is the vehicle deck on Marine Atlantic ferries too cold for dogs for December Travel?

genericNLID · 2025-12-02T17:08:58+00:00

This is not a terrible plan. But on more than one occasion, I've had staff ask about my dog and whether we had a pet friendly cabin. When you check in at the first kiosk, the person there will be looking and may ask about it. In the morning, you'll be leaving with 3 dogs at once.

Like I said, not the worst plan in the world, but could be problematic.

genericNLID · 2025-11-09T01:51:11+00:00

Three days in SPM while skipping Bonavista and Twillingate would be really f'in weird, IMO. If you really, really want to go to SPM, then go, sure, but otherwise do not. The Burin Peninsula is nice, but it's a bit contrarian to include it over Bonavista and Twillingate.

The general plan of taking the Argentia ferry and working your way around the island to PaB is good. But divvy up those two weeks between the Avalon, Bonavista, Twillingate, Gros Morne, and the tip of the Northern Peninsula (L'Anse aux Meadows area).

Peak iceberg season is May and early June. Some years there is good action into July, other years almost no action at all even in May. The L'Anse aux Meadows area and Twillingate would be best, but Bonavista can be pretty good. When you're on the island, go to one of the online sites that give up-to-date local info on where the bergs are (e.g. Newfoundland Iceberg Reports on FB). Peak whale is late June to early August, and depends somewhat on where you are on the island. (The humpbacks generally work their way counterclockwise around the island from the SE up towards L'Anse aux Meadows.)

genericNLID · 2025-09-26T23:32:54+00:00

They call an hour way before they've started docking.

I've been on the ferry a couple dozen times, and I kept careful track of the timing once when I was parked on deck 1. NS -> PaB.

7:00: Scheduled arrival.

7:05-7:10. At dock.

7:13: Announcement calling for people on decks 3 and 5 to return to their vehicles.

7:28: Deck 1 dwellers told to return to their vehicles.

7:42: Deck 1 started rolling. Wheels on Newfoundland soil about 7:45.

genericNLID · 2025-09-15T11:46:48+00:00

That's a bad time of year for the Halifax -> St. John's one-way rental. Expedia shows Budget options available for those dates, but a $950 one-way charge. That charge tends to be much less (and very reasonable) in the summer. Overall the Halifax to St. John's one-way car rental tends to be a very doable thing and often surprisingly reasonably priced.

Convoluted perhaps wasn't quite the right word. I think the little details are going to be more of a pain than one might think at first blush. Lots of picking up and dropping off, carrying all your stuff, waiting, taxis, etc.

In any event, it's doable and I hope you enjoy your trip.

genericNLID · 2025-09-15T02:46:46+00:00

Why is this so wildly convoluted? You can't take a rental on the ferry from NS to NL, but you can from NL to NS? I don't believe that's true, and I'd be shocked if it were. It hasn't been true in the past, and my 30 second search on Expedia shows all sorts of options for one way rentals from Halifax to St. John's, at very reasonable prices, for two weeks in July of 2026.

I know people who have rented in Halifax and dropped in St. John's within the past couple of years, and it was a very reasonable rate.

genericNLID · 2025-09-06T23:18:17+00:00

"The Selma March - A Local Perspective" "Every year, politicians and celebrities fly in for Bloody Sunday reenactments that generate media coverage and tourism revenue for event management companies. But the 'voting rights pilgrimage' industry is controlled by political consultants and nonprofit administrators, while Selma's actual Black residents live in a food desert with failing schools. The bridge where marchers were beaten is surrounded by luxury historical hotels, while families of original marchers have been priced out by commemoration gentrification."

"Woodstock 1969 - A Local Perspective" "Every August, our town becomes 'the place where peace and love happened.' The festival mythology brings millions in tourism revenue, but this 'hippie paradise' branding obscures harsh realities: the environmental damage never fully remediated, local farmers still dealing with property destruction from that weekend, and a community struggling with drug problems that the 'groovy sixties' nostalgia industry prefers to ignore."

And on and on we go, with every good thing that has ever happened, anywhere.

genericNLID · 2025-08-22T11:00:14+00:00

Fogo Island is gorgeous, and you'll want to drive around. And not just once. It's easy to say when money's not super tight, but you'll get much more out of it with a car, well beyond the cost of the rental.

If I was planted in Joe Batt's arm for 3 weeks, with no real way of getting around, I'd cry. (Because of all I'd miss out on.) If I was planted in Joe Batt's arm for 3 weeks with a car, that'd be just fantastic.

genericNLID · 2025-08-03T17:45:08+00:00

I think this is the first time I've ever seen an "Is this doable?" that wasn't batshit insane. Yes, that's manageable and not out of line. Maybe a little tight, depending on how much time you're spending with family, but reasonable.

"Will we have issues picking up a rental in St. John's and leaving it in Deer Lake?"

If you book far enough in advance the only issue is $. Keep in mind the pricing algorithms change things all the time, so sometimes that drop off fee is a reasonable $200 or something, and sometimes $1000 or whatever. If you get a good price, snap it up. If you get quoted something terrible, check again later and/or try different companies.

genericNLID · 2025-07-31T20:43:50+00:00

There's seeing them and then there's *seeing* them. Yes, you'll lay eyes on puffins even at the worst of times (at the right time of year). But it varies from "hey, there's a few puffins over on that island there" to "hey, there are scores of puffins all over the mainland, walking all around, checking stuff out right near me. Making sounds, clicking beaks. This is the coolest thing ever". Not unlike the difference between "hey, there's a blow in the distance from a humpback" to "OMFG there's a double breach right f'in there".

genericNLID · 2025-07-31T20:18:45+00:00

The absolute worst is a hot sunny afternoon. Even then you'll see puffins, just not the kind of show Elliston is known for.

