MV Princess of Acadia sets sail for last time on Monday
Inaugural sailing of MV Fundy Rose will be Tuesday with 8 a.m. departure from Saint John
The ferry has provided service between Saint John and Digby, N.S. since 1971.
"When the Princess of Acadia first started going, they used to have dances on board, dances for $25 a person to go on board for a ride across and right back," recalled Linda Breau, who shared her memories of the early crossings on Information Morning Saint John on Monday.
"I remember we'd hit a few waves and be holding onto the pole, still dancing … I'm kind of sad to see it go."
Another former passenger, Alexandra Brooks-Robinson, recalled driving onto the ferry during a return trip from Digby when she was 11 years old.
"When my aunt was directed to park her GMC Jimmy, it ended up being stationed between two tractor-trailers, which was quite claustrophobic and eerie to us all, particularly to me and my cousin, since everything big is huge when you're a kid," she said.
"I can remember thinking the car was going to get squished at some point on the journey because of the waves and the movement of the boat — yet another reminder of how over-reactive and inventive the imaginations of children can be."
Not all of the experiences aboard the Princess of Acadia were fond, however.
Linda Boyer-McPhee, a member of the Waterstreet Dinner Theatre, says of all her trips, the journey that sticks out most was when the cast crossed the bay for a performance in Digby.
"It was the most harrowing journey I've ever done in my life. It was really rocky," she said.
"All the supplies in the cafeteria were falling all over the place, the garbage can kept falling over, and then they'd come back and pick it up again.
"Some of our cast members were sick, I watched the window on the far side, and saw sky, water, sky water … We were kind of green when we got there, but we made it. Every journey since then has been wonderful."
The ferry's last sailing from Digby will be at 5:30 p.m.
Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland spent the summers of 1971 and 1972 selling newspapers for the Chronicle Herald on board the vessel and at the ferry terminal.
"That's where I earned my first dollar, because of the Princess of Acadia, so it will be sad to see it go," he said.
Cleveland and others will gather at Point Prim Lighthouse, at the mouth of Digby Harbour, to wave goodbye to the Princess of Acadia. He says local fishermen are even heading out in the waters to see the vessel off.
Digby residents are pleased that ferry service will continue, as there were fears the service would be discontinued.
"I think they're excited to know that the government has invested money in another ferry, but at the same time, there's always that little bit of nostalgia that they hate to see the old thing go, but we knew its life was limited and it's good to have a replacement," said Jean Brittain, Digby's deputy mayor.
The inaugural sailing of MV Fundy Rose will be on Tuesday, with an 8 a.m. departure from Saint John and again at 2:30 p.m., and from Digby at 11:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The Fundy Rose was purchased from a Greek ferry operator for $44.6 million, was formerly known as Ithaki. The government had said it wanted a name with a more Maritime ring to it.
Bay Ferries, the company that operates the ferry, says the new vessel will offer better and faster sailing times, and improved on-board amenities, such as lounges and a cafeteria.
These amenities are something that was noticed by one of Cleveland's daughters.
"My youngest daughter went on [a tour on] board and she said, 'This is just like a mall,'" said Cleveland.
The Princess of Acadia is expected to be put up for sale.
If a new owner can't be found, the old ship will likely be scrapped.