One of the things we quickly discovered on our Atlantic Canada road trip was that getting to Newfoundland was part of the experience.
Since we were traveling with our own vehicle, that meant taking the Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. For our trip to Newfoundland, we sailed overnight to Port aux Basques on the island’s southwest coast. Several weeks later, after making our way across Newfoundland, we returned to Nova Scotia on the longer ferry from Argentia.
The difference between the two routes is considerable—the Port aux Basques crossing takes approximately seven hours, while the Argentia crossing takes about 16½ hours.
Taking one route to Newfoundland and another back allowed us to continue our road trip across the island without having to retrace our route all the way to Port aux Basques.
Booking Our Ferry and Cabin
Knowing that cabins on the overnight ferries can book quickly, we made our reservations nearly ten months before our trip. We booked both crossings on August 9, 2025, for our trip the following summer to make sure we could reserve a cabin in both directions.
Around that time, the Canadian government introduced a 50 percent reduction in Marine Atlantic passenger and passenger-vehicle fares for travel beginning August 1. We initially paid the higher fares when we made our reservations, but Marine Atlantic later refunded the difference. Since we had already been comfortable with the original cost, the refunds were certainly a welcome surprise.
The reduced fares were still in effect when we traveled in 2026. Because fares can change, it’s always a good idea to check current pricing when planning a trip.
Marine Atlantic current fares and fare information
For our overnight crossing to Port aux Basques, we reserved a two-berth exterior cabin with a private bathroom and shower. Having a cabin was important to us—we wanted to get a good night’s sleep and arrive in Newfoundland ready to start exploring the next morning.
Booking early turned out to be a decision we were very glad we made.
Arriving in North Sydney
We continued our drive through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia before arriving in North Sydney for our evening departure.
Before heading to the ferry terminal, we stopped for dinner at Black Spoon Bistro. The seafood was delicious and it turned out to be a great choice before beginning the next leg of our trip.
When checking in, be sure to have your booking confirmation readily available, along with the required identification for everyone traveling. Since we were visiting from outside Canada, we also had our passports with us.
As evening approached, we made our way to the Marine Atlantic terminal and joined the lines of vehicles waiting to board the overnight ferry to Port aux Basques.
Boarding the Ferry
The boarding operation was impressive to watch. With cars, RVs and transport trucks being loaded across multiple vehicle decks, the crew seemed to have the process down to a science.
Once aboard, we were directed to our parking spot among the other vehicles and transport trucks. We left most of our luggage in the car and took only what we needed for the night.
One important thing to know is that passengers aren’t permitted to return to their vehicles during the crossing. Once you leave the vehicle deck, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you’ll need until you arrive at your destination.
What We Took to Our Cabin
Since we couldn’t return to our vehicle during the crossing, we brought a small overnight bag with a change of clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste, necessary medications and motion-sickness medication. Everything else stayed in the car.
Exploring the Ferry
After getting settled, we spent some time exploring the ship. There were several areas where passengers could relax, along with restaurants, lounges and other seating areas.
The ferry felt much more like a small passenger ship than simply a way of transporting our car across to Newfoundland. After spending so much time on the road, it was nice to park the car for the night and let someone else do the driving.
On Board Exploring:
Our Overnight Cabin
Our two-berth exterior cabin was compact but had everything we needed for the night, including two beds, a television, a window and a private bathroom with a shower.
The beds were comfortable and the cabin itself was quiet, although there were a number of onboard announcements during the crossing.
As we left North Sydney, we could feel some movement from the ship and both felt a little queasy. We decided to take motion-sickness medication before going to bed, which helped settle things down and allowed us to get some sleep.
By morning, we were rested and ready for our first day in Newfoundland.
Two Birth Cabin With Private Bath
Breakfast Before Arriving in Newfoundland
Before arriving in Port aux Basques, we headed out for breakfast and enjoyed a good meal onboard. After an overnight crossing, it was nice to have breakfast before returning to the vehicle and beginning our drive.
Soon afterward, we arrived in Port aux Basques, returned to our car and drove off the ferry to officially begin the Newfoundland portion of our road trip.
Our first destination was Cape Rose Blanche Lighthouse, giving us our first look at the rugged coastal scenery we’d come to Newfoundland to see.
Returning from Argentia to North Sydney
Several weeks later, after making our way across Newfoundland, it was time to begin the trip back to Nova Scotia. We spent our final two nights near Argentia in Placentia before heading to the ferry terminal for the overnight crossing to North Sydney.
The Argentia crossing is considerably longer than the Port aux Basques route, so we were especially glad to have booked a private cabin for the return trip.
This time we booked an exterior cabin with a queen bed and a much larger window. The room felt noticeably more spacious than our cabin on the trip to Port aux Basques, which we appreciated on the longer crossing. Space was still at a premium, though—the bathroom door was close enough to the side of the bed that opening it took a little maneuvering.
A Longer Night at Sea
Once we were underway, we noticed considerable more movement than we had on the Port aux Basques crossing. With the longer trip taking us farther out into open water, we were glad we’d once again brought motion-sickness medication along with the other essentials we needed for the night.
Of course, sea conditions can vary from one sailing to another, but on our particular crossing we definitely noticed the difference.
Despite the movement, having our own cabin gave us a comfortable place to settle in during the longer trip. The next morning, we again enjoyed breakfast onboard before arriving back in North Sydney and continuing our road trip through Nova Scotia.
A Few Things We Learned
After taking both Marine Atlantic routes, there are a few things we’d keep in mind if we were planning the trip again.
Booking early would be at the top of the list, particularly if having a private cabin is important. We’d also have our overnight bag packed before arriving at the terminal, making sure anything we might need during the crossing was with us before leaving the vehicle deck.
And even if you’re not normally bothered by motion sickness, it may be worth coming prepared. Sea conditions will vary, but we were glad we’d brought medication with us on both crossings.
Keep your booking confirmation and identification handy when you arrive at the terminal
Would We Book a Cabin Again?
For us, absolutely.
Having our own beds, private bathroom and a quiet place to relax made both overnight crossings much more comfortable, particularly the longer trip from Argentia. If we were making the trip again, we’d book a cabin without hesitation.
Taking the ferry also worked particularly well with the way we planned our Newfoundland road trip. Arriving in Port aux Basques and departing from Argentia allowed us to make our way across the island without having to turn around and drive all the way back to where we started.
After weeks of exploring Newfoundland by car, boarding the ferry in Argentia felt like a fitting end to that part of our Atlantic Canada road trip.
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