Cruisingmarmi

If you are on an S class ship, head up to the lawn and lay out your mat. I will be taking my yoga mat, etc in December on Reflection and will either do my practice on our balcony (we have an S1) or in the cabin. I have access to free online classes which work quite well when I

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Thanks for your info. I'll be on the Summit to Canada in September so I can't join you. I also sometimes use internet classes but won't have access on the cruise. I guess I'll do my own version. Enjoy your cruise! Namaste. 😎

I am a yoga instructor and would like to still continue my practice while on board during my wedding/honeymoon trip. Are there areas on the Celebrity Summit where I can have some space to conduct my Practice?

When/What ship? I'd be interested in joining you! I think there will be an area in the gym. Would have to work around scheduled (for fee) Zumba, etc. 😎

The parking at Cape Liberty is safe. Since you can use points for free accommodations I think the convenience of being able to hop in your car and start back on your journey home without the hassle of waiting for the transfer is worth it. Same with day of arrival. You can get to the pier as early or late as you want. I like to be in control, jmo

 

 

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Thank you for your prompt reply! We've discussed the convenience of port parking since We'll be starting our drive home after the cruise. We'll look at the pros and cons of the hotel area and decide. Thanks again.

The best park/sleep deal is through trinityreservations.com - $209 tax included for hotel room at the Ramada Plaza, up to 21 days parking, and round trip port transportation. Parking at the port would be $280 and even with a free room on points at a Hilton, you might still have to pay about $15 for hotel parking (check on that). There would also be a $3+ NJ Turnpike toll.

 

I have used the trinity package and was very happy with it. Newark Airport is a highly urban industrialized environment and not a vacation destination - save your Hilton points for a better destination.

 

The Ramada has a restaurant/bar and an extensive cafe. For additional dining options you can drive to the Jersey Gardens Mall at exit 13A for a Ruby Tuesdays, IHOP, Applebees, Johnny Rockets, and a mall food court. Wine is difficult to buy in this area, so bring your own for the ship if Celebrity permits this.

THANK YOU! This saves me so much in time and effort!

Hi, I'm Marty and have just discovered this thread! It looks like some great hints and info! My husband and I are driving from Alabama to leave on a cruise out of Cape Liberty via Celebrity Summit on September 10 (14 day Canada/NE). We are unsure whether to stay/park at a hotel or to book a Hilton chain hotel for free, using our Hilton Honors rewards, and pay to park at the pier. Any advice will be appreciated.

Hi Keith,

 

As a Canadian, and someone with Quebec roots a lot of these destinations are found in my own backyard (within a day’s drive, and so I have been to all of them except for Cornerbrook). If I may I suggest the following:

 

As suggested check out the Roll Call for your ship, there is a good chance that others are looking for travel companions to share cost on self-organized excursions.

 

PRE-CRUISE

 

I agree with the others who say if the cruise begins in Quebec City to fly into Montreal instead (a lot easier for one thing as it is Canada’s second largest city).

 

Plus it is a good place to begin this adventure and have an introduction to French Canadian culture… although the city is extremely multicultural, and you’ll have ZERO problem if you only speak English (same is true for the more touristy areas of Old Quebec).

 

Montreal will give you a taste of what is to come… especially if you are a History or Architecture Lover… and a great way to begin the journey from modern times back towards the beginnings of settlement of North America, which the other Ports of Call can flesh out further.

 

Montreal & Quebec City are only 3 Hours apart by Car, Bus or Train… and easily done by whichever you choose.

 

QUEBEC CITY

 

If you have an overnight in Quebec City prior to the cruise, I strongly suggest that you use it to stay within the walls… perhaps the iconic Chateau Frontenac in Upper Town or a comfy Gite (B&B) in Lower Town. Quebec is built upon a cliff, with the original settlement (Lower Town) at the base, and the more fortified City at the top (within the walls). The two are connected via L’Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Stairs) and the Funicular (an incline Elevator), as well as a few modern streets. The Funicular is the easiest & fastest, and well worth the small cost to use.

 

I see the cruise has an overnight in Quebec City… this is great, because by far it is the most interesting stop on your cruise.

 

You will want to spend one day exploring Upper & Lower Town… I suggest wearing sturdy shoes, as you will do a lot of walking. Old Quebec the streets are very narrow (not built for cars & buses) and they are cobblestones, so therefore very uneven. As well the terrain is somewhat on an incline, even if you are in either Upper or Lower Town.

