Official Thread For Upcoming Eastern Canadian Cruises

[mainegal]

St John can dock two at the brand new terminal and one more further down the harbor. But I don't think they often get more than one.

St John got its first cruise ship visit when a ship was diverted here because of a storm. I think it was in the late 1980s. Now they get over 80 a year.

When the last minute ship came, people really hustled to welcome them. Ladies got and still get a red rose, men a city label pin. (this is the home of Red Rose Tea). Much is done to welcome cruise tourists. In the past couple years a very nice looking terminal has been built. Outside the terminal there is a huge white tent, not sure what's in it. Local crafters set up in Market Square just on cruise days. Good maps are available for walking around. There is a street near the terminal with four it five bar/restaurants, two new in the last two years. Big Tide brews their own beer. We have eaten rhere twice this trip, food and beer have been very good. There is a lobster restaurant I always thought was in an odd location until I realized it is opposite the cruise terminal. Good spot!


More on excursions and activities later.

 

[Susan R]

peachygreen - Halifax can handle lots of cruise ships each day. I'm not sure how many cruise ships are scheduled each day but to give you some prespective on how big the harbour is...it's a navy town so we not only have warships and subs stationed here, in WWII ships from all over the eastern seaboard that needed to travel to europe came to the Halifax harbour to gather and be escorted accross the atlantic in convoys. My dad told me that the ships were packed in the Bedford basin (a basin at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour) so tight that you could walk from one side of the basin to the other by walking over the decks of the ships!

I suspect that they don't schedule too many ships to come in at one time because they don't want the overwhelm the city with passangers. We want you to enjoy yourselves and not bounce off one another because there are 10 ships in port at the same time LOL. I do know that there are times when at least 2 ships are in port on the same day.

 

[shoes99]

Two seniors from NJ on the August 12th cruise.
We have sailed Princess up the coast from NY. Looking
forward to the Disney sailing. We booked this cruise
while onboard the DREAM in April 2011.

 

[Trekker]

Which date in August?? We are on the August 12th!

Two seniors from NJ on the August 12th cruise.

Hi Herman Family & shoes99 - we are also on the 9/12 cruise!

Come join us on the Sept 12, 2012 planning thread!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2696522&page=2

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

We're on the August 12th trip - but I'd bet we can learn a lot from each others' planning threads!!

 

[Dynaguy]

Thanks, Susan!


The Maritime Museum and the Citadel look pretty interesting to me.

 

[Trekker]

Hi Herman Family & shoes99 - we are also on the 9/12 cruise!

It sure would help if I could read - - August / September - DUH!

I actually notice the Herman Families countdown on another thread and thought - that does not work out to Sept?????

LOL! - Happy Planning!

 

[seasideliz]

Agree with Susan, lots to do right downtown. I"m also from the area, so thought I would add to the list.

If you are an art fan - the Art Gallergy is not to be missed, the Maude Lewis exhibit is FANTASTIC - her actual house is inside the museum. It is amazing to see - a true piece of NS/CDN Heritage.

Lots of great shops downtown - Spring Garden Road area - be sure to find FID for fresh LOCAL food - not to be missed.

COWS is right on the Waterfront and not to be missed for the Ice Cream lovers. It is down towards the the Marriot. They make all of the waffle cones fresh, so you can almost taste them while you are standing in line, and have fabulous FRESH ice cream - not to mention the funny novelty items/spoof t'shirts that all relate back to cows & make great gifts (eg Twuuder, Angry Herds, Buzz Lightsteer, Tow Mooter, Farmbook etc).

If you are up for a Geography/History Buff and up for a Bus Tour - many tour buses head out to Peggy's Cove each day. This makes the Cove VERY crowded at times, but it is still one of the most beautiful places on earth, if you can get there early a.m when no one else is there, it is so peaceful. Even with the crowds, you will still see an working fishing village with an Art Gallery, a few shops, maybe some fishing boats moored in for the day/season, AMAZING stone wall carving, and if it is the right day, a sweet little old lady playing her Accordion and singing folk songs. Check out the webcam HERE Sometimes there is a Bagpiper as well! The tours sometimes stop at some other local shops along the way - including the Acadian Maple Shop.


If you can get a ride out to Peggy's Cove by private tour, there is great hiking among the ancient bolders - and also amazing kayaking in the area (not sure there is time for kayak tour)

Those are just off the top of my head, but I'll add more as I think of it!

