The Cat ferry arrives in Yarmouth during one of its daily sailings from Bar Harbor, Maine. Photo by Tina Comeau /.Article contentThe number of bookings for travel on The CAT ferry have increased 27 per cent in the last month, but there continues to be a significant drop in Canadians sailing between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Me.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIt has resulted in a decline in year-to-year passenger bookings. As of July 8, a total of 24,613 passengers booked travel on The CAT, compared to 19,308 as of June 12.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“This increase of more than 5,000 bookings in the last month represents a jump of more than 27 per cent,” Bay Ferries Limited said in a July 11 news release. “A significant drop in Canadian bookings, however, continues to be the major factor in an overall year-to-year decline in passenger bookings.”Article contentAs of July 8, 2024, a total of 30,422 passengers were booked for travel on The CAT.Article content“We are pleased to see this year’s bookings going up as the year progresses, despite significant headwinds as many Canadians are choosing not to travel to the United States,” said Mark Wilson, chief executive officer of Bay Ferries. “We remain committed to welcoming passengers from around the world on this unique transportation link between New England and the Maritimes.”Article contentArticle contentOn June 26, Wilson hosted Maine Gov. Janet Mills on the ferry. Mills recently visited New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to encourage residents to visit Maine.Article contentArticle content“Having received such strong support from the Government of Nova Scotia over the years, we are grateful that Governor Mills took the time to experience this ocean connection to her state,” added Wilson. “With daily service and peak season now underway, our team is ready to welcome even more travellers on board The CAT.”Article contentYear-to-date, the vessel has completed 37 round trips, with seven round trips cancelled due to poor weather conditions in May and June.Article contentLast year, the CAT carried 49,299 passengers to and from Nova Scotia, an increase of 10,877 booked passengers (28 per cent) from 2023. The ferry transported 38,430 passengers and 15,348 vehicles over 96 round trips in 2023. Around 80 per cent of travellers were Americans.
CAT ferry bookings down from 2024
