Question for Sail7Seas or anyone who wants to respond!

[themerle]

My husband and I are probably booking the Canada/New England cruise on the Maasdam for June 27, 2015. What ship excursions would you recommend for each port: Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbor? Do you recommend any private tours?

We will probably go in early to Montreal and stay over in Boston, especially since we will end the cruise on the 4th of July. Anything (tours, restaurants, and sights within walking distance) you can recommend in any ports, Montreal and Boston included would be appreciated. I know you have sailed on Maasdam many times and that you have done this cruise many times, so you have a wealth of valuable information!

Anyone can add more information and it will be appreciated. I specifically ask Sail7Seas because she loves this ship and itinerary. I enjoy reading her post also!:)

[ellieanne]

I've done variations of the Canada/New England itinerary 6 times now, which might not

 

Quebec City: I love the walking tours of Old Town, but I also recommend a trip out to either Canyon St. Anne & Ile d'Orleans or to St. Anne de Beaupre. Both include stops at Montmorency Falls and both are well worth the trip.

 

Charlottetown: I've done the Island's Finest (Anne, Lobster, and Island Drive) Tour, as well as the Horse Drawn Trolley Tour. If you're into Anne of Green Gables, definitely visit Green Gables at least once. If this is your first visit, I'd say take the Island's Finest tour if you want a good overview experience. The Horse-Drawn Trolley tour is great for a historical tour of Charlottetown (but not the island as a whole). And you'll be close enough to stop in town for lunch. Lobster is definitely great, but while you're in PEI, definitely get something with potatoes! The is something unique about PEI potatoes. I have never found any potatoes anywhere else that are the same as PEI potatoes. Others will say PEI mussels are the MUST HAVE dining item, but I don't like mussels so I skip them in favor of potatoes every time!

 

Sydney: I have only ever done a walking tour through Old Town Sydney. I enjoyed it and the history was nice, and I can still remember the oatcakes at the end of the tour, but I really think Sydney is best for just wandering about. There are cute shops within walking distance, as well as craft stalls at the pier and at a church hall not far from the pier. I tend to just wander in Sydney, and stop at Tim Horton's for some Tim Bits, because, well, I'm in Canada. :)

 

Halifax: Best tour was the first year I was there, and it's a tour they no longer offer. It was a combined walking tour of historic Halifax with a stop at the Citadel for the noon gun firing and a drive around to visit areas too far out to see walking. I've also done a walking tour of Halifax and Public Gardens. I visited the Maritime Museum on my own, and it's well worth the time, especially for the display on the Halifax Explosion, something I did not know about prior to my visit to Halifax. It's also one of the "lobster" stops on this route. We alternate between a couple of Waterfront restaurants, and we also visit a few of the shops outside of the Pier area. It's a great city for wandering as well, but DO NOT make the mistake of walking up to the Citadel via Sackville Street! That is a killer hill.

 

Bar Harbor: I've done a tour of Acadia National Park with lobster lunch here, and after the third time, I was finally there when Thunder Hole was thundering rather than whispering. And the Lulu's Lobster Boat was fantastic! I cannot recommend that tour enough. I had read The Secret Life of Lobsters, and much of the research was done around Bar Harbor so seeing the process was wonderful for me. It's also a great stop to go ashore for a lobster lunch and shopping.

 

Montreal: I usually go to the tourist information center and get a Grey Line tour, but I've also braved the subway system out to St. Joseph's Oratory on my own. It's easy to do and the tourist information center people are so helpful. The only caveat I have for Montreal is that I personally find it less English-friendly than Quebec, so be prepared for communicating predominantly in French.

 

I know you'll enjoy the area. It's great and I can't wait to go back.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I love this itinerary and love talking about what to do in the stops. :)

[themerle]

I've done variations of the Canada/New England itinerary 6 times now, which might not

 

Quebec City: I love the walking tours of Old Town, but I also recommend a trip out to either Canyon St. Anne & Ile d'Orleans or to St. Anne de Beaupre. Both include stops at Montmorency Falls and both are well worth the trip.

 

Charlottetown: I've done the Island's Finest (Anne, Lobster, and Island Drive) Tour, as well as the Horse Drawn Trolley Tour. If you're into Anne of Green Gables, definitely visit Green Gables at least once. If this is your first visit, I'd say take the Island's Finest tour if you want a good overview experience. The Horse-Drawn Trolley tour is great for a historical tour of Charlottetown (but not the island as a whole). And you'll be close enough to stop in town for lunch. Lobster is definitely great, but while you're in PEI, definitely get something with potatoes! The is something unique about PEI potatoes. I have never found any potatoes anywhere else that are the same as PEI potatoes. Others will say PEI mussels are the MUST HAVE dining item, but I don't like mussels so I skip them in favor of potatoes every time!

