The Cat Ferry is back. This 3.5-hour cruise aboard a high-speed catamaran makes traveling easy between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. And not only that, it cuts the driving time in half.
This international ferry departs Bar Harbor at 3pm EDT arriving in Yarmouth at 7:30pm ADT. And it departs Yarmouth at 9:30am ADT, arriving in Bar Harbor at noon EDT. Remember there’s a one-hour time difference as Nova Scotia is on Atlantic time while Bar Harbor is on Eastern time. Passengers need to allow time for showing paperwork on prior to boarding on either end as well as time to clear through Customs & Immigration when disembarking.
What it’s like aboard The Cat ferry
Numerous lounging areas, order-at-the-counter food service, and a bar make it easy to get comfortable once aboard. Movies are shown on overhead TV screens. And the ferry’s gift shop invites browsing.
Guests can access the outdoors on both sides as well as in the back of The Cat ferry. On my trip, I found the back well sheltered from the wind and quite pleasant, although that likely changes with the weather and wind direction.
On our way over, we were entertained in the bar/front lounge by an acoustic duo: He played guitar, she played flute, and both sang—think easy listening.
Food is served at three locations: one in the front, one in the back, and one mid-ship. Breakfast pastries, pre-made sandwiches, soup, and baked goods are available midship. You’ll find made-to-order coffee drinks and a selection of loose teas along with gelato in the back, and pizza, wings, nachos, and the like in the bar area at the of the ship.
Required paperwork
To sail aboard The Cat, you’ll need appropriate ID: a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license or enhanced ID card; those not born in Canada or the US may need a visa.
History of The Cat ferry
Canada’s Bay Ferries Limited operates The Cat, which is registered in the U.S. and leased from the U.S. Navy. This 349-foot-long (106m) ship began its sea life as a high-speed inter-island ferry in Hawaii named ALAKAI (Hawaiian for Sea Path). In 2009, the U.S. Navy acquired it, using it in 2010 for humanitarian relief in Haiti.
It remained homeported on the East Coast until April 2016, when Bay Ferries leased it and refit it to operate between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth. When put in service that year, it participating in rescuing two Maine lobstermen during high-seas rescues.
The Cat ferry by the numbers
- 4 MTU 80000-series high-speed diesel engines
- 44000 horsepower
- 4 Rolls Royce water jets and 125 MK II water jets
- top speed is 43 knots or 51 miles per hour
- 22 crew members
- up to 866 passengers and 228 vehicles
- more than 280 whales sighted in 2016
Bar Harbor pilot
Perhaps my favorite moment aboard was watching the harbor pilot from Bar Harbor board the ship to guide it to the dock. The pilot knows where the hidden ledges are, where the channels narrow, and tidal changes. Although The Cat ferry slowed down a bit, both boats are moving when the pilot boards, as you can see from this video.
All the details
The Cat Ferry operates from mid-May into November.
