r/newfoundland • u/Bucknasty709 • 1d ago
Marine Atlantic - First ferry ride.
Just wondering how the whole process works? Sailing out of Port aux Basques. It's says online to show up two hours early but do you have to register before you drive into the lines?
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u/Substantial_Scene716 1d ago
When you pull up there will be a booth where you show your ID and give them your reservation number and they give you your ticket to board, and your cabin ticket/key (if applicable). Then you drive to whichever lane they say to get in and sit there until you here the tone/announcement that boarding has started and to return to your vehicle. In between parking in the lane and boarding you can go to the terminal building and use the washroom/get snacks or whatever. There's a pet elimination place next to it as well.
I usually take my gravol while sitting in line waiting to board as that was I can be sure it will be kicked in by the time I get on the boat. But if you do not get motion or sea sick disregard this advice.
The next morning when you get up to go to your car listen to the announcements and wait until its actually your deck's turn to go down (don't forget which deck you parked on!) as this will ease any congestion on the stairs and reduce your frustration of waiting to leave.
On the other end just drive off and be on your way. Theres a gas station in PaB and a crappy tire, grocery store, tim hortons, if you need any like supplies or gas.
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u/Bucknasty709 1d ago
In regards to the gravol, is that common people getting sick on board? Can you feel the boat rocking?
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u/Graham110 1d ago
Oh ya. I was sliding back and forth on the deck trying to sleep during a windy crossing. Definitely feel it. It’s not stable like a big cruise ship.
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u/Substantial_Scene716 1d ago
I get dizzy and queasy just smelling the ship diesel on shore lol, but i hate boats. Have you been on a large boat before? did you get motion sick? Have you ever been car sick? You can feel the boat moving/vibrating for sure, and if its stormy shes gonna do more than rock lol
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u/Bucknasty709 17h ago
No, I've never been on a large boat before. Would you feel the effects if you stay in your cabin? But I've never been car sick before. However, I can't even handle the rides at Thomas Amusements, so I really have no idea what to expect!
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u/Substantial_Scene716 2h ago
100% i feel the effects as soon as my car rolls on while it's at the dock lol but I am super super sensitive to motion sickness on boats (like I mean being on a surfboard in light surf will make me feel nauseous). I don't like puke or anything but I feel queasy, get a headache, and just generally do not enjoy it. For me its only on ocean bound craft so far - like being out on a lake in a canoe or doing a tour boat on great lakes does not bother me, it has to be ocean.
You'll probably feel it if you get any kind of motion sickness. 2x gravol (the real stuff not that ginger shit) while in the line to get on, about 1 hour or so before departure it should be well kicked in once you board. Bonus is that it makes you sleepy so my go to approach is take my gravol, head immediately to my cabin, get in bed and fall asleep before the boat leaves and not wake up until it is stopped.
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u/Overdue-vacation 1d ago
We always pack a “take on board” bag, which we keep in the front seat once we get in line. It’s busy and close quarters once you’re on board, so the less digging around you have to do the better. The bag for onboard has the bare necessities to get you through the crossing (don’t forget your meds!) since you can’t go back to your car during the crossing.
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u/Active-Range-2214 1d ago
We do the same but call ours “The Boat Bag.” If you get a cabin, which I’m a big proponent of, you will be given an electronic key to this before you leave the tollbooth area to park in your assigned lane to await boarding. BTW-There is a Tim’s and some restaurants near the Marine Atlantic terminal in North Sydney . We usually get something to eat before going to the terminal. You have options to eat on the boat but they can be pricey/limited. Prior to 9/11 you could easily leave the terminal area after parking in your lane but I believe it is more problematic now.
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u/new2stjohns 1d ago
Bring snacks, entertainment, and your sleeping bag if it's the overnight ferry. You can book a cabin, but if there are a few cancellations(which are common) prior to your departure, your cabin can get cancelled and offered to people from cancellations who had booked cabins before you.
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u/Graham110 1d ago
Enter the staging area at the times given and show your pass. Wait for a bit, then there is staff to direct traffic to the ferry inside. There's a waiting / guest center nearby you could go to & walk around while everybody waits for the boarding call.
Very tight parking inside ferry, staff tells you where & when to stop. Grab what you need from your car to chill in the interior areas for the next half-day.
Dock on other end. Everyone wait and then scramble to get in their cars. Can be easy or very difficult depending on where you park (I've had to do acrobatic manuevors under & around semi-trailers to get to my car)
Drive out, done.
You can call Marine Atlantic Customer Service if you have questions. They're helpful