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Bar Harbor or Boston itinerary?


zwallace
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We are looking at two cruises on the Gem; both embark from New York, and are 7 days in length. The only difference is one cruise visits Boston and the other visits Bar Harbor. The other ports are identical. Would you recommend one over the other and why? I should also say we are already booked for October 7th on the one that visits Bar Harbor, but I assume that Norwegian would let us switch cruises since they are the exact same price. Does anyone know if they would let us switch? I don't want to call Norwegian until I hear different opinions from Cruise Critic members. Thanks for any help you all can give me!

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I live in Maine. I have been to Bar Harbor a lot as well as Boston. My question to you is what do you like to do when you visit ports? Boston has lots of city shopping with museums and aquariums. Bar Harbor is a small town. It's shops but I am not sure what else that you would do there for other things. I have to say that I have spent more time in Bar Harbor. There is Cadillac Mountain, the first place that the sun rises in the USA.

 

 

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Bar Harbor is a tender port with a sloped hill to climb to the street level. Lots of eateries and interesting shops. Scenic only if you take a bus or trolley tour.

 

Boston, lots of choices of tours. Not much around for easy walking distance from Black Falcon Terminal. Again, you need transportation or a tour to the city. However, real shopping, art, history, museums, eateries and culture abound. Vicki

 

 

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I'm a Mainer and enjoy both locations. There is so much to see and do in the city of Boston. Bar Harbor is a quaint little town. They are so different from each other, if really depends on what you hope to see and do.

 

 

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We have been to both ports. Boston and Bar Harbor are nice places to explore for the first time. We find Bar Harbor however better to keep coming back. We love the

Acadia National Park and the Cadillac Mountain. It has something to look forward to that we don't have in the city that we live in.

 

 

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I went on a similar cruise out of Boston which worked perfectly because we were able to experience the city prior to departing on the cruise. The two cities are not comparable because they are so different. For the sake of the type of cruise, I would chose Bar Harbor because we LOVED Acadia national park and Cadillac mountain and I wouldn't trade that excursion. You can check my signature for the photo review!

Whatever you chose, you will certainly enjoy.

Alaina

 

 

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Edited by alainamarie
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I live near Boston and go to Bar Harbor every summer. I'm not sure where to port is in Boston but there is the freedom trail, Faneuil hall, Quincy market, north end (Italian), frog pond. If you have enough time a trip to Cadillac mountain is beautiful, as well as sand beach/thunder hole. Lots of hiking and smaller mountains too.

 

 

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Thanks for the quick replies! We come from a small town, and love visiting national parks. We've been to many out west, but have never toured the New England area. After reading your replies, we have decided that we will stick with the current itinerary to Bar Harbor, but I'm going to call Norwegian in the morning and see if we can move our cruise up to September. We think we will have better weather in September, (hopefully).

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Thanks for the quick replies! We come from a small town, and love visiting national parks. We've been to many out west, but have never toured the New England area. After reading your replies, we have decided that we will stick with the current itinerary to Bar Harbor, but I'm going to call Norwegian in the morning and see if we can move our cruise up to September. We think we will have better weather in September, (hopefully).

 

I love Bar Harbor. It is the perfect NE town.

 

Save Boston for a trip where you have multiple days to see the many sites there. They are worthy also but difficult to see many of them in one day.

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We see plenty of fall foliage right here in land locked Missouri. I'm more interested in having nicer weather throughout the cruise. I think a month earlier would give us a better chance of warmer weather and being able to enjoy our balcony.

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A cruise that starts on 10/7, will put you in Bar Harbor (& Acadia National Park) at close to peak fall foliage, so I would reconsider rescheduling that cruise if you are interested in viewing the foliage.

 

 

SBtS

 

This is a crap shoot. I went 10/15 one year and was early. I went 10/23 out of Quebec another year. We were past peak foliage in Quebec City and most of Canada but hit Boston on 10/31 and hit the foliage perfect (according to our guides). We were close to peak in Newport and Bar Harbor also.

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Does anyone know if Norwegian will let us change the dates of our cruise to September?

 

We see plenty of fall foliage right here in land locked Missouri. I'm more interested in having nicer weather throughout the cruise. I think a month earlier would give us a better chance of warmer weather and being able to enjoy our balcony.

 

I don't sail with NCL - so I am not sure. Most cruise lines will let you make changes before final payment. Hopefully there are no problems doing such.

 

I live in the midwest also - I think foliage is far more beautiful in Canada NE. They just have more trees than we do in the midwest! On both cruises, we did have balconies - we needed a larger room. This is an itinerary that I used the balcony less than other itineraries. The ship sales far enough out from the coast most of the time so you don't see the scenery except for when sailing into port and sailing away. Also, my cruises have only had 1 sea day and most days you are in port all day, so we really did not use the balcony.

 

Also realize there are itineraries with other lines that do Boston and Bar Harbor on the same cruise as I did on both of my cruises.

 

I also wouldn't change the date. I love the coolness of October in NE. Not sure when in September you are going but it can be hot if early enough.

Edited by Coral
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I was on the Gem to Canada/New England in September, 2015. My favorite port was Bar Harbor. Beautiful NE town and Acadia National Park! Loved it. This year, I going on the Regal Princess in September and this cruise stops in Boston and Bar Harbor, so I am looking forward to that. I get to visit Bar Harbor again and see Boston for the first time.

 

Whatever you decide, have fun! The Gem is a nice ship with a great crew.

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Also, I called my Norwegian cruise consultant. She advised we could switch, but that we would lose the $100 onboard credit, the 100 internet minutes, the $25 in casino play, and the photo package that were thrown in along with the UBP and UDP. I told her to flag our names and if the promotion comes about again and we can keep all that plus our mid ship balcony to give me a call.

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  • 6 months later...
I was on the Gem to Canada/New England in September, 2015. My favorite port was Bar Harbor. Beautiful NE town and Acadia National Park! Loved it. This year, I going on the Regal Princess in September and this cruise stops in Boston and Bar Harbor, so I am looking forward to that. I get to visit Bar Harbor again and see Boston for the first time.

 

Whatever you decide, have fun! The Gem is a nice ship with a great crew.

 

did you do a tour in Bar Habor to Acadia? thanks!

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did you do a tour in Bar Habor to Acadia? thanks!

My DH and I did the Oli's Trollys tour of Acadia and it was great. We still had time following the tour to explore the charming town of Bar Harbor, shop and have a leisurely lunch. Their ticket booth and departure location is a short walk from where the tender docks. Highly recommended!

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