 

[nanaguide]

Thanks for sharing! We did this trip 3 years ago on HAL and loved every minute of it except it wasn't Disney. I kept comparing the 2 cruise lines. Sure hope we can do it on Disney next Summer. We rented cars in both St. Johns and Halifax for about $40 a day - split between 2 couples. It was very reasonable and the car companies pick you up right at the dock and return you there too. In St. Johns we went to Bay of Fundy that you see in the Canada 360 film at Disneyworld - beautiful drive, great scenery, and great fish for lunch. The little houses, boats, and the bridge are exactly as they are pictured in the film. You want to pinch yourself that you are there in that beautiful place. The market and shops in St. Johns are also special and you can walk back to the ship with your bag of pastry from the market. The people are very friendly and the rose/pin are a very nice touch. It was the same in Halifax - we drove to Peggy's Cove (also Canada 360 film) and several other little towns - all very special. We enjoyed the Fort and had another great fish lunch. Plenty of time to see lots in both places. I agree PEI is too far away - wish Disney would add it if they sail to Canada again in 2013. PEI is my favorite. It is like living in the 1950s there - Anne of Green Gables is very interesting. Can't wait to hear about all the tips you'll be sharing with us. The BEST about this trip will be sailing up the river to see the Statue of Liberty and the New York Skyline - it is breathtaking, brings tears to your eyes and no one should miss this arrival. We docked next to the Intrepid and watched them muster for duty in the morning. I remember we ordered breakfast and ate on our veranda. Best morning I have ever had as we cruised into the city. I loved NYC!!!!

 

[seasideliz]

^^^^ yes great idea to rent a car and do what you love - there are great beaches within driving distance, if it were me, I'd do Yoga and Kayak tour + Peggy's Cove ....

Heading the other way out of Halifax is Lawrencetown Beach - famous for surfing and all around great beach


How long is the Halifax Day?

 

[sjs314]

Subbing this happens to be the cruise DH and I have talked about and will be nice to learn more about it

 

[Happy Goofy]

My husband and I will be on the August 5th cruise. It is also my birthday that day.We are two senior citizens who love to travel and love Disney. We are doing the Hawaiian cruise in April.
Looking forward to doing this Canadian tour. We are from CT and always wanted to visit this area. Will be looking forward to more tips on this area.
I think there is a cruise thread for different dates for this cruise.

 

[teach22180]

I was in both these cities last summer on RCCL, and I just love the summer weather in Canada and Maine! Halifax was great fun, and I could have used another day there. I went out to Peggy's Cove, but then really wanted to see the Citadel. Here's a warning for you all. I took the free bus up to the Citadel (FRED?), and I got stranded there. No bus returned, even when the people there were expecting it. I was so anxious and almost in tears and thought I may miss my ship, but the HOHO bus driver took pity on me and said just jump on (I must have looked like a tourist because he asked if I was from the cruise ship!). The moral of my story is just go ahead and pay for the HOHO bus! There was also a lot down on the waterfront I could have explored. What a fun city!

Saint John was another story; I must have missed a lot of the good stuff there. I did pay for the HOHO bus there and saw the reversing falls but not much else.

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

It sure would help if I could read - - August / September - DUH!

I actually notice the Herman Families countdown on another thread and thought - that does not work out to Sept?????

LOL! - Happy Planning!

Thanks all you Eastern Canadian DISsers! The local talk is wonderful and just what we want to hear so that we can learn all about your towns before we arrive!

 

[Susan R]

nanaguide - I went to Disney World for 10 days this January past on a solo trip and I got to see the Canada film for the first time. The Canadian movie was wonderful and I must admit that I got a bit choaked up when I saw the Bay of Fundy shots because I live close to the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy. I got a bit homesick, I must say!

 

[jkpmac]

Hi Everyone,

Wow what a lot of interest in the upcoming cruises to St John and Halifax. I am really excited that Disney has chosen to come north. I would like to thank SusanR, Mainegal, Seasideliz, Nanaguide and Teach22180 for all your input. Please keep it up!
Teach, hopefully this site will prevent those negative experiences you had from occurring again. I am so glad you shared them with us.

Both St. John and Halifax offer the charm and down home hospitality that the Maritimes are famous for as well as the activities and conveniences of the urban center. Plus nature is just around the corner in either city.

Sorry I haven’t posted in the last week or so, I was camping with my family.
I thought I would start by posting a few links to St. John and Halifax, then respond to everyone’s questions.

Here are links to St John and Halifax Tourism web sites.

St. John

http://www.tourismsaintjohn.com/index.cfm?event=page.index&init=true

If you are doing some web research yourself, don’t get St. John New Brunswick mixed up with St. John’s, Newfoundland. One little “s” makes a big difference.

For Halifax
http://www.destinationhalifax.com/

http://www.halifaxinfo.com/

Both cities are quite hilly. As you leave the harbour area, everything is a bit of a climb, more so in Halifax than in St. John. Fortunately both cities have indoor walkways that will speed you along to the top. With escaltors.

Now to some of the questions.....

Sylvia L

Any of the restaurants in either St John or Halifax will likely have Lobster on the menu. There are several excellent seafood restaurants in St John, Grannan’s Seafood Restaurant, and Billy’s Seafood Co. are two. Like any restaurant you have mixed reviews. In Halifax especially along the harbor, you would be hard pressed to find a restaurant that didn’t serve lobster. Try the mussels too!!

Check out the links above for activities, Reversing falls has boat rides, but remember Disney can’t control the tides.....yet The St John museum is a nice tour and just strolling around is a plus. One of the things I plan to do is investigate nature excursions in the area measuring travelling time and length of the excursion to see if they will fit into the docking time. Disney hasn’t posted port adventures yet.

