I'm originally from New Brunswick and my wife is from Newfoundland. We are both still working, so any time we've driven off of The Island, we've booked well ahead so that we could find out what crossings were available and get the crossing that was most convenient for us. There was never a problem to get something that we could plan for - but we had a month or more to plan.
A few years back when my mother passed away, I flew home - my wife and children drove, requiring the ferry. This was mid August so I guess it was during peak period. Without some proof of family emergency, they would not have gotten a guaranteed spot for a week. There may also have been a lot of wind around that time, which delays the ferry runs and backs up traffic - I can't remember that due to other concerns.
The point is, if you are OK with maybe having to wait, you'll be OK with whatever you decide - and you may need to wait even with a reservation in advance. The Sydney area of Nova Scotia has lots of things that I haven't explored, and the Port Aux Basques area of Newfoundland certainly has its charms as well.
2011 Passport 290BH Reese Straight Line Hitch Tekonsha P3
2009 Silverado 1500WT ext cab 4x4 5.3L V8 3.73 tow package
Even though you have a reservation for a certain day/time, don't be surprised if the ferry leaves hours or a full day later than scheduled. They are notorious for not operating on time.
BillK41 wrote: Even though you have a reservation for a certain day/time, don't be surprised if the ferry leaves hours or a full day later than scheduled. They are notorious for not operating on time.
AHEM! When going on ferry N. Sydney to Port aux Basques you are crossing 90 miles of sea!
{{{Note on abbreviations. NT is Newfoundland Time, AT is Atlantic Time, which is NS, NB, PEI & inland Labrador}}}
On this satellite image: Eastern Canada & US view if there is a wind pattern that comes strongly between Newfoundland and Labrador and between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, the probability of ferry runs stopping is about 80%.
If that wind pattern goes north from The Caribbean to Iceland and back down around Newfoundland, the probability of ferry stoppage is 99.9%
Why do you think they ask for your phone # when they take your reservation, eh?
Are they very attentive to measuring the length of the vehicles on these vessels?
With our camper snugged right up to the front of the truck box we are 20 feet, I like to have it further to the back for storage space up front in the truck box.
However if I do position it that way we end up between 20 and 21 feet....
The $$ rate over 20 feet increases 45.00 one way.........
On the Bay ferries they just take a glance and have never charged us the increased rate....(It looks just like a 1/2 ton truck with a big box on it to them)
Are they very attentive to measuring the length of the vehicles on these vessels?
With our camper snugged right up to the front of the truck box we are 20 feet, I like to have it further to the back for storage space up front in the truck box.
However if I do position it that way we end up between 20 and 21 feet....
The $$ rate over 20 feet increases 45.00 one way.........
On the Bay ferries they just take a glance and have never charged us the increased rate....(It looks just like a 1/2 ton truck with a big box on it to them)
I don't know if you would attract attention or not - BUT we were told if we were unsure of our exact length to book longer than our truck and trailer would require because they can DENY BOARDING of your vehicle if they do not have room because you supplied incorrect information. There are markings for measurement at the check-in/payment booth and they did have a look at our length to make sure. At the time there was a rate for 55' and another at 60'. I booked 60' because I did not know for certain what the overall length was going to end up at, and was charged the 55' rate - actual length is 53'.
When my brother came for a visit with his pop-up, he removed the spare tire from the rear bumper - that would have put him in the next price jump.
I'd snug the camper tight to the cab - an extra inch will cost you the same as an extra 9.5 feet!
* This post was
edited 03/14/12 06:22pm by CampingNL *
Are they very attentive to measuring the length of the vehicles on these vessels?
With our camper snugged right up to the front of the truck box we are 20 feet, I like to have it further to the back for storage space up front in the truck box.
However if I do position it that way we end up between 20 and 21 feet....
The $$ rate over 20 feet increases 45.00 one way.........
On the Bay ferries they just take a glance and have never charged us the increased rate....(It looks just like a 1/2 ton truck with a big box on it to them)
During our trip there last summer, they measured us at loading time. We had booked 52 ft and were measured at 54. Going to NL, the guy in the booth phoned someone to check and said that was OK since it was the same price. Coming back, we again measured 2ft over and the guy said "Dats good nuff bye".
Offline
