maryann ns

It will be Celtic music, featuring at least one fiddle as that is the traditional music in much of Cape Breton.

Fisherman's Cove is a small fishing port in Halifax Harbour. The scenic backdrop includes the container port across the harbour. The various shop and restaurant buildings are totally touristy.

Peggy's Cove is overwhelmed by tourists but is the real deal: a tiny fishing cove in a small inlet from huge rocks at the open Atlantic Ocean.

You can easily spend your day in downtown Halifax.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit

Here is a document with information for Halifax. It is very easy to walk around on your own:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BjAtDscML-9Ce3VWUUsOrsVhPL7KIxb7Go_9SRi82dE/edit

Is it the fault of the cruise lines that so many people misspell Saint John, New Brunswich and St. John's, Newfoundland? It is difficult to do research without the correct spelling.

I would not be happy with only six possible short landings just once a day. You are paying a lot for the fancier ship and the massage therapist.

Check into the smaller expedition ships. Here is a place to compare: http://www.traveltothepoles.com/ant-ships.html

Why not come here on a land tour. The driving is easy and there is so much to see. Two weeks would give you a good amount of time for Nova Scotia, a bit of New Brunswick and PEI. You can fly in/out of Halifax or Moncton or into one and out the other.

Check out our forums on Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowForum-g154967-i326-Nova_Scotia.html

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowForum-g154956-i833-New_Brunswick.html

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowForum-g155022-i619-Prince_Edward_Island.html

I presume you mean Ile D'Orleans? I would be surprised if places were closed. Canadian Thanksgiving is not quite such a big deal as the American one. It is a good day for locals to go for a day trip.

Azamara are known for overnight stays and have some cruises with two nights (almost three days) in St. Petersburg.

The ancient theatre in Taormina is interesting but its setting is absolutely stunning. Can you imagine sitting there then or now watching a dramatic performance with the blue sea below and smoking Mount Etna in front of you? Fantastic!

That's great you are doing a private tour, but I would not recommend Fisherman's Cove. It does not have the ambiance of Peggy's Cove. Indeed you can see the container terminal across the harbour. I know it can get crowded at Peggy's Cove but that is for a reason.

Another possibility is to take a scenic drive to places such as Herring Cove, Duncan's Cove, Portuguese Cove. These are not built for tourists as the shops and restaurants at Fisherman's Cove are.

https://goo.gl/maps/mN1SKoxHEnQ2

http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/1544264-trek-around-herring-cove-road-area-offers-great-way-to-beat-winter-blahs

I think there is more to see without a tour in Halifax.

I can't imagine not being able to get out on the bow. Some of our best times were there: going through the Lemaire Channel, watching a few Orcas teaching their young how to hunt seals, having a group photo and champaign celebration after crossing the Antarctic Circle, etc.

Those fancy viewing platforms are tiny.

My husband and I have travelled independently twice in South America. But it is not an easy place to make arrangements and get around. So unless you are a keen independent traveller I would recommend having a trip organized for you.

We stayed a couple nights in the Miraflores area of Lima and had a private taxi tour one day, going with the driver we had arranged to pick us up at the airport. Another day we walked around Miraflores on our own.

I agree with going to the Sacred Valley first. It is worth touring the fortifications at Ollaytaytambo and visiting the market at Pisac at the very least. We arranged for a private tour of the area from our hotel in Ollaytaytambo but I would advise doing this ahead of time.

Then take the train to Aguas Calientes. Two nights in Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu is a minimum. We ended up spending one long day in MP and went everywhere reading our guidebook as we went.

Take the train back to Cuzco and spend at least two days there. We absolutely loved it. We took a group tour one day and otherwise wandered around on our own.

Do you mean a private tour where you can have a say in this?

Dartmouth downtown, try the Canteen or the Wooden Monkey. On the way to Fisherman's Cove there is the Pleasant Street Diner and John's Lunch which is famous. If you like clams and chips or fish and chips, etc. check out John's lunch.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurants-g154974-zfp30-Dartmouth_Halifax_Region_Nova_Scotia.html

In Halifax away from the waterfront there is the Brooklyn Warehouse which has interesting food. There are many, many others: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurants-g154976-Halifax_Halifax_Region_Nova_Scotia.html

So where are you concerned about the crowds?

I would worry about Sydney as there are few private tour operators. For sure you would want to rent a car there.

The Halifax waterfront is large but they often have four or five ships there in mid October. I would rent a car there or arrange a private tour to get away from the crowds.

It would help us help you if you gave the itinerary including dates.

If you are going in the off season you are best with the ship's tour. If you are going to Fortress Louisbourg in July or August there is no need for a guide as there are animators there to explain things. They do this in character as people living there in 1744.

The most recent Trip Advisor review is from 2013.

Here is some information for cruise visitors to Halifax: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BjAtDscML-9Ce3VWUUsOrsVhPL7KIxb7Go_9SRi82dE/edit

If you find me on the Nova Scotia Trip Advisor forum (same user name and avatar), click on my user name, send me a private message with your email address and I will send you some notes I have collected about taxis and private tours.

Here is some information about Halifax for cruise visitors: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BjAtDscML-9Ce3VWUUsOrsVhPL7KIxb7Go_9SRi82dE/edit

Highland Village shows how early Scottish settlers lived in Cape Breton. It is in a beautiful spot and pleasant to visit. However it is insignificant compared to Fortress Louisbourg. This is a partial reconstruction of the French Fortress (and the town was inside the fortifications) built according to the orginal plans archived in France. The costumed animators play the parts of actual people who lived there in 1744.

To see it at its best you have to come in July or August. In early October you would be best off with a ship's tour. I would suggest that if you think you will be back (and many people find the place and people here so special that they do come back) that you leave the Fortress to another time.

Consider renting a car and taking a scenic drive.

Check out the links and information here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit

Check out this site which gives information about travelling to the Arctic: http://www.traveltothepoles.com/

ATMs in Cambodia dispense $US and that is the currency of choice there as their own (riel) is not convertable.

In Vietnam you may pay a bit more using $US than their dong but if you only need a bit that may be the way to go (along with credit cards.) Otherwise for Vietnam go to an ATM.

I can attest that the food on G Adventures Expedition is wonderful with lots of variety and I did note vegetarian options. It is a comfortable ship with a wonderful staff and crew.

trrn, please check the link in post#16

You can walk to the Maritme Museum. You can walk up a steep hill to the Citadel (or take a taxi) but you would need to take a bus or taxi to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

Yes I believe it is cruise only. It is pricey, but there is little live entertainment outside of this during the day. You can get more information about Cape Breton here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHnC1bdaKtBLTr9bcJShb3a0escYZQKLWkZF4seT14I/edit

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Travel-g154967-c212443/Nova-Scotia:Canada:Learning.About.Cape.Breton.html

The second link contains a link to live music listings which will be perhaps useful closer to when you are there.

We spent two weeks in Australia flying from Sydney to Cairns to Uluru and back to Sydney. You need at least two nights in Uluru but three are better; three nights in Cairns will allow you to go to the Great Barrier Reef and one other place; and the story is similar for Sydney. Six days is just not enough. This is easy to plan on your own or with the help of a travel agency if you must.