 

There are some excellent tours to be found in Old Quebec. Some of my favourites are run by Parks Canada as Historic Quebec is a National Historic Site, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (European Explorers came to Canada in the early 1500s, and several outposts in various parts of the Maritimes were tried, but it is Old Quebec where Samuel Champlain first picked as a truly viable spot for a Settlement in 1535… and it is now regarded as the longest continuous settlement in North America).

 

Parks Canada runs a Tour of The Citadel, which has interesting roots that connect to the City’s past thru French, British, and Canadian / Quebecois history. It is still a military base today, and home of the legendary Royal Twenty Second Regiment (the Vandoos) which has been active since 1869… and has achieved many a military honour since Canada’s Confederation in 1867.

 

Other tours I recommend for discovering the History of Old Quebec is a walking tour that will give you an overview of the settlement’s roots and information about The Walls themselves.

 

And lastly, the Chateau Frontenac has an excellent in-house tour that is conducted by costumed guides that will give you a behind the scenes look at this historic landmark (part of Canada’s Chateau Railway Hotels) and the most photographed hotel in the world.

 

For the other day, I would suggest that you get outside of the city itself and explore the countryside. This can be done by taking an organized tour… or on your own (easy to rent a car). Head the short distance down stream along the mighty St Lawrence River (the largest river in Eastern North America) to Ile d’Orleans, St Anne de Beaupre, and Montmorency Falls. This is an easy drive, and all within sight of Old Quebec. Ile d’Orleans will transport you back in time…. As it hasn’t changed much since it was first discovered in the late 1500s… it is quite easy to see how the first settlers here felt at home as it reminded them very much of the countryside back in France.

 

If you are really adventurous… I suggest that you spend one day (probably your first fro safety sake) renting a car and heading off very early further downstream to the Charlevoix Region and Tadoussac as I see sadly that your Ship doesn’t make a stop there.

 

Tadoussac is at the Mouth of the Saguenay Fjord… and this is where Canada’s largest National Marine Park is found… a spot that annually attracts many species of whales who come to feast on the bounty of fish & waterlife that comes out of the freshwater of the Saguenay River. Whale watching here is easy… be it with an organized tour… or even oftentimes you can find a spot on the shoreline and watch the show !!

 

Tadoussac is approximately 4 Hours from Old Quebec… so it would make for a long day… but so worth it !!

 

CHARLOTTETOWN & PEI

 

Charlottetown is a small city… in Canada’s smallest Province. But it’s historical context for our Country is massive, as it is the place where the Founding Fathers sat down and planned out Confederation in 1864. A visit to Province House, therefore is a must see.

 

Other highlights within the City is the Anne of Green Gables play that is performed at the Confederation Centre of the Arts… not sure what day you’ll be in port, but I do know that they have both Evening Performance as well as Afternoon Matinees for a good part of their Season.

 

Alternatively, if you are an “Anne Fan” you could head off to the Cavendish Area and visit Green Gables the home where Lucy Maud Montgomery used as her inspiration for her Anne Stories. Again this is a Parks Canada National Historic Site, so the tours conducted there are excellent.

 

There is also the nearby Avonlea Village that is a commercial operation that honours the Anne Stories and transports back in time to PEI in the Victorian age. Although this site is called Avonlea it is not associated with the Tv Series “Road to Avonlea” which ran in the 1990s.

 

If Anne isn’t your thing…. But a thirst for local culture is calling you… again I’d rent a car and head off into the countryside. PEI is a very easy place to drive and navigate with a basic map.

 

You might want to drive the National Seashore… Cavendish thru Dalvay, perhaps with a stop to enjoy Fresh Seafood. (My suggestion would be to avoid the well advertised Lobster Restaurants along the main road such as in North Rustico, and instead head to North Rustico Harbour, where you’ll be able to find good eats for a good price in one of the local “Seafood Shacks” right along the pier area (cannot get any fresher seafood that this !!)

 

Another good spot for a drive is to head west up island into the Acadian District (otherside of Summerside) and make a stop at the very informative Acadian Museum in Mascouche.

