Help with excursions HAL Canada

[bella c]

Hi,

Well the time is rapidly approaching and we will need to decide on shore excursions.

Keep in mind that we are 5 women so booking through the cruise line doesn't make sense at $40 to $100 per person. Any help with private tours would be appreciated.

 

Quebec city ... we are overnighting here so any suggestions would help. We are due to arrive at noon, board ship, check in and return to city.

 

Saguenay.... Looks like mostly seinic tours here but ships rates are very high. Do you know if there are any reliable tours we could take?? 8:am to 5:00pm

 

Charlottetown, Prince Edward ....any ideas. 8am to 5pm

 

Sydney....lots of suggestions on boards and with HAL but would like more info. 8am to 5pm

 

Halifax .... been there before and will probably just do walking tour. 8 to 5

 

Bar Harbor..... Need help here 8 to 5

 

Glouchester ... Ok, just where do we go. Or is it a good place to walk the main street have lunch and shop??? Been to the Ice House (perfect storm) loved it. 7:00am to 4pm

 

NewPort ... Want to see the Mansions but ship is already booked what about a private tour? 10am to 6pm

thanks

[maryann ns]

Go back to the Canada forum and look for the search feature.

 

For Quebec you are best to just walk around and take it all in. There is lots of information on here.

 

For Sydney and Charlottetown you should rent a car or van or hire a driver. The best things are outside of town, especially Sydney.

[Steph27]

For Newport you can take the trolley for $1.75 each way which stops at all the mansions. It would be best to book online in advance since the ship is also bringing people. We visited Rough Point (Doris Dukes home) in July and had a wonderful tour. You may want to see the Breakers or Marble House.

 

For Gloucester you probably don't need a tour. You could always rent a car and go to Rockport. In Bar Harbor they have a 2 companies that provide tours of Acadia National Park. You don't have to book with the ship.

[Keith1010]

At Bar Harbor I would go to Arcadia National Park.

 

For Quebec City I don't see a need to take a tour. This is a very easy place to see on your own.

 

Keith

[sassiesammy]

:confused:We will be in Halifax and have booked Bruce Cochrane. He has an Uplander Van. He is taking us to Peggy's Cove and Lunnenberg which is about 6.5 hours in duration. The cost for the 4 of us is $260. Does anybody have any feedback on Bruce's tours?

[trophy_23]

Hi,

Quebec city ... we are overnighting here so any suggestions would help. We are due to arrive at noon, board ship, check in and return to city.

 

Charlottetown, Prince Edward ....any ideas. 8am to 5pm

 

NewPort ... Want to see the Mansions but ship is already booked what about a private tour? 10am to 6pm

thanks

 

I can only comment on these few ports as we did not go to the others, but as mentioned above Quebec city is an easy place to see on your own. We overnighted last fall, arriving about noon checked out bags at the ship and then walked to town. It is a very close walk and lots to explore. We had Canaletto overlooking the lights of Old Quebec city from the ship, just beautiful. We then headed out to town again for some more wandering in the late evening. The next morning we headed to town again, as it will take more than a day to explore.

 

For Charlottetown I would encourage you to rent a car (or SUV) and do a big circle around the Island. Head to North Rustico, then towards Cavendish, over to the Confederation bridge and back towards town. Plenty of time to stop at different places in between. PEI was very easy to drive and the cheapest way to see everything.

 

As for Newport, once you get off the tender head to the left and to the info building. Here you can get a bus ticket (all day pass) and get to the breakers mansion. From here we started the cliff walk and walked to the end, it was quite a way but very beautiful! We then caught the bus back to town and explored the shops before returning to the ship on the tender.

[sassiesammy]

First Time Cruisers needing help. We are cruising from Boston on October 9th and would like to have private tours booked in advance at all Ports. We have booked Bruce of Bruce's Tours in Halifax. He will take us to Peggy's Cove and Lunnenberg. Does anybody have suggestions for Portland, Bar Harbor, and St John? We are considering the hop on and off Trolley in Bar Harbor. Would appreciate any help that you can give.