Those Returning from Brilliance NE today - please tell all!

[Debitoo]

Thanks posters for all of the GREAT info. I don't sail for a year, :mad: but being that I'm a planaholic :rolleyes:, I LOVE any and all info I can get! Keep it coming!:) Thanks!

[marys350]

Thanks posters for all of the GREAT info. I don't sail for a year, :mad: but being that I'm a planaholic :rolleyes:, I LOVE any and all info I can get! Keep it coming!:) Thanks!

 

I am also a "planaholic" and love researching ports, cruise ship, etc. far in advance of my cruises. I found Tom's Port Guides website provided invaluable information that helped make our New England/Canada cruise a great success! We did private excursions in Portland and Bar Harbor and rented a car in Saint John and Halifax. Have fun planning your trip.

[oceanlessinNM]

We will be on Brilliance to Canada next year. Why do I book out so far? I have posted this question but nobody really answered so maybe someone who was just on her has an answer. We will be in cabin 4546 which is 8 forward of the centrum. Do you have any idea if the sound from the music at night in the centrum will reach that far forward? We are sorta early to bed/early to rise folks. I am so excited for this cruise! Thanks.

[cohusker]

We will be on Brilliance to Canada next year. Why do I book out so far? I have posted this question but nobody really answered so maybe someone who was just on her has an answer. We will be in cabin 4546 which is 8 forward of the centrum. Do you have any idea if the sound from the music at night in the centrum will reach that far forward? We are sorta early to bed/early to rise folks. I am so excited for this cruise! Thanks.

 

I booked this cruise back in July as it was $549/person for a Cat Z room. We got 8003 which was a poor room pick. :( The room was RIGHT above the theater and we could hear EVERYTHING. It sounded like we were in the theater. Very annoying! However, usually doing Cat Z gives us a great room, this wasn't at all.

 

FYI - We had friends in room 8009 who couldn't hear the theater at all. I'm guessing only the most forward rooms on deck 8 could hear the theater.

[marys350]

We will be on Brilliance to Canada next year. Why do I book out so far? I have posted this question but nobody really answered so maybe someone who was just on her has an answer. We will be in cabin 4546 which is 8 forward of the centrum. Do you have any idea if the sound from the music at night in the centrum will reach that far forward? We are sorta early to bed/early to rise folks. I am so excited for this cruise! Thanks.

 

We had outside cabin 4554, which is 4 rooms forward of the centrum on the starboard side (same hallway as your cabin). We could hear the music in our cabin during the 70's Disco Inferno Party which lasted from around 10:30-midnight and one other night during the Rock Brittania Party, which was around the same time. Once the shows ended it was quiet. The other nights the music wasn't as loud. I think that you will be okay in 4546. If you are really light sleepers, you may want to bring earplugs just in case, or try to move to a cabin a little further forward of the centrum. We found deck 4 mid-ship to be a very convenient location. I did write a comment about the noise on the survey card. Have a great cruise!

[Debitoo]

I am also a "planaholic" and love researching ports, cruise ship, etc. far in advance of my cruises. I found Tom's Port Guides website provided invaluable information that helped make our New England/Canada cruise a great success! We did private excursions in Portland and Bar Harbor and rented a car in Saint John and Halifax. Have fun planning your trip.

Thank you so much for the tip! :D

[oceanlessinNM]

We had outside cabin 4554, which is 4 rooms forward of the centrum on the starboard side (same hallway as your cabin). We could hear the music in our cabin during the 70's Disco Inferno Party which lasted from around 10:30-midnight and one other night during the Rock Brittania Party, which was around the same time. Once the shows ended it was quiet. The other nights the music wasn't as loud. I think that you will be okay in 4546. If you are really light sleepers, you may want to bring earplugs just in case, or try to move to a cabin a little further forward of the centrum. We found deck 4 mid-ship to be a very convenient location. I did write a comment about the noise on the survey card. Have a great cruise!

There we go. Someone who was right there and you answered my question. I appreciate the info!!

[perfectvacation]

We did the whale watching tour in St Andrews and it was wonderful. We seen Fin & Minke whales, grey seals, harbor seals, porpoises, and bald eagles. We didn't really have time to walk around in St Andrews we voted to stay out on the water longer. It was a fabulous excursion.

Edited September 26, 2013 by perfectvacation

[Folk Singer]

I am also a "planaholic" and love researching ports, cruise ship, etc. far in advance of my cruises. I found Tom's Port Guides website provided invaluable information that helped make our New England/Canada cruise a great success! We did private excursions in Portland and Bar Harbor and rented a car in Saint John and Halifax. Have fun planning your trip.

 

We live in halifax. the board walk right at the Pier is a good place to get out and stretch. plenty of bars, shops and a Casino further down on the water. and restaurants and historic sites at the waterfront as well.

 

We have a hop on hop off bus called fred right at pier 21 which is free and takes you around all the sights of halifax.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Folk Singer

[suzyluvs2cruise]

We live in halifax. the board walk right at the Pier is a good place to get out and stretch. plenty of bars, shops and a Casino further down on the water. and restaurants and historic sites at the waterfront as well.

 

We have a hop on hop off bus called fred right at pier 21 which is free and takes you around all the sights of halifax.

 

Where do we find the "free" hop on hop off bus? Didn't see it last week in Halifax and will be there again at the end of the month.

[Folk Singer]

Where do we find the "free" hop on hop off bus? Didn't see it last week in Halifax and will be there again at the end of the month.

 

right outside pier 21. there will be signs.

[2catfamily]

right outside pier 21. there will be signs.

