Disney Magic 9/30-10/5/2019 - What to do in St John (new brunswick)

[Wallyworld81]

Hi all,

My hubby and I will be on the 9/30-10/5 sailing out of NYC that makes a stop in St John (new Brunswick) Canada - What is there to do?? We don't want to do any of the excursions through the ship because they seem excessively overpriced and when I google search it all that really seems to come up are beer tours and the reversing falls....anything out there that I am missing that's really cool to do??

TIA!

 

[K8T]

I felt we wasted our St John stop as we didn’t have a plan. The reversing falls apparently are not great and you can walk to them in 20 mins along the waterside apparently, but we didn’t do this. There is a see through ledge The Sky walk, which protrudes over the water, but the tide has to be right when you get there, someone in the terminal will tell you the optimum time.

When you get off you can book the hop on hop off bus in the terminal, but we just walked up into town, we went to the Loyalists House, an old wooden house dating back to the early 1800’s it was interesting, but took no more than an hour at most, we then went via the shopping centre and sat outside in a waterfront bar, where there was live music, it was sunny and pleasant, a relaxing day.

In hindsight, I might do the HOHO bus, or get a taxi, as I’m sure there is more to see!

 

[bbn1122]

I have been there twice. Once back in 2009, my first cruise ever and it was with my DH family on Carnival. We took a tour around the city by bus that made several stops, including falls. We stop market and a few other places it was okay. Some family members did a pub tour.

The last time was just DH and me in 2017. We just got off the boat and walked around for about an 1 1/2 - 2 hours. We went through the market and a few shops. We ate couple of snacks etc.
We did some great souvenirs shopping at a big white tent that was set up right by the ship. They had some great things. There were many vendors plus, local craftsman.

It is an okay port. We did not pick the cruise because of that port, we just wanted to get away and be on the Magic. Plus, so easy cruising out of NY.

 

[Pens Fan]

We have also been there twice and really enjoy Saint John. The first time we booked a private tour with Dave's Taxi Tours. We toured the Bay of Fundy, St Martins sea caves, and the reversing falls (among other things). It was a very enjoyable day.

The second time we booked a short tour through the cruise line (NCL for that one). It was a photography tour guided by a professional photographer which was really a lot of fun. She took us to several out of the way places that the tourists normally don't go. Afterwards, we dropped our gear off on the ship and then headed back out and just walked around the downtown area a bit. They have a really nice food market where we had a great lunch (lobster rolls, of course! ).

Saint John isn't my favorite port on those Canada / New England cruises, but it's a lovely area and well worth a stop. We love cruising out of NYC and adore Canada, so I'm sure we'll do more of those cruises in the future.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

The Avis (and I think Hertz) rent-a-car offices are about 2 blocks from the pier. We rented a car for the day and tooled about the city. The Morello Tower was a big hit as was driving about the countryside. The museum in the downtown shopping center (spacing the name here) was also pretty good. The market area was disappointing, even though they had the best ramen ever. The general store was a complete waste of time. The rent-a-car was a great idea (from DW) and I highly recommend it.

 

[bfamily5]

I'm from Moncton, NB about 150km from SJ. I would recommend heading over to Saint Andrews - very picturesque quaint seaside town with lots of really neat shops. There a small marine centre there if you have children with you and an excellent golf course - Also the Gagnong chocolate factory is not too far away in St Stephen. Otherwise St Martin's is a nice spot to go (very good chowder at the place on the beach) If you have a chance to try the Bay of Fundy lobster do it! It is amazing!

 

[BigJon]

Last year when we did the Disney Magic Transatlantic, we walked down to the Market Square, and looked around a little. We took the escalator to the second level, and crossed the glass bridge over the road. This hallway led to Brunswick Square mall. We exited at the end and if I remember correctly, this exit went under the street, and came out at the entrance to the Saint John City Market. We went thru the market and walked out to King's Square, and then back down King's Street to the ship.

