Montreal Disembarkation

[JimVB]

We're booked on a Holland America Boston to Montreal cruise in June.  Looking for opinions about whether we could safely plan to catch Amtrak from Montreal to New York at about 11am that day.

[lx200gps]

Montrealer here. Admittedly I've never taken the train from here, but Amtrak uses Central Station (Gare Centrale) which is probably 2km at most from the port, an easy Uber or taxi ride or an easy walk if you don't have luggage ;o). An 11AM train should be very easy to make provided all the usual caveats are understood. What if the ship docks late? What are the later trains like, is it easy to get on another later one, or is that the only train that day?

[princeton123211]

2 hours ago, JimVB said:

We're booked on a Holland America Boston to Montreal cruise in June.  Looking for opinions about whether we could safely plan to catch Amtrak from Montreal to New York at about 11am that day.

You could. It s easy enough-- quick Uber from the pier to Gare Centrale for the departure. WIth Amtrak you need to arrive by at least 9:30 so you don't have as much time as you think you do because there is paperwork and formailites to do before boarding.

 

Although you should stay for the day-- Montreal is a wonderful city with a ton to see and a fantastic food scene. 

 

1 hour ago, lx200gps said:

An 11AM train should be very easy to make provided all the usual caveats are understood. What if the ship docks late? What are the later trains like, is it easy to get on another later one, or is that the only train that day?

It is the only train of the day-- so if they were to miss it that would be game over. That being said it is the origination of the train so there aren't any unforeseen delays. It departs on time. But again-- I would really encourage them to stay a night in Montreal because of what a wonderful town it is. 

 

 

[JimVB]

Appreciate the comments.  We've visited Montreal a few times and enjoyed it, but have some time constraints this time. My main concern with catching the train is Holland America's note that arrival time is subject to tidal conditions.

[shipgeeks]

When we did a HAL cruise to Montreal several years ago, we ended up docking far downstream from Montreal, due to river conditions. There were shuttles into the city, but they would certainly have added some time to the connection. There didn't appear to be any other modes of transport there - no rental cars, trains, taxis, etc.