mailmama Posted January 17, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Has anyone done either of these tours and have an opinion of them? The Highland Village or the fortress of Louisborg? Both have characters in costume for explaining how things were in the 1700-1800's. We are debating on which one might be better. Any help? This will be early Oct '18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted January 17, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 17, 2018 We haven't taken a cruise tour, but visited NS independently on a road trip. Louisbourg was a highlight (and is feasible to combine with the superb mining museum at Glace Bay in the same day if your port times work), but being native Scots we generally avoid like the plague anything pertaining to Scottish culture abroad as it's usually painfully bad - so we didn't bother with the highland village. As always with specific tourist sites that are independently visited by other folks than cruisers, you'll likely find more info on general travel fora like TripAdvisor than on here, and NB: check the official websites for dates as I know that once you get past Labour Day many Canadians sites step back on how many staff are employed - the costumed 'interpreters' at Louisbourg definitely reduce in number compared to peak Summer season staffing levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZiffle Posted January 17, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 17, 2018 martincath has good advice regarding seasonal closings. I believe Louisburg still has costumed staff through mid October as I recall. It's just a bunch of empty streets and closed shops after that. Visit their website for specific dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted January 17, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Highland Village shows how early Scottish settlers lived in Cape Breton. It is in a beautiful spot and pleasant to visit. However it is insignificant compared to Fortress Louisbourg. This is a partial reconstruction of the French Fortress (and the town was inside the fortifications) built according to the orginal plans archived in France. The costumed animators play the parts of actual people who lived there in 1744. To see it at its best you have to come in July or August. In early October you would be best off with a ship's tour. I would suggest that if you think you will be back (and many people find the place and people here so special that they do come back) that you leave the Fortress to another time. Consider renting a car and taking a scenic drive. Check out the links and information here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted January 18, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Just wanted to comment that we have been to Louisbourg, and it is so well done. Very impressive and comparable to the quality of Colonial Williamsburg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaKa2002 Posted January 18, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Just wanted to comment that we have been to Louisbourg, and it is so well done. Very impressive and comparable to the quality of Colonial Williamsburg. Agree! We loved it, but our stay was too short and we want to go back again. (it was also a bit cool with a misty fog and light rain coming off the ocean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailmama Posted January 19, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted January 19, 2018 thanks, everyone. I believe we will do the shore excursion offered by Celebrity to the fortress. It all sounds wonderful so will just have to come back another time. (maybe in the summer!!) Thanks for helping make my decision! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipgeeks Posted February 2, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Our ship will be in Sydney in early May. It appears that a walk along the waterfront and the town would be interesting, and to our taste. One thing we always like to do is visit a "thrift" shop that supports a local charity or church. Are there any within walking distance of the port? Any other recommendations of things to see and do nearby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudhen Posted February 5, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Love the "church" thrift/craft shop. There is also a huge craft market (antiques too) right at the port building near the big fiddle. Got some of the best alpaca socks there! Most of what's in the craft market is truely artisan, no junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoyMouse Posted February 5, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Here’s a follow-on question. For a visit to Fort Louisbourg, is it worth hiring a private guide/car or just take the ship’s tour? We’d like to maximize our time at the fort, but the ship sales at 3:30. We’ve already gone on a walking tour of town and out to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, so we don’t really need to add anything on to the Fort tour. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted February 5, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 5, 2018 If you are going in the off season you are best with the ship's tour. If you are going to Fortress Louisbourg in July or August there is no need for a guide as there are animators there to explain things. They do this in character as people living there in 1744. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tessa74 Posted February 5, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 5, 2018 If you are going in the off season you are best with the ship's tour. If you are going to Fortress Louisbourg in July or August there is no need for a guide as there are animators there to explain things. They do this in character as people living there in 1744. Well worth the visit. The drive there is not so pretty but very interesting when you get there. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissyFace Posted February 14, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Just tossing this out ... the restaurant at the top of the winding staircase inside the building behind the fiddle ... well, the food is excellent! As is the view. Going back in May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariTenor1 Posted March 24, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Are there any private tour operators in Sydney that have tours of the Fortress? We'd like to visit, but would also like time in the town and not sure that a ships tour will allow for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted March 25, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 25, 2018 I think a private operator could take you to the Fortress but they could not give you a tour there. The Fortress have their own tours in the shoulder season and they put on special tours for cruise ships (ships' tours) and in summer there is no need of a tour. If you want to go in summer and do not want to rent a car you could investigate a taxi and there may be some at the dock. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit (A document with information for cruise visitors to Sydney) More detailed general Cape Breton information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b_Z4QVTUgTeI4TKjGryhpj3NriWkouI4B87KXK02TMk/edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katfer Posted May 24, 2018 #16 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Just wanted to comment that we have been to Louisbourg, and it is so well done. Very impressive and comparable to the quality of Colonial Williamsburg. We are thinking about doing this but see no excursion offered yet. May I ask if you rented a car? Was it easy to find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted May 24, 2018 #17 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Here is a map showing how to get to the Fortress. It is very simple. You have to park in the designated lot, pay at a reception centre and then you are bussed to the Fortress. https://goo.gl/maps/e1z894hHT742 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kccrzr Posted May 27, 2018 #18 Share Posted May 27, 2018 We have rented a car in Sydney for our October cruise via a membership club from: Budget 224 Welton Street Sydney, NS B1P5S1, CA Ph: 902-564-2610 The price was reasonable and the drive looks to be easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted May 29, 2018 #19 Share Posted May 29, 2018 kccrzr, it would be great if you could report back on your experience with Budget as I have read no reviews. Have a wonderful day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kccrzr Posted June 1, 2018 #20 Share Posted June 1, 2018 kccrzr, it would be great if you could report back on your experience with Budget as I have read no reviews. Have a wonderful day. Will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txladyjan Posted July 22, 2018 #21 Share Posted July 22, 2018 Are there any tour companies in Sydney that do tours of Baddeck and the Bell Museum. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted July 24, 2018 #22 Share Posted July 24, 2018 The only tour companies I have heard about are listed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arctickitty Posted August 16, 2018 #23 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Following Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&N LUV 2 TRAVEL Posted August 16, 2018 #24 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Are there any tour companies in Sydney that do tours of Baddeck and the Bell Museum. Sent from my iPad using Forums We have a private tour booked with Cabot Discovery Tours and have included Baddeck and the Bell Museum as part of our tour. We are picked up at 8am and dropped off at 3:30 pm back at the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arctickitty Posted August 17, 2018 #25 Share Posted August 17, 2018 We have a private tour booked with Cabot Discovery Tours and have included Baddeck and the Bell Museum as part of our tour. We are picked up at 8am and dropped off at 3:30 pm back at the ship. Please come back and tell us all about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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