vandeem holland america

[acorntennisfan]

I am going on the montreal to Boston cruise and wondered if anyone had gone on any of the holland america excursions. Places like Sydney, Charlottetown and Bar Harbour when one docks are you in the thick of things or is it adviseable to take tours out. Do not want a lot of walking tours and quite happy to do maybe an hour panoramic type excursions . annoyingly a lot of their own excursions are after lunch and would prefer early morning ones so can be back on board in the afternoon. Is Peggy cove an absolute must or is it just a place of souvenir shops and very commercialised.

I believe Quebec one can walk about on ones own and the ship docks near the area.

[jtl513]

Is Peggy cove an absolute must or is it just a place of souvenir shops and very commercialised.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

There is a gift shop, but it is not very commercialized. Just a very scenic area worth seeing at least once IMO.

 

 

Edited June 13, 2016 by jtl513

[acorntennisfan]

Thanks for reply its the 3 hour trip that seems quite long just to see a lighthouse! When one docks in Halifax what is there to see near the port ?

maybe the horse drawn trolley ride around the town is enough!

[Hflors]

Thanks for reply its the 3 hour trip that seems quite long just to see a lighthouse! When one docks in Halifax what is there to see near the port ?

maybe the horse drawn trolley ride around the town is enough!

 

Halifax is a wonderful city. After you dock use the hop on - hop off bus. We took it to the Maritime Museum to see some of the Titanic history and a fascinating history of a huge explosion in the early 20th century. The Museum is so worth going to see. We also had lunch at a lobster house right on the bay also worth doing. Halifax is such a wonderful city I would go back there in a heart beat! Hope you enjoy.

[apples4t]

May I piggy-back on your post with related questions? We are doing the same cruise in September on the Rotterdam. In Charlottetown I am tempted by the "Fun with Falcons" tour. In Sydney am considering "Sailing on the Bras d'Or Lakes". Can anyone share their experience of either of these?

 

We are actually doing back-to-back Montreal-Boston-Montreal, so in the other direction would do a different tour in Charlottetown. Been to Sydney before so not really bothered about exploring there.

[ksqueak]

May I piggy-back on your post with related questions? We are doing the same cruise in September on the Rotterdam. In Charlottetown I am tempted by the "Fun with Falcons" tour. In Sydney am considering "Sailing on the Bras d'Or Lakes". Can anyone share their experience of either of these?

 

We are actually doing back-to-back Montreal-Boston-Montreal, so in the other direction would do a different tour in Charlottetown. Been to Sydney before so not really bothered about exploring there.

 

We did the Fun with Falcons Tour. It's a little bit of a bus ride but really enjoyed it. He really gets the kids involved and when we get to hold them all the kids got to go first. Explains the various birds he has and we had flying demos until an eagle showed up (he wanted the falcon for lunch, lol). I recommend it. I can try and answer anything specific you may have.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I took this cruise the first week in May - Montreal to Boston and took 4 HAL excursions - in Quebec City - Montemercy Falls and Island of Orleans (very interesting look at the countryside outside of the city), on PEI - a Coastal drive stopping at 2 lighthouses and wine tasting at a winery (mostly fruit wines) and at Halifax - the Peggy's cove lighthouse followed by a visit to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery where 121 Titanic passengers are buried, and at Bar Harbour the catamaran and lighthouse tour. All of these were about four hours long so if you don't want to spend that much time touring, don't. I had been in all four ports before and the first time I walked around the towns. The second time, I wanted to get out into the countryside. If I were only to do one again, I would do the one in Quebec City.

[RMLincoln]

In Halifax the fort is interesting to visit, great views.

If you can get to the Alexander Bell museum, maybe from Sydney? that was a fascinating place to visit with much more than the telephone. He was quite an inventor and made a lot of hydrofoils too. Lovely grounds.

[chefestelle]

Halifax is on a steep slope. The waterfront is entertaining and worth a wander. My grandmother immigrated through Halifax so I went to Pier 21 museum of immigration. It was a moving experience. I do believe you dock right there. It's a bit of a walk to the other end of the waterfront but doable. You can rent segue scooters too but I'm not sure where. There are lots of shops and services at the pier. The maritime museum was a favourite for sure. You can walk to both along the waterfront. There is also a glassblowing shop along that same stretch where you can watch a demonstration and buy blown glass. If you like bacon, be sure to stop at the vendor selling chocolate covered bacon. And if you haven't had one before, grab a beaver tail. They are big, fried and sweet so share one with a loved one. The citadel hill is a big favourite of service people and has lovely aspects to enjoy. The big pink sightseeing hoho stops at all these places. I did go to Peggy's Cove but must say it was just another lighthouse to me. Everyone else enjoyed the quaint setting, though. There is a souvenir shop right at the lighthouse but there is no compulsion to go in unless you want a hot chocolate. It can be very chilly out there (cold when I was there last August).

 

Charlottetown is all quaintness and delight. It's a really walkable,town, has the ubiquitous horse and carriage ride as well as the amphibious tour. Both were great fun although the hippo (amphib.) does not seem to get great reviews now. There was also a red sand castle display when I was there. Kids enjoy the touching pond right down on the pier. We took a tour on a working lobster boat which was fascinating and fun. We also went out to the green gables of Anne fame but if you haven't read the books you may not enjoy the same experience. There are pony rides for the younger set out there. This is the seat of confederation so history buffs will enjoy the experiences that abound. I believe there is now a pink bus so it would get you to the sights. Historiccharlottetownseaport.com has a walking map to show you locations and rough distances.

