PHOTO REVIEW! Just off the Volendam to Canada/New England!

[Bostonjetset]

Hi fellow cruisers.  I just returned from the Volendam's 7-night cruise to Canada and New England, departing Montreal and ending in Boston.  I usually post reviews in a diary style format so you can read my thoughts as I wrote them during the trip.

 

BACKGROUND:

I sailed on this trip with my mother.  I am 41 and she is 70.  My mom loves to travel and my father does not so that coupled with the fact that I get a lot more PTO than my husband means I can escort mom on a couple trips each year.  Other than Boston [obviously!], I have been to Montreal and Quebec City before [on land trips] but never to any of the other ports.  My mother had been to all of the ports EXCEPT for Montreal and Charlottetown.  Her last time in Quebec City was about 45 years ago though.  We only had to fly one way for this cruise as it ended in our homeport which is always a delight.

 

Please feel free to ask questions or make comments and I will reply. 🙂 At the end of the daily entries I will post my final thoughts.  

 

 

[Bostonjetset]

Day 1: 06/01/2024 [Montreal, Quebec, Canada]

 

Today started VERY early as we had a 6am flight to Montreal.  That meant leaving the house at 3.45am.  Luckily the flight was on time and completely uneventful.  We took an Uber to the Old Town upon landing and had breakfast at Maggie Oakes which was very good.  However, it was inside the William Gray Hotel and I asked them to hold our luggage whilst we walked around and they said no.  I was kind of surprised.  Even though we weren't staying there we were patronizing their in-house restaurant.  Oh well; we just had to walk around with our carry-ons.  We basically just browsed the shops and galleries of old Montreal and took some pictures before heading to the ship around noon.

 

Embarkation here was pretty fast and we were on the ship in about 30 min.  One of the many advantages of these smaller ships!  About that, the Volendam is such a great size!  Walking around the ship is a breeze, there hasn't been a wait for an elevator, and the staterooms are so much bigger than the newer ships.  Everything seems to be well kept and clean.  I hope she stays in the HAL fleet for many more years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bostonjetset]

Day 2: 06/02/2024 [Quebec City, Quebec, Canada]

 

Quebec City is just as beautiful now as it was the last time I was here a decade or so ago.  It's truly one of North America's loveliest cities!  We didn't book an excursion today as there is so much to do close to the port.  There was an absolutely fabulous artisan shop filled with stuff that is all made in Quebec that we spent at least an hour in.  It's called B.M.A.Q. in the Place Royal and I ended up with an art-glass cat brooch, a pewter Christmas ornament and a pewter knife rest shaped like a cat.  Mom got some earrings.

 

We took the funicular to the upper part of the old town and walked around before having a delicious lunch of poutine and maple pie at La Bouche.  All in all a wonderful day.

 

Tonight's show in the main theater was call "Musicology" and is one of the Step One Dance Co. shows that I hadn't seen yet.  Honestly it was mediocre.  "Humanity" on the larger ships is much better.  This was just dancing to different instruments [sax, violin, bass, piano, etc.] and whilst the dancers were talented I didn't find the arrangement particularly exciting.  Service in the MDR has been good though and so has the food.  The pasta with oxtail tonight was excellent!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

Enjoying reading your review and seeing your photos.  Thanks for doing this.  

[Bostonjetset]

15 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

Enjoying reading your review and seeing your photos.  Thanks for doing this.  

I'm glad you are enjoying.  Thanks for reading! 🙂 

[Bostonjetset]

Day 3: 06/03/2024 [Sea Day on the m/s Volendam]

 

Just back from tonight's show, "Breton Thunder", and WOW was it fabulous!  HAL really stepped up their game with this regional entertainment featuring Celtic music and traditional songs from Cape Breton Island, performed by locals.  A lot of fiddling and foot stomping but oh so fun!; they were a truly engaging and talented group.  This was one of the best shows I've seen on HAP in years, perhaps ever!

