Canadian ferries, river shuttles and water taxis

MTLskyline · #1 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 3:00 AM**

I thought it might be an interesting idea to have a thread on water transport in Canada.

There is a ferry that runs from Montreal's Old Port to Île Sainte-Hélène and Longueuil. It costs around $7 and takes about 20 minutes. There is a departure every hour between 9:30 and 6:30 7 days a week during the summer only. With all the bridge construction that will be going on in Montreal in the coming future, perhaps this mode of transport will become more popular. I would like to see it become more like the Thames Clipper in London. The St. Lawrence is a considerably larger and less congested river than the Thames so it might work (although it is quite a bit rougher).

Navette Montréal-Parc Jean-Drapeau-Longueuil by abdallahh, on Flickr

Navette Montréal-Parc Jean-Drapeau-Longueu by abdallahh, on Flickr

SignalHillHiker · #2 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 10:42 AM**

Love it.

Last I read, the ferries linking Newfoundland and Labrador to the Canadian mainland were the largest passenger ferries in the world. I'm not sure if that's still true, or if it even was then - but here is Marine Atlantic's current fleet.

The beloved Joseph and Clara Smallwood and the Caribou (named in memory of the ferry torpedoed on this route by a German submarine during the Second World War) were recently decommissioned and replaced.

The Blue Puttees (in St. John's):

The mv Blue Puttees , St John`s , Newfoundland by lyndon keating, on Flickr

(All other photos from Marine Atlantic.)

The Lief Erickson

The Highlanders

The Atlantic Vision

SignalHillHiker · #3 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 10:47 AM**

Le Cabestan, one of the ferries that completes the short trip between Fortune, on the south coast of the island of Newfoundland, and the adjacent French islands of St-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Since 9/11, Newfoundlanders no longer enjoy special entry privileges and must present passports, go through customs, and so on - just like all other North Americans.

Grand Bank 38 — St. Pierre Ferry Le Cabestan by dugspr — Home for Good, on Flickr

The Flanders and The Beaumont Hamel, which link Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, in suburban St. John's, to nearby Bell Island (which, oddly enough, was also torpedoed during the Second World War). As you can see in the photo below, it's a grotesque mix of dying mining town and nouveau riche commuters.

DSC_81195Tz Flanders meets Baumont Hamel by arbolz, on Flickr

IMG_4665 by andrewhouse, on Flickr

-Harlington- · #4 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 12:40 PM**

Oldest continuously running salt water ferry service in north america (1752) :

flar · #5 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 2:08 PM**

One of the many lesser known ferries in Canada

The ferry...

...and the dock on the Canadian side:

bulliver · #6 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 3:04 PM**

The Queen of Saanich navigates Active Pass enroute to Swartz Bay

bulliver · #7 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 3:13 PM**

Another shot of Queen of Saanich, Galiano Island in the background:

Not sure which ship this is, it is departing Horseshoe Bay for Nanaimo:

Acajack · #8 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 3:25 PM**

This company began operating a water taxi between Gatineau's casino, downtown Gatineau (Hull) and downtown Ottawa this past summer.

Prices seem a little steep: 20 dollars for a one-way trip from the casino to Ottawa. Although perhaps in a standard taxi the cost would be similar...

http://aufeeldeleau.ca/activites-bat...ais/aqua-taxi/

eemy · #9 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 3:50 PM**

It mostly seems to be a shuttle between the Museum of Civilization and the locks in Ottawa, ending the day with a trip to the Casino and then returning the next morning. Seems a bit inconvenient to have to wait until morning to get a ride back.

Ayreonaut · #10 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 4:01 PM**

I've taken BC Ferries countless times to the Island and back. I'm not sure how smart it was to increase passenger capacity while decreasing vehicle capacity on the new ones (Super C?). How many walk-ons can really be expected on, for instance, the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route? But the car decks are regularly packed.

As for Marine Atlantic. Once you're on the boat, it's a fine experience (necessary given the length of the routes. In BC I just stay in the car); live music, multiple restaurants and bars, wifi, etc. But they take forever to load/unload the things in comparison with BC Ferries.

@SignalHillHiker: I'm pretty sure some Irish Ferries are much larger (and it looks like there are a pair of Oslo-Kiel ships that are even larger). I was on the Ulysses from Dublin-Wales and it was massive!

chrisallard5454 · #11 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 4:29 PM**

Winnipeg has a few ferry and water taxi company's. The most impressive of which being the M.S Rouge, which does multiple different tours.

It has a nighttime dance tour for 20+. 10pm-2am

It has a daytime tour. 1pm-3pm

Sunset tour 7pm-10pm

A day time tour to Lower Fort Garry 9am-5pm

http://ca.ebid.net/for-sale/ms-river...d-68922074.htm

In fact I will be boarding the Rouge tonight as a surprise for my girlfriend.

Acajack · #12 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

It mostly seems to be a shuttle between the Museum of Civilization and the locks in Ottawa, ending the day with a trip to the Casino and then returning the next morning. Seems a bit inconvenient to have to wait until morning to get a ride back.

Sounds right to me but don't underestimate casino patrons...

someone123 · #13 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 6:03 PM**

Here is a photo of the three ferries in Halifax. There are two routes; one goes to downtown Dartmouth and one goes to Woodside. I think there will soon be four ferries in service on the two existing routes.

Source

Dartmouth side:

Source

MonctonRad · #14 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 6:18 PM**

Despite the construction of the Confederation Bridge to PEI from NB over a decade ago, there is still a ferry service to the mainland, running between Caribou NS and Wood Islands PEI.

The service is seasonal, but still runs about eight months per year and is still fairly popular (with tourists, some truckers and romantics).

JHikka · #15 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 6:31 PM**

Now I really need to go out and take a picture of the Princess of Acadia. And maybe some of the ferries on the St. John River (6 or 7 of them)

MonctonRad · #16 Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 6:44 PM**

From the Bay Ferries website:

The Princess of Acadia, which runs from Saint John NB to Digby NS.

PrairieGirl · #17 Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 9:31 PM**

An even lesser known Canadian Ferry

Riverhurst Ferry (crosses Diefenbaker Lake/South Saskatchewan River at Riverhurst Landing).

Victoria Harbour Taxi Ferry

both mine

Jstaleness · #18 Posted **Sep 21, 2012, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrairieGirl

Victoria Harbour Taxi Ferry

both mine

These are cool.

SHOFEAR · #19 Posted **Sep 21, 2012, 6:22 PM**

Probably the only ferry in Alberta. It crosses the Peace River... It's up north....way north.

http://www.discoverthepeacecountry.c...ete/ferry3.jpg

Scruff Bucket · #20 Posted **Sep 28, 2012, 7:41 AM**

Toronto Centre Island passenger ferry

Image
From Toronto Star article

I always thought Vancouver's Seabus (public transportation) is neat. They simply reverse directions (with the new direction of forward) without having to turn around as they exit the docking terminal, and head straight into the next terminal to dock.
Wiki article: Seabus

Wiki File:Burrard Beaver SeaBus.JPG

Wiki File:2010-08 SeaBus Burrard Pacific Breeze Interior.jpg

Vancouver's Aquabus(es)
http://www.seegranvilleisland.com

Stamps' Landing dock

Foot of Hornby

Does Regina's lake shore to Willow Island passenger ferry count?

Willow Island ferry (<- Click link to see! Sorry, the embedded link for this image does not work here!)
Wascana Centre Authority website

Could this be what inspired Arrogant Worms to sing about the "Jolly Roger" (the name of an actual beer store/tavern in Regina) on Regina's mighty shores?