Princess Maple Leaf Land Tour review

Canada/New England Land Tour & Cruise, Sept. 27 – Oct 12, 2016

Cruise line: Princess, Maple Leaf Tour (5 days land) prior to cruise

Ship: Caribbean Princess, room Riviera 709 (deck 14)

Air: Air Canada going to Toronto, Delta from LaGuardia to Atlanta, both EzAire by Princess (about $300 per person round trip)

Money: $500 Canadian (spent all of it), $1000 US (spent about $800)

Tuesday, Sept. 27 Toronto, Canada

We flew the 11:05 am Air Canada flight to Toronto; good flight

The Princess representative met us outside of luggage pick up. We had a limo ride to hotel Fairmont Royal York, arrived 2:15 pm. Checked in. Met James Saunders (our guide for land tour), very nice.

One of the first things James was telling people was yes, they did need Canadian money. He gave them directions to banks. We had gotten ours from our local bank.

We walked around the corner to Tim Horton’s for lunch sandwich (panini, not impressed)

Walked down the street to find Blue Jay souvenirs at Rogers Center.

We checked the price of food restaurants and thought them to be expensive (Georgia is cheap); ate supper in basement of hotel at Piper (sports bar). The hamburger was very good, about $20 each.

For Wifi at hotel you have to join the President’s Club. We were given directions, but I chose not to join.

Weather: about 70 degrees, windy, sunny

Wednesday, Sept. 28 Toronto

Woke at 5 am; breakfast buffet in hotel at 6 am, good.

Tour bus to Niagara Falls, Canadian side (2 hr and 15 min ride)

Very nice boat ride with Hornblower Niagara by theFalls.

45 min ride to Niagara on the Lake; nice town. 1 ½ hr which was not enough time to enjoy the town.

Ate lunch at Epicurean, quiche & salad, roast beef sandwich, both very good.

2 hour ride back to Toronto

Supper at Casey’s (sports bar) across street; ribs were burnt; about $20 each. I did connect with wifi to send email to the kids at Casey’s.

Weather: warm, low 70’s, mostly sunny

Thursday, Sept. 29 Toronto to Ottawa

Woke 5 am; suitcases out in hall at 5:30 am

Buffet breakfast at hotel

7:30 am bus to Ottawa; stopped every 2 hours or so

Boat cruise ride of Thousand Islands from Gananoque to Ivy Lea.

Lunch: lasagna, salad, roll, carrot cake (on boat ride)

No commentary on boat ride.

3:30 pm arrive hotel Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottowa

Walked down to Dunn’s Deli for supper: giant Rueben & onion rings & club sandwich; good

Looked at Monument to First Nations on walk back to hotel.

Friday, Sept. 30 Ottawa to Montebello

6 am wake up

7 am buffet breakfast at hotel

8:50 am board bus

1 ½ hour City Tour with Margo

Visited gardens of the Queen’s representative at Rideau Hall. These were very nice and first saw some fall color.

Went to Museum of Civilization; nice exhibits, especially of First Nations

Lunch in cafeteria: 2 hamburgers (basic), 2 diet Cokes & cookies $31

2 pm back on bus for 1 ¼ hours ride to Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello; very nice resort on the Ottawa River.

Walked around.

Nice dinner (ladies should dress up a little).

Saturday, Oct. 1 Montebello to Montreal

7 am woke up; breakfast at hotel

10 am bus left Montebello for Montreal.

Arrived hotel in Montreal, disembarked for lunch at McDonald’s.

1 pm back on bus for City Tour.

3:30 pm back at Marriott hotel (the cheese grater) for check in to rooms. Rooms were nice; lovely windows.

5 pm back on bus for supper.

Went to Old Montreal restaurant for supper (steak), very good.

Back to hotel at 8:30 pm.

Weather: sunny, warm, about 70 degrees, nice

Sunday, Oct. 2 Montreal to Quebec City (ship)

Work 5:30 am; breakfast at hotel; 8 am left hotel

2 stops before Quebec City; arrived about noon

We enjoyed this part of our trip more than I thought we would. It was tiring but wonderful. I would definitely do it again. Worth the money.

Thank you for the report.