Need New England/Canada Excursions Recommendations!

We have never been to New England or Canada before.

We have booked a 9-night Royal Caribbean Cruise to New England & Canada on September 9th, 2010.

We are looking at the endless lists of excursions :eek: and have no idea where to start. We are not thrill seekers and we are in our mid-30’s. :o We would love to experience the beauty of this region.

Here is a link to the itinerary we will be going on:

http://pptrip.com/entry.asp?u=2524411.0E0A043E

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

We are looking at:

PORTLAND, ME (arrive 10am – depart 7pm)

PW15 - Lighthouses of Maine

PW16 - Mt. Washington & The Cog Train

BAR HARBOR, ME (tendered in) (arrive 7am – depart 6pm)

BY09 - Acadia National Park & Lobster Bake

SAINT JOHN NEW BRUNSWICK (arrive 7am – depart 3pm)

NB38 - Fundy by Land and Sea

NB46 - Saint John River Cruise

HALIFAX NOVI SCOTIA (arrive 9am – depart 6pm)

HX19 - Halifax Horse-Drawn Trolley

HX17 - Taste of Nova Scotia Historical Cruise

BOSTON, MA (arrive 8am – depart 5pm)

BX08 - U.S. Presidents - Kennedy and Adams

We have never been to New England or Canada before.

We have booked a 9-night Royal Caribbean Cruise to New England & Canada on September 9th, 2010.

We are looking at the endless lists of excursions :eek: and have no idea where to start. We are not thrill seekers and we are in our mid-30’s. :o We would love to experience the beauty of this region.

 

Here is a link to the itinerary we will be going on:

http://pptrip.com/entry.asp?u=2524411.0E0A043E

 

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

We are looking at:

PORTLAND, ME (arrive 10am – depart 7pm)

 

PW15 - Lighthouses of Maine

 

PW16 - Mt. Washington & The Cog Train

 

 

BAR HARBOR, ME (tendered in) (arrive 7am – depart 6pm)

 

BY09 - Acadia National Park & Lobster Bake

 

SAINT JOHN NEW BRUNSWICK (arrive 7am – depart 3pm)

 

NB38 - Fundy by Land and Sea

 

NB46 - Saint John River Cruise

 

 

HALIFAX NOVI SCOTIA (arrive 9am – depart 6pm)

 

HX19 - Halifax Horse-Drawn Trolley

 

HX17 - Taste of Nova Scotia Historical Cruise

 

 

BOSTON, MA (arrive 8am – depart 5pm)

 

BX08 - U.S. Presidents - Kennedy and Adams

We were on the Grandeur in August with the same itinerary, and my parents went last October. They did the Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor and loved it. In August we did the whale watching tour in Bar Harbor (booked directly through the company to save $), in Halifax we did the Peggys Cove/Halifax hop-on hop-off trolley, in St. John we did the reversing falls boat ride (not recommended unless you are into thrill rides), and Boston we did a DUCK tour that we also booked direct. We had lunch afterwards at Cheers. Guess I should've mentioned, "we" are myself, a late forties mom, my husband who is the same age, and 14 year old DD. We really enjoyed everything that we did, and loved the cruise.

Thank you for the great information! I was curious. On October - was it really cold?

Thank you for the great information! I was curious. On October - was it really cold?

From a local. No it is not cold at all in Halifax or the other Canadian ports. It was in the 70's here last week. We get cooler nights in Sept. but basically days are very much similar to NY, maybe a couple of dgrees cooler at times .

From a local. No it is not cold at all in Halifax or the other Canadian ports. It was in the 70's here last week. We get cooler nights in Sept. but basically days are very much similar to NY, maybe a couple of dgrees cooler at times .

That is very reassuring. I keep seeing 'bring several sweaters' on the suggested items to pack. I have never gone into a cooler climate, we have always cruised south so this is very new for us.

Thanks again for the great info. Looks like we will pack the normal stuff and bring a jacket or two. :D

We did the Acadia/Mt Cadillac bus tour and loved it-----but could have used more than 20 minutes at the summit. Great eats and reasonable prices at the West St Cafe in Bar Harbor.

Re Halifax, the trip to Peggy's Cove was also great.