 

Sydney: I have only ever done a walking tour through Old Town Sydney. I enjoyed it and the history was nice, and I can still remember the oatcakes at the end of the tour, but I really think Sydney is best for just wandering about. There are cute shops within walking distance, as well as craft stalls at the pier and at a church hall not far from the pier. I tend to just wander in Sydney, and stop at Tim Horton's for some Tim Bits, because, well, I'm in Canada. :)

 

Halifax: Best tour was the first year I was there, and it's a tour they no longer offer. It was a combined walking tour of historic Halifax with a stop at the Citadel for the noon gun firing and a drive around to visit areas too far out to see walking. I've also done a walking tour of Halifax and Public Gardens. I visited the Maritime Museum on my own, and it's well worth the time, especially for the display on the Halifax Explosion, something I did not know about prior to my visit to Halifax. It's also one of the "lobster" stops on this route. We alternate between a couple of Waterfront restaurants, and we also visit a few of the shops outside of the Pier area. It's a great city for wandering as well, but DO NOT make the mistake of walking up to the Citadel via Sackville Street! That is a killer hill.

 

Bar Harbor: I've done a tour of Acadia National Park with lobster lunch here, and after the third time, I was finally there when Thunder Hole was thundering rather than whispering. And the Lulu's Lobster Boat was fantastic! I cannot recommend that tour enough. I had read The Secret Life of Lobsters, and much of the research was done around Bar Harbor so seeing the process was wonderful for me. It's also a great stop to go ashore for a lobster lunch and shopping.

 

Montreal: I usually go to the tourist information center and get a Grey Line tour, but I've also braved the subway system out to St. Joseph's Oratory on my own. It's easy to do and the tourist information center people are so helpful. The only caveat I have for Montreal is that I personally find it less English-friendly than Quebec, so be prepared for communicating predominantly in French.

 

I know you'll enjoy the area. It's great and I can't wait to go back.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I love this itinerary and love talking about what to do in the stops. :)

 

Thanks for your information. I'm really going to enjoy gather the information for this trip and I'm sure we will be saving it for another trip to the area! We wanted to do this cruise for several years so I'm wanting to plan some

very good excursions.

[mollyanne]

Be sure to book your Boston hotel ASAP if arriving on July 4th. I'm guessing prices are already high.

[ksmaxey]

My wife and I did this trip from Boston to Montreal last year:

 

Quebec City: We walked along the river and up around the fort and then back to the government building. There are hills but there is a lot to do within walking distance.

 

Charlottetown: We did a private tour with 2 other couples from CC we met online. We had a pretty extensive tour for about 80/couple us plus tip. We got back in time to have fresh mussels on the pool deck (PEI is know for its mussels) and then wander around downtown.

 

Sydney: this was the biggest disappointment: All the excursions have you on a bus way too long and less than 2 hours at whatever site and at our cruise time you didn't have a chance to eat lunch. We walked through downtown and got back on the ship.

 

 

Halifax: We walked to the citadel and did the tour. We had planned to walk to the graveyard with the most titanic graves but it started raining so we opted to spend a few hours at the maritime museum and grabbed a local lunch. Great walking neighborhood.

 

Bar Harbor: We set up a private trolly tour (Olli's)that took us to the park. We also walked downtown before and after. It was Sunday and sleepy before the tour but after was hopping with people

 

Kevin

[jaxonboy]

There is a Miner Museum in Glacé Bay that is fantastic.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done several different versions of Canada/New England.

In Montreal we stayed at the Downtown Sheraton. About a block from it you can go down into the Underground where there are lots of shops and restaurants. We did a city tour one day arranged by the hotel.

Quebec City -- Did a tour that included Montmorency Falls, St Ann de Beaupre Church, Island of Orleans and a wine factory. We have also taken the Fenicular up to the Chateau Frontenac and walked the entire area - lots of shops and restaurants.

Charlottetown -- One time we went out to Ann of Green Gables and stopped at a Preserve Factory where they had all kinds of teas and preserves that were very expensive. We did the Trolley tour one time -- waste of money as you can walk the place yourself. Ate at Lobster on the Wharf -- excellent Fisherman's Chowder and Mussels. Lobster Rolls were also good.