 

I thought I read this somewhere,

 

FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown) is no longer available.

 

For transit service from the Cunard Centre (Pier 21), along the waterfront to Barrington/Duke, please refer to route #8.

 

For addtional information, contact 311.

 

From Visitor site.

[Folk Singer]

I thought I read this somewhere,

 

FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown) is no longer available.

 

For transit service from the Cunard Centre (Pier 21), along the waterfront to Barrington/Duke, please refer to route #8.

 

For addtional information, contact 311.

 

From Visitor site.

 

It seems that they have ended fred as of August. do not know why normally he goes till mid-October. they have a Greyline hop on hop off for around 20.00 takes you every where around the town. Citadel , spring garden road, public gardens and down the waterfront.

 

Sorry about the wrong information on Fred.. we were down at pier 21 yesterday. On fridays and weekends there is also the Farmers Market.

 

If you want a flat area to walk the boardwalk on the waterfront is great place, with plenty of shops,bars and restaurants and things to visits. The Maritime museum has the Halifax explosion and Titanic exhibit.

 

enjoy your trip.

 

Don

Edited September 28, 2013 by Folk Singer

[reallyitsmema]

It seems that they have ended fred as of August. do not know why normally he goes till mid-October. they have a Greyline hop on hop off for around 20.00 takes you every where around the town. Citadel , spring garden road, public gardens and down the waterfront.

 

Sorry about the wrong information on Fred.. we were down at pier 21 yesterday. On fridays and weekends there is also the Farmers Market.

 

If you want a flat area to walk the boardwalk on the waterfront is great place, with plenty of shops,bars and restaurants and things to visits. The Maritime museum has the Halifax explosion and Titanic exhibit.

 

enjoy your trip.

 

Don

I thought FRED was discontinued after the 2009 season? We sailed this cruise in 2010 and FRED was not running back then. Did they restart and then stop this service again?

[95roadking]

There we go. Someone who was right there and you answered my question. I appreciate the info!!

 

There is a really cool website I always got for advice on specific cabins...just google deckplangenius....very helpful

[suzyluvs2cruise]

It seems that they have ended fred as of August. do not know why normally he goes till mid-October. they have a Greyline hop on hop off for around 20.00 takes you every where around the town. Citadel , spring garden road, public gardens and down the waterfront.

 

Sorry about the wrong information on Fred.. we were down at pier 21 yesterday. On fridays and weekends there is also the Farmers Market.

 

If you want a flat area to walk the boardwalk on the waterfront is great place, with plenty of shops,bars and restaurants and things to visits. The Maritime museum has the Halifax explosion and Titanic exhibit.

 

enjoy your trip.

 

Don

 

We were in Halifax last week and loved the Waterfront area. We walked from Pier 21 to the Public Gardens and Citadel. A bit of a climb but doable.

 

The Pink Hop On Hop Off bus was $49 per person. Is there a different rate when cruise ships aren't in port?

[suamom]

Just wondering who is in the piano bar. We are boarding on Oct 13 and hoping for Dan Davies or Paul O'Shea.

[marys350]

Manda Vincent played the piano in the Schooner Bar on the Sept. 15-22 cruise.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Just wondering who is in the piano bar. We are boarding on Oct 13 and hoping for Dan Davies or Paul O'Shea.

 

We had Manda Vincent. She's from Ireland and a lot of fun. I think she said she would be onboard until November.

http://www.garyparkes.com/mandavincent.html

[suamom]

Thanks much! We will check Manda out. Love the Schooner Bar!

[Chrissy3427]

My partner and I will be on the 13th cruise as well; first time not heading to warmer climates! Instinct will have us packing our bikini's; better make a to do list of what not to pack! Lol.

My gf and I are looking forward to this; from this thread, guess we'll be packing our walking shoes and heels!

C'mon 13th.. get here already...

[Folk Singer]

We were in Halifax last week and loved the Waterfront area. We walked from Pier 21 to the Public Gardens and Citadel. A bit of a climb but doable.

 

The Pink Hop On Hop Off bus was $49 per person. Is there a different rate when cruise ships aren't in port?

 

As we live here have no need of the bus.

do not know if it was different,. It was several years ago we took the bus;

 

and thought the price was around 20.00 then. We had an elderly Aunt who was with us at the time. they must have really put the prices up since.

 

As to Fred running he was running up until recently. maybe the change was no longer after August. As a Bus Driver friend of ours was complaining this year about having to drive Fred recently.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Folk Singer

[Beach4me]

Another group of folks will be on their way home today...while others will be heading out on their voyage.

 

In 2 weeks, it will be us! :)

 

Those returning today - tell us all about it!

 

Best to all!

[Beach4me]

Was tendering difficult in Bar Harbor? Mom has a 3-wheeled walker that she does not need all the time but uses when we are walking a lot. It just makes it easier for her and she can go much farther than without it. Can we take it on the tender so she can use it on shore? (I've only tendered once on a Radiance class ship and don't remember it being difficult to get on/off.)

 

If you were in a suite, was there access to a specialty restaurant for breakfast every day? Did they do omelets, pancakes, etc?

 

Were there still chocolate covered strawberries in the CL?

 

Thanks!

[marys350]

Was tendering difficult in Bar Harbor? Mom has a 3-wheeled walker that she does not need all the time but uses when we are walking a lot. It just makes it easier for her and she can go much farther than without it. Can we take it on the tender so she can use it on shore? (I've only tendered once on a Radiance class ship and don't remember it being difficult to get on/off.)

 

 

We traveled with a friend who uses a walker. He was able to take it on the tender and use it on shore.