Looking for excursion recommendations for Maine/Canada cruise

[RNic]

In August, we will be sailing to Maine, St. John and Halifax, on the Adventure of the Seas.  This will also be our first time on RCI.  Would love to hear recommendations and input for excursions on this trip.  Thanks!

[Clarea]

 

Also check the port of call forum:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/9-canadanew-england/

[Crazy planning mom]

Where in Maine does the ship stop?

If you are stopping in Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park is a must.

[kochleffel]

I was at Halifax, St. John, and Bar Harbor this fall with another cruise line. In St. John I went on a city highlights tour (3 hours) offered by Aquila Tours and booked through the cruise line. Aquila is also the primary shore excursion operator at St. John for Royal Caribbean, and the tour was good enough even if not as stimulating as some - I don't think there is more than can be seen in and around St. John without a longer tour. We were in port all day and longer tours were available.

 

In Bar Harbor I went with Oli's Trolley and was satisfied, although bad weather kept us, and everyone else, from going as far in Acadia National Park as we had hoped.

 

I had been to Halifax before and went about on foot for most of the day. I'd previously visited most of the quaint and scenic outlying villages that can be done in a day tour.

[mets123]

See Peggys Cove in Halifax, as well as the Citidel. Or just walk the boardwalk once you get off the ship.

[Bloodgem]

In Halifax we did a Hop on Hop off bus tour. As I wanted to visit Fairview Cemetery, which contain the graves of the Titanic victims.

Personal I found Acadia National Park boring and not worth the cost of the tour

[KmomChicago]

We are renting a car in Saint John as my mom wants to see the Bay of Fundy reversing falls.  There is a little visitor center where you can view the river as the tides come in and out, though we are not in port long enough to watch the entire cycle of this unique phenomenon.  We will drive around and see the town a bit on our own otherwise. On another thread I posted asking for help on how and where to take her to see the falls without much walking (she has limited mobility) and a few locals were kind enough to direct me.

 

The cost of the car rental is about $68 Canadian which is currently $52 US.  There is a Budget Car rental office right by the pier that opens just as we are getting off the ship.

 

Note that the port is Saint John, New Brunswick. The locals point out it is not ever abbreviated as St. John as there is a St. John's in Newfoundland. 

 

My husband and daughter want to do some sort of fishing at one of the ports, so likely they will either do the lobster boat at Bar Harbor or deep sea fishing in Halifax.  Have not decided yet. 

 

I have been to Bar Harbor and Acadia many years ago. If you are a good walker and enjoy that sort of thing, I would not pay for an excursion but would just walk around the town and hike around on your own as much as you like in the park.  But if you are concerned about hitting the highlights or getting lost, there are escorted tours of the area available.

[TTraub1250]

We did Anthem of the Seas on Oct 4th, 2018 sailing for the 9 nights stopping in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax and St. John. Boston we did our own thing by walking the Freedom Trail to the " Constellation " ( yes lots of walking ) and then taking the water shuttle back to Long Wharf area ( cost $3.50 for two seniors).  Did only 1 ship tour - Highlights of Portland and Kennebunkport. Saw Bar Harbor & Arcadia Park by Olis Trolly ( recommend this longer tour - not the short one),  Private Tours with 2 other couples in Halifax & St John.  To us the must sees were Peggy's Cove & Bay of Fundy.  Walking in the towns took us about 1/2 - 1 hour and we saw most everything the tours went by.  

We are doing Anthem on June 1 to Bermuda and taking the family.  Second time to Bermuda in the last couple of years. What else may I help you with?  Recommend that you use videos from youtube on the locations to get a quick view of what you may want to do.  Caution:  The videos will never do justice to atmosphere and scenery.  My own videos of Arcadia, as good as they may be, do not do it justice, like the experience does.  

[Trainer]

Another vote for the Hop-on-hop-off bus in Halifax.  Very convenient to see many thing including the Titanic cemetery with docents to explain stuff.  Also see the Natural history museum, not an actual stop but just a block away from the Halifax Garden stop.  The Garden is really nice, too.

[reallyitsmema]

35 minutes ago, TTraub1250 said:

We did Anthem of the Seas on Oct 4th, 2018 sailing for the 9 nights stopping in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax and St. John. Boston we did our own thing by walking the Freedom Trail to the " Constellation " ( yes lots of walking ) and then taking the water shuttle back to Long Wharf area ( cost $3.50 for two seniors).  Did only 1 ship tour - Highlights of Portland and Kennebunkport. Saw Bar Harbor & Arcadia Park by Olis Trolly ( recommend this longer tour - not the short one),  Private Tours with 2 other couples in Halifax & St John.  To us the must sees were Peggy's Cove & Bay of Fundy.  Walking in the towns took us about 1/2 - 1 hour and we saw most everything the tours went by.  

