Gpilon

When I was randomly selected a month or so ago on a short visit to Montreal, we got my results back within 24 hours. But because we were already out of the airport and arrived at our hotel by the time I was notified I was one of the "lucky chosen few" we had to go back to the airport the next day for the PCR test. Construction and traffic were brutal.

My Bride just made another suggestion if you want to get away from the downtown core and do some walking…..Ile St. Helene (St. Helen’s Island). From your hotel by Uber….a short drive and nice to visit. Very nice casino there as well.

Absolutely agree......especially when one considers the "free" booze onboard....

Arrive CAN is a mess and so many people and politicians in Canada are trying to get it tossed. You will get a sense of the traffic and construction issues on your way from the airport to the Vogue. Keep phones handy and on when you get to the airport in Montreal to see if you have been randomly selected for a PCR test. If so, you don't want to have to go back to the airport the next day......you are supposed to be notified within 15 minutes of landing. My notification was beyond the 15 minutes so had to do the traffic/construction "fun" my next day again. Definitely look into the construction issues on the island and bridges taking you off island (Montreal)....they can make your head spin. Walking around Old Montreal is very much like being in Europe. Personally, I have zero tolerance for bad traffic, especially caused by the never ending construction in Montreal.

Rachel....ArriveCAN has been a real issue for lots of people. Friends from here flew up to Toronto for a river cruise out of there, ending in Portland, Maine and they were really having problems like you mention. My Bride went over to their house to help them out and they just input the name of their ship under "Hotel" and had no problems. Two very good choices for dinner and would suggest you go to Old Montreal early before Brasserie 701 and walk around there....a beautiful area full of amazing history and architecture. There is so much construction and traffic around Montreal that getting off the island to do a hike may be problematic. If you had more time I would have suggested a drive to St. Sauveur but with construction, etc. I would not recommend it for the time you have. A terrific "hike" would be on Mont Royal and around Beaver Lake there. Very serene and beautiful walking area. If you were to do that, I would suggest not renting a car and simply taking Uber there and back from your hotel.....a short distance and you could ask the driver to take you around McGill University, which is on the way. Ubers are friendly and plentiful in Montreal, and virtually all the drivers also speak English.

Nor on our March Splendor cruise, which really put a damper on our Pacific Rim experience. Even lacking Sake……the food was mediocre at best.

Look at my post above for my assessment of the AKA.

Meant to also ask if you have any dining reservations in Montreal..??

On our March Splendor cruise, we had a Sunday sea day and there was a Champagne and caviar brunch along with a Bloody Mary bar where you could pretty much add anything to them.

Sorry! Enjoy my hometown.

Rachel…..how was your time in Montreal?

We flew up to Montreal a few weeks ago for a visit “home”. Does not happen often there, but it was a breeze getting through customs. They are supposed to notify you within 15 minutes of landing that you have been chosen for a random test……..that did not happen and only once in downtown hotel (traffic and construction from airport is insane) did I get notified I needed to do the mandatory test back at the airport the next day. 1 ½ hours back next day for a 2 minute test, then another 1 ½ hours from airport back to the hotel. Suggest if anyone is flying in to wait an extra few minutes to see if you are “one of the lucky” ones to be chosen.

We stayed there for our March Splendor cruise. Nice, clean rooms and a good bar/restaurant on 25th floor (where reception is). Lots of construction happening around the hotel then so cab got confused. Breakfast was not very good and I would forego the complimentary “champagne” at checkin next time. Very easy ride in bus to the port……maybe 15 minutes.

On our March sailing, they did not. Very frustrating, but understand cruises since have had it.

Check out this video from You Tube.

On our March Splendor cruise, we were disappointed with Pacific Rim. Firstly…..there was no sake. Service was just ok, we found. Food was good but not great Asian, as we expected. We were in a suite where we could dine in any specialty restaurant of our choice any night, but after our first evening in PR we decided others were better and never went for a second dinner there.

My suggestion would be Prime 7. I would think you could arrange something special with your butler or Maitre d beforehand. We were on Splendor in March and Prime 7 was sensational.

Rachel......believe you are a surgeon, correct? Should we ever meet up on a cruise.....my Bride was in healthcare her entire career and was part of Women Business Leaders in Healthcare so something in common

We also had lunch one day at Le Mount Stephen……very close to the Vogue. An amazing original family home/building and sensational food. The history of the building and family is very interesting. Damn…..now think we need another trip ‘home”.

Should also have mentioned….the area around the Vogue (which has some construction going on to front of hotel) is very much English. If you have the time, a 2 hour walking tour by guide around Old Montreal is very much worth it.

DaVinci has sensational food and service is impeccable. Would suggest if interested to get a reservation. If looking at Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal)….Auberge St. Gabriel is excellent. Although, virtually all restaurants there are great.

Should have mentioned that we have stayed at the Vogue a number of times when visiting Montreal. Last week we stayed at the Renaissance on Robert Bourassa Blvd, which has a very good Asian Restaurant called East on ground floor.

The Vogue is in a great location and is an easy walk to so many great restaurants and bars, and Uber is excellent in Montreal. We dined last Wednesday evening at DaVinci on Drummond St (close to Vogue) and it is a sensational Italian restaurant.

We stayed at the AKA Brickell for our March Splendor cruise. Very nice, clean rooms and an easy commute over to the pier. The hotel is actually on the 25th floor of the building and it has a nice bar/restaurant. You are welcomed with a glass of "champagne" which we did not enjoy and also breakfast the next day was boring and bland. We are originally from Montreal so also fellow Canucks.

Martincath…..for us, St. Viateur is the winner. In fact, we were traveling with friends from here in Savannah (Pam, originally from Wales, Tom, Ireland) and we visited St. Viateur with them for some fantastic and just baked bagels. The Bride and I went to lunch Friday (we always visit) at Schwartz’s……medium is our usual order. Always a lineup but in and out quickly. Luckily, we can order St. Viateur bagels here through Goldbelly and usually have some in the freezer. We head up to “home” often to get all our “food fixes”.