Bookings for the 2026 sailing season of The CAT ferry are up about 30% compared with the previous year [1].
The surge in passenger interest indicates a strong recovery in cross-border tourism. This growth is particularly significant for the regional economy of Nova Scotia, which relies on the ferry route to attract high-spending visitors from the U.S.
Bay Ferries Limited, the operator of the service, launched the 2026 season on Thursday, May 14 [2]. The ferry links Nova Scotia, Canada, and Maine, U.S. The company said that pre-season bookings reached nearly 18,000 [3].
While some reports cite a 29% increase in advance bookings [4], other data indicates the growth is closer to 30% [1]. This uptick is attributed to renewed interest from American tourists traveling to Canada [5].
The ferry service operates with significant government support. Nova Scotia provides an annual provincial subsidy of $20 million for the route [6]. This investment aims to maintain the link between the two regions, and bolster the local tourism infrastructure.
Industry observers said that the timing of the increase coincides with a broader trend of North American travelers seeking international destinations. The high volume of advance bookings suggests that the 2026 season will be one of the most active in recent years for the operator.
“Bookings for the 2026 sailing season of The CAT ferry are up about 30% compared with the previous year.”
The increase in bookings for The CAT ferry suggests a strengthening of tourism ties between the U.S. and Canada. By leveraging a $20 million provincial subsidy, Nova Scotia is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the American travel market, which provides a critical economic injection into the province's hospitality and service sectors.
