Nova Star ferry's winter trip to Florida cancelled

Plans for a winter retreat for the Nova Star ferry have been changed and the vessel will no longer be heading to Florida, the company said Friday.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Nova Star Cruises said the ferry would be leaving Yarmouth on Saturday for Fort Pierce, Fla.

The move to a warmer climate was aimed at reducing operations and maintenance costs during the off season and ensure it would be ready if winter work was secured.

In an email to CBC News on Friday, spokesman Sean Lewis said the Nova Star will now leave Yarmouth on Saturday and head down the shore to Shelburne.

"The decision to lay up in Shelburne was made to accommodate advances in discussions to secure a winter route for this season, and the availability of a berth in Shelburne," he said.

When the plan was to berth in Fort Pierce, Nova Star Cruises said it would be responsible for the docking fees but would not disclose how much they would be. There is no word on if the company will be picking up the tab for any costs associated with the Shelburne stay.

In total, the ferry had 59,000 passengers in its inaugural season, well short of the company's goal of 100,000 passengers.

The company announced in September that it would be shortening the sailing season by three weeks, with the final voyage taking place Oct. 13, rather than Nov. 2.