy and have a valid rabies vaccine certificate to enter the United States. Puppies younger than 4 months old cannot enter the United States. Cats are permitted to enter the United States at any age without certificates but must be free of any evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined by an inspector at the port of entry. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for information on animal importation, www.cdc.gov/importation. Service dogs must also meet the requirements.

Reservations may be modified or cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure. A fee of $50 applies to reservations cancelled or modified within 24 hours of departure. Those passengers not present at departure, without advising Bay Ferries, are not eligible for a refund.

If making a reservation online, we encourage registering for a user account. This will provide the ability to amend or cancel your reservation online. Alternatively, our reservations line (1-877-762-7245) or our ferry terminals (in the operating season) can assist you.

It is expected that these requirements will evolve throughout our operating season.

All travellers entering Canada must register their travel to Canada using ArriveCAN. This is a mandatory requirement imposed by the Government of Canada.

The following is required to enter Canada, effective April 1, 2022:

ArriveCAN approved receipt of accepted submission into Canada. It is strongly recommended that passengers complete their ArriveCAN entry via the app.

• Fully vaccinated travellers do not need to complete a pre-entry test (they may still be selected for random tests on arrival but are not required to quarantine).
• Non vaccinated travellers will still need an on-arrival test and a day 8 test and must quarantine for 14 days.

Please be advised that the ArriveCAN process MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL FOR CHECK-IN AT THE BAR HARBOR FERRY TERMINAL.

Entering the United States:

A requirement for all non-Americans entering the United States at a land border to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is in effect. Those wishing to enter the U.S., whether for essential or non-essential reasons, will need to show proof of vaccination. A COVID-19 test is not required. Non-U.S. individuals traveling to the country at a land port of entry or ferry terminal must verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status, provide proof of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved COVID-19 vaccination, and a document such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card or Enhanced Tribal Card.

Bay Ferries has adopted safety measures to help reduce the chances of spread of COVID-19 and provide a safe ferry voyage between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  The comprehensive COVID-19 management plan is outlined on our Safe at Sea platform and will be updated as required.

The Yarmouth ferry terminal is open from 8:00AM – 5:00PM Atlantic from April 1 – May 18 and October 11-30. During the operating season (May 19 to October 10), hours are 7:00AM – 9:00PM Atlantic.

The Bar Harbor ferry terminal is open June 27  – October 10  from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Bay Ferries, operators of The CAT, will send you an email advisory and options on how to rebook or cancel your reservations.

If you have not provided an email address, our agents will attempt to call you as soon as possible.

Please be sure to give us contact information (both email and mobile phone) that you will have access to while traveling. If you are traveling out of country, please keep cell phone data access in mind.

When in doubt, please call our toll free line or ferry terminals – they will be able to advise you of service interruptions and help you rebook/cancel.

All passengers must arrive at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time to ensure a timely departure.

For Yarmouth departures, check-in is same day only, prior to boarding.

For Bar Harbor departures, customers should check-in at least 1 hour prior to departure on travel day. Customers are encouraged to check-in the evening prior to travel between 3:00PM and 5:00PM local time or on the morning of travel between 8:00AM and 11:00AM to receive an express pass for boarding when loading begins. Please note that customers should not arrive for loading on travel day prior to 1:30PM.

CAT ferry boarding cards are printed at check-in. All passengers on a reservation must check-in together and present their passport for ID verification. If traveling in a vehicle, you must also verify your vehicle license plate number.

At check-in in Bar Harbor, passengers will be issued a Customs declaration form to complete before arrival in Nova Scotia. Upon arrival to port, all passengers will present their passport and declaration form to Customs for entry into the country. No declaration form is currently required for entry to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Passengers traveling via vehicle or bicycle will drive to a Customs checkpoint where they will present documents for entry.

Passengers traveling without a vehicle will present themselves to Customs with all their bags in hand.

Only Customs can determine if you are permitted to enter the country. Bay Ferries Limited cannot be held responsible in any way for individuals who are inadmissible or who do not hold the necessary documentation to enter Canada or the United States.

Persons with a felony may be denied entrance into Canada. If you have been convicted of a crime in the United States it may be considered a felony in Canada. A Driving Under the Influence conviction (DUI) is considered a felony in Canada. Visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for more information.

All passengers are required to clear Customs before they have access to public areas. Family and friends can meet you in the terminal lobby.