 

Both locations have great eateries. I personally think that lobster rolls are an abomination but others pronounced them delicious. There is a large restaurant right on the pier in Charlottetown with very good pub food. Halifax has gems all up and down its hilly streets.

 

I can't speak for Sydney because I haven't made it there yet. Enjoy!

 

 

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Edited June 13, 2016 by chefestelle

[3rdGenCunarder]

In Halifax the fort is interesting to visit, great views.

If you can get to the Alexander Bell museum, maybe from Sydney? that was a fascinating place to visit with much more than the telephone. He was quite an inventor and made a lot of hydrofoils too. Lovely grounds.

 

Yes, the Bell Museum is good. It's in Baddeck. We took the "Baddeck on your own" tour instead of the version that includes museum admission. That allowed us to go at our own pace. It meant more walking--we were dropped off and picked up at the opposite end of town from the museum, but we had time to stroll, take pictures, have ice cream, and see the museum without being part of a crowd. The museum is up a hill, so if walking is an issue, the "Baddeck and Bell" (not sure if that's the exact name) tour is a better choice.

 

Another possibility from Sydney is Fortress Louisbourg, which we did a few years ago. Very interesting restored fort town with character interpreters. BOth tours involve about an hour, maybe more, each way.

 

For Halifax, if you only want to do the Maritime museum, don't bother with the Pink Bus, just do the walk along the water. It's very pleasant. Near the museum there are kiosks with a variety of food. Two have lobster roll, delicious! I think there was a beaver tail stand, too. (Just to clarify a previous post, it's fried bread dough, not an animal tail!)

 

On PEI, if you want to see Green Gables, I recommend renting a car. We had a great experience with Enterprise. And being on our own meant we could arrive at Green Gables around noon, which was between the morning and afternoon bus tours.

 

You don't dock in town in Bar Harbor, it's a tender port. But the tenders do take you right to the town. Another chance for a lobster roll!!! Don't miss the ice cream shop that sells lobster flavored ice cream. And if you need a souvenir for your pet, check out Bark Harbor. Mostly dog stuff, but my cat LOVED the catnip lobster we bought there.

 

We generally avoid tours that include a meal, as it takes up a lot of the time on site. A friend did a Peggy's Cove tour (with another line, not HAL) and said that the meal left them with very little time to look around.

[chefestelle]

Thanks 3rdGenCunarder! I should have mentioned that they aren't real beaver tail! [emoji15]. Too many typos in my post, too. Irritating that we can't go back and fix them any time we want! So, you liked those lobster rolls, eh?[emoji37]

I don't suppose you've been to St.John's Newfoundland? Would love to hear your recommendations if you have been...

 

 

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[Copper10-8]

Besides the nice lighthouse, Peggy's Cove has an excellent fish/seafood restaurant plus a moving memorial to the Swissair flight that went down some time ago

Edited June 13, 2016 by Copper10-8

[3rdGenCunarder]

Thanks 3rdGenCunarder! I should have mentioned that they aren't real beaver tail! [emoji15]. Too many typos in my post, too. Irritating that we can't go back and fix them any time we want! So, you liked those lobster rolls, eh?[emoji37]

I don't suppose you've been to St.John's Newfoundland? Would love to hear your recommendations if you have been...

 

 

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I LOVE lobster roll! In Halifax last fall, we went to the Victoria Gardens, and on our stroll in the neighborhood, happened upon a Mickey D's that sold McLobster. Too much lettuce "filler" but a nice taste.

 

I made the comment about beaver tail because I like those, too. When I told my SIL I'd discovered a new treat, beaver tail, she was completely grossed out until I explained what it is.

 

Haven't been to St John's Newfoundland (yet). But I got a good lobster roll in the market in St John New Brunswick. The young man at the counter was amused when I said I was taking it back to the ship--like there isn't enough food already on a cruise ship!

[chefestelle]

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

 

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[RuthC]

In Sydney am considering "Sailing on the Bras d'Or Lakes". Can anyone share their experience ....

I loved that tour! It was a pretty day, so that helped; I don't know that I would have liked it in the rain.

There's a ride out that takes a while, then there was a ride of a decent length on the lake. The scenery was gorgeous. There was an opportunity to go up to the bow of the boat and have a picture taken---or just look around.

 

Afterwards, my tour stopped for a buffet lunch. Some people must have taken more than their share, as by the time the last of us went to get something, there wasn't much left to choose from. :( The trays were not replenished.

We had some free time in town before riding back to the ship.

 

If I were there, and the day was a nice one, I would do this tour again.

[Heartgrove]

I would recommend the tour in Bar Harbor that goes to Jordan Pond for lunch, a portion of Acadia National Park, and then to the top of Cadillac Mountain for a fantastic view. It left just before noon from Agamont Park which is just past where the tenders disembark. We had time before the excursion to visit the town. We never felt rushed but they did move us along. There was plenty of time after lunch (great popovers!) at the gift shop in Jordan Pond House for browsing. And we returned in time to do a second round on some of the shops.

[schusterj]

In Bar Harbor the National Park Service has a nice bus tour with 3 stops and goes through Acadia and into Cadillac Mountain. You reserve a space on this tour by going to their website. It cost 30.00 each and you don't pay until you get there so in case of bad weather or missing the port you don't have to pay. When you get off the ship you walk 1 1/2 blocks to Teslas Restaurant to get the ticket. We have done this tour twice and it's half the price of the same tour from Holland America.

http://mobile.dudamobile.com/site/acadiatours?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acadiatours.com%2F&utm_referrer=#2549

 

Lots of Veendam passengers were in this tour with us and we just did the tour last week.

Edited June 13, 2016 by schusterj