best Canada (east) ports?

We're thinking of doing a Canada/New England/New York cruise, maybe on down to Miami. We know the east coast of the States well, but don't know anything about the ports in Canada. (We've been to Montreal and Quebec about 50 years ago, but don't remember much, except that we enjoyed them both very much.)

I've been looking at various itineraries and all include those two cities, of course, but the rest of the Canada ports vary quite a bit. I'd be appreciative of hearing which ports past cruisers think are especially fine and memorable. We like nature/great scenery kinds of things better than museums. No interest in shopping.

Thanks much.

Ok, to be more specific:

Saguenay

Gaspe

Charlottetown

Saint John

Bay of Fundy (though that may be one of the above?)

Which are not to be missed?

Thank you.

Ok, to be more specific:

 

Saguenay

Gaspe

Charlottetown

Saint John

Bay of Fundy (though that may be one of the above?)

 

Which are not to be missed?

 

Thank you.

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO poss: Have visited several of these ports: Saguenay is small town. Very nice. There is entertainment arranged by the tourist agency up there. Gaspe, as yet haven't been there.

Charlottetown- It is on Prince Edward Island, the smallest province in Canada. It is the place where they had a meeting and came together as a country. Home of Cows Diary, manufacture of the best ice cream you may ever taste. Place where Anne of Green Gables was written. Also, home to Cavendish Foods.

St. John- Very nice town. Lots of things to see and do there which includes going to St. Andrew which is also known as St. Andrew by the sea. Founded by loyalists who went there after the United States gained independence from England. St. John is located on the Bay of Fundy. See the oldest farmers market at the old city marketplace at St. John. It is built in the shape of a ship. Go to the Jewish Cemetery and see where the Mayer family and the Cummins family are. You could visit the world's highest and lowest tides.

Halifax- Have you ever been to the provincial capital of Nova Scotia? Great college town. Walk along the Harbor Walk. Lots of stores, shoppes, and restaurants. Lots of typical tourist things to do. Visit the Nautical Museum. The have a permanent Titanic exhibit on the top two floors. There is a Cows Creamery, not like the one on Prince Edward Island though, Canadian Immigration Museum, Botanical Gardens. Visit the Citadel. Peggy's Cove has gotten too overdone. Great place to visit.

Bar Harbor- You must tender to this port. Typical tourist town. Go see the Acadia National Park. When in town you could walk around, eat at a restaurant, shop at the stores, be in a place you may not have been to before.

Sydney- At Cape Breton is part of Nova Scotia. They have since built some things since we were last there. Small place. At lunch time when there once ate for the first time at Tim Horton's Coffee Shop. Lots of stores to visit. If you like Casinos the Hotel/Casino of Nova Scotia is on King George Street. At least it was there when we were last there.

Hi Poss,

We had taken the Canada New England cruise route twice. Last time was on Regent Navigator Montreal to Miami. We enjoyed it very much. Especially liked Halifax and Sydney Nova Scotia. At Bay of Fundy we had our relatives on board so didn't do any excursion there. We have not been to Charlottetown, or Gaspe or Sagueny they were not on either itineries. I dont think you would be disappointed it was a very relaxing interesting cruise with lovely passengers on board. Jean.

Hi Poss,

We had taken the Canada New England cruise route twice. Last time was on Regent Navigator Montreal to Miami. We enjoyed it very much. Especially liked Halifax and Sydney Nova Scotia. At Bay of Fundy we had our relatives on board so didn't do any excursion there. We have not been to Charlottetown, or Gaspe or Sagueny they were not on either itineries. I dont think you would be disappointed it was a very relaxing interesting cruise with lovely passengers on board. Jean.

By Bay of Fundy do you mean Saint John NB? There is no port called Bay of Fundy.

We also have done the NE/Canadian cruise a couple of times.

For us, Sydney wasn't one of our favorite ports, would not care if I missed it.

St Johns was very nice, same for Halifax. As for the NE part, I would always look for a stop in Bar Harbor over a stop in Portland. Just so much more to see and do, and if Boston is on an itinerary, I would opt for that also.

Cheers

Len

I would make sure your itinerary has Charlottetown on it, this was probably our favourite port for the Canadian portion. We also really enjoyed Halifax and Saint John. Easy to rent a car in these ports to explore.

Thanks for the responses-- to no surprise, lots of differing opinions. I'm hoping we can do one of these cruises.

Charlottetown is a small, walkable and lovely city. If you enjoy scenery rent a car and do one of the very well marked routes. Make sure you have one of the Island's famously delicious lobsters followed by a Cow's ice cream cone.

Ok, to be more specific:

 

 

 

Saguenay

 

Gaspe

 

Charlottetown

 

Saint John

 

Bay of Fundy (though that may be one of the above?)

 

 

 

Which are not to be missed?

 

 

 

Thank you.

Saguenay - cruising up at sunrise and back at sunset were fabulous and the cruise was worth it just for that.

Gaspe - took tour to Percé Rock which was excellent.

Charlottetown - too windy to dock, sea day. From what I have read this can happen often, unfortunately.

Would return to this area in a heartbeat. Beautiful.

Not to be missed: Charlottetown, Halifax and Sydney. We've been to all three of these towns and have rented cars for drives in all three.

Charlottetown is on Prince Edward Island, a strikingly beautiful small island with gorgeous red sands beaches and numerous lighthouses.

Outside of Halifax is Peggy's Cove, a small fishing village famous for it's beautiful lighthouse.

A few miles from Sydney is the Fortress of Louisbourg, a National Historic Site of Canada and the location of a partial reconstruction of an 18th-century French fortress.

Another beautiful drive outside of Sydney is the Cabot Trail. You have time to do a drive along the eastern shore.