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New England/Canada Cruise on Princess

by lpucciar, 10/12/2009 15:10

Category: Cruises

I just returned from a 7-day New England/Canada cruise on Caribbean Princess.  We sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, St John, New Brunswick, Bar Harbor, ME, Boston, MA, and Newport, RI.  Having done this itinerary many, many times before, it was nice to be able to focus on the shipboard experience as well as the ports themselves. 

The weather was not as good as it could have been, but you've got to expect that in the fall on the East Coast, especially given the weather we've had all summer.

The Caribbean Princess, christened in 2004 by Jill Whelan (daughter of Capt Stubing on "The Love Boat"), is fresh from a renovation, adding the International Cafe and Vines Wine Bar and shop.  These are great additions to the ship, and provide excellent options for light meals and snacks, as well as wine tastings.  The ship was the first in this series of vessel, followed by Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princesses, the latter ships having already made changes to add these areas, as well as placing Sabatini's, the specialty restaurant offering a 17-course tasting menu, on deck 16 aft, which allows additional space, many windows, an outdoor area with fountains, and an adjoining piano bar, Adagio.  Overall, the ship is lovely and quite enjoyable, with many options for entertainment and sports.

We did the itinerary in reverse, having the day at sea first followed by Halifax.  Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is a beautiful city that offers a plethora of sightseeing options, both in and out of the city.  The Citadel, from Halifax's military past, was used to defend the city and its harbor, the deepest harbor in North America, against invading pirates and others.  The Maritime Museum offers a reminder of Titanic, as many of the remanents were brought here and deck chairs are on display.  Halifax experienced a great fire which killed many residents, and the history of this can be found here and at the cemetary.  Great shopping, beautiful gardens, and fine dining are among the many other things to do available in Halifax.  Outside of town, you can find Peggy's Cove, one of the most scenic and lovely spots in the Northeast, along with its lighthouse and beautiful town; enroute to Peggy's Cove, you ride along St Margaret's bay, which provides exquisite scenery to enjoy.  There are many other side trips/shore excursions available that I can help you select.

St John's New Brunswick is most famous for its reversing tides that is a geologic phenomena.  There are many ways to experience the waters, including jet boat, raft, bus (stops), and cruise.  The Bay of Fundy, known for lobster and chowder, is a very interesting area.  St John's is also home to the St John's River, the Rhine of America, and there is a shore excursion to enjoy this as well.  The city is home to Old City Market, which can be accessed directly from the Old Burial Ground or by walking up a very steep street.  Alternatively, you can begin in Market Square and walk through a connection of indoor malls, passing the City Hall and some other famous structures.   The Old City Market is a wonderful place to experience the food and souvenirs offered by this destination.  Adjacent to the market is one of the finest seafood restaurants in the East, and I'll be happy to provide more information when you book your cruise with us.

Bar Harbor, known as BaaHaabaa to locals, is one of the most beautiful ports along the cruise, and the most easterly point of the USA.  Home to Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain, it's the perfect place for shopping and recreation.  Also offered are excursions for whale watching, lighthouse discoveries, and island visits, since this area is comprised of many, many islands.  The fog and scenery will surely win you over here, and you'll have many opportunities to try some blueberry beer, blueberry ice cream and blueberry pie.  I've got all the information on where to get the best homemade samples of each.

Boston is a large city known for its historic value to the country. Take the freedom trail to hit all of the sites.  You can also visit the Aquarium, Fenway Park, and Qunicy Market/Fanueil Hall shopping.  Many places to eat, shop and dine, as well as lots to see both in and out of town.  At this time of year, of particular interest is Salem, which gets very spooky for Halloween!

Newport, RI, is home to the "summer cottages" for the wealthy New Yorkers that frequented this place less than a century ago.  You can take the cliff walk for a unique view of the mansions from the sea, or choose to tour one or more of them.  Most opulent is the Breakers, the Vanderbuilts' tour-de-force, but certainly any of them provide some interesting viewing and history.  Rosewood's ballroom was used in the film, "The Great Gatsby."  All are property of the Newport Preservation Society and are worth your while.  Hammersmith Farm is where Jackie Kennedy grew up and where her famous wedding took place.  You can also visit St Mary's church where the ceremony was held.  Shopping and dining are plentiful and "chowder" is the buzz word of the hour.  I can tell you the best place to get it where all the locals go!

This is a great cruise to experience some fall foliage (seasonal) some wonderful lobster, chowder, blueberry everything, infused with history, sightseeing and shopping.  Most ships sail from NY/NJ, so for those of you living in the East, it's a homeport. 

Call me to help you book your trip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under:  New England, Canda, Cruises
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