Availability of Port Maps? (Europe & Canada)

[Girl of the South]

I know on the Caribbean itineraries it's easy to find free 'shopping' maps. Is the same true of European/Canadian cruises or should I download one before I leave? I prefer paper maps . . . but ANY map is not only helpful, but a fun souvenir. 100% 'doing my own thing' in port and not signed up for any excursions. Either Disney maps or maybe a tourist office right at the port. Any map lovers out there? Thanks!

 

[Pens Fan]

I know you are asking specifically about paper maps, and I'm sure you can find one in the port areas. But as you were talking about European/Canadian cruises, I thought I'd offer a couple of suggestions.

One website I have found to be extremely helpful is tomsportguides.com. All of his guides (including highly detailed maps) can be downloaded onto your phone or tablet. Very helpful - and free! For Europe, obviously Rick Steves' guides are fabulous - offering step by step instructions to getting to all the best sights on your own.

 

[Michelle James]

If your Canadian cruise includes a stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, you might find this helpful:

https://discoverhalifaxns.com/plan/maps/

Specifically, you'd be looking mostly at the Downtown Halifax map. Cruise ships dock at the spot "C" (near lower left corner). There's also a tourist information centre right next to the spot marked "P" that will undoubtedly have paper maps for you. If there's anything else I can help with, feel free to PM me - it's an awesome city!

 

[owensamo]

In my experience, DCL does a good job of offering paper port shopping maps, so you shouldn't have any problem with that. However, if you want something with more detail, I recommend downloading some offline maps to your phone using the Google Maps app. If you download the map of a city to your phone, you can use it without needing to use data with the GPS so you have realtime info about where you are. We did this for a 6 night stay in Rome and it was very useful.

 

[DCL_Wonder]

I know on the Caribbean itineraries it's easy to find free 'shopping' maps. Is the same true of European/Canadian cruises or should I download one before I leave? I prefer paper maps . . . but ANY map is not only helpful, but a fun souvenir. 100% 'doing my own thing' in port and not signed up for any excursions. Either Disney maps or maybe a tourist office right at the port. Any map lovers out there? Thanks!

My 2¢ is if you are "doing your own thing" at a port you should have a good map before you exit the ship, unless of course you are very familiar with the port.

 

[Girl of the South]

Thanks all! I am very good at directions and map reading and I don't think I can lose a ship BUT would like a map. I don't think the ports will be very big and I will be mostly walking (except for Portland to Weymouth). The Tom's Port Guides looks promising but I can't get it to download on my iPhone. I'll try on my iPad and see if that works. Thanks!

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks all! I am very good at directions and map reading and I don't think I can lose a ship BUT would like a map. I don't think the ports will be very big and I will be mostly walking (except for Portland to Weymouth). The Tom's Port Guides looks promising but I can't get it to download on my iPhone. I'll try on my iPad and see if that works. Thanks!

You know, now that you say that I seem to recall having the same problem (it's been awhile since I downloaded them). I don't recall which platform I finally got to work, but once I finally got them loaded into iBooks, I had access to them on my phone, iPad and laptop (it's a MacBook). Keep trying, and hopefully one of them will work.