In St Johns we took a city bus to the reversing rapids-----just make sure that you time it right for either high or low tide to see the current change. The seals feel that this is the opportune time to dine since they will have a choice between salt water and fresh water fish.

Enjoy your trip-----you'll love it.

We took a Peggy's Cove/Halifax Hop-on-Hop-off and it was so worth it! Peggy's Cove is amazingly picturesque and the area is fascinating. There were also whales playing in the cove! In addition to the bus, take a walk along the Halifax wharf. Next time we'll also head into the Victorian gardens.

In Saint John, there is a 3-hour bus tour across from the Avis on Water Street for $16/US. It takes you to the reversing falls, to a high point for picture-taking and the city market, as well as a guided tour to the town. It was a great bargain and a very friendly, funny and knowledgeable guide.

In Portland, ME there is a $5 hop-on-hop-off available from the dock. It's a pretty town and not large or sprawling, so you might want to walk. I enjoyed the tour because we were able to get the whole overview before hopping off to explore on foot. We took the Victoria Mansion tour ($15) and it was well worth it if you love historic homes. It's amazingly well preserved inside!

"In Portland, ME there is a $5 hop-on-hop-off available from the dock."

Milaandra...

This is the first I've heard of the $5 Hoho in Portland. Please provide more details. Where all does it go? Is there a web site? Any idea if it runs in late October? Is it well narrated?

This is the first I've heard of the $5 Hoho in Portland. Please provide more details. Where all does it go? Is there a web site? Any idea if it runs in late October? Is it well narrated?

Here's the web site where there is a down loadable brochure. It's supposed to run when we are there on the 19th of Oct.:)

http://www.gpmetrobus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=154

Voorn...

Great link. Thanks.

Has anyone been on this bus that can give me more details?

Last week we were on a cruise with a similar itinerary. We're in our mid-30s, too.

If you like rustic scenery at all, Saint John (outside of town) and Bar Harbor could be a highlight. We rented a car in Saint John (with Enterprise), and drove to St. Martins and then on the Fundy Trail Parkway. Gorgeous fall scenery all the way and especially on the Fundy Trail.

Similarly, seeing Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor was a gorgeous highlight. These were the two ports where we saw the most fall color; granted, we were there somewhat early for fall color.

Have fun planning and on your cruise!

Maybe I can assist !

Last month I cruised New England/Canada and these were my tours.

Boston: Lexington & Concord, which also included Harvard University. Lovely colonial architecture . The history runs deep here.

Portland Maine: Mount Washington Cog Railroad...was lots of fun, but a bit expensive. There was quit a bit of time on the bus which was fine with me. It affording me the opportunity to see 2 lovely states out the window. Picture perfect towns in both states.

The mountain top is COLD, so do pack some layers of cloths. A great trip which I would recomend to those who enjoy mountains.

Saint John New Brunswick: Bay of Fundy National Park.... a wonderful tour to the national park. We had 8 tourist and 4 guides during the day, which provided one on one attention. We combed the beach for sea shells, hiked to lovely Dickson Falls, and had an open air pick-nick. We witnessed the phenomenal 39 feet tides.

Halifax: bus tour to Peggy's Cove....a lovely little village. That afternoon I took the double decked bus up to the Citadel in Halifax and walked back to ship. Halifax is a wonderful port simply to explore on foot. The waterfront is well worth seeing and the Citadel was must see for history lovers.

Just a heads up, we are leaving tomorrow for our 2nd cruise going to Halifax, Quebec, Charllotetown, Sydney, Boston.

IF you are going in Sept. then perhaps sweaters is fine but trust me if you are cruising in Oct. you will def. need more then just a sweater in October! If you notice the person responding from Halifax was responding in September and talking about the weather in September NOT October. Be sure to bring and umbrella, scarf, gloves, hat and a fall to winter coat. We will be having days where the highest will be 45 to 56 which this year is pretty good according to the ten day forecast I just checked. But last year we had days if was only 34 degrees and don't forget you are on and near the water at all times which makes it damp plus most times it is very windy which with the wind chill factored in plus the dampness you will be feeling much colder. I am from the New England area as I live in Mass. so I know what the weather is like here in October. Some years we are lucky and we get an Indian Summer as it's called and the temps are quite nice. Best thing to do a few days before you leave is to check the ten day forecast for each port you are going to. The weather site is http://www.weather.com Type in your city and then click on ten day forecast. You can also read many reviews that cruisers write and you will see the difference between September and October weather in New England and Canada.

