No, but they are strongly recommended. They make it easier for us to accommodate your travel plans, and they secure your sailing and accommodations.

Book online or call 1-800-341-7981 (toll free) or directly at 1-902-794-5254.

As early as possible. The sooner you make a reservation, the more likely it is your preferred sailing times and accommodations are available.

We accept all major credit cards, Visa Debit, and prepaid credit cards. Reservations can also be made in person at any of our terminals and paid for with cash or debit card.

If your plans change, please call us at 1-800-341-7981 as soon as possible. If you change or cancel your reservation (including your booking, vehicle, and/or accommodations) within 48 hours of your scheduled departure time, there is a $25.00 modification fee. All amendments made to reservations are subject to rates at time of change.

We offer Special Fares for group bookings of 25 or more passengers. To make a group booking please contact us at 1-800-341-7981. 
 
We also offer a Canadian Forces Appreciation discount. Veterans and serving members (and up to three companions travelling with them) enjoy free passenger fare on the North Sydney - Port aux Basques crossing, and a 50% discount on the North Sydney - Argentia crossing. For more information, please see Special Fares.

If there’s a change or delay to the sailing schedule, we need to let you know as early as possible. All personal information collected and used is protected under the Federal Privacy Act.

Providing your license plate number while booking is optional, but it must be provided during check-in. If you plan to use a different vehicle, please notify us as soon as possible at 1-800-341-7981 to update your reservation.

Passengers with reservations must be checked-in at least two hours before the vessel’s scheduled sailing time. To prevent congestion while loading and unloading the vessels, we ask that you do not show up more than 4 hours in advance.

For each individual on your reservation, you will need your reservation number and one piece of government-issued photo identification, or two pieces of government-issued identification without a photo. Your boarding cards will be given to you upon check in. For more information on identification requirements, please see Travelling with Children.

Yes. If you remove your pet from your vehicle, they must be leashed at all times. Please view our Pet Policy for more information.

To secure accommodations, we recommend you book a cabin when making your reservation.

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and cash.

Yes. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are available at all three of our terminals. The communities around our terminals also offer a selection of banks and ATMs. We accept credit and debit cards on our vessels, but due to limited cash on hand, cashiers do not provide cash back.

Boarding typically begins 90-120 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Passengers will be notified and asked to return to their vehicles when boarding is about to begin.
 

You must provide the traffic director with your boarding pass, which will be scanned. We recommend you keep your boarding pass with you at all times.

Yes, all of our vessels have accessible parking. Once you check in, please notify the ticket clerk. Please view information about vessel loading for more information about accessible parking.

The boarding sequence is determined by a specific daily traffic plan for each crossing. We cannot guarantee priority during vessel loading or unloading due to load demands and operational procedures. View more information on Loading and Unloading.

Before leaving your vehicle, make sure to take any items you may need during the crossing such as warm clothing or medications. You will not be able to visit the vehicle deck until the vessel reaches port.
 

Each deck is clearly marked, and a Marine Atlantic employee will greet you when you exit the vehicle deck. If unsure, please inquire which deck you are on. We also advise that you make note of the deck you have parked on.

Yes, practicing members of the Sikh religion are permitted to carry a kirpan on board our vessels.

Passengers travelling with kirpans are required to:  

• Keep the kirpan sheathed.
• Keep the kirpan worn underneath clothing.
• Keep the kirpan not visible to other passengers.

If you notice any damage to your personal property, please immediately notify a staff member before leaving Marine Atlantic property.

Yes. You must provide the license plate number when you check in.

Yes. We offer a commercial we-load service, whereby a Marine Atlantic employee will load the vehicle on/off the vessel. Please contact our Reservations team toll-free at 1-800-341-7981 for full details.

While waiting in your vehicle, if you are using electronic devices such as DVD players, video games, or plug-in coolers, make sure to start your engine periodically. Also, please make sure everything, including headlights, are turned off before you leave your vehicle. 

Vehicles are designated as either passenger or commercial based on the unit size and type. Neither the purpose of travel, vehicle registration, license plates nor vehicle signage are used as determining factors. Should you have questions regarding the classification of a specific vehicle, please contact us prior to travel. This will help ensure a smooth check-in process at the terminal.

Charging is not available at any of Marine Atlantic's terminals. Please consult your preferred EV charging station map to discover the available options on your drive to the North Sydney, Port aux Basques, or Argentia terminal.

In preparation for boarding, electric vehicles will be parked together in a designated lane for identification purposes. The specific loading sequence and location of any vehicle, regardless of fuel-type, will be based upon the overall load plan and may vary each time you travel. 

