dulcimergirl Posted January 23, 2014 #1 Share Posted January 23, 2014 So here's the deal, all my other cruises (16) were to warm beaches south. (Caribbean) I am now booked on the Explorer on a northern route in September. Need I bother bringing my snorkeling gear? I love to snorkel, but not sure about water temps up north. Canada? Nova Scotia? Unreal.. lol I need input. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miccheck Posted January 23, 2014 #2 Share Posted January 23, 2014 September, North Atlantic, snorkeling. Probably can be done but you may need a wetsuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsK Posted January 23, 2014 #3 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I seriously doubt that you will be wanting to snorkel in September in Canada. I think if you are used to warm water then you won't appreciate the water temperature :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evelyn51 Posted January 23, 2014 #4 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Eh! No snorkeling experience here. But, as a Canadian I believe our waters have warmed as much as possible by summers end! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbond Posted January 23, 2014 #5 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The average summer air temp in September in Nova Scotia is 57F, so I think beach days may be out. Currently the water temp in Halifax Harbour is 35F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedl Posted January 23, 2014 #6 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I do not think you will want to go into the water in Canada or New England. I live here, and it is too cold. Plus there is nothing as beautiful to see here compared to the crystal clear water in the Caribbean! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rrraydon Posted January 23, 2014 #7 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Did a cruise up north to Canada a few years back. DEFINATELY a change from the caribbean. But, to my surprise, I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the sights greatly. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY! :D Have a great cruise! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted January 23, 2014 #8 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'll never forget my first Canada/New England cruise. It was September, and it was not warm enough to snorkel, I assure you. That year the tropical storms seemed to all head north, and greatly altered our itinerary. In fact, a hurricane hit Halifax that week. We docked there the next day...huge trees were uprooted, stop lights were out, many locals lacked power...and yet, even with all that, every single local person we encountered was nice to us as tourists. Lovely people.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sellwingri Posted January 23, 2014 #9 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) We took a short 5 day cruise to Canada last June and both Halifax and St John were wonderful and very enjoyable ports. It was a nice change. I wish that offered a similar cruise. We were on Carnival. The ports were great but the ship and ship activities were less than wonderful. Edited January 23, 2014 by sellwingri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoncom Posted January 23, 2014 #10 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I want to do a longer version of Canada cruise. Princess Quebec-FtLauderdale, every Fall, like Oct 20, various ships Ruby this yr. .Never found a cruisemate.Will do as solo some day. Pricing comes way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUIS4ME Posted January 24, 2014 #11 Share Posted January 24, 2014 We took the N. Engl/Canada route a bit over a year ago and loved it. It is definitely different than a beach/sun vacation. Don't think I used the swimsuit at all. However, it was absolutely lovely. Sun was out, days were bright, touring was fabulous. We went to places we would never get to via a car vacation. So pack some layers...just in case...and enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehfl Posted January 24, 2014 #12 Share Posted January 24, 2014 You would need a wetsuit. Check in advance with the dive shops in the ports you will be visiting to see what kind of diving/snorkeling is in the area, and whether it would be worth it, and what gear you will need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickadee1 Posted January 24, 2014 #13 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks for the laugh! It is so cold here in NE that the mention of snorkeling made me LOL! Also, the seas are not light colored like in the Caribbean and would probably have low visibility! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansolosmom Posted January 24, 2014 #14 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Loved our Canadian cruise. But I'd skip the snorkeling :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik101 Posted January 24, 2014 #15 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Do this....look for a snorkeling excursion for the ports you are visiting. The results of the search should answer your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinCadie Posted January 24, 2014 #16 Share Posted January 24, 2014 If you only cruise for the beach/water experience, this is not the cruise for you. BUT, there's so much else to see that you won't miss it. I'm not sure what your ports are, but every one is packed with fantastic scenery, historic and cultural sites, friendly people. Take some land excursions and enjoy the great food. Believe me, the lobster in Maine is better than any you'll find on a cruise ship. Kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailmama Posted January 24, 2014 #17 Share Posted January 24, 2014 If you only cruise for the beach/water experience, this is not the cruise for you. BUT, there's so much else to see that you won't miss it. I'm not sure what your ports are, but every one is packed with fantastic scenery, historic and cultural sites, friendly people. Take some land excursions and enjoy the great food. Believe me, the lobster in Maine is better than any you'll find on a cruise ship. Kathy have to second this. Well said and sums it up. Great trip but not for those wanting a warm vacation spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuterMonkey Posted January 24, 2014 #18 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I love New England, I think one of the fall cruises would be wonderful =) However I've been up that way before. Snorkeling is not the main attraction. The water isn't clear like down south anyway, so there's not a lot of exciting things to see. Things like hiking, enjoying the scenery, sailing, whale watching, exploring the lighthouses...*that's* what you do in New England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuterMonkey Posted January 24, 2014 #19 Share Posted January 24, 2014 If you only cruise for the beach/water experience, this is not the cruise for you. BUT, there's so much else to see that you won't miss it. I'm not sure what your ports are, but every one is packed with fantastic scenery, historic and cultural sites, friendly people. Take some land excursions and enjoy the great food. Believe me, the lobster in Maine is better than any you'll find on a cruise ship. Kathy Yes, eat the lobster where's it's locally caught! It's fabulous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyG12 Posted January 24, 2014 #20 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I'm with you! Did the Brilliance last September. It was too chilly to even put on my bathing suit except for the hot tub in the Solarium. It was a very cool trip but I probably wouldn't do it again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedl Posted January 24, 2014 #21 Share Posted January 24, 2014 In terms of lobster, I am always amazed when people get excited about the frozen lobster on a cruise ship. It is completely different than real Maine lobster that we can get quite easily here. There is no comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner22aa Posted January 24, 2014 #22 Share Posted January 24, 2014 We Canadians have a bit of a weird habbit. On New Years Day we find some lake, cut a hole in it with a chain saw and jump in just for the heck of it. This right of passage is normally followed by some obscure amount of alcoholic beverage, often one refered to as Moose Milk. If you plan to swim in the North Atlantic in September the only difference will be that you won't need the chain saw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted January 25, 2014 #23 Share Posted January 25, 2014 We went to places we would never get to via a car vacation. This statement has me curious as the common port stops for a Canada/New England cruise are not out of the way or hard to drive to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1kaper Posted January 25, 2014 #24 Share Posted January 25, 2014 (edited) I have to admit I find some of these answers funny but I guess its what you are used to. In Nova Scotia, our Septembers are often very nice. Last year was cooler than normal, but several summers before that, September was almost as nice as August. It is not uncommon to still go in the water in September since it has warmed up all summer. Its certainly not Caribbean temps, but even at the warmest, it isn't, unless you do a lake. The weather is hit and miss, i wouldn't plan a trip banking on swimming, but it isn't a totally crazy idea that you could go. I do have to agree though, there isn't much in the way of snorkeling around here. Plenty of places to dive though If you want better lobster than the cruise ship and Maine, come to Nova Scotia :D (sorry, but I'm married to a lobster fisherman's son). Edited January 25, 2014 by 1kaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelerThom Posted August 5, 2014 #25 Share Posted August 5, 2014 We Canadians have a bit of a weird habbit. On New Years Day we find some lake, cut a hole in it with a chain saw and jump in just for the heck of it. This right of passage is normally followed by some obscure amount of alcoholic beverage, often one refered to as Moose Milk. If you plan to swim in the North Atlantic in September the only difference will be that you won't need the chain saw!I have been swimming a number of times at P.E.I. and it was not bad at all. I'll be in Newfoundland next month, and I can pull up water temps in 19 NF locations, and all but one of these is above 60 degrees F. Way warmer than when I went swimming in minus 1 C in Deception Island, Antarctica. I'll admit that was cold, but I enjoy 19 degree C water for actual swimming. I thought Canadians were a hardy bunch, but I'm not so sure any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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