Sydney -- One time we did an all day tour and saw the Nova Scotia Highland Village in Iona and also visited Alexander Graham Bell's museum. Another time we sailed on the Bras d'Or Lakes. There isn't much in town to see but we did walk around once and saw Jost Museum, Cossit House and St George's Church. We stopped at the Governor's Pub and Eatery -- Fisherman's Chowder and Lobster Rolls were very good.

Halifax -- we have been out to Peggy's Cove. Have also done the Hop On / Hop Off tour -- really great as you can take your time seeing everything. -- like the Citadel. There is a lovely Boardwalk right at the pier -- shops and restaurants also the Maritime Museum. We ate at the Hamachi Steakhouse -- don't recommend it -- lobster rolls were had very little lobster and tons of filling.

Bar Harbor -- this is a tender port. One tour we really liked was Oli's Trolley -- we did the 2 1/2 hour one -- goes to Acadia National Park, Blow Hole, Cadillac Mountain. The best place for Lobster Rolls without fillers is now gone. But the Fish House right at the pier does have good New England Clam Chowder and lobster rolls.

In Boston we stayed at the Hilton in the Financial District one time and it is within walking distance of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market and is 1 block from the Waterfront. Another time we there we walked the Freedom Trail. And still another time we took a tour to Salem.

[cruz chic]

St. Anne's canyon in Quebec City is beautiful.

 

Acadia national park is a great choice in bar harbor.

 

I enjoyed Peggy's cove in Halifax.

Edited April 17, 2015 by cruz chic

[summersigh]

We're not experts by any means but when we sailed a New England/Canada cruise we had Lobster Rolls and a local beer for lunch in every port we stopped in. It was fun to see and taste all the variations - all of which were delicious!:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

We're not experts by any means but when we sailed a New England/Canada cruise we had Lobster Rolls and a local beer for lunch in every port we stopped in. It was fun to see and taste all the variations - all of which were delicious!:D

 

 

We aren't beer drinkers, but we had some good wines with our food.

[hallpau]

If you're okay with driving.....rent a car in every port and you can see what you want.

[cruz chic]

We're not experts by any means but when we sailed a New England/Canada cruise we had Lobster Rolls and a local beer for lunch in every port we stopped in. It was fun to see and taste all the variations - all of which were delicious!:D

 

Would you remember any of the places you ate? I'm not big on the lobsters rolls but maybe I have not gone to the right places. Any help would be appreciated.

[Ky Colonel]

My recommendations are:

 

1. Montreal: Allow at least 2 full days to enjoy Montreal; stay at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel (regardless of price); plan to spend lots of time in Old Town, especially at meal times; do the Grey Line tour one day to get a good overview of Montreal and then take the subway the next day to return to those places that were of most interest to you; be sure to visit both the Notre Dame Cathedral and St. Joseph;s Oratory.

 

2. Halifax: Definitely take an excursion that includes Peggy's Cove and the Titanic Cemetery.

 

3. Quebec City: Do one of the walking tours and plan to eat lunch on shore - plenty of great resataurants within easy walking distance of the pier.

 

Enjoy the Maasdam and smooth sailing.

 

Rod

[rafinmd]

July 1, when you are in Sydney, is Canada Day, their "4th of July". You might want to chill that day and take in some of the festivities.

 

In Halifax, the Canadian Immigration Museum is either attached or next door to the port. Keep it in mind if you have a bit of free time before or after any tour you take.

 

Roy

[Folk Singer]

My wife and I did this trip from Boston to Montreal last year:

 

Quebec City: We walked along the river and up around the fort and then back to the government building. There are hills but there is a lot to do within walking distance.

 

Charlottetown: We did a private tour with 2 other couples from CC we met online. We had a pretty extensive tour for about 80/couple us plus tip. We got back in time to have fresh mussels on the pool deck (PEI is know for its mussels) and then wander around downtown.

 

Sydney: this was the biggest disappointment: All the excursions have you on a bus way too long and less than 2 hours at whatever site and at our cruise time you didn't have a chance to eat lunch. We walked through downtown and got back on the ship.

 

 

Halifax: We walked to the citadel and did the tour. We had planned to walk to the graveyard with the most titanic graves but it started raining so we opted to spend a few hours at the maritime museum and grabbed a local lunch. Great walking neighborhood.

 

Bar Harbor: We set up a private trolly tour (Olli's)that took us to the park. We also walked downtown before and after. It was Sunday and sleepy before the tour but after was hopping with people

 

Kevin

 

 

Thinking of this one as well.