 

[clten]

A previous poster mentioned St. Andrews. It was a very charming seaside town. We went on a whale watching tour from there and it was one of the best we've been on. I know they stop running them some time in October so you should check ahead to see if any are operating on the day you are in port. But it is well worth the drive. We enjoyed walking around town and even picked up a few unique (at least to us) things in their market

 

[heidia]

I am also from this area. St. Andrew's is about an hour away from Saint John, and its lovely but I wouldn't want to spend 2 hours driving on a port day. Its also not that nice of a drive, mostly unscenic highway. Saint Martin's sea caves are pretty neat and a little closer. The entrance to the Fundy Trail Parkway starts near here too, and it has some spectacular views even from the road. If you do the walking trails/suspension bridge walk, even more so. If you were going to rent a car and do anything, this is what I'd do. Otherwise, I'd just walk around "downtown" (which Saint John actually calls Uptown). Lots of shops and restaurants. Britt's and Thandi's are awesome!

 

[kathi]

We have been to that port twice on DCL and absolutely LOVE it (along with Halifax). Both times we rented a car (easy) right down the street and drove to do some hiking. First time we did the Fundy Train Parkway from St. Martins to the Little Salmon River (stopping to do a few short hikes and to view overlooks). Second time we didn't have as long in port so we stayed local and went to Irving Nature Park which is super close to town, then we came back and had lobster rolls in town before heading back on-board.

http://fundytrailparkway.com/
https://www.jdirving.com/jd-irving-sustainability-nature-parks-irving-nature-park.aspx

 

[Wallyworld81]

Okay silly question maybe but do we need anything different from our regular usa drivers license to rent a car in St Johns?

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Okay silly question maybe but do we need anything different from our regular usa drivers license to rent a car in St Johns?

I remember checking with our car insurance (USAA) to be sure that we were covered in Canada, but otherwise, we were GTG

 

[fredandkell]

Here’s what we were (are?) going to do if our Bermuda Cruise gets altered.

St. John: Things to do.
Budget/Avis: only car rental w/in walking distance (GET GPS w/ CAR)
4 Water St, Saint John, NB E2L 2A5, Canada
Reversing Falls Lookout Point (see @ high and low tide, 8 min. drive from car rental)
(other side of bridge, 200 Bridge Rd, Saint John, NB E2M 7W7, Canada)
Tide tables: https://www.tideschart.com/Canada/New-Brunswick/Saint-John-County/Reversing-Falls/Weekly/
Drive to Big Salmon River Suspension Bridge, stopping on the way at St. Martin Sea Caves and Fuller Falls (1.25 hour drive w/out stopping from St. John to Big Salmon)
Sea caves: 82 Big Salmon River Rd, Bay View, NB E5R 1J7, Canada
Fuller Falls: Fundy Trail Pkwy, Salmon River, NB E5R 0B3, Canada, or try 9GXW+JW Little Beach, Saint Martins, NB, Canada or try 45.399522, -65.452406 (or if no GPS, drive 20 min total NE on Big Salmon, R on Little Beach, turns into Melvin Beach, turns into Fundy Trail Parkway)
Suspension Bridge: drive 10 more min NE on Fundy Trail Parkway
Fastest way back is to go back the way we came.

 

[Wallyworld81]

Here’s what we were (are?) going to do if our Bermuda Cruise gets altered.

St. John: Things to do.
Budget/Avis: only car rental w/in walking distance (GET GPS w/ CAR)

Did you reserve the car already? I just went to go try for next Thursday at the Avis right by the port and they are all booked for that day! Had to go with enterprise which is about a mile away

 

[Wallyworld81]

We have been to that port twice on DCL and absolutely LOVE it (along with Halifax). Both times we rented a car (easy) right down the street and drove to do some hiking. First time we did the Fundy Train Parkway from St. Martins to the Little Salmon River (stopping to do a few short hikes and to view overlooks). Second time we didn't have as long in port so we stayed local and went to Irving Nature Park which is super close to town, then we came back and had lobster rolls in town before heading back on-board.

Which place did you go to for the lobster rolls?

 

[fredandkell]

Did you reserve the car already? I just went to go try for next Thursday at the Avis right by the port and they are all booked for that day! Had to go with enterprise which is about a mile away

That was (is?) my backup plan if today’s cruise doesn’t go to Bermuda. No reservations yet.

 

[kathi]

Which place did you go to for the lobster rolls?

I don't recall. I looked it up on Yelp and went with the recommendation.