Through the low season the CTMA ferry leaves Cap-aux-Meules at 07:00 and Souris at 13:00, on three or four days a week, with sailings already listed to 30 March 2027. An adult pays $19.10 and a vehicle of 21 feet or less $38.75 one way, plus a 5% fuel surcharge; every traveller, even on foot, must book.
CTMA online calendar, sailings listed to 30 March 2027 at the low-season times in force since 1 October; reservations for the 2027 season open on 27 October 2026 at 9 a.m. Atlantic time; checked 26 October 2026 CTMA – Schedule and availability calendar · 2026-10-26
The Îles de la Madeleine belong to Quebec, but their sea link with the mainland runs to Prince Edward Island. CTMA sails between Souris, on PEI's eastern shore, and Cap-aux-Meules in the middle of the archipelago, and keeps doing so through the winter, when ice and weather make the Gulf of St. Lawrence harder going.
The ship is large for a regional crossing. CTMA's technical sheet lists room for 300 cars and 1,500 passengers, a length of 139 metres and 15 cabins, two of them adapted for passengers with disabilities. It was built in Spain.
Since 1 October the low-season pattern applies: one departure from the islands at 7 a.m. and one from Souris at 1 p.m. on each sailing day. CTMA's June 2025 notice gave the same two times for summer, with 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. departures for overnight trips.
The low-season fares now in force run until 14 June 2027. CTMA quotes them per single trip, in CAD, with no tax charged. A fuel levy of 5% goes on top; the FAQ explains that it is fixed each spring with Transport Canada.
People and vehicles appear on separate lines of the table, and a booking requires the name and age group of everyone travelling, so budget for each passenger's fare in addition to the vehicle. Vehicles over 21 feet must give their exact length when booking. Payment is in full at booking, by Visa or Mastercard.
| Adult, 13 to 59 | $ 19.10 |
| 60 and over | $ 15.55 |
| Child, 5 to 12 | $ 7.70 |
| Child under 5 | Free |
| Vehicle 21 ft or shorter | $ 38.75 |
| Vehicle with trailer or RV, 22 to 25 ft | $ 50 |
| Vehicle with trailer or RV, 26 to 30 ft | $ 70.05 |
| Motorcycle, Spyder or ATV | $ 19.40 |
| Bicycle, kayak or paddle board | $ 8.60 |
| Adult, 13 to 59 | $ 29.55 |
| Child, 5 to 12 | $ 14.90 |
| Vehicle 21 ft or shorter | $ 55.10 |
CTMA 2026-2027 fares, in effect 1 August 2025 to 31 March 2027; low season 15 September to 14 June; read 23 October 2026 CTMA – Rates (2026-2027 fares) · 2026-10-23
From Souris, at the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island, the ship heads north-east across the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cap-aux-Meules, the port of the Îles de la Madeleine. Le Québec maritime, the regional tourism body, gives the crossing as about five hours, and calls the ferry the main way to reach the archipelago.
Travellers coming from Nova Scotia can reach Prince Edward Island on the Caribou to Wood Islands ferry instead of the Confederation Bridge, as long as they sail before that route closes for the winter.
Souris is at the eastern end of Prince Edward Island. CTMA's directions from Quebec run via Rivière-du-Loup, New Brunswick and the Confederation Bridge, then the Trans-Canada to Charlottetown and Highway 2 to Souris, following signs to the terminal.
The dock here never closes: you may leave your vehicle in line or sleep in it overnight. Terminal and gates open at 8 a.m. for the 13:00 sailing, and you must leave the dock to check in at the gate once boarding approaches.
On the islands the dock opens at 5 a.m. for the morning crossing. Sleeping on the dock or leaving a car there overnight is not allowed.
Foot passengers get a shuttle from the terminal building to the ship and can use a baggage cart service if they leave bags in the cart outside the terminal an hour before departure.
Reservations apply to walkers and cyclists as well. Online changes cost nothing until three hours before the boat leaves.
CTMA asks passengers to arrive at least 75 minutes before departure; reservation gates close 60 minutes before, and latecomers lose their guaranteed space.
Without a booking in low season, register at the Cap-aux-Meules dock at 5 a.m. on the day of departure; places are allocated first come, first served.
Reservations for the 2027 season open on 27 October 2026 at 9 a.m. Atlantic time, online or by phone; the phone line is staffed every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Le Québec maritime calls this ferry the main way to reach the archipelago, and it carries freight as well as visitors. Commercial trucks cannot reserve: in low season they board after reserved vehicles and perishable-goods trailers. CTMA says check-in times are now the same all year round.
Fares have been unusually stable: the current table covers 1 August 2025 to 31 March 2027. Another Quebec crossing on this site, the Matane ferry across the St. Lawrence, links the two shores of the river rather than an island group.
At 07:00 from Cap-aux-Meules and 13:00 from Souris on every sailing day, according to CTMA's calendar, which lists sailings to 30 March 2027.
Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From 1 December it drops to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Count $38.75 for a vehicle no longer than 21 feet, then $19.10 per adult aged 13 to 59, plus the 5% fuel levy. CTMA's fares are tax-exempt.
CTMA requires every traveller to book, but vehicles can join the standby line on the dock; at Souris the dock is always open and you may keep your place in line for the next sailing.
Reservations for the 2027 season open on 27 October 2026 at 9 a.m. Atlantic time.
The dock opens at 5 a.m. for the morning crossing. CTMA recommends arriving at least 75 minutes before departure and closes the reservation gates 60 minutes before.
Yes. At Cap-aux-Meules a shuttle runs from the terminal to the ship, and bags left in the cart outside the terminal an hour before departure are towed aboard.