The Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is the reason most people pass through Channel-Port aux Basques. The crossing to North Sydney, Nova Scotia takes about six hours and runs several times a day in peak season, less frequently in winter. It's the primary land connection between Newfoundland and the Canadian mainland.
The ferry itself — there are currently two vessels on the route, the MV Highlanders and MV Blue Puttees — offers a cafeteria, seating lounges, and deck space. The crossing of the Cabot Strait is often dramatic: in good weather the views toward Cape Breton and back to the Newfoundland coast are memorable; in bad weather, the crossing is rough. Book well ahead in summer, especially with vehicles.