Opinion: could there be another summer for the Princess of Acadia?

The only thing we know at this point for the Saint John-Digby service is that the Princess of Acadia will be replaced this year, however, the question is still when.  The first report was that she will be replaced this spring, however, a recent Digby Courier article suggests it could by the end of the year and no firm date from Transport Canada for when the new vessel will start.  Until that time, the Princess of Acadia will continue sailing without safety or reliability being compromised. The rumor mill could be big, could the new ferry start in mid to late summer?  Could it start during tourism season or in the winter months?  We don't know yet, however, when the new ship will eventually begin its run, I will have the same excitement as when she arrived here and when I first seen her in Halifax last month.  It will begin a new era of ferry service once the former Blue Star Ithaki is running between Saint John and Digby sometime this year.  With all this being said, I still remain optimistic that we will see a newer ferry on the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick route in time for the upcoming tourism season.

The former Blue Star Ithaki (now temporarly renamed Canada 2014) awaiting an extensive refit/engine overhaul in Halifax on February 7, 2015.  It will be an exiting time for Digby and Saint John once the vessel is introduced to the service sometime this year.