Shore Excursions for New England/Canada - October

We will be cruising with NCL in early October - never visited these New England/Canada ports before - any recommendations what to do / who to book shore trips with, etc? Hubby's health not great so nothing strenuous, light to moderate walking only please. Also, any favorite port restaurants - Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, St. John, Halifax?

In Halifax we walked off the ship and got a Taxi Van and did a beautiful driving tour including Peggy's Cove, Air Memorial etc and some shopping. It was very reasonable and a relaxing way to tour around. When we got back to the pier we walked down to the immigration museum (a short walk).

In Newport we took the city bus and checked out the mansions, we also did the full cliff walk (I wouldn't recommend the cliff walk for you based on what you have said).

In Bar Harbour we did Oli's Trolley tour and it was great. My only complaint was it seemed like a lot of hurry up and wait (as most bus type tours are, because people are slow to get back on the bus). We went in the afternoon, which was fortunate because the morning was extremely foggy. For food we really enjoyed Stewmans, which is a short and easy walk from the tender dock and the launch point for Oli's tour.

Boston, we took the ship shuttle bus to Faneuil Hall and basically just walked around the city center and did the freedom trail. There are tons of restaurants so you have your choice.

Hope this helps a bit.

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We will be cruising with NCL in early October - never visited these New England/Canada ports before - any recommendations what to do / who to book shore trips with, etc? Hubby's health not great so nothing strenuous, light to moderate walking only please. Also, any favorite port restaurants - Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, St. John, Halifax?

We were in Canada last year and we rented a car in Halifax and drove out to Peggy's Cove. If there are vans that take you there, and you don't want to drive, that's just as good. The drive is about an hour. Since the Lighthouse is surrounded by rocks, you probably won't be able to get closed to it, but you can see it very well from the parking areas. I would also recommend the fortress, but that does involve some walking, same for any museums. They are not hard walks, so if possible, try them.

In Newport, take the trolley to the mansions. Again, if your hubby can walk some then do a tour there. Forget the cliff walk. Downtown Newport is a good place to sit or stroll around in also.

Bar Harbor. Ollie's seems to be the prevalent thing for tours. We have been there several times on our own, but if there is a tour to the top of Cadillac Mountain, take it. That is a spectacular area and view.

If the tide is out, you can start to walk along the ocean bottom, out towards Bar Island. The walk to the island is about 1/4 mile, but you don't have to go all the way. Just walking where there was 30 feet of water a few hours ago is remarkable. It is NOT a hard walk, even cars go out there.

Lighthouse at Peggy's Cove

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4562_zps89a29cda.jpg

Town itself, Peggy's Cove

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4575_zpsc56fb217.jpg

Titanic graveyard

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/canada/IMG_4583_zps070d7b8d.jpg

View from atop Cadillac Mountain

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3443_zpsfdc4a181.jpg

Walking along ocean bottom to Bar Island

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3473_zps60d8569a.jpg

Cheers

Len

More to Peggy's Cove than the lighthouse for pictures

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff386/mmkbx75/PeggysCove_zps92fc48dc.jpg

In Halifax we walked off the ship and got a Taxi Van and did a beautiful driving tour including Peggy's Cove, Air Memorial etc and some shopping. It was very reasonable and a relaxing way to tour around. When we got back to the pier we walked down to the immigration museum (a short walk).

 

In Newport we took the city bus and checked out the mansions, we also did the full cliff walk (I wouldn't recommend the cliff walk for you based on what you have said).

 

In Bar Harbour we did Oli's Trolley tour and it was great. My only complaint was it seemed like a lot of hurry up and wait (as most bus type tours are, because people are slow to get back on the bus). We went in the afternoon, which was fortunate because the morning was extremely foggy. For food we really enjoyed Stewmans, which is a short and easy walk from the tender dock and the launch point for Oli's tour.

 

 

Boston, we took the ship shuttle bus to Faneuil Hall and basically just walked around the city center and did the freedom trail. There are tons of restaurants so you have your choice.

 

 

Hope this helps a bit.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Boston, we took the ship shuttle bus to Faneuil Hall and basically just walked around the city center and did the freedom trail. There are tons of restaurants so you have your choice.

Where do you get this bus from where the ship docks in Boston? How much does it cost? Does it run in mid to late October.

We are arriving on Princess.

Thank you.

MARAPRINCE

There are several tour bus companies.

"Old Town Trolley Tours" operates hop-on-hop-off service to most of the major tourist sites, including Faneuil Hall. They stop at or near the Silver Line "T" bus stop on Drydock Ave, just a short walk from the cruise terminal.