[Folk Singer]

My husband and I are probably booking the Canada/New England cruise on the Maasdam for June 27, 2015. What ship excursions would you recommend for each port: Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbor? Do you recommend any private tours?

We will probably go in early to Montreal and stay over in Boston, especially since we will end the cruise on the 4th of July. Anything (tours, restaurants, and sights within walking distance) you can recommend in any ports, Montreal and Boston included would be appreciated. I know you have sailed on Maasdam many times and that you have done this cruise many times, so you have a wealth of valuable information!

Anyone can add more information and it will be appreciated. I specifically ask Sail7Seas because she loves this ship and itinerary. I enjoy reading her post also!:)

 

 

HALIFAX:

 

14. Tip for Halifax NS. Bus Fare is $2.50 for Adults and Seniors is $1.75 but ask for a Transfer and you can get on and off the Buses and the Ferry back and forth for about 2 hours on the same transfer. It is exact change; as the Metro Transit do not give out change on the bus. There is a Board Walk at the Port that is full of Shops,Bars,Restaurants,Casino,Museums,Brewery Tour etc. Around the corner from the ship is the Westin Nova Scotia and Via Rail Station is an Atlantic Superstore where you can get just about anything you may need.) Liquor Commission right next door for buying "Sheridan's".

 

At the Port will be a lot of Craft Stores and Boutique Shops right at the Pier, as soon as you get off the Ship. Lots of Free Samples by the way.

 

13. Alexander Keith's Brewery Tours in Halifax NS. $15.00 per person,over 19 get to taste several samples of the Beer on the tour. 10 minutes walk to Brewery Market from the Ship.

http://www.expedia.ca/pub/agent.dll/...tid=28#details

You can also just book when you get there as well for the Tour. Off Licence for buying extra Keith's to take with you.

 

15.Nova Scotian Crystal 15 minutes walk down by the Ferry Terminal. This is the only Crystal Glass Blowing place in North America. http://www.novascotiancrystal.com

 

16. Halifax Citadel- It would be a 1/2 hour walk to the Top or $10.00 approx. for a taxi from the Ship. http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/halifax/visit.aspx

If you get there before 12.00 noon . Each day we have the firing of the Noon Day Gun right at 12.00. There is a little Ceremony as well for this. Great for Photos.

Check out the video on youtube.

[sail7seas]

Hi Merle,

Nice to 'see you'. It's been a while.

 

You've gotten some great information and I'd add a few comments.

 

I would not bother with a tour to Salem, MA when you can see and do so much in Boston.

July 4th is a major big deal for us in Boston being with are the birthplace of America.... Paul Revere and Lexington and all that. :) If they are offering tours of USS Constitution, it's so historic and a real experience. I heard she was having renovation but am not sure when that will be completed. If no mobility issues, walking the Freedom trail and seeing Paul Revere House, Old North Church, ("one if by land and two if by sea..... "), Boston Public Gardens, Fanueil Hall, Quincy Market, JFK Museum and the new Edward Kennedy Memorial Senate Museum is worth a visit, Aquarium, Cambridge and Harvard Square seem to get on lots of tourists' lists :), Fenway Park, Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, Boston's MFA, see some of the architecture of Boston such as at Boston Public Library..... The North End of Boston (Italian section) is lovely to walk but be aware on 4th of July some streets will be blocked in readiness for concert on the Esplanade (Charles River). The Boston Pops provide an incredible outdoor at the 'Hatch Shell' free concert each 4th of July with great display of fireworks. Crowds come and it is always a huge hit.

 

Halifax - I didn't see anyone mention Maritime Museum. It's a short walk from where the ship docks and has some artifacts from Titanic as well as a great collection of ships' bells.

The Citadel is fun to see. We very much enjoyed a riding/walking tour of Halifax which was offered by HAL at the time. We didn't go until about our 3rd visit to that wonderful city and we learned so much of the history and diversity of Halifax. In addition, while cemeteries would not be my usual place to tour, I found it interesting to see the graves of victims of Titanic placed in the shape of a bow. Of interest to me were the sections for Chinese area, Italian, Greek, French etc With very little effort I was amazed to learn how diverse Halifax is. We learned of the great explosion during the war which I never quite imagined until that tour. If this tour is still offered, it's about 3 hours and we had a great guide making it very worthwhile. If nothing else appeals, have a wonderful lobster lunch along the boardwalk. We loved walking the Boardwalk with all the shops and restaurants etc and My late DH never missed his chance at a Halifax big steamed lobster. :)