 

As today was a sea day, afternoon tea was offered and the Royal Dutch Tea is [sorta] back!  There were no sausage rolls or self service tables like many years ago but they did have some Dutch-inspired treats and it's a step in the right direction. 

 

We mostly just lazed about today, played cribbage, caught up on some reading, etc.  I wanted to have a swim but it hovered around 60 degrees [F] all day and the aft pool ISN'T heated!  I love swimming in the cool weather but not if the water is cold.  The midship pool had a lot of kids so that was a definite "no" for me.  Still a decent day of relaxation though.

 

 

 

 

[geocruiser]

Thank you for taking the time to post.  Your cabin looks wonderful.  I haven't been on HAL in a few years.  My last HAL cruise we canceled because of covid.  It was the last time that our ship went out before close down.  Your cabin has nice seating.  Much better than Princess who only gives one chair to share in balcony cabins and down.. 

Are you able to get a blanket for the deck chair if it is cold?

Edited June 9 by geocruiser

[Bostonjetset]

Day 4: 06/04/2024 [Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada]

 

Charlottetown was lovely; truly lovey!  I knew very little of Prince Edward Island other than it being Canada's smallest province, the home of the fictional Anne of Green Gables [of which I have very little interest], and practically the "birthplace" of Canada as a country.  As such, I really didn't know what to expect.  It turns out the provincial capital is a wonderful city to stroll around on a sunny 60 degree day.

 

We followed one of the self-guided walks published on the tourist map, looked through some churches [including the adorable "All Souls' Chapel"], had an ice cream at Cow's, and ate a nice waterfront lunch of P.E.I. mussels and a lobster roll for mom.  Of course we had to pick up some of the handmade local soaps for sale at the craft market by the port.

 

Back on the ship around 3.30pm. we were able to use the main pool and the hot tubs for a bit before they got crowded.  Sometimes it pays to be back on the ship an hour or two before "all-aboard".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bostonjetset]

6 minutes ago, geocruiser said:

Thank you for taking the time to post.  Your cabin looks wonderful.  I haven't been on HAL in a few years.  My last HAL cruise we canceled because of covid.  It was the last time that our ship went out before close down.  Your cabin has nice seating.  Much better than Princess who only gives one chair to share in balcony cabins and down.. 

Are you able to get a blanket for the deck chair if it is cold?

Thanks for reading.  Yes the cabins on HAL tend to be bigger than Princess in general but those on these older ships are particularly large.  I sailed in an inside cabin on the old Veendam and even that had a sofa!  

 

There were indeed steamer blankets available for use on deck if one so desired.

[Bostonjetset]

Day 5: 06/05/2024 [Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada]'

 

Breton Thunder performed another wonderful set tonight in the main theater.  They really are a fabulous addition to the entertainment on these Canada/N.E. cruises; hopefully HAL keeps them!

 

Today we were in Sydney, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island.  There was a light rain all morning so we just browsed around the shops at the port which were actually lovely.  I got a beautiful sterling and amber ring at an antique store attached to the port building.  Inside there was a sort of craft fair/market with many local artisans.  I also picked up a handmade ornament as did mom.  We then went back on the ship for lunch as our tour didn't meet until 2.45pm.

 

Luckily the rain stopped for our "Haunted Historic Sydney" walking tour.  It was an interesting enough way to spend an hour and 15 minutes and was worth the $29.95pp that HAL charged.  The only disappointment was that we didn't go inside any of the buildings we visited; reviews form past years indicated they had.  Still, it was enjoyable and we learned some history of the city, some of it sinister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sunviking90]

Enjoying your review! One of our favourite itineraries on our favourite ship.

[Hogladyrider]

Fantastic pics!

[Grandmaanne7]

Thanks for your wonderfully detailed review.  We will be doing this itinerary in a few weeks and it's lovely to add to the anticipation.

 

Is the Dutch Tea complimentary? What time of day was it held?

