Comments about the Canadian and New England Cruises?

[rescuetink]

We live in NJ and we want to cruise out of NY for our next trip so we don't have to pay airfare. My DW wants to do the Canadian and New England cruise, but the kids and I want to do the Bahamas cruise because we want to go to Castaway Cay, our favorite place!! So my question to all you DCL DISers is what you thought of the Canadian cruise, and if you had kids travel with you how they liked it?

Thanks all!!

 

[Pens Fan]

We loved the 5 night Canadian cruise last October, so much so that we have booked a 10 day Canadian cruise for Sept 2018. That being said, it was just my husband and I. Most of the tours were based around sight seeing. Now, the sights are amazing! We booked a private guide at both ports and had incredible days taking photos, but I think a lot of kids would have been bored. There were not many kids on the ship either - though with the timing that was to be expected I guess regardless of where it went.

We were on the sailing right before the one that was rerouted for hurricane Matthew. For that cruise what was to have been a WDW and Bahamas cruise became a Canadian one. We were told by our head server that over half the passengers rebooked or cancelled due to the change. I guess that kind of tells you how they felt about going to Canada vs. the Bahamas.

Me, I'd rather go to Canada, but then I'm 53 years old.

 

[bbn1122]

I agree with the previous post. Kids would definitely prefer the Bahamas.

My families first cruise ever was a 4 day to Canada with extended family in 2009 on Carnival. We enjoyed our first cruise experience and St. John's, New Brunswick was nice. But, our future cruises all on DCL and mostly to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay were phenomenal.

That being said, DH and I are booked for a 4 night to Canada this October. We wouldn't mind visiting St. John, NB again, but we are going mostly to enjoy the ship. And we are in our 50's. Also, price was a big consideration. I would have done Bahamas if not for the cost increase.

If you can swing it do Bahamas. But a DCL cruise anywhere is always good.

 

[MammaMoe48]

...we have booked a 10 day Canadian cruise for Sept 2018.

Is this a 2018 Disney cruise? If it is, how did you manage that? The website only lists 2018 cruises up to May.

 

[Pens Fan]

Is this a 2018 Disney cruise? If it is, how did you manage that? The website only lists 2018 cruises up to May.

No, it's on NCL. Their entire 2018 schedule has been out for a little while. They were offering a $50 pp deposit special so we decided to go ahead a book it to get the cabin we wanted and then see what Disney offered (and what it would cost if Disney did something similar ) The one we booked goes all the way to Quebec City and overnights there.

 

[rescuetink]

Great information all!! I kind of figured that there would be a lot of great adult tours, but not much for the kids!! We love the ships so we don't mind the extra sea days!!

Now I just have to convince my DW!! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[jdb in AZ]

We've cruised Eastern Canada twice with Princess in early October so we could enjoy the fall foliage. We especially enjoyed Bar Harbor Maine and Quebec City, where the cruise ended. We overnighted at the historic Hotel Frontenac then flew home early the next morning. Wish we could have stayed longer.

 

[DizMagic]

Agree with pp. Took the 5 night Canadian last year (before Matthew). This was our 11th DCL. I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Sure, it was nice. But I wouldn't have to do it again. And we were 2 adults. I think kids would get really bored. I was a little bored honestly.

 

[lorimay]

We loved our Canadian cruise in 2012, it was our first non-carribeean Disney Cruise.
It was a totally different vacation, but so enjoyable. I wish it would have been longer than 5 days though.
Loved Peggy's Cove what beautiful views on top of the rocks.
I would love to do it again, but I would want stops in Boston and Maine this time.

 

[mmouse37]

We were on the rerouted Matthew cruise.....was a little hard to take when you had your heart set on warm weather and instead had cold weather in Canada!! I actually love Canada and took a DCL 5 night Canadian cruise back in 2012 out of NYC. I think my disappointment in October was multiplied as I had just done the Transatlantic cruise a few weeks before which visited a few Canadian ports..The rerouted cruise stopped at 2 or 3 of the same ports.

I think kids would like a Bahamas cruise better....just think there is more activities....just be prepared to have your itinerary changed if a hurricane heads of up the Coast!!!

MJ

 

[MaleficentRN]

A couple of years ago I put a vote to the family for a cruise to Canada or the Bahamas and I was the only one to want the Bahamas. So we sailed out of Manhattan last October. The kids will love it no matter where you go. My teens had a great time being on their own, going to the clubs, doing Halloween things. They never made it to the pools/slides as it was too cool and they were to busy anyway. I went to the hot tubs one day in a half hearted attempted to pretend I was in the Carribbean.
I wasn't crazy about the ports. I got off in St. John and had a massage at a nearby Aveda spa for half what one in the ship would cost. We rented a car in Halifax and drove to Peggy's Cove and other spots. Again, the kids enjoyed it. I was....eh.
I love the beach, the warm weather, laying by a pool. DH likes fall weather and wearing sweaters. How strongly do one or the other of you feel about each itinerary?
The funny thing is that if I had got my way we have have ended up in Canada anyhow due to the hurricane. And I would sail out of NYC again in a heartbeat. So convenient!

 

[Shanti]

Following

 

[mevelandry]

No, it's on NCL. Their entire 2018 schedule has been out for a little while. They were offering a $50 pp deposit special so we decided to go ahead a book it to get the cabin we wanted and then see what Disney offered (and what it would cost if Disney did something similar ) The one we booked goes all the way to Quebec City and overnights there.

Quebec is awesome!!!

 

[Pens Fan]

Quebec is awesome!!!

That is what sold us on the cruise - that and PEI as we've never been to either. It's a round trip cruise from NYC, but we overnight in Quebec City, so we get two days there. Lots of what if's for a cruise that far off so we might change to something else, but it's a destination that is definitely on our bucket list. I read on Scott Sander's blog awhile ago that there were rumors that DCL was in talks with Quebec City. That would be great but I'm afraid to see what it would cost! With NCL, we can cruise and still pay our son's college tuition . Any must do's for Quebec City?

 

[mevelandry]

That is what sold us on the cruise - that and PEI as we've never been to either. It's a round trip cruise from NYC, but we overnight in Quebec City, so we get two days there. Lots of what if's for a cruise that far off so we might change to something else, but it's a destination that is definitely on our bucket list. I read on Scott Sander's blog awhile ago that there were rumors that DCL was in talks with Quebec City. That be great but I'm afraid to see what it would cost! With NCL, we can cruise and still pay our son's college tuition . Any must do's for Quebec City?

I live in Montreal (3 hours from there). I went to Quebec only four times in my life. It is gorgeous. Do not miss the Old Quebec. There are a lot of nice little boutiques and restaurants. It looks fantastic at any time of the year but during fall with all the colors, it's even better. The Old Quebec Funicular will give you a fantastic view. Do not miss the Terrasse Dufferin and the Rue du petit Champlain.

If you've never tried "poutine" before that would be a good time to try. I know a lot of people rave about Ashton's but I wasn't impressed (it's all a matter of taste I think). I hear the Cochon Dingue is better but I have not tried it yet.

Friends told me "Le clocher penché" and "Le Pain