Port Questions for Canada

[Cecethekittencat]

Greetings! We are trying to decide which cruise to take with itineraries to Canada ...

 

What ports offer what activities? Our demos ... Mid-40s couple sailing with older parents (early 70s) ...

 

Thanks!

[cruiseryyc]

East coast or west coast or do you want answers for both?

[Cecethekittencat]

East coast only please ... the folks are coming from the UK ... unfortunately, the other side is too far for them ...

 

Thanks much!

[jp2001]

Here is a list of my favorite ports for a Canada New England itinerary:

 

1. Quebec city (Walled city - a MUST SEE if you have never been to Europe - )

2. Saint-John, NB (Saint-John itself which is just OK IMHO - HOPEWELL ROCKS IS AMAZING)

3. Bar Harbor (ACADIA NATIONAL PARK is great and the town of Bar Harbor is very pretty)

4. Magdalene Islands (KILOMETERS OR PERFECT BEACHES, but too cold to swim in October)

5. Boston (So much HISTORY and very nice city)

6. Cruise Saguenay River (with or without a stop in La Baie or Saguenay - BEST SCENERY)

7. Halifax (So much to EXPLORE BY FOOT)

8. Sydney (For the FORTRESS OF LOUISBOURG or CABOT TRAIL on a sunny day)

9. Charlottetown (CUTE SMALL CITY, you can take an excursion to Anne's Greengable site)

10. Montreal (Nice city but not as much as Quebec City IMHO)

11. Sept-Îles (Not bad but take a NATURE excursion to make the most of it).

12. New York (HUGE CITY but not the Canada-New England feel)

 

I can't comment on St-John's, Corner Brook or Portland since I've never been there (yet).

[monicajay]

Quebec city is a must!

[maryann ns]

JP2001 has a great list. Even though I see he is from Quebec City, he is right that it is fabulous, I think, even if you have been to Europe. Try to get a cruise that stops there overnight or starts there. It has great history, old buildings, a fortress, a hotel that looks like a castle, great little shops and wonderful food. The people speak French but most also speak English and you will hav no trouble. I would take a quick tour and then just walk around.

 

Newfoundland is wonderful. If you have a Cornerbrook stop, I hope you have time to get to Gros Morne Park and L'Anse aux Meadows. the latter is a reconstuction of the first Viking settlement in North America. Again it would be good to have more than one day.

 

St. John's is the capital and I do not know it well, but it is lively downtown and picturesque. You can also take a daytrip to some wonderful coastal villages. The culture in Newfoundland is different than anywhere else in Canada.

 

Louisbourg and the Cabot Trail are not to be missed in Cape Breton (Sydney) and if you only have one day you have a hard choice to make.

 

Halifax is a great walkable city and there is plenty there for one day. However if you prefer countryside, rent a car or hire a driver and drive along the coast. Peggy's Cove is great, but crowded with tourists. Try Portuguese Cove, Duncan's Cove, etc.

 

Have fun choosing!

[Ephraim]

10. Montreal (Nice city but not as much as Quebec City IMHO)

 

You are hereby BANNED from Montreal. No smoked meat and no bagels for you!

[scottbee]

East coast only please ... the folks are coming from the UK ... unfortunately, the other side is too far for them ...

 

Thanks much!

 

Because of the route over the pole, you'd be surprised how little difference there really is for a non-stop flight. It's only 1500 miles further, about 3 hours by air.

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[crazy4cruisn]

You are hereby BANNED from Montreal. No smoked meat and no bagels for you!

 

 

I totally agree! Montreal is one of the most interesting cities we have visited! We flew in 3 days before our cruise and stayed in Old Town. One of the best experiences was taking the subway to the Italian Market. Wow! Purple cauliflower about 15 inches in diameter as well as flowers, meats, cheeses!! Loved it! The Notre Dame catherdral's play about the founding of Montreal was very good, and the cathedral just lovely!

[jp2001]

You are hereby BANNED from Montreal. No smoked meat and no bagels for you!

 

Very sorry Ephraim, I didn't want to offend anyone and please understand that this is my personnal ranking only. Maybe I have missed the best places in Montreal and should look on the boards to see the not to be missed of your city and go as a tourist to visit those.

 

Where would you rank your own city in that list? I wondered about Quebec City and tried to take it very rationally and still, it was came first. I thought Montreal would rank higher but when I thought about Hopewell Rocks, Saint-John went way higher and when I thought about the Fortress of Louisbourg, I had to put Sydney not too far. I'm surprised to see that Halifax ranked that low in my own rating since I loved my visit there. I guess I'm more into natural wonders than big cities (see, New York is LAST).

 

I hope you're not really mad at me, it would make me sad (really).

[Ephraim]

Very sorry Ephraim, I didn't want to offend anyone and please understand that this is my personal ranking only. Maybe I have missed the best places in Montreal and should look on the boards to see the not to be missed of your city and go as a tourist to visit those.