Bareacudda

Weather in the Bay of Fundy is unpredictable except for the fog. I would suggest you have make sure you bring some jeans, a couple of sweaters or sweatshirts, and maybe a raincoat or waterproof jacket. The weather here is a little weird with global warming. In September, expect temperatures ranging from as low as 60 degrees to as high as 70, 80, or 90. Generally it is cool at night and in the morning warms up quickly during the day. Temperatures along the coast are generally 5 to ten degrees cooler than inland.

Sabrecmc

Going to PEI, I am afraid not. I am not even sure I would risk suggesting it if you were willing to miss a night on the boat and drive from Halifax to PEI and the on to St. John. I am not sure depending on traffic if you would make it; in fact I would lay odds that you would not. The good news is that you will probably see Anne Collectibles in Nova Scotia . Hmmm maybe Disney should look into PEI as a possible stop. Probably would make it a 7 day cruise. But it could also include a stop in Cape Breton Nova Scotia.

MinnieG

The weather in June is not too bad, as, there may be a bit of rain in the early part of the months, but it is usually nice with temps in the 70’s and 80’s towards the end. Cool in the night and morning, maybe as low as 60. Again the temperature is cooler on the coast than inland. Also, Fundy is famous for its tides but also for its fog. Have a sweatshirt a pair of jeans and a waterproof jacket just in case, but I have my fingers crossed you won’t need them.

That’s all for now!
To quote the Mickey....See you real soon!

 

[nanaguide]

Susan R, I agree with you - I get choked up when I see the Canada 360 film. I always take visitors to see it. It does such a good job of showing all of Canada. I work in Epcot and our office is behind the Canadian pavilion so each day I go to work I walk through the beautiful gardens to get my Canadian "fix". I absolutely love Canada and the Canadian people - they just have a great attitude about life. In one week we leave for Canada - I can't wait. This Summer we'll go West - fly into Calgary, 3 days in Lake Louise,2 days in Whistler then head to Vancouver to board the Disney Wonder. Sure hope next Summer I'll be heading East to board the Magic to see the Maritime provinces.

 

[Trith]

Not a local here, but I've been to Halifax a few times to visit a friend that lives there.

For the adults, if you don't mind taking a bit of time away from the scenery, I'd highly recommend the Alexander Keith's brewery tour. It's an hour long tour set in the 1800's, and they'll tell you stories of life in Halifax and the brewery's history. There's also plenty of time for samples (and Keith's is an excellent beer) and lots of traditional maritime music. It's something like 15$, and I think they allow minors in as well (bear in mind that drinking age in Canada is 19, not 21). We've always had a great time on the tour.

I'm too new to insert links, but all the information is available on the Alexander Keiths website.

 

[jkpmac]

The first time we took our son to epcot we went to Le Cellier, and missed the 360 show. The second trip, when I mentioned to some co-workers that we booked Le Cellier again because the food was soooooooo good, they said not to bother going to Canada 360. They found it tacky and not representative of Canada. I am so glad I don't pay attention to movie critics and criticism and choose to go to things based on my interest or my families. My son wanted to go, and I am so glad we did. It was excellent. Not tacky, Martin Short is excellent and it actually bought a tear to my eye as well.

 

[mainegal]

Some of my thoughts on Saint. John, New Brunswick

Saint John is a very walkable city. I have spent the day quite happily walking the city. The streets that are perpendicular to the water are kind of steep, but manageable. You can go from the Harbor Market Square (library, museum, restaurants) to Brunswick Square (multi level mall of stores) to the historic City Market (food stalls) through a series of escalators and covered walkways.


Big Pink Bus - Hop On Hop Off - $42.95 per Adult $29.95 per Child. It leaves from the cruise terminal.
Described here.
http://www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/226041
The bus is pink for breast cancer. According to the proprietors at our B&B, it is more awareness than support. Only $1.00 of the charge goes to the Breast Cancer Foundation. The bus makes three separate loops. Most of where they go can quite easily be done on foot. For the price, I would not recommend this bus.

Saint John Public Transit offers a “City Bus Tour” for $20.
http://www.saintjohntransit.com/index.cfm?event=page.view&filename=city-tour.cfm
It leaves from Barbour’s General Store at Market Square, a couple blocks from the cruise terminal. I don't know about this bus, but the price is more reasonable.

You can see quite a bit without taking a bus.

If you have any interest in architecture, Saint John’s buildings have many fascinating details to look at. There are three historic downtown walking tours. I have done all three; each takes an hour to an hour and a half. You will have to specifically ask for the brochure at the tourist kiosks at Barbour’s General Store, City Hall, they are not on the front display racks. (You might also find them at the welcome area of the cruise terminal.) Here is a PDF of the brochure.
http://www.saintjohn.ca/site/media/SaintJohn/Walking Tour Brochure-tourism.pdf


The “Great Fire” of 1877 destroyed over 80 hectares (200 hundred acres) and 1612 structures including eight churches, six banks, fourteen hotels, eleven schooners and four woodboats in just over a nine hour period. Nearly all the public buildings, the principal retail establishments, lawyers' offices and all but two printing firms were burned in the inferno. You will see many brick and stone buildings that were built just after this period. I think often they were built to be grander than the ones that were destroyed.