Has anyone been to Canada on the Victory?

[ds6300]

We're leaving in a few weeks on the Victory to go to Canada and I was wondering if there are any excursions that shouldn't be missed. Any suggestions??

[AdmiralJohnson]

Don't miss the pancake and syrup maple leaf tour...

[ItaliaAmerCruzLady]

We enjoyed the Victory to Canada, and also the Triumph to Canada. Its pretty, but also chilly so be sure to bring a jacket, We did the harbor hopper tour that was fun, takes a nice ride around halifax and into the water. You can book that one right outside of the ship, they have signs, and I believe if you book it yourself its alot cheaper. Its a couple hrs.

The other thing we did was took a bus ride to Peggy`s Cove, had a lobster lunch, If your a big eater, this was a pretty small lunch, Peggys Cove was picturesque and friendly, but kind low key. If your looking for something exciting, that would NOT be the tour for you.

Thats about all the input I can give you. There is a casino and some nice restaurants near the pier also.

[MrPete]

Once we just walked around, and once we went to Peggy's Cove. But it was raining, so that sort of took the fun out of it.

 

This year, we will probably just stay on the ship.

[andychris]

We went on the 5 night back in july of 2003. We did not get off the boat in st johns but did in nova scotia. We just walked the pier. The kids wanted to get back onto the ship. They were having so much fun on the ship.

You will have a great time. Yes, bring a jacket. We were a little chilly in july. Do not assume it is going to be hot!

[ParrotRob]

We went on the 5 night back in july of 2003. We did not get off the boat in st johns but did in nova scotia.

 

The ship doesn't go to St. Johns. St. Johns is in Newfoundland. SAINT JOHN is in New Brunswick and is where the cruise goes.

[ds6300]

Thanks for your comments everyone!

 

I was assuming it would probably be chilly, but does that mean using the water slide and pools on the ship is out of the question. My kids were really looking forward to that.

[JanesCruisingBuddy]

Thanks for your comments everyone!

 

I was assuming it would probably be chilly, but does that mean using the water slide and pools on the ship is out of the question. My kids were really looking forward to that.

Saint John is my home town.

By Mid-June (as a kid), we were always spending time at the beach. Should be fine.

I do not know if your cruise is doing Saint John and Halifax, but Halifax is a tad south, so it would likely be even a bit nicer there.

Thank you ParrotRob for your notation regarding St. Johns vs. Saint John. As a "Saint John-er," that is always a pet-peeve. In New Brunswick, Saint is spelled out, and John does not have an "s". We do expect that error occasionally from our friends south of the border, but it really bothers us when a fellow Canadian messes it up.

I would think it would be colder in St. Johns.

Peggy's Cove is very nice... have not been there since I was a kid.

The sugar bush would not be active in June ("tapping" and "boiling" season usually wraps up in March/April), but certainly pancakes and maple syrup are a wonderful treat, as is maple candy etc.

[lifewithrob]

The ship doesn't go to St. Johns. St. Johns is in Newfoundland. SAINT JOHN is in New Brunswick and is where the cruise goes.

 

Good post :rolleyes:

[redlef]

Thanks for your comments everyone!

 

I was assuming it would probably be chilly, but does that mean using the water slide and pools on the ship is out of the question. My kids were really looking forward to that.

 

 

When we did the Victory to Canada the first week in August, the pools were open - sort of. If I remember correctly, the aft pool has a plexiglass dome, so the kids can swim regardless of the weather. Two days it was warm and they retracted the dome. I don't remember if the water slide was open.

 

One excursion in Halifax I loved was the Tall Ship Sailing Experience. http://www.carnival.com/ShoreExcursionDetails.aspx?portcode=YHZ&excursionname=Canadian+Tall+Ship+Sailing+Experience&excursioncode=224012&price=39.00

 

It's a 3 masted schooner that takes you for a ride around the harbor. It's walking distance from the ship and a fun ride. At least if you like going on a sailboat.

[MrPete]

When we did the Victory to Canada the first week in August, the pools were open - sort of. If I remember correctly, the aft pool has a plexiglass dome, so the kids can swim regardless of the weather.

 

Is the rear pool not adults only? That would be GREAT!

 

Didn't have to worry about it the first time i sailed on the Victory.

[nybumpkin]

Is the rear pool not adults only? That would be GREAT!

 

Didn't have to worry about it the first time i sailed on the Victory.

 

Pete - The aft pool itself isn't adults only, but one of the hot tubs is. Both times we've been aboard, they've closed the roof around dinnertime each night to allow for night swimming. (They also closed the roof all day last year while we sailed through the remnants of TS Ernesto - essentially the pool turned into a wave pool.) It can get fairly humid with the roof closed.

 

As for the main Lido pools and the slide - We've used them on both our Victory cruises, although if there's too much wind or the sea's too rough, they'll close the slide. One great thing about this itinerary is that the number of chair hogs is very low.:cool:

[MrPete]

That's great news. I happened to like that rear pool, with the cover in all different positions on all three of those ships. I was thinking I'd have to go to that main pool with the stadium seating, which I hated.

 

Even better was the Destiny, which had a swim up bar back there as well.

[Guest Mary49]

Two years I did the cruise to Canada on the Triumph. If you are thinking of doing the Titanic Tour; you can do the Museum part on your own. In fact, I was a little annoyed that they didn't tell you that you can walk along the pier to get there in a matter of minutes from where they docked. The Tour also included going to the cementary to see to read their tombstones. That part was interesting but that's all there was to that. The museum, which you can walk to, and the cementary. Otherwise it was a nice trip.

[MrPete]

We don't go to Halifax. :(

[nybumpkin]

We don't go to Halifax. :(

Based on what I've read on the Canada port of call board, in Saint John we're thinking about going along the Harbour Walk over to the Reversing Rapids park. The walk goes along the waterfront, not far from where the ship docks; one of the local folks posted that it takes about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to do the walk to the park. Then we'll probably walk back, have lunch (last time we had lunch at Steamers' right across the street from the pier - really good lobster bisque), and go back aboard (after shopping at the pier - I doubt I can go through there without buying something.;) ) Given my band of explorers, I don't think they'd let me stay on any ship while in port.:)

[KRLeeNM]

We cruised the Victory last June - take a jacket for sure! It was very chilly and foggy at sea! We had a great time though!! Our last day at Sea was a nice crisp sunny day and the slide was open, although it was FREEZING but I guess when you are 5 years old, a fun filled day on the waterslide is more important that how cold it is! :D

 

If you have kids, there is a cool tugboat tour in Halifax, Novia Scotia off the pier, you can take a harbour tour if you want. I can't remember which stop, but some of our party did Peggy's Cove and enjoyed that, another group took a tour of the titanic cemetary (they said it was very interesting....) and then cab type tours, and then someone did a tour in the vehicles that are both land/water compatible (can't remember the name of the vehicle though!)

 

There is lots to do if you want - our son mainly wanted to be in Camp Carnival, so DH and I just took the time to enjoy ourselves and walk around - we didn't do any type of organized tour.