New England/CA Cruise Route & Ships

We are planning a New England/CA trip in late Sept with a few other couples. We are coming from FL and my questions is which itinerary is the best and also NCL Dawn or RCL Serenade. We have cruised 20+ times but never this itinerary. Our cruise line of choice is RCL, however we went on NCL Escape in Sept 2017 and we loved it. Any input would be greatly appreciated

Have you looked at Princess. They have a cruise that starts in Quebec City and ends in Fort Lauderdale. Check which cruise lines have the most ships and where they go . Quebec city in my opinion Quebec city and Charlottetown PEI aren't to be missed.

We are planning a New England/CA trip in late Sept with a few other couples. We are coming from FL and my questions is which itinerary is the best and also NCL Dawn or RCL Serenade. We have cruised 20+ times but never this itinerary. Our cruise line of choice is RCL, however we went on NCL Escape in Sept 2017 and we loved it. Any input would be greatly appreciated

Can you wait until early October...RCI has the Adventure doing the Quebec to Fort Lauderdale itinerary. Just an amazing itinerary.

Have you looked at Princess. They have a cruise that starts in Quebec City and ends in Fort Lauderdale. Check which cruise lines have the most ships and where they go . Quebec city in my opinion Quebec city and Charlottetown PEI aren't to be missed.

I have done the HAL Boston to Montreal cruise, b -to b- many times and love that itinerary. IMO< t th highlights are B oston, Halifax, Quebec City and C harlottte town, PEI, wonderful ports. We always stayed aboard in Montreal and sailed bac k to Boston repeating the itinerary in reverse. Love it. It also inc inc ludes port day in Bar Harbor.

Don't miss PEI Halifax and Quebec City,.

.

You have many options.

Some to consider.

New York City R/T. Nice that you can fly to and from the same airport.

One that begins in Boston and ends in Canada or begins in New York City and ends in Canada or the reverse.

Be careful on starting or ending in Quebec as for some that is a very hard place to get to by plane. An easier alternative is Montreal.

I liike the itineraries that include Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, Halifax, Quebec and Montreal and an overnight is also nice.

Keith

If you can wait until the first part of October, HAL has some cruises from Montreal to Tampa and Quebec City to Ft Lauderdale.

Lots of choices out there.

You have many options.

 

Some to consider.

 

New York City R/T. Nice that you can fly to and from the same airport.

 

One that begins in Boston and ends in Canada or begins in New York City and ends in Canada or the reverse.

 

Be careful on starting or ending in Quebec as for some that is a very hard place to get to by plane. An easier alternative is Montreal.

 

I liike the itineraries that include Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, Halifax, Quebec and Montreal and an overnight is also nice.

 

Keith

While flying to Quebec almost always requires a plane change in Toronto, or somewhere else, it is such a wonderful city that a few days there is worth the hassle of getting there. HAL has sailings from there to Boston and New York - and (especially for OP) down to Fort Lauderdale.

If you decide to do the Serenade out of Boston 9/29/19, come on over to our Roll Call.

You have many options.

 

Some to consider.

 

New York City R/T. Nice that you can fly to and from the same airport.

 

One that begins in Boston and ends in Canada or begins in New York City and ends in Canada or the reverse.

 

Be careful on starting or ending in Quebec as for some that is a very hard place to get to by plane. An easier alternative is Montreal.

 

I liike the itineraries that include Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, Halifax, Quebec and Montreal and an overnight is also nice.

 

Keith

I'll be flying out of LAX to Quebec for my Oct 2019 one way as we end in Fort Lauderdale (so plenty of time for planning) what are some suggestions and how far is Montreal and transportation considerations to get there?. Thanks so much for any info on this new arrival city.

We are doing RCL Quebec City to New Jersey in September. 11 nights. We thought of the option of flying to Montreal then taking the train to Quebec City. I think it’s a little over two hours.

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We are doing RCL Quebec City to New Jersey in September. 11 nights. We thought of the option of flying to Montreal then taking the train to Quebec City. I think it’s a little over two hours.

 

 

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That is a good option - a chance to see both Montreal and Quebec - but you do want to get to Quebec at least a day early: far and away the best port on your itinerary, and the last vilest city in North America.

That is a good option - a chance to see both Montreal and Quebec - but you do want to get to Quebec at least a day early: far and away the best port on your itinerary, and the last vilest city in North America.

"Last vilest City...." :eek:;)

We have done NY to Canada RT several times. It’s on of our favorite itineraries. We have been considering doing the Viking one way - Montreal to NY. I am also intrigued with the Regent Montreal to NY with a stop in Bermuda [emoji7]. I think it has to do with the commitment corporate NCL has made with the Bermuda government to bring small ships to the ports of Hamilton and St George on the island. Most ships have to dock at one of the 2 piers (Kings Wharf or Heritage Wharf) now since they are mostly too big to fit through the narrow passages into the harbors.

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"Last vilest City...." :eek:;)

A great example of malicious auto-correct: I had tried to type "loveliest".

We have done NY to Canada RT several times. It’s on of our favorite itineraries. We have been considering doing the Viking one way - Montreal to NY. I am also intrigued with the Regent Montreal to NY with a stop in Bermuda [emoji7]. I think it has to do with the commitment corporate NCL has made with the Bermuda government to bring small ships to the ports of Hamilton and St George on the island. Most ships have to dock at one of the 2 piers (Kings Wharf or Heritage Wharf) now since they are mostly too big to fit through the narrow passages into the harbors.

