Who Should I Believe?

[Retired 07]

On HAL's website, (also on my TA's) it shows that our 10/7/08 stop in Charlottetown, PEI is from 8 am to 5 pm. However, checking on the Charlottetown cruise ship schedule, it shows 11:30 am to 5 pm. How do I know which is right? I'm trying to schedule a shore excursion. Thanks!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

On HAL's website, (also on my TA's) it shows that our 10/7/08 stop in Charlottetown, PEI is from 8 am to 5 pm. However, checking on the Charlottetown cruise ship schedule, it shows 11:30 am to 5 pm. How do I know which is right? I'm trying to schedule a shore excursion. Thanks!
I honestly believe that the Charlottetown cruise ship schedule is NOT correct. This is an everyother week thing for the Maasdam in New England and I believe they always arrive at 8 AM.
This is from the main Excel Spread she for HAL on October 7th
MA
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
8:00
-
17:00

[sail7seas]

Maasdam stops at Charlottetown every week when doing the Boston to Montreal to Boston cruises. The itinerary repeats every week in reverse order.

Charlottetown has been a half day port because there used to be scenic cruising on the Saguenay River. Maasdam will no longer be doing the Saguenay so Charlottetown was supposed to be a longer port call. BUT.... The Canada/New England brochure shows on the Boston to Montreal segment, PEI is 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. For the Montreal to Boston cruises, it is 11:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. ...according to the 2008 HAL Canada/New England Brochure.

It's a lovely port and we'd enjoy as much time there as they can give us.

[Retired 07]

Thank you both for answering, even though you didn't agree. I just looked at the brochure, and it DOES show 'scenic cruising-Sageunay Fjord on Monday, and Charlottetown from 11:30-5:00 on Tuesday. Whereas, the HAL website just shows Monday as "at sea", and Charlottetown as 8:00 to 5:00. So, HAL does not even agree with itself!! Would it make any difference that this is the repo cruise?

[Two if by Sea]

BUT.... The Canada/New England brochure shows on the Boston to Montreal segment, PEI is 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. For the Montreal to Boston cruises, it is 11:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. ...according to the 2008 HAL Canada/New England Brochure.

But that brochure still shows the Scenic Cruising Saguenay Fjord, which has been cancelled. I am assuming that they just didn't bother reprinting those brochures after making the itinerary change.

I certainly hope we have 8-5 in Charlottetown. I was sorry about missing the Saguenay but I thought the extra time in PEI would more than make up for that (especially on the Montreal->Boston run, when we'd have had to be up really early to see anything nice in the Saguenay).

Anyhow, perhaps someone who GOES on one of the cruises can tell us what actually happens! First Montreal->Boston run is May 17th. Who's going?

[sail7seas]

Two if by Sea....

I think YOU are correct and am almost positive we are supposed to have full day in Charlottetown both on the Boston to Montreal Itinerary and the Montreal to Boston. I remember speaking with the Captain when they announced Saguenay cruising was going to be eliminated and we spoke about how nice it would be to have more time in PEI. It's a very nice port.

I'll try to verify and report back here.

[Mary Ellen]

So, HAL does not even agree with itself!! Sad to say, this isn't the first time and won't be the last. ;) The best I can suggest is to log on to the HAL site for shore excursions. Using your booking number, so you'll see the excursions for YOUR cruise. Take a look at what time they are departing in PEI. If some are departing at 9 a.m., odds are that you'll be there early. If none depart before 11:30/noon-ish, it will be the later arrival time.

[sail7seas]

sorry.....double AGAIN.
Groan.

[sail7seas]

Here is RELIABLE info.....



Our stay in Charlottetown is Boston to Montreal: 8.00 till 17.00

Montreal to Boston: 8.00 till 17.00

[Retired 07]

Thanks, everybody!

I guess the most upsetting thing about all this, is that we won't be cruising the Saguenay Fjord. We were REALLY looking forward to that after seeing so many great photos. Does anybody know why they cancelled it?

[sail7seas]

:) So we can have more time in PEI. :)

[Two if by Sea]

Thanks, everybody!

I guess the most upsetting thing about all this, is that we won't be cruising the Saguenay Fjord. We were REALLY looking forward to that after seeing so many great photos. Does anybody know why they cancelled it?

I asked around at the time, since it was also one of the reasons we originally booked the cruise. People had various theories, including letting the Eurodam have something special to do (since they can't get as far as Montreal).

Someone also thought it got cancelled too frequently due to weather conditions making it hard to get such a large ship into the fjord.

And some thought it was a way of saving fuel.

Unless someone here knows the HAL vice president in charge of itineraries, we'll probably never know for sure.

[Bramcruiser]

Just checked the HAL website for our 2009 cruise. Yep, Saguenay Fjord is not listed. Just an "at sea" day.

David

[martinimadam]

All the above suggestions are good; however, as someone said earlier, this is a repositioning cruise and will not be stopping in Boston...going on to FLL. Would this make any difference?

[takemewithyou]

Now I am paying attention to this thread because this is my cruise being talked about. My brochure says scenic cruising of Saguenay Fjord for the second day. Just checked the HAL web site and for this cruise it says "at sea" now. So Sail7seas is right. Not that I really doubted her! :)

Now Charlottetown, PEI is from 8am - 5 pm. Darn, I was hoping that we might have a slightly different itinerary because it is a repositioning cruise, but guess not.

By the way, retired 07, we have a roll call going for this cruise, if you are interested.

[Retired 07]

I sent an e-mail to HAL yesterday, and they just replied that the information on the website is the most up to date. She didn't address my Saguenay Fjord question at all. She also mentioned that "I do not see that you are in that area cruising on this particular itinerary" I guess that may be because I didn't book it on the HAL website??

[sail7seas]

My information came from the best possible source. ;)
As of right this minute, that is what is scheduled.
Certainly unexpected conditions can change it such as medical evacuation/weather/tides/mechanical failures etc etc