Facing a 5-day delay for a Marine Atlantic crossing, this woman says she'll be flying for future travel

After an unexpected Marine Atlantic ferry delay that cut into a trip by five days, a Nova Scotia woman says unreliable ferry services means she will fly on future visits to Newfoundland.

Tracy LeFrense was on the island's west coast and ready to board the Marine Atlantic's Blue Puttees ferry on Friday which links Port aux Basques to NorthSydney, N.S. but was told that due to mechanical problems she would be rebooked for Aug. 7.

"Affected passengers have to wait five days to be able to travel again. And to me that's unacceptable and a service I will never use again," LeFrensetold CBC News on Saturday.

"And I worry that tourists who visit our island, who we rely on fortourism, will also not visit or use that service again."

LeFrense grew up in Rocky Harbour and moved to Nova Scotia about 30 years ago, where she now lives with her family. She temporarily relocated to the island's west coast in February to care for her aging parents.

LeFrense said she was planning to take the ferry for a short trip back to Nova Scotia to see her husband and grown children, but that plan has been severely cut into due the ferry's delay.

"So those days are precious for me to get home for that week. And I've lost five days of that," said LeFrense.

CBC News has asked Marine Atlantic for comment.

Future trips

LeFrense said was scheduled to take the ferry back to Newfoundland on Aug. 14 to help arrange her father's move to Nova Scotia. Sheadding that her mother hasdied since February.

"I don't know at this point is it worth me even going," she said.

LeFrense said her sister was also due to visit Newfoundland to be with their father but is no longer making the trip.

"I'm definitely not coming back on the ferry," said LeFrense.

There have been numerous delays in a number of Marine Atlantic ferries in recent weeks.

The Ala'suinu, the Crown corporation's newest ferry that operates between Argentia and North Sydney, was supposed to startits inaugural run in June but was delayed by several weeksdue to issues with its fuel and lubrication system.After starting its crossings in July,two days ofbookingswere also cancelled for staff training.

The MV Highlanders, which travels the Port aux Basques route, experienced a generator problem in July that resulted in four crossings being cancelled that impacted 2,000 passengers.

LeFrense said she's spoken with business owners in the Gros Morne area who said business is down compared to previous years. She wonders if unreliable ferry services could be behind it.

"I'm just curious, is it because many people I know who've been in this experience, well, they don't return to the island again?They don't use that ferry service anymore. Which I find very unfortunate," she said.

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