Yarmouth ferry bookings on hold for U.S. concerns

Plans to book reservations on the Nova Scotia to Maine ferry have stalled until the company can satisfy U.S. authorities' concerns about ticket refunds.

May 1 is still the anticipated start date for a daily ferry service between Yarmouth and Portland. Ads for Nova Star Cruises are online and in Nova Scotia's Doers & Dreamers guide.

However, plans for booking reservations are on hold until the company can prove it has enough money to refund passengers in the event of a cancellation.

"Nova Star Cruises is on schedule for May 1 to provide round trip cruise ferry between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Portland, Maine," said Sean Lewis, a spokesman for the company

"In the next few weeks we will have the necessary regulatory approvals to advertise fares and launch the reservation system."

The posted fares are in U.S. dollars, but converted, an adult can walk on for about $83 one way in the cheapest season. Fees for children are about half that cost, while kids under five can travel for free. Those who are opting to take a car with two people will pay approximately $529 return.

Nova Star is a joint venture between Quest Navigation in Maine and the builder of the ship in Asia.

The ferry can carry 1,200 passengers and includes restaurants and a casino.

The provincial government is spending $21 million over seven years to restart the service.