The Cat Goes Caribbean
(November 6, 2003)
There is a new way to make the trip
from South Florida to the Bahamas. The
Cat is the fastest ferry in North America and can zip 900
passengers across the ocean at highway speeds—55
mph to be exact. The ferry runs from Port Everglades to Grand
Bahama Island in less than two hours. Better yet, it's much cheaper than
flying to the islands.
The Cat
Gliding smoothly over
the Atlantic, the 300-foot Cat cuts an impressive figure in the water. This sea monster-like
craft is so distinctive that she becomes a major tourist attraction
in every port-of-call she visits.
Unlike traditional ships,
the Cat's, with its unique catamaran design, doesn't ride on top of
the waves but cuts through them. The vessel funnels the power of
four 9,500 horsepower engines through four water jets, each pumping
the equivalent of an Olympic-size swimming pool of water per second.
There are two areas onboard where one can step outside and witness
this amazing power. At the back of the ship, jets shoot out a tail
of water that's over 20 feet high and 50 feet long. The spray will
get you quite wet, but on a hot day, it's refreshing. The viewing
deck at the front of the ship provides a great vantage point as well
but also a good place for whale, porpoise, and sea bird
sightings.
You can travel in style with many of the amenities one would expect of a cruise ship are available.
The Cafe serves snacks and meals all day. There is also a bar and a
duty free gift shop, and those wanting to try their hand at gambling
will find over 120 slot and poker machines. Seats are
airplane-like and plentiful, and allow you to relax and watch the
ocean scenery. There's even film entertainment for the kids that is
shown on large screen TVs.
If You Go
The Cat
will be running from November 1 thru December 21. Reservations are highly
recommended and can be made online or by
phone 866-31-FERRY. Costs vary, prices range between $129 and $189 for adults
and $70 for children ages 3 to 17. There are also excellent vacation
packages available to many of the island's resorts including Our Lucaya.
(Note:
During the summer and fall seasons (May through October),
over half a million people travel on the vessel from Bar Harbor,
Maine to Nova Scotia -- cars, trucks, and campers are allowed on those voyages. During the winter
months, the Cat migrates south to Florida then onto New Zealand.)
Related Stories:
The
Cat - Fastest Way To A Two Nation Vacation
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