What to do in Nova Scotia?

[jenniferlynn123]

Hi all! So my family and I are cruising out to Nova Scotia in July on the Glory, out of Boston. I have noticed that the price of excursions are pretty crazy, so we decided that we will just explore for ourselves. We are going to Halifax, Sydney, Saint John and Portland, Maine..So my question is...what should we do there!?:D

[mojean]

You need to go to the top of your page and click on the forums. Then look for port of calls, there's tons of posts for what folks did when they were there.

[jenniferlynn123]

oh awesome! thanks, im kinda new to this!

[Tennessee Rose]

oh awesome! thanks, im kinda new to this!

 

OP, glad you found CC before your cruise. You will find tons of information and tons of helpful people on here. As stated above, just go back to the section listings and go to the section for Ports of Call. You can find these Canadian ports and all kinds of info on what to do and see.

 

ENJOY YOUR CRUISE! That is one I want to do some day.

[yogimax]

Halifax is the best! Just walk up and down the boardwalk. There is also a nice tour of a brewery you can do for a few bucks.

 

In Portland, we did an independent tour that was a tour of the city as well as a boatride to see lighthouses.

[jenniferlynn123]

we definitely planned a tour of the brewery =) we were scared at first to take carnival, because our last and only other cruise was on royal caribbean, but cc has showed me the major ups of carnival! any other suggestions or tips would be awesome, ill definitely let you know how it goes! 5 weeks!

[nautica34]

Hi all! So my family and I are cruising out to Nova Scotia in July on the Glory, out of Boston. I have noticed that the price of excursions are pretty crazy, so we decided that we will just explore for ourselves. We are going to Halifax, Sydney, Saint John and Portland, Maine..So my question is...what should we do there!?:D

 

Like others have said, check out the ports of calls boards. There is so much great information. I'm going on the same sailing. Have you joined the roll call?

[gadan1]

I just got back yesterday from this cruise. Portland, I did a trolley tour for about half of what Carnival charges (do a quick google and it should come up). Short walk from the pier.

 

In Halifax, I did a cruise excursion that was an all day tour. It was ok but long. If I had done it on my own, I probably would have gone up to the public gardens (free) and just walked through there and maybe go up to the Citadel; both are within walking distance although a bit uphill.

 

Sydney is the one port I might recommend an excursion..my table mates didn't find much to do within walking distance. I did the shorter tour out to the Fortress of Louisbourg and enjoyed it. We were broken up on the bus into 2 groups of about 20 people for a tour of the fortress. We did not have much time though to explore on our own.

[davy jones]

You can book many of the ship tours privately and save $$.

 

Halifax and Saint John have things to do within walking distance of the ship. I have never been to Portland or Sydney and am trying to research thing too. I think that Portland is okay, but don't know much within walking distance in Sydney, except for the giant fiddle and show there.

[jenniferlynn123]

awesome, this is all really helpful!

[Warm Breezes]

Walk the boardwalk. Get some Cow's Ice Cream. Visit the Maritime Museum. Do not do the Whale Watching Tour. We went in July and did not see a thing. A suggestion in Saint John....rent a car (about a block from the ship) and drive to St. Martin to see the tides (check the tide schedules for when you are there). When we were there it was low tide when we first got to St. Martin. We walked out to the sea caves. We then drove up through the Bay of Fundy Trails and back making many photo stops (including the walking bridge and falls). When we got back to St. Martin the tide had come in and it was an awesome sight to see.

[Aplmac]

I think that Portland is okay,

but don't know much within walking distance in Sydney, except for the giant fiddle and show there.

Portland is more than just OK.

 

We very much liked Portland: lots of interesting shops within walking distance of the ship.

 

We also did our first (and only) DUCK TOUR in Portland.

 

 

You'll see the bright blue vehicle around town. Cost us $24 ea. if I remember right.

We had a great time, and agreed afterward that Portland was probably our best stop of all!

 

.

[davy jones]

Portland is more than just OK.

 

We very much liked Portland: lots of interesting shops within walking distance of the ship.

 

We also did our first (and only) DUCK TOUR in Portland.

 

 

You'll see the bright blue vehicle around town. Cost us $24 ea. if I remember right.

We had a great time, and agreed afterward that Portland was probably our best stop of all!

 

.

 

Aplmac,

 

My statement was intended answer the question about things to do near the ship. I have not been there, so the answer was based on my research to date. I was not making a judgement about Portland. I am looking forward to our stop there on our cruise. Your statement makes me more confident that we will like the port.

 

One question though: We were considering taking a hour and a half private tour and then exploring near the ship. Are there non-shopping things to recommend in Portland near the ship?

 

My statements about Halifax and Saint John are from a previous cruise. We enjoyed both ports very much.

[Giantfan13]

We were in Portland last year for the day. If you rent a car, go to the Portland Head Light, the oldest working lighthouse in the country, and one of the most photographed.

 

You can also head to Freeport and the LL Bean stores and outlets, or about an hour or so away is Boothbay Harbor, just wonderful place to walk around and explore.

 

A couple of pixs from the Portland Head Light

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3892_zps17c690b5.jpg

 

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/Maine/IMG_3917_zpsc213ac85.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[Jellyrolls]

I am going on the five night cruise out of Boston next month. We are going on the Harbour Hopper duck tour in Halifax (we booked it ourselves online instead of through Carnival--It's $45 though Carnival, and $35 including taxes on our own). It's a short walk from the ship.

 

We are also going to the Maritime Museum (around $10). My sister has visited and said it's a nice little museum with interesting information on the Halifax Explosion (my greatgrandfather and his brothers were killed in the explosion), the Titanic, and other shipwrecks.

 

If we have time, we will either do the brewery tour, or walk to the Citadel.

 

I'm not sure what we are planning to do in Saint John. I'm hoping to meet a friend who lives there. His words to me were "Just so you know, I would be the most interesting thing in that port."

[going to see the world]

We've done the hop on/hop off bus tour a couple of times and will probably do it again. The price is very reasonable and you can see a decent amount of things. There is also one that will bring you to Peggy's Cove first and then bring you back to do the rest of the bus stops. There is another bus that comes every 20 minutes at each stop so you can stay for as little or as long as you want.

[coachj]

In Halifax I rented a car and visited the 2 cemeteries with the victims of the Titanic. Also visited the old military fort with a very nice military museum. The maritime museum is nice and there was a world war II corvette (escort destroyer) u can visit. Just walking around u can watch street performers and have great fish near the ship.

[laura57]

Walk to the maritime museum. There is also a brewery tour on the pier. In at St. John walk to the market and get a lobster roll. Also get a beer at one of the many pubs.

 

 

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