NCL Transfer or NCL Transfer Excursion

[firecapt25]

We have Norwegians transfer from Quebec to Montreal Airport on 10/6 for $35.00 pp , but Norwegian offers an excursion that's 6 hours long has some stops built in but the cost is $159.00 pp.  Wondering has anyone taken the excursion  and is it worth the extra $124.00 pp , our flight doesn't leave Montreal until 715 pm  so its going to be a long day anyway we go.

[Turtles06]

Since this isn't the NCL forum but the Canada/NE forum, it might help if you posted the description of the excursion, so at least folks here who haven't taken it but are familiar with the area might give you some feedback.  And if you haven't already done so, you should also ask your question over in the NCL forum. 

[firecapt25]

Quebec to Montreal Ending at Montreal Airport

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• 6
  hrs Estimate Duration
• 
  Debark

 

Your excursion begins at the pier in Quebec City where you’ll board your coach for a comfortable 3 hour ride to the quaint island city of Montreal. Halfway through your ride, you’ll make a 30 minute rest stop at a sugar shack in Trois Riviere, where you’ll have an opportunity to see a demonstration and tasting of maple taffy, as well as to stretch your legs and use the facilities. Upon your arrival to Old Town you can set off to explore this historical district on you own. There are certain attractions here that you won’t want to miss. Place d'Armes, the heart of the city offers a striking historical panorama. Here all the periods of Montreal's past are gathered in one place, around a monument dedicated to the city's founders. This section features the oldest standing building in Montreal, the huge church of the city's mother parish, the head office of the country's oldest bank and the city's first skyscraper.

 

At the inviting Place Jacques-Cartier you’ll discover an appealing spot for people-watching, shopping and relaxing in the sun. Right up until the 1950s, the Bonsecours Market, the city’s central marketplace, was open two days a week. Even today, the flower vendors and the artists' easels are discreet reminders of this earlier role. Montréal's oldest street, Rue Saint Paul has regained its former vibrancy and Rue St. Jacques reveal’s Montréal's version of Wall Street. For the piece de resistance, however, be sure to leave plenty of time to fully explore the Notre Dame Basilica, one of North America's largest and most historic cathedrals. Everything about this church is bigger-than-life. We highly recommend you step inside the Basilica! Completing your self-guided walking tour of enchanting Old Town, you’ll board your transportation and continue your drive to the Montreal Trudeau Airport.

[martincath]

Now that the full itinerary is there to look at, I can safely say 'hellz to the no' value-wise! That is literally a bus ride to Montreal airport with time for a self-guided walk around the city. 'Maple taffy demonstrations' are free at any sugar shack - it's literally just pouring some maple syrup onto packed snow...

 

If you were seriously considering dropping over $300 (you said 'we' above) then I'd instead look into a private transfer with a tour guide! Hiring a guide in their van for 6 hours would run you $400-500 for a group of 4-6 (toursbylocals has many, many guides listed with suggested tour routes); find another couple to join you and you'd actually save money compared to the NCL 'tour' even if you had to pay an extra fee to cover the guide driving back to QC. Being actually guided the whole time, and driven not walking anywhere lengthy, would make this a huge qualitative leap up from the really-just-transportation-only NCL 'tour' that's listed above.

 

Personally though I'd rent a car, drive it to Montreal, park it somewhere while you go touring around, then when you're done drive to airport for a fraction of the cost of the NCL tour. Or else just use the $35 transfer, leave your bags at the airport then head back into town to go some touring - odds are that bus will be leaving about 9am, get to YUL about noonish, so you could easily have three hours downtown. Hire a guide locally, take a walking tour, or just 'self guide' like you'd have to with the NCL pricey version but for way less $$$.

 

Doing it independently means you could also potentially see some of Quebec City before heading to Montreal, though splitting yourselves between two cities means very little time to see much in either of course.