You have already been given all the great things to see so all I can say now is Have a great cruise and I know you will enjoy seeing Canada and New England.

Regards

Cheryl

Six of us ages 54-65 just completed a NE/Canada cruise on the Caribbean Princess. In Halifax we pre-booked a taxi from the Halifax Taxi Co. http://www.hfxtaxi.com Driver was Les Daurie. He drove us to Peggy's Cove, gave an informative, interesting commentary of everything we saw. Answered all of our questions completely. Introduced us to Ivan Fraser the artist/writer of Peggy of the Cove fame. It was a wonderful, perfect day in all regards. I highly recommend him and his company.

In Boston we used the Ole Time Trolley tours. You can book online prior to arrival and save $. This tour gives you a great overview of Boston and then we returned to areas of greatest interest to us. Trolley picks you up near the pier.

As to clothes, dress in layers. We had some very chilly mornings, but warm sunny afternoons. Definitely rain gear included.

How much did the Halifax taxi service charge (total, please, as it will only be my husband and myself), and how long was the tour?

Thanks for the help.

Shelley

The tour was $70 per hour for a mini-van of 6 passengers. Tour lasted 4 hours and covered the city of Halifax, Peggy's Cove, Home of Ivan Frasier, & the Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial.

Email them as I know they have tours for all prices for different needs.

This person is giving great tours, I would get a price from him also garryjollymore@eastlink.ca

Based upon very positive and favorable reviews for Jonathan of Yourcab Tours on the Cruise Critic boards, I helped organize a Halifax tour which consisted of 13 members from the October 10, 2009 Caribbean Princess Roll Call. We all had a wonderful time with Jonathan, and enjoyed his great sense of humor, and knowledge of the Halifax and Peggy's Cove area.

Prior to the cruise, Jonathan was always prompt in replying to my emails and inquiries. He provided a 15 passenger van for our group of 13 passengers. Tour cost was $54 per person which is far cheaper than the cost of tours offered by the cruise line. Jonathan, professionally well dressed in a blazer, met our group just as we exited the ship with my name printed on a board. Jonathan also made available complimentary bottles of water for anyone who needed. Our stops included The Public Park, sights of Halifax, Titanic Cemetery, Peggy's Cove, and a stop at a maple syrup bottling company with a talk about maple syrup by the company's president. Free maple coffee and various samples were available. Also, not far from Peggy's Cove, we stopped for a seafood chowder lunch at a scenic location along the water.

All in all, Jonathan lived up to his reputation, and provided our Cruise Critic Roll Call group with a fun and informative experience in Halifax and Peggy’s Cove. Within our group, I often overheard others stating how much they were enjoying Jonathan’s tour, which was a relief to me being the one who participated with organizing this tour. Therefore, based upon our personal experience, I strongly recommend Jonathan for a tour of Halifax and Peggy's Cove

We're just back from a New England and Canada cruise on Queen Victoria which visited all the ports you mention, Bgarbus. I have some suggestions for all of them, but I'll deal with them in separate posts. So starting with Portland, I can't help you with the Mount Washington tour which wasn't offered to us, but isn't it a rather long drive? If the Lighthouses of Maine tour is like the one we were offered, then two of the three lighthouses are rather unexciting (the Bug and Spring Point), and you can probably see them from your ship at the cruise terminal, as they are in South Portland which is not very exciting either. The Portland Head lighthouse is in a more scenic area and is very photogenic and I would recommend it. You may find it in another tour, like the Portland Highlights and Lighthouse tour that we took. If you get a choice of times and take this tour early it gives you a good idea of places to visit on foot or on the hop-on hop-off bus later in the day. The bus is Portland Metro line 8A, which only runs when there is a cruise ship in town. Follow the link that another cruiser has given you for full details. It is only a very modest Ho-Ho, as the price implies, and if you take it you miss the interesting shops on the way from the cruise terminal to the main centre, but if you want to visit the John Ford statue or Longfellow's house and are getting a bit footsore then the $5 could be a good investment. It doesn't get you any nearer to some good destinations than the cruise terminal - the Observatory, East End Beach, Fort Allen Park and the Narrow Gauge Railroad museum. All these places are on a good circular walk returning along the waterfront - a very pleasant walk in good weather. The other way from the cruise terminal along the waterfront is packed with interesting restaurants and bars.

so whats wrong with the ship tours? Seems much easier...far more convenient than attempting to do everything on one's own.