[Bostonjetset]

29 minutes ago, sunviking90 said:

Enjoying your review! One of our favourite itineraries on our favourite ship.

She has become my fave HAL ship as well!  Thanks for reading!

 

18 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Fantastic pics!

Thanks! 🙂

 

12 minutes ago, Grandmaanne7 said:

Thanks for your wonderfully detailed review.  We will be doing this itinerary in a few weeks and it's lovely to add to the anticipation.

 

Is the Dutch Tea complimentary? What time of day was it held?

Thanks for reading.  Glad you enjoy!

Yes the Dutch tea was complimentary.  It was 3pm on the sea day.  Since we only had one sea day on this itinerary there was only one afternoon tea.

[Toad]

You are a good son!  Thanks for posting.  I am drooling over the PEI mussels, always a favorite.

[Bostonjetset]

4 hours ago, Toad said:

You are a good son!  Thanks for posting.  I am drooling over the PEI mussels, always a favorite.

Aww thanks!  Glad you are enjoying the review and the mussels pics HAHA.

[Bostonjetset]

Day 6: 06/06/2024 [Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada]

 

We had an absolutely beautiful day in Halifax today!  It was sunny and temperate; perfect for strolling along the sea front boardwalk that stretches the length of downtown.  We made our way to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic first as that was our one must-do.  Mom had been before but this was my first time to Halifax and they have a decent exhibit on the Titanic which always interests me.  They also have a very interesting exhibit on the Halifax explosion of 1917.  Well worth a visit.  After the museum we just meandered along the boardwalk, browsed the shops, grabbed some poutine for lunch, and enjoyed the atmosphere.  This city is worth multiple visits in my opinion.

 

Tonight's show was "Humanity" and whilst I really do like it I've seen it four times already so I went to watch "The Beekeeper" with Jason Statham in the Wajang Theatre instead.  It was a really action-packed movie; quite enjoyable.  Mom had seen it so she went to the casino of course!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lido deck main]

Very good review.  Thank you for posting.  Nice you and your mom are able to do a trip together.

[Dancing Shoes]

Thanks for sharing.  We are on her in August.  Boston to Montreal.  Good tips for PEI.  

[philbob84]

thank you for sharing your trip 🙂 Loved seeing the dutch tea

[pmjnh]

Thank you for this review, one of my favorite itineraries. I am lucky to have wonderful relatives in PEI as my grandfather was born and raised there.. Beautiful province , as are the other Atlantic provinces. I am super happy to read about Breton Thunder!! I wish I was on her right now after reading this. Enjoy!

[Mary229]

Thank you for the review.  We will once again be on the Volendam in New England and the Maritimes in late July.  I have sailed many places but the Boston to Montreal sailing is my absolute favorite.  I could repeat it every year.   I am so glad you and your mother had a delightful time, it is always good to hear your opinion.  

[puppycanducruise]

Great pictures and comments.  Thank you very much.

[albingirl]

Very nice review. Thanks for posting. 

[Bostonjetset]

17 hours ago, Lido deck main said:

Very good review.  Thank you for posting.  Nice you and your mom are able to do a trip together.

Thanks for reading! 
 

17 hours ago, Dancing Shoes said:

Thanks for sharing.  We are on her in August.  Boston to Montreal.  Good tips for PEI.  

Thanks!!

 

17 hours ago, philbob84 said:

thank you for sharing your trip 🙂 Loved seeing the dutch tea

Thanks for reading. Yes, I was glad Dutch yea is making a comeback. Not as good as the old one but nice to see it back. 

 

11 hours ago, pmjnh said:

Thank you for this review, one of my favorite itineraries. I am lucky to have wonderful relatives in PEI as my grandfather was born and raised there.. Beautiful province , as are the other Atlantic provinces. I am super happy to read about Breton Thunder!! I wish I was on her right now after reading this. Enjoy!

Breton Thunder was truly fantastic. Such a great addition to these cruises.