We are doing Anthem on June 1 to Bermuda and taking the family.  Second time to Bermuda in the last couple of years. What else may I help you with?  Recommend that you use videos from youtube on the locations to get a quick view of what you may want to do.  Caution:  The videos will never do justice to atmosphere and scenery.  My own videos of Arcadia, as good as they may be, do not do it justice, like the experience does.  

 

That is the USS Constitution you visited.

[KeywestK]

We've done this itinerary twice, and really enjoyed it.  My recommendations for must do tours are:  Boston - do the hop on hop off tour bus.  There is so much history to take in, and you can maximize your day doing it this way.  Halifax - Peggy's Cove is a beautiful and quintessential scenic view of coastal Canada.  Also in Halifax, the Maritime museum, which is an easy walk from the ship.  It's easily accessible from walking along the boardwalk, which is a beautiful pedestrian promenade.

Edited December 4, 2018 by KeywestK

[pacruise804]

On 12/4/2018 at 6:18 AM, KmomChicago said:

We are renting a car in Saint John as my mom wants to see the Bay of Fundy reversing falls.  There is a little visitor center where you can view the river as the tides come in and out, though we are not in port long enough to watch the entire cycle of this unique phenomenon.  We will drive around and see the town a bit on our own otherwise. On another thread I posted asking for help on how and where to take her to see the falls without much walking (she has limited mobility) and a few locals were kind enough to direct me.

 

The cost of the car rental is about $68 Canadian which is currently $52 US.  There is a Budget Car rental office right by the pier that opens just as we are getting off the ship.

 

Note that the port is Saint John, New Brunswick. The locals point out it is not ever abbreviated as St. John as there is a St. John's in Newfoundland. 

 

My husband and daughter want to do some sort of fishing at one of the ports, so likely they will either do the lobster boat at Bar Harbor or deep sea fishing in Halifax.  Have not decided yet. 

 

I have been to Bar Harbor and Acadia many years ago. If you are a good walker and enjoy that sort of thing, I would not pay for an excursion but would just walk around the town and hike around on your own as much as you like in the park.  But if you are concerned about hitting the highlights or getting lost, there are escorted tours of the area available.

 

Kmom - It might be pointed out on the other threads, but just wanted to mention that the "falls" are really more rapids vs. falls.  It is an interesting phenomenon, but not much WOW factor 🙂 

 

I made sure to take pictures of the ship when we docked and again before re-boarding.  Seeing how much higher the ship was setting due to the tide was impressive.

[TTraub1250]

There is a spot that all of the cruise buses stop at, where you need only walk 10 feet to see the reversing rapids and there is designated handicap parking. This spot is next to the Zip line excursion and you will be right across the river from the paper mill. The tide changes every 6 hrs 15 minutes and you can look on the NOAA website for that day and see the timing.  What you will see is a very rapid river going in one direction and then when you return hours later you will see the water going very rapidly in the other direction.  If you are in port more than 4 hours you will most likely be able to see this phenomenon.  At two points during the short 6 hour cycle the water stops and people wonder how a huge river can stop.  When it is flowing out at its peak, it is a ragging river and when it reverses and flows in at its peak,  it is also a raging river.  This should be classified as one of the great natural wonders of the world, because of the amount of water flowing in both directions, and you have to remember how close it is to the ocean.  I live not to far from Niagara Falls and some people go and say what is the big deal.  Many others appreciate the wonder and beauty of what "mother nature" has to offer.  This whole cruise is about seeing what mother nature has to offer all up and down the coast. Do not miss the highlights of each stop, as we heard at dinner people wishing they had done more than drive and walk around the towns.   Enjoy !  

[pacruise804]

Thank you TTraub - much better explanation than mine 🙂 

[mailmama]

In Portland Me, we walked up the hill to the Eastern Cemetery for a guided tour. They showed us the different style of stones, designs and dates. Very interesting tour for $5 per person. Money goes for the headstone restorations they are doing since this is a late 1600's  cemetery! In Bar Harbor, we used a private tour company called, At Your Service Taxi. Fantastic tour in a minivan. We did the 4 hour tour and had MJ as our guide. Would definitely do and use them again. MJ pointed out so much more than a tour I did on Olli's Trolley. We had people from our roll call join us so that made it great to meet new friends also! In Halifax, the citadel is very interesting and historic. Make sure you are there at noon if possible to see the cannon fire. Cool tradition! We walked down the hill from the citadel along the wharf for nice sight seeing. It's a great cruise; any line you use!