First NE/Canada Cruise - Please Help

Hi we are looking at the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas cruise from Boston, just trying to decide if we should go 9/24, 10/1 or 10/8 - we live in MN so we see the fall foliage here but would love to know exactly when the fall foliage is in this part of the region? Also has anyone been on this cruise from Boston and have any input at all? Thanks so much!

This may help you in making a decision, There is an interactive average fall foliage map provided by Yankee Magazine which shows the passage of the fall foliage for the New England states.

A lot will depend on the ports of call of the cruise. I hope one of those is Bar Harbor because it is on the doorstep of Acadia National Park. ANP is about 10 minutes from the tender dock. You don't waste any time on transportation to see the foliage.

SBtS

However, nothing is certain. For example, if you were coming to Washington for Cherry Blossoms this year you would miss them as they are likely to peak in mid March a couple of weeks before usual.

For Nova Scotia the leaves peak the second week of October (usually) and should be good into the third week. September is too soon for sure.

DH and I are doing the 9/24 sailing from Boston on the Serenade. Boston is an easy port to get around. We did this same cruise three years ago out of Bayonne and then stayed onboard for the five day to Bermuda, our first B2B. I have to agree that the fall foliage is not too good this early in the season but the weather was a bit warmer. The one out of Bayonne was a 9 day with one more port but, otherwise, the same. We did a tour from Bar Harbor with an independent tour company of Acadia National Park. Great time. We did a Land and Sea Tour in Portland, again an independent company. Great time. We went to the Sea Caves in St. John, NB, on an independent tour and that was amazing to see the low tide and the caves. Also a great tour. In Halifax, we walked around the city and the City Gardens. It was a misty day but still enjoyed the Gardens. This tour is not for "Beach People." The weather is too cold. Usually the Solarium pool is warm and useable but the outside pool is not. Packing should be done with layers in mind because the weather can be very changeable. Any other questions, please ask.

We did 10 day Canada and New England out of New York on 10th of October last fall. Colours were close to peak in most ports. Loved this cruise. We cruised on Caribbean Princess.

Just remember it is hurricane season. A few years ago sandy was there and we missed all American ports other than charleston. Tey left off New Yorkers in Boston but the rest of the ship couldn't get off in Boston either.

Flowers44,

Could you please post the names of the independent tour companies that you used.