Nova Star

[Guest]

The Nova Scotia gov gave them another1.1 mil yesterday for operation costs

[deckstir]

Badger is clean, rides smooth, has good food service, and activities for while you are onboard. If a Casino is important to you then Badger is not for you. If speed is important to to you, might I suggest Lake Express.
Badger was built for Lake Michigan service. An ocean going ferry might not ride quite as well on a rough day here. Many environmental improvements have been made to Badger and now she has a cleaner footprint than most of the oil burners left and some of the older diesels on the Lakes.
I'm glad you enjoyed your voyage on the Nova Star but as Guesty said, she may not be around long if she's not profitable. I doubt that someone will spend the money to bring a modern ocean going ferry to operate on a subsidy here
Badger is well maintained, serves a very important purpose on Lake Michigan and is loved by many. I pray she has a very bright and long future.

[guesty]

Had the opportunity to ride the Nova Star ferry from Portland ME to Yarmouth NS. What a wonderful trip - ferry was smooth, clean, and had excellent food, small but adequate casino and lounges. After this trip, cannot understand how the Badger can continue to operate. The Badger is slow and obsolete and needs to be retired.

The Badger may be slow and obsolete but I suspect it will be running long after the Nova Star returns to Europe or wherever it came from. Nova Star has received $11.1 million in operating subsidies from the government of Nova Scotia this year alone. Almost $40 million over the past two years.

As far as I know, the Badger has never received operating subsidies since it stopped hauling rail cars. Some capital improvement grants and guaranteed loans perhaps, but no operating money.

$11.1 million this year for less than 59,000 passengers is about $188.00 in taxpayer subsidies for every $94.00 fare.

It may be a pretty ship, but I doubt it will be around much longer with those economics.

And as for speed, internet sources say both ships can make about 21 knots. And I think they pad the eastbound Nova Star schedule to allow more time for sleeping.

[JohnD]

Had the opportunity to ride the Nova Star ferry from Portland ME to Yarmouth NS. What a wonderful trip - ferry was smooth, clean, and had excellent food, small but adequate casino and lounges. After this trip, cannot understand how the Badger can continue to operate. The Badger is slow and obsolete and needs to be retired.