 

HALIFAX

 

Another great Canadian City (Mr Sloop’s favourite). Lots of more modern History to be found in this locale…

 

You can walk along the waterfront and pay a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which has two excellent permanent exhibits… one on the Titanic, and one on the Halifax Explosion. They also have a current exhibit on the War of 1812.

 

Another interesting Museum is Pier 21 which tells the story of Immigration to Canada during most of the 1900s, it is significant for Canadians in the same way that Ellis Island is for America during the same time period.

 

Much like Quebec City, Halifax has its own Citadel that sits atop the hill. Not as significant in Canadian History as the one in Quebec City, and again a Parks Canada Site, worth a visit if you are a Military History buff.

 

The majority of visitors to Halifax will head off to see Peggy’s Cove a small rural outpost about 25 miles from Downtown Halifax. The locale is famous because of the many times that it has been photographed / painted. It is pretty enough… but it is usually very much over-run with Tourists

 

As much as I can see the draw to Peggy’s Cove, for me personally, I am far more touched / moved by the nearby Swissair Flight 111 Memorial… and the story of how the local fisherman worked tirelessly thru this tragedy first in hopes of saving someone, and then later to assist the authorities in the recovery process. This is truly far me far more a testament to the resilience of the Maritime People and who they truly are than the almost “fake” presentation of Peggy’s Cove.

 

If you want to see a true Nova Scotia Fishing Village steeped in local history, I suggest that you continue your road trip out to Lunenburg (again another National Historic Site, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Lunenburg is famous for its shipbuilding history including Canada’s famous Bluenose Schooner.

 

Lunenburg is about 60 Miles, 1-1/2 Hours Drive from Halifax via the Highway but can make a good day trip when you tie in the Peggy Cove area which is enroute.

 

While in Halifax, you’ll find out that all these destinations are served by local Tour Companies (or probably Ship Excursions as well). You can do them whichever way you choose…. But we do prefer to explore on our own as then we aren’t tied down to anyone else’s schedule, or have to contend so much with crowds etc. (Peggy’s Cove for example is best seen either very early in the day or late afternoon).

 

SYDNEY

 

Sydney is at the base of Cape Bretton Island… and a place one truly could use a good amount of time to see / explore. This is one spot you’ll probably be most safe choosing to do a ship tour, as it will make the best use of your time when it comes to getting a feel for the “Scottish Highlands”.

 

Alternatively another good spot to take a look at (again particularly so if you are a History buff…. Or have discovered an interest in French / Acadian Culture after visiting Quebec City, PEI and Lunenburg) is the French Fortress of Louisburg. Again another National Historic Site run by Parks Canada.

 

CORNERBROOK

 

Gros Morne Park is a MJST SEE… this is another location where I would rely on an organized tour.

 

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You can find more info on all of the Destinations you’ll be visiting in a variety of other ways…

 

All the States, Provinces & Cities have Tourism Centres… and websites. As do Parks Canada, and many of the other attractions I have mentioned.

 

Just for “general knowledge / an overview” I always find Wikipedia a helpful tool when planning a vacation.

 

And TripAdvisor is a fabulous source for info & planning help as well (especially their Forums).

 

And as others have said there Is of course your Cruise’s Roll Call here on CC as well as the Ports of Call Board which will have local info as well.

 

All in all it sounds like a wonderful cruise. I am sure you will have a terrific time. Do enjoy the sail thru the St Lawrence River… it really is such a gem… lots of wildlife to be seen. And depending on WHEN you’ll be cruising in September, the trees may be putting on a wonderful show of Fall Colours for you as well (trees around Quebec City are some of the earliest to turn... starting mid to late September).

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers

Great info! Also going on this cruise! Appreciate your help!

Thank you so much everyone! We're booked next on the 9/10 sailing next year, so I have plenty of time to look into all your suggestions.

 

We really would like to do get good seafood while in port, and we enjoy shopping (local artists, crafts etc). Any specific suggestions for places would really be appreciated.

 

Has anyone done one of the lobster boat tours?

 

Please keep this thread going. I've checked the destinations board and its not as meaty as I was hoping.

 

Thank you again:)

Hi, Fishlover! We booked this cruise while onboard Equinox two weeks a g o. Just found your thread and want to thank you. Getting good info from it. If you have any more info to share with me, please do! Feeling a little overwhelmed! Thanks! Marty

Thanks! Sailing in May.