Parking is not available at the Yarmouth ferry terminal; however, there is parking available nearby. To arrange parking in Yarmouth, please call 902-740-3791. Please plan and leave ample time to get to the ferry terminal from the parking facility. An onsite parking lot is available for use at the Bar Harbor ferry terminal for a fee of $12/night. Payment for parking in Bar Harbor is collected at the ferry terminal.

We offer a crew operated lift from the car deck to the passenger deck. All amenities are located on the passenger deck. For more information, visit our Guests with Disabilities page.

In Bar Harbor, RVs will back on/back off the vessel. It is a very straightforward process with plenty of space to maneuver and you will be directed by an experienced crew member. Alternatively, drivers may sign a waiver to allow a vessel crew member to back their vehicle on board. In Yarmouth, RVs and oversize vehicles will drive on/drive off the vessel.

No – safety regulations require passengers to exit their vehicles.

For safety reasons, there is no access to the vehicle deck during the voyage.

No.

Seating is available on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be reserved (apart from motorcoach groups who have made prior arrangements). Throughout the passenger deck, there are a variety of seats, including airplane style seating, oversize leather seating, booth seating, and café style seating.

There are three access points to the outside: two side decks, which can be found at the top of two stairwells and lead to/from the vehicle deck, and a large deck at the stern (back) of the ship. For safety reasons, the captain will close the stern (back deck) while getting underway or if sea conditions do not permit.

To support the health and wellness of our passengers and employees, Bay Ferries Limited provides a smoke-free environment on board The CAT. No smoking of any kind is permitted including vapor products, e-cigarettes, and cannabis.

The Scotia Market Gift Shop features authentic Nova Scotian products.

Duty-free shopping for alcohol and other usual duty-free products is not offered on board or in either port/port town.

We do not have Wi-Fi on board; however, we have a business center which includes three computers with Internet access. Please be advised there is a 20-minute limit per user.

We feature a new release movie on every crossing and live entertainment on specific dates throughout the season. Please visit our Seaside Experiences page closer to our season start for the full entertainment lineup.

The Forchu Lounge serves a selection of wines, beers, as well as cocktails and spirits (some locally made in Nova Scotia). Passengers must be 21 years of age to obtain alcoholic beverages on The CAT and are responsible for strict compliance with driving/alcohol laws in the U.S. and Canada.

The CAT has three food service locations for your dining pleasure.

Forchu Lounge – Enjoy a selection of local wine and craft beer from Nova Scotia. Pair it with a cheeseboard, bacon wrapped scallops, or your choice of specialty snack.

Scotia Market – Offers freshly made breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Options for those with dietary restrictions are also available.

Sip at Sea Café – Serving over 20 loose teas, espresso-based beverages, smoothies, and homemade gelato.

The unsupervised children’s play area offers a selection of children’s movies, toys, and books.

Dogs and cats are permitted to travel on The CAT and can remain comfortably in their owner’s vehicle or in an onboard kennel located on the vehicle deck. For safety reasons, pet owners are not permitted to visit pets during the voyage, therefore we ask that you ensure your furry friend has adequate food, water, and fresh air. Crew members monitor the vehicle deck during the voyage and will be sure to make pet owners aware of a distressed pet. Guests traveling with pets should call to notify us so we can note it on their reservation. Appropriate veterinarian-issued certificates are required and must be shown at check-in.

Production companies may be permitted access to The CAT and terminals as a venue for filming or photo shoot efforts. Film/photo shoots must be coordinated in advance with Bay Ferries to minimize the impact on operations.

For more information, please contact:
Jessica Caseley
[email protected]

There are three partnerships that work together seamlessly to provide an enjoyable onboard passenger experience. If you are a safety-focused team player with strong customer service skills and a desire to serve ferry customers, please consider working for one of our partners:

Concession & Gift Shop Retail Services: Sip at Sea, an affiliate of Sip Café, based on Main Street in downtown Yarmouth, offers freshly made food, snacks, specialty coffees and souvenirs on board The CAT.

Tourism Services: Yarmouth & Acadian Shores offers tourism information at our onboard Visitor Information Center.

How do I apply for a job in Bar Harbor with shore-side services? Please contact our U.S. contractor, Atlantic Fleet Services at [email protected] for ticket clerk and traffic direction positions.

Vessel and Cabin crew: Seaward Services Inc., is a proud member of the HMS Global Maritime family of companies and is contracted by Bay Ferries Limited to provide vessel and cabin crew on board The CAT. Employment opportunities on the Alakai can be found here.