 

In Charlottetown, we went to the museum right at the dock which taught us the history of founding of Canada. The founders of Canada were in PEI and while the museum warrants not much more than a brief visit, it was interesting and nearby. We also enjoyed touring Government House, also short walking distance, and came away knowing more about our northern neighbors. Another time, we took a private tour to ride outside Charlottetown to see the red dirt and beauty of PEI. It is truly a lovely place with delightfully pleasant people. Near the dock is a 'tourist' area of small shops gathered in neat sections and maintained so beautifully. A pleasure to browse and pick up a souvenir or two. There are a few fairly decent places for lunch and we always sought PEI mussels. Many think them the best mussels anywhere. :)

 

Montreal is a huge city. Plan ahead what you want to see and do.

While I confess DH and I stayed in deluxe hotels our (land) visits to Montreal :o (and they were outstanding), I would comment friends who are accustomed to the likes of Four Seasons etc stayed at a hotel near the dock named Hotel Nelligan. We had sailed with them the first leg of our cruise, they disembarked in Montreal and rented a car to drive home. We walked up to the hotel with them and found it to be quite unique. Not cookie cutter rooms, all were different. Very friendly staff; breakfast included each morning and though they had not checked in yet and we were not staying they offered us to enjoy breakfast. Our friends were very specific when reserving their room to get one they would like and they enjoyed their stay. The price was rather fair, as I recall. If it interests you, do a bit of research. :)

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise on Maasdam. I dearly love that ship and her crew.

Edited April 17, 2015 by sail7seas

[qsuzi]

I just want to acknowledge everyone who provided a wealth of information to the OP. Threads/posters like this represent the best of Cruise Critic and those who posted. So great to see positive, helpful, and social posts.

[Alberta Quilter]

Tom's Port Guides have very useful information for many of the Canada/NE ports, as well. They can be downloaded to a tablet, too. http://www.tomsportguides.com/

 

I will be leaving on a repo cruise to Montreal in a couple of weeks and plan to do a Live From report. If you have any questions, you can post there and I'll try to respond.

[Hlitner]

We simply prefer to rent a car in some of the ports (especially on PEI and in Halifax) and go where we please. Rental car prices are very reasonable (if reserved in advance) and driving in Canada is similar to driving in the USA. In larger cities like Quebec City (we love this place) and Montreal we simply use public transportation.

 

Hank

[sail7seas]

We simply prefer to rent a car in some of the ports (especially on PEI and in Halifax) and go where we please. Rental car prices are very reasonable (if reserved in advance) and driving in Canada is similar to driving in the USA. In larger cities like Quebec City (we love this place) and Montreal we simply use public transportation.

 

Hank

 

 

 

It was never relaxing for us to do the driving on vacation. We far preferred car and driver or tour.

 

What were the sights you particularly enjoyed driving to on this itinerary that was more special going on your own? I'm truly interested in what we may have missed?

 

[SaguaroGal]

1. Driving in old Quebec city is not for the faint hearted but a drive out to Ile d'Orleans via Montmorency Falls and St Anne de Beaupre is a gourmand's dream--artisanl chocolate, ciders, cassis, breads await. We hired a private driver to get us out of town. The rest of the old town is very walkable--shopper's paradise and once again a gourmand's delight. Be sure to try some poutine (great bar food)

2. In Sydney we booked the Fiddler's concert which is held right in the visitor's center at the pier. It was an easy and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Afterwards there was plenty of time to walk into town for a look-see

[Blue Mudshark]

If they are offering tours of USS Constitution, it's so historic and a real experience. I heard she was having renovation but am not sure when that will be completed.

USS Constitution is scheduled to be in drydock for three years, beginning May 2015 (although I've been wrong before on that date; it was significantly delayed by last winter's ice, snow, and cold). I would still consider it worth a visit, even if you can't go on board. The adjacent museum will still be open, and you may get a rare chance to see the hull out of the water, being refurbished.

 

The Boston Pops provide an incredible outdoor at the 'Hatch Shell' free concert each 4th of July with great display of fireworks. Crowds come and it is always a huge hit.

Be aware that this is an all-day event (although the concert is in the evening); if you want to be on the Esplanade (where the Hatch Shell is) for the concert, you have to get there at the crack of dawn, and do some significant online research to figure out all the rules and tricks required to get a place on the Esplanade. It will take a concerted effort, but it will be well worth it if you can pull it off.