 

Where would you rank your own city in that list? I wondered about Quebec City and tried to take it very rationally and still, it was came first. I thought Montreal would rank higher but when I thought about Hopewell Rocks, Saint-John went way higher and when I thought about the Fortress of Louisbourg, I had to put Sydney not too far. I'm surprised to see that Halifax ranked that low in my own rating since I loved my visit there. I guess I'm more into natural wonders than big cities (see, New York is LAST).

 

I hope you're not really mad at me, it would make me sad (really).

 

Montreal isn't only about the sights, it's about the life as well. Basically a cruise that spent a day in Montreal would miss the whole point of the city. Sure there is Notre Dame, Old Montreal, the Mountain, the markets, the underground city, the parks, the amusement parks, the casino, etc etc etc but it's all combined with a joie de vivre, a lust for the best food, the best drink and the best life that's infectious. To skip going out to eat in Montreal even if it's just for coffee is to miss the whole point of the city. Be it Prince Arthur for Greek food, Schwartz's for Smoked Meat, Gibby's for steak, Fairmount for bagel, Patatiti Patata for fries or even au Pied du Cochon for... well pig's feet (just to name a few places). To skip eating in Montreal is to say you are a glutton but to not have proof. To not sit in a café and watch the world go by is to forget that we are a bit European in nature and at the same time to walk in the village is to realize how Canadian we really are.

 

Don't get me wrong, Quebec City is beautiful to see (except maybe that magic building that manages to make our wages disappear in a blinding flash of light....) but it's very different in Montreal in it's nature and so are the people who live in the city.

 

Personally, I would NEVER rank things in that way. And I'm not really angry at you, it was a joke.... it's not like we can really ban you.... unless I take it up with the mayor :)

[jp2001]

Personally, I would NEVER rank things in that way. And I'm not really angry at you, it was a joke.... it's not like we can really ban you.... unless I take it up with the mayor :)

 

I just ranked the places as being a cruise stop I would like to go to, not the cities themselves. If it was a listing of places I would like to live, it would be totally different.

 

I'll try some of the restaurants you listed next time I am in Montreal, thanks!

[maryann ns]

Yes, you have to rank the ports for people on a cruise ship who may only be there one day.

 

I have lived in Montreal and love it, but for a more exotic place for great day visits, Quebec has to be tops.

[Cecethekittencat]

Thanks for your tips on the ports! We don't have so many options due to flights options out of Bristol, England and Chicago and some price sensitivity. Guess a 9 day Royal Caribbean out of Bayonne will best suit our needs and unfortunately, it does not make it to Quebec!

 

However, saying that - I'd like to strongly agree with how great Montreal is! We just spent 4 days there in May ... and despite rainy and cold weather that weekend we still had the most wonderful time in Montreal! What a gorgeous city and the closest thing to visiting France we've yet seen ... (never gotten to Quebec City) ... We heard fantastic music, ate phenominal food and enjoyed great shopping (thanks to the great pedways while it was raining)!

 

The Casino was our only disappointment ... while it was gorgeous ... we could not understand why we could not enjoy a glass of wine while playing the machines! What is that about? Here in America ... they highly encourage you to drink during - basically so they can take all your money!! LOL !! :eek:

[jp2001]

The Norwegian Jewel has a great itinerary out of NYC, you should check that out.

 

Here, in our part of America, they want to avoid people to blame the casino or the drinks for being responsible for their money lost :D

 

I don't go to the casinos often at all (twice in my life) and I agree that's it's more fun to be able to have a drink while playing.

[Ephraim]

Thanks for your tips on the ports! We don't have so many options due to flights options out of Bristol, England and Chicago and some price sensitivity. Guess a 9 day Royal Caribbean out of Bayonne will best suit our needs and unfortunately, it does not make it to Quebec!

 

However, saying that - I'd like to strongly agree with how great Montreal is! We just spent 4 days there in May ... and despite rainy and cold weather that weekend we still had the most wonderful time in Montreal! What a gorgeous city and the closest thing to visiting France we've yet seen ... (never gotten to Quebec City) ... We heard fantastic music, ate phenominal food and enjoyed great shopping (thanks to the great pedways while it was raining)!

 

The Casino was our only disappointment ... while it was gorgeous ... we could not understand why we could not enjoy a glass of wine while playing the machines! What is that about? Here in America ... they highly encourage you to drink during - basically so they can take all your money!! LOL !! :eek:

 

The Casinos in Quebec are run by the government. Their mandate allows them to take your money when you are sober and only when you are sober. For that reason they cannot allow you to drink and bet. Government has a higher moral code to uphold to it's citizens than a corporation.

[vjm]

I am from Nova Scotia a must is Halifax, to experience the east coast flare on the waterfront!! If you enjoy seafood, it is now in season and fabulous take in some of the restaurants on the waterfront. Also Quebec City is fabulous as well, but I am a bit partial to Halifax. Enjoy!!