"Boston Duck Tours" operates "duck boat" tours that are very touristy, with a touch of comedy, and they include a brief ride on the Charles River (the duck boats are amphibious buses/boats). I don't believe they stop near the cruise terminal, but they do stop in the Aquarium / Faneuil Hall area

If you take the Old Town Trolley to the Faneuil Hall / New England Aquarium neighborhood, there are many more possibilities from there, including duck boats, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

The "Freedom Trail" is a tour of historical sights, but beware, it is a walking tour. A little know feature is that you can get a free tour guide from the National Park Service (Boston National Historical Park). A great deal.

There are two water taxi services that serve the cruise port; Rowes Wharf Water Taxi, and Boston Harbor Cruises; with somewhat different routes. They are like taxis; they don't have regular schedules, you call them for ride.

The local mass-transit system (the "T") can also take you, but you'd probably have to make two transfers to get from the cruise port to Faneuil Hall, which might not be convenient. If you're going somewhere else, it might be a good option.

I lived in RI for nearly 40 years, and frequented Newport all the time. Here is an excellent article that just ran in the Rhode Island newspaper, Providence Journal, about a few things to do in Newport before the tourists get here. Price and activity level varies. Also, there is a historical fort (FT Adams) if you are a military buff, great food, the US Naval War College (again, military fan), scuba diving shops, sail boat charters, golf, tennis hall of fame, vineyards, and a few other things. Take a look at this article though.

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150604/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150609739/14568

This site here will tell you about the events that are going on in Newport every day - there are some great festivals in Newport, and many other fun things, read through this site

http://www.discovernewport.org/events-calendar

Enjoy your time - it is a great city!

Re: Boston Restaurants, IMHO Fanueil Hall is just touristy places and nothing stands out in my mind. Two other options: The North End, famous Italian section of Boston which is close to Fanueil Hall, has tons of great restaurants. Most are reasonable prices and most are excellent. Also, several bakery/coffee shop type places with the famous North End Cannolli's.

Also, a short walk (about two miles from BlacK Falcon cruise terminal) is Legal Sea Foods Harborside. This is Legal's "flagship" restaurant. It is right on boston harbor with great views, fantastic seafood, and great service. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. Also, this place has three levels, the top level being a bar with a retractable roof and fantastic views of the harbor.

I lived in RI for nearly 40 years, and frequented Newport all the time. Here is an excellent article that just ran in the Rhode Island newspaper, Providence Journal, about a few things to do in Newport before the tourists get here. Price and activity level varies. Also, there is a historical fort (FT Adams) if you are a military buff, great food, the US Naval War College (again, military fan), scuba diving shops, sail boat charters, golf, tennis hall of fame, vineyards, and a few other things. Take a look at this article though.

 

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150604/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150609739/14568

 

This site here will tell you about the events that are going on in Newport every day - there are some great festivals in Newport, and many other fun things, read through this site

 

http://www.discovernewport.org/events-calendar

 

Enjoy your time - it is a great city![/quote

 

Agree with you about Newport, one of our favorite cities to visit. We've been there countless time, in all seasons and there is always wonderful things to do. We spent a week there a couple of Christmas's ago and people open up their homes for visitors to tour them for free. Great views of the Pell bridge from Fort Adams, plus we always manage to do all or parts of the cliff walk.

And, since we are not meat eaters, some of the best seafood around.

 

Cheers

 

Len

I was going to mention Boston's Duck tours, if weather is mild. And of course, Newport is all about the mansions. I believe most folks head to Breakers,tho the others are lovely too.

Re: Boston Restaurants, IMHO Fanueil Hall is just touristy places and nothing stands out in my mind. Two other options: The North End, famous Italian section of Boston which is close to Fanueil Hall, has tons of great restaurants. Most are reasonable prices and most are excellent. Also, several bakery/coffee shop type places with the famous North End Cannolli's.

 

Also, a short walk (about two miles from BlacK Falcon cruise terminal) is Legal Sea Foods Harborside. This is Legal's "flagship" restaurant. It is right on boston harbor with great views, fantastic seafood, and great service. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. Also, this place has three levels, the top level being a bar with a retractable roof and fantastic views of the harbor.

Black Falcon to Legal's Harborside is just over a half mile walk, and is one of the best restaurants in Boston. Great seafood and amazing steaks.

We started near Faneuil Hall last night to see the new Greenway sculpture (gorgeous at night) and ended up in the North End at Bova's for pastries. De-lish!

You are right, it's not two miles, much shorter walk than that. Definitely walkable unless you have walking "issues" etc.