Finding a place just to see the fireworks would be much easier, and the concert is usually broadcast on radio and maybe TV. Unless you plan to attend the concert, don't make any transportation plans that go anywhere near the area near the Esplanade on the 4th; Storrow Drive will be closed much of the day.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hi Merle,

Nice to 'see you'. It's been a while.

 

You've gotten some great information and I'd add a few comments.

 

I would not bother with a tour to Salem, MA when you can see and do so much in Boston.

July 4th is a major big deal for us in Boston being with are the birthplace of America.... Paul Revere and Lexington and all that. :) If they are offering tours of USS Constitution, it's so historic and a real experience. I heard she was having renovation but am not sure when that will be completed. If no mobility issues, walking the Freedom trail and seeing Paul Revere House, Old North Church, ("one if by land and two if by sea..... "), Boston Public Gardens, Fanueil Hall, Quincy Market, JFK Museum and the new Edward Kennedy Memorial Senate Museum is worth a visit, Aquarium, Cambridge and Harvard Square seem to get on lots of tourists' lists :), Fenway Park, Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, Boston's MFA, see some of the architecture of Boston such as at Boston Public Library..... The North End of Boston (Italian section) is lovely to walk but be aware on 4th of July some streets will be blocked in readiness for concert on the Esplanade (Charles River). The Boston Pops provide an incredible outdoor at the 'Hatch Shell' free concert each 4th of July with great display of fireworks. Crowds come and it is always a huge hit.

 

Halifax - I didn't see anyone mention Maritime Museum. It's a short walk from where the ship docks and has some artifacts from Titanic as well as a great collection of ships' bells.

The Citadel is fun to see. We very much enjoyed a riding/walking tour of Halifax which was offered by HAL at the time. We didn't go until about our 3rd visit to that wonderful city and we learned so much of the history and diversity of Halifax. In addition, while cemeteries would not be my usual place to tour, I found it interesting to see the graves of victims of Titanic placed in the shape of a bow. Of interest to me were the sections for Chinese area, Italian, Greek, French etc With very little effort I was amazed to learn how diverse Halifax is. We learned of the great explosion during the war which I never quite imagined until that tour. If this tour is still offered, it's about 3 hours and we had a great guide making it very worthwhile. If nothing else appeals, have a wonderful lobster lunch along the boardwalk. We loved walking the Boardwalk with all the shops and restaurants etc and My late DH never missed his chance at a Halifax big steamed lobster. :)

 

In Charlottetown, we went to the museum right at the dock which taught us the history of founding of Canada. The founders of Canada were in PEI and while the museum warrants not much more than a brief visit, it was interesting and nearby. We also enjoyed touring Government House, also short walking distance, and came away knowing more about our northern neighbors. Another time, we took a private tour to ride outside Charlottetown to see the red dirt and beauty of PEI. It is truly a lovely place with delightfully pleasant people. Near the dock is a 'tourist' area of small shops gathered in neat sections and maintained so beautifully. A pleasure to browse and pick up a souvenir or two. There are a few fairly decent places for lunch and we always sought PEI mussels. Many think them the best mussels anywhere. :)

 

Montreal is a huge city. Plan ahead what you want to see and do.

While I confess DH and I stayed in deluxe hotels our (land) visits to Montreal :o (and they were outstanding), I would comment friends who are accustomed to the likes of Four Seasons etc stayed at a hotel near the dock named Hotel Nelligan. We had sailed with them the first leg of our cruise, they disembarked in Montreal and rented a car to drive home. We walked up to the hotel with them and found it to be quite unique. Not cookie cutter rooms, all were different. Very friendly staff; breakfast included each morning and though they had not checked in yet and we were not staying they offered us to enjoy breakfast. Our friends were very specific when reserving their room to get one they would like and they enjoyed their stay. The price was rather fair, as I recall. If it interests you, do a bit of research. :)

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise on Maasdam. I dearly love that ship and her crew.

 

 

I mentioned the Maritime Museum in Halifax -- guess you missed it.

 

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

We simply prefer to rent a car in some of the ports (especially on PEI and in Halifax) and go where we please. Rental car prices are very reasonable (if reserved in advance) and driving in Canada is similar to driving in the USA. In larger cities like Quebec City (we love this place) and Montreal we simply use public transportation.

 

Hank

 

 

We don't like driving while on vacation. One person has to keep their eyes on the road while driving and misses a lot of the scenery. That's no fun.