Travellers taking the ferry between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia can now sign up for text alerts that will let them know if there are any delays.

Northumberland Ferries — which runs between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S. — launched the 2019 season Wednesday.

"You can actually get updates, travel updates, up to the minute, in terms of what's happening with our service," said Don Cormier, vice-president of operations for Northumberland Ferries.

"You just want to see if there's any sort of delays, anything of that nature, you'll get a text message if you opt in."

People can sign up for the service by calling 902-200-0247.

Cormier said there are a number of other new things with the service this year.

NFL has partnered with Inclusions East, which offers services to people with intellectual disabilities, to create a bake shop on the ferry as a fundraiser.

MV Confederation has had an engine software and electronics upgrade, which makes the system more reliable, and means parts will be more readily available if any problems develop.

Confederation also has a new marine evacuation system.

The service will start with MV Holiday Island and five round-trips a day. MV Confederation will join the run, providing more frequent crossings, starting in mid-June. If traffic is particularly busy, Confederation could start earlier.