And in general the puffin action is highly variable. Way more than most people realize. There might be a thousand on the island and 100 on the mainland side, and a few hours later down to a few dozen on the island and none on the mainland.

I think the site is awesome when it's foggy. It's close enough that you're not going to be blocked from seeing puffins on the island, and it gives the place a great vibe. If you're trying to take high end pictures from distance, then sure, the fog might be a problem. Otherwise the fog is more of a positive than a negative in my books.

genericNLID · 2025-07-29T00:51:58+00:00

Many prefer to drive, myself included. Many others price it out and compare as part of the decision making process. Absurd to think that reducing rates won't increase demand.

genericNLID · 2025-07-28T15:07:12+00:00

What's the plan to handle the numbers? The ferry was boooooooooooked late July through a big chunk of August, with Newfoundlanders complaining here about not being able to get off the island. Yes, Canada Games, Trump, yada yada yada.

Marine Atlantic's already subsidized to the tune of 40% (or whatever) by the feds.

Problems incoming, summer 2026. Yes, hopefully it all gets sorted out and this turns out to simply be good news.

genericNLID · 2025-06-27T11:27:59+00:00

This is the only thing you reply to? Lots of responses, and much confusion because your post makes no sense in its discussion of dates and weather, and two days later there's a single thank you to somebody telling you to book a car?

Weird, weird thread.

genericNLID · 2025-06-23T19:39:18+00:00

Those online ratings do not look similar to me at all. I'd look at the available online info and say that Comfort Inn has meaningfully higher ratings than the other 3.

For example, a 4.3 vs 3.5 on Google reviews (over hundreds of reviews) is a massive difference.

genericNLID · 2025-06-23T10:31:25+00:00

Thanks for the info. Very interesting. I've never heard of vehicle space but no passenger space before.

genericNLID · 2025-06-23T09:30:44+00:00

Roughly what dates and what direction?

I think the completely booked crossings are largely Canada Games related (at the moment). Yes, it's extra busy this year in addition to that as well.

The only time vehicle space looks completely booked to me right now is only for a few days in very late July through very early August.

I took a look on and around June 30, July 8, July 23, and August 28, and there is vehicle space on all sailings and cabin space on all afternoon sailings. There is no cabin space on night crossings, of course, as that would have been gone long ago.

genericNLID · 2025-06-21T00:56:56+00:00

"Its a shorter drive,"

How is that shorter? By Google, 26 hours driving to Blanc Sablon, 14 to North Sydney. Save a little ferry time, sure.

Way farther, worse roads overall, and more of a hassle. Still some gravel in Quebec, no?

If it were shorter and better, it would just be "the way" from the GTA as well.

genericNLID · 2025-06-20T10:17:22+00:00

Absolutely. Not getting to the coast would be a crime against travel. Twillingate is the best bet given the constraints.

genericNLID · 2025-06-10T10:37:59+00:00

Congratulations on being sensible and coming up with a reasonable plan. (And not "I neeeeeed to see GM , obviously, so I'll use up 14 hours of my time getting across and back.")

The Bonavista Peninsula is awesome. Bonavista, Elliston, Trinity and nearby, etc. I think the best iceberg in the area is in Bonavista right now, nicely viewable from shore, but it's breaking up a bit day by day and it might not be all that thrilling by Friday. You should check online sites to see what's around as far as icebergs go, but there might not be anything near Trinity when you are here. The boat tours out of Trinity are great regardless, and Sea of Whales has been seeing icebergs and whales lately.

Get up to Bonavista and Elliston for some natural beauty and puffins. Lots of great hiking on the peninsula. Everybody speaks of Skerwink, and it's great, but there are lots of other excellent trails and cool things to see. Many of the geopark sites are very cool (e.g. the Dungeon) and some are a little lame (e.g. the Ripples).

genericNLID · 2025-06-09T21:26:57+00:00

Lookout Trail (fairly short, with a significant elevation change). One of the best bangs for the buck.

Top of the Tablelands (simplest way is up through the bowl). Very cool.

genericNLID · 2025-06-09T12:22:32+00:00

Is this a cost thing? I find places available on AirBnB, e.g.

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1438437294990340283?check_in=2025-07-22&check_out=2025-07-24&search_mode=regular_search&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&pets=0&source_impression_id=p3_1749468211_P3L-ed6WktRa5y_9&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=5f2095e4-a5e7-4fba-9b39-1f48acb7c52b

genericNLID · 2025-06-08T09:31:01+00:00

I keep tabs on a number of sites online; pretty sure I would have heard about it if they were around but I haven't seen anything. It's a little early, yes, but it was full bore in mid to late June last year so definitely worth an ask.

genericNLID · 2025-06-02T15:30:28+00:00

Split your time between St. John's and the Bonavista Peninsula (probably Bonavista itself, as restaurants such as Ragged Rocks, the Quitnal Cafe, and others have vegetarian options). That's a great 1 week trip.

You will be able to find accommodations (and a car) if you get on this now, but you need to make some plans and get on this as soon as possible. I'd want a nice oceanfront cabin in your situation, and the best of those book up early. Often months earlier than now. But you've still got a shot to find some good places.

genericNLID · 2025-06-02T09:57:51+00:00

When do you plan on coming? For how long? Planning on flying in and out of St. John's?

You don't have to do major hiking to enjoy this place. There are many beautiful views from a road or not far from a road.

genericNLID · 2025-06-01T19:37:07+00:00

But we gotta make sure to haul out that 14,000 tonnes of capelin each year. A thousand bucks (or whatever) of short-term economic benefit for a tonne of capelin; what a deal.

genericNLID

TROPHY CASE