 

 

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HAL docks in downtown Hamilton. I was on HAL's Veenddam, last summer and we were at Hamilton doc k the whole time we were in Bermuda.

I sailed NCL Dawn two years ago and we were docked at the dockyard the whole time we were in Bermuda, HAL has had an agreement with Bermuda for years now for docking in Hamilton. Also, Bermuda permitted the casino to open at night while docked per agreement with HAL.

We have done NY to Canada RT several times. It’s on of our favorite itineraries. We have been considering doing the Viking one way - Montreal to NY. I am also intrigued with the Regent Montreal to NY with a stop in Bermuda [emoji7]. I think it has to do with the commitment corporate NCL has made with the Bermuda government to bring small ships to the ports of Hamilton and St George on the island. Most ships have to dock at one of the 2 piers (Kings Wharf or Heritage Wharf) now since they are mostly too big to fit through the narrow passages into the harbors.

 

 

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I sailed HAL's V eendam to Bermuda last summer and we were docked the whole time we were in Bermuda at downtown Hamilton. HAL and Bermuda have had that docking agreement for years. Also, per agreement between HAL and Bermuda, the casino was opened at night while docked in Hamilton.

Two summers ago, I sailed NCL Dawn and we were at The Dock yard the whole time we were in Bermuda . HAL is still sailing to Bermuda and it is unlikely they are giving up their docking space in Hamilton. There is not that much space for two cruise ships.

Years ago, I sailed Cele ebrity's Zenith to B ermdua. We docked at S t. George for a while and it was fun, that same c ruise, we moved and docked a t Hamilton, also good. Because no c ruise ships have been doc king regularly at St. George, it has nogtt been updated and some shops and restaurants are c losed. It would be great if ships can start returninng but the cut (passage) makes it a prob lem to safely sail in. There was a time when Veenddam tendered guests but that t did not work out well and they stopped it At one point, Veendam could make it safely through the cut but she had a huge remodel which made her stern much heavier and the new dimensions made it impossib le.

I sailed HAL's V eendam to Bermuda last summer and we were docked the whole time we were in Bermuda at downtown Hamilton. HAL and Bermuda have had that docking agreement for years. Also, per agreement between HAL and Bermuda, the casino was opened at night while docked in Hamilton.

Two summers ago, I sailed NCL Dawn and we were at The Dock yard the whole time we were in Bermuda . HAL is still sailing to Bermuda and it is unlikely they are giving up their docking space in Hamilton. There is not that much space for two cruise ships.

Years ago, I sailed Cele ebrity's Zenith to B ermdua. We docked at S t. George for a while and it was fun, that same c ruise, we moved and docked a t Hamilton, also good. Because no c ruise ships have been doc king regularly at St. George, it has nogtt been updated and some shops and restaurants are c losed. It would be great if ships can start returninng but the cut (passage) makes it a prob lem to safely sail in. There was a time when Veendam tendered guests but that t did not work out well and they stopped it At one point, Veendam could make it safely through the cut but she had a huge remodel which made her stern much heavier and the new dimensions made it impossib le.

We are planning a New England/CA trip in late Sept with a few other couples. We are coming from FL and my questions is which itinerary is the best and also NCL Dawn or RCL Serenade. We have cruised 20+ times but never this itinerary. Our cruise line of choice is RCL, however we went on NCL Escape in Sept 2017 and we loved it. Any input would be greatly appreciated

whaT ar e the itineraries? Few (if any) of us can know all ships' intineraries. :) Way too many.ships and itineraries.

HAL docks in downtown Hamilton. I was on HAL's Veenddam, last summer and we were at Hamilton doc k the whole time we were in Bermuda.

 

I sailed NCL Dawn two years ago and we were docked at the dockyard the whole time we were in Bermuda, HAL has had an agreement with Bermuda for years now for docking in Hamilton. Also, Bermuda permitted the casino to open at night while docked per agreement with HAL.

It has nothing to do with an agreement. The Veendam can fit through Two Rock Passage from the Great Sound into Hamilton Harbor. Any ship that can fit through the passage can dock in Hamilton. I remember when they had 3 ships docked there but they are mostly too big now.

The Cut in St George is also narrow so only smaller ships can dock there as well.

Every ship can open their casinos for a set period of time while docked in Bermuda. No special agreement with HAL.

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I w s not '

in on the negotiations:) but rumor had it a few years ago, HAL was going to limit the ships that cam e to Bermuda if they did not permit the casino t to open at night . I cannot promise that is accurate.

Veendam was ab le to make it through the cut until she had the major refit which made her stern heavier and she could no longer sail in to St. George. It is too bad because with no ships coming there on a regular b asis, St. George has closed down a number of businesses. I used to really like it there.

In the days of Zenith sailing for "X", she could dock fine at S t. Geroge and Hamilton but she is considerab ly smaller than many ships of today.

Which of NCL' s ships are small enough? HAL's Maasdam can dock in Hamilton, also. She is a sister to Veendam.

I cannot specf icc ally reall if NCL was permited to open Dawn's casino when we were in Bermuda. When they began permiting HAL to open Vendam's casino, it makes sense any other ship comming toBermuda would follow on their coat tails and get the benefit of HaL's negotiations. Yes, it was an agreeement bcause before the ' threat' to stop coming, Veendam was not opening the casino.