When to cruise to New England/Canada?......Cruising tips.....

[zdad59]

Hi folks.    My gang cruises together annually, typically in February to the Caribbean.     Our next trip is Feb 2020 to the ABCs on Celebrity (we are usually RCL cruisers).    For 2021 we're looking to mix it up and maybe go north to New England and Canada.     The 9 nighters look tantalizing, either from Cape Liberty or Baltimore.     Having not gone north before we have some questions that maybe the experts on this board may have opinions.  SO in no particular order.....

 

1. When is the best time to go?    We're not looking to wait until fall for a foliage cruise, but more like May, June, July.     Is one time any better than another?
2. Is it worth a balcony room when cruising north?    We usually go outside balcony, but do things change....for better or worse...when heading to Canada.  Typical itineraries are Boston, Maine, Halifax, and St. Johns.     Are there other itineraries that should be considered?
3. We are usually loyal to Royal, but are there other cruise lines to consider that maybe do it substantially better?
4. What are the "can't miss" things to do when doing a NE/Canada cruise  ?

 

TIA to everyone.

[mets123]

Acadia in Bar Harbor, and lobster rolls anywhere.

[BklynBoy8]

5 hours ago, zdad59 said:

 

1. When is the best time to go?    We're not looking to wait until fall for a foliage cruise, but more like May, June, July.     Is one time any better than another?
2. Is it worth a balcony room when cruising north?    We usually go outside balcony, but do things change....for better or worse...when heading to Canada.  Typical itineraries are Boston, Maine, Halifax, and St. Johns.     Are there other itineraries that should be considered?
3. We are usually loyal to Royal, but are there other cruise lines to consider that maybe do it substantially better?
4. What are the "can't miss" things to do when doing a NE/Canada cruise  ?
5. TIA to everyone.

Dear zdad59,

 

Share Our Honest Experiences....

1. When we wish to take a short (7days) cruise we prefer sailing during the June/July 4th of Independence Celebration. Along with 3 days at sea, the ship visits Halifax and Boston with additional port like Portland in 2020 which we will be sailing to. Other ports that were visited in the past were St John's and Newport as an example. Unfortunately in 2021 it's announced that only Boston and Halifax will be the ports. Reason ? why after quite a number of years in the past. Still 3 days at sea. The other cruise we would consider for NE/Canada would be in the Month of September.

 

2. We traditionally book a balcony (our preference Club Britannia Class) for all our sailings since we like the opportunity to sit on a personal balcony and enjoy our personal visiting the sailing at sea and also the entering and departure from a port. Believe it's a Personal preference.

 

3. There are other lines sailing out of NYC (Brooklyn, Manhattan and Cape Liberty NJ) to NE/Canada.

 

4. Each port has it's own personal character. Boston as I mentioned on the 4th of July to Celebrate the Holiday. But a wonderful city to visit and investigate for it's history. Halifax a great port we enjoy visiting each and everytime we sail there. Newport a wonderful town with much history and character. Bar Harbor our favorite port of call we can't get enough.

 

Depends what ports will be part of the Ports of Call.

 

Of course we enjoy the Queen Mary 2 and all it offers At Sea. We enjoy the Staff and all the Activities which attracts us to continue to return each year. 

 

Hope all the plentiful opinions that will be posted here helps you decide what you would like to do in 2021.

Edited November 28, 2019 by BklynBoy8

[zdad59]

18 hours ago, mets123 said:

Acadia in Bar Harbor, and lobster rolls anywhere.

 

Bar Harbor is a favorite place of ours.    Our gang is all parents of former University of Delaware football players, so we have been in Maine for a few games.     Love a day in Bar Harbor and tooling around the National Park.    And no 2lb lobster is safe when my wife is in the state. 

[maryann ns]

Here is some information for cruise visitors to Halifax and Sydney Nova Scotia:

Halifax

Sydney

 

And for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

 

Quebec City is a very popular port and many ships stay there overnight.

 

 

[djwool]

Not trying to high-jack but we, too, are planning a Canada/New England cruise but want to go when the fall foliage is best. I know it's impossible to predict, but "typically", would you go in mid-September of mid-October (our two options)?

[AngVan]

@zdad59 Out of your May-July options I would suggest late June or anytime in July. May can still be chilly, so for warmest weather go later.

 

If budget allows, I would say YES to the balcony, your going to be in and out of a lot of ports and relatively close to land so lots to see - as oppose to staring out to empty ocean : )

 

@djwool Late Sept/Early Oct. You might be fine with later Oct but all it takes is a few heavy frosts to knock all the leaves off.

Edited December 2, 2019 by AngVan

[mets123]

14 hours ago, djwool said:

Not trying to high-jack but we, too, are planning a Canada/New England cruise but want to go when the fall foliage is best. I know it's impossible to predict, but "typically", would you go in mid-September of mid-October (our two options)?

Most years it would be a safe bet, this past fall it was not.

[maryann ns]

The best bet for fall colours is the second week of October. Hurricane Dorian ripped off many leaves but the second week of October (and into the third) was still the best.

Edited December 5, 2019 by maryann ns

[djwool]

1 hour ago, maryann ns said:

The best bet for fall colours is the second week of October. Hurricane Dorian ripped off many leaves but the second week of October (and into the third) was still the best.

That's encouraging. We are able to go October 18-25, 2020.

[maryann ns]

That is a bit late but there should be some leaves left. Further south than Nova Scotia you may be too late.

[Ashland]

We just (October 7th - 20th) did the Snowbird itinerary from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale.... October 13th to be exact was amazing in Bar Harbor..our timing couldn't have been more perfect !!

[BIBPhotography]

Thanks for all the info!  We are cruising 10/11-10/18/2020 and cant wait!  Hoping to catch some great leaves!