Learn more about travelling with an EV here.

No, Marine Atlantic does not have a doctor on staff. On the Argentia sailings, we do have trained medical staff.

We sell a wide variety of over-the-counter medications, including ginger Gravol.

In the interest of safety, we ask passengers to wear comfortable, flat shoes on our vehicle decks—no heels, open toes, Croc-style shoes or flip-flops, please.

Marine Atlantic is pleased to provide our passengers with service in both English and French. Bilingual employees wear an identifying badge for your convenience.

If you are travelling due to a pending or recent death in your family, please call us at 1-800-341-7981. We understand travel during these times can be difficult and we will work to ensure you are on the next available passenger sailing. Confirmation of the need for travel may be requested from the attending health care provider or funeral director. This can be sent from an organizational email address or on official letterhead to [email protected].

Yes. We consider livestock to be animals, in any number, which are not domesticated household pets, including cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, mules, poultry, etc. Please click here for more details on travelling with livestock.

Marine Atlantic is not responsible for any lost or found items. In the event an item is lost or found, please call 1-902-794-5731 and we will do our best to help.

Yes. Marine Atlantic has designated smoking areas on each vessel.  Please click here for information on Marine Atlantic’s Cannabis Policy. 

- Ala’suinu: Deck 7
- Blue Puttees: Deck 7
- Highlanders: Deck 7
- Leif Ericson:  Deck 5

Marine Atlantic prohibits the recreational use of cannabis on its property, at its terminals and on board its vessels. 

Customers who self-identify and provide appropriate medical authorization/documentation may self-medicate in the designated smoking areas on board our vessels and terminal grounds. For those customers who do not have the appropriate documentation, the use of cannabis will be denied. For more information about the requirements, please see Medical Cannabis.

While we do not accept printed materials on board our vessels for a variety of logistical reasons, we do accept brochures in our terminals, provided permission has been granted. Please contact us at [email protected] or see Advertise with Us for more details.

Unfortunately, weather can interrupt travel plans. In the event of weather delaying or cancelling a sailing we will notify you of the change and book you on the next available sailing. During the delay we will communicate all information in a timely manner.

If your sailing has been delayed, Marine Atlantic will contact you to advise of the delay. In the event your scheduled sailing is cancelled for mechanical reasons, we will notify you of the cancellation and re-book you on the next available sailing or provide you with a refund. Learn more about compensation here.

If your sailing has been delayed, Marine Atlantic will contact you to advise of the delay. In the event a sailing has been cancelled for mechanical reasons, we will notify impacted customers. For commercial traffic without a premium reservation, we will transfer the queue to the next available sailing. Learn more about compensation here.

If you are on board and your crossing is delayed for an extended period due to mechanical concerns, we will provide you with a light snack or complimentary meal. 

In the event of a vessel change, we will transfer your reservation to the new vessel. Reservations will be transferred according to time of booking. If your reservation is changed, Marine Atlantic will contact you. Cabins and reserved seating are not guaranteed in the event of a vessel change.

Marine Atlantic, like other transportation providers, has a fuel surcharge to help offset costs associated with diesel fuel. Factors taken into consideration when setting our fuel surcharge, include our sailing schedule, the availability of fuel suppliers, and fuel purchase price.

From a sailing schedule perspective, we develop our schedule and look at traditional vessel fuel usage to determine the anticipated fuel consumption for the upcoming year. Given that we purchase large volumes of fuel at one time and place it in our storage tanks, we have more price certainty for a defined period of time.

Marine Atlantic uses a fuel hedging program to reduce the risk of price volatility. This allows fixed prices to be negotiated in advance to provide more certainty for budgetary planning purposes. This approach also protects customers against unpredictable price swings and having to adjust the fuel surcharge multiple times per year.

If you have allergy concerns, please let us know when making a reservation so any necessary arrangements can be made. Passengers should carry their own allergy medication.

Since our vessels are open to the public, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment on board. Passengers may carry food items that could cause allergic reactions in others. Marine Atlantic serves and sells products containing various ingredients that could be allergens for some passengers. Peanut products are not sold in our vending machines. Animals regularly travel on our service, and trained service animals have access to all areas of our vessels and terminal facilities.

Yes! There are three different options for bringing your furry friend onboard. Learn more about our options for travelling with pets.

Yes. If you remove your pet from your vehicle, they must be leashed or in a pet carrier at all times. Please view our Pet Policy for more information.