We just did a 7 night cruise which included Portland, St John and Halifax and used private excursions.

In Portland we walked over to Long Wharf and took a trolley tour in the morning. Then we took a Foodies walking tour in the afternoon that I had found on the web. There was some overlap, but both were very good and a fun way to spend the day.

In St John we took Freedom Tour's Hopewell Rocks tour. They did a good job, but I felt it was too long a ride for what we saw.

In Halifax I had prebooked a tour with Blue Diamond that I also found on the web. It included a car tour of Halfax, Lunneberg, Mahone Bay and Peggy's Cove. It was very good and very reasonable as 2 other CruiseCritic couples joined us.

HOPEWELL ROCKS! If your time in port allows, be sure to go to the Hopewell Rocks. It is well worth the trip and the scenery along the way is not what you would expect to find inland.

We used Freedom Tours at a cost of $90 Canadian dollars per person. There is a minium of 4 people needed for them to do the tour. They will pick up right from where your ship docks and return you there on the way back. They use a mini van with a driver and a tour guide. Food is on your own and they make at least 4 rest stops for the restrooms and food.

The best part, they know when the tide will be low so you can enjoy walking on the bottom of the ocean and manage to get you there before the tours buses so you have complete access to the beach to take photos and walk around in an uncrowded environment.

My co-worker sailed the week before me and booked the ship's tour at $170 per person (US) and arrived when the water was already covering the bottom steps on the beach! Their included lunch was a make your own buffet sandwiches.

Plus, we paid at the end of the tour. This is a precaution if your ship misses the port or gets in too late to allow you to do the tour. If you book a ship's excursion,you will be charged as soon as you book. If you change your mind, you have to cancel within the cancellation period or else you will not get your money back.

Need I say more....!

MARAPRINCE

so whats wrong with the ship tours? Seems much easier...far more convenient than attempting to do everything on one's own.

Well, Thoth, we have nothing against ship tours in principle, though they are often overpriced and don't give you any flexibility about how long you stay at individual stops and sometimes just deliver you to retail outlets to extract more money from you. On our recent New England and Canada trip we took four ship tours, and they were all good, but you don't get the same sense of really being in the place that you do when you tour independently. The big big advantage of ship tours is that the ship will wait for you if your tour gets back late, and if you want the reassurance of being coccooned and escorted around strange places then fine, take the ship tours, but on the whole they won't give you a real sense of adventure. We are not risk-takers, so we do a lot of internet research before we go (part of the vacation for us) and decide whether we will see each port and its surrounding area better independently or on a ship tour. Often, as in Portland, we will take a ship tour that offers a taster of the place so that we can decide which places are worth spending a bit more time at later in the day (or next day for two-day calls). People are different, and will be looking for different things from their cruise experience. Not all of these things will be found on ship tours.

On Carnival, we stayed on ship's time and not port time. This meant we had an extra hour even if the private tour returned later than expected. We really appreciated this extra hour. If you book with a reliable tour company, they will be sure to get you back on time and will cut the tour short if needed. Having less people to manage makes it easier for a private tour to give you the best of what you are seeing and get there ahead of the ship's tours. No included buffet lunch is worth $80 more! We wanted to be able to walk on the ocean floor at low tide and did, while the ship's tour missed it. There was time at the end of our private tour to shop, while the ship's tour had no time and returned directly to the ship.

Some of the other ships in port with us changed to the actual port time.

MARAPRINCE

so whats wrong with the ship tours? Seems much easier...far more convenient than attempting to do everything on one's own.

We used to think ship's tours were great BUT, we found on several recent cruises that private tours are better! More flexibility - we saw exactly what we wanted to see! Fewer crowds, avoiding long lines at entrances and at restrooms! We found that 4 or 6 people was a perfect number of passengers. With e-mail and Cruise Critic making the plans and finding companions is easy - and exciting... it's part of the adventure of traveling. And, reputable tour companies will always get you back to the ship on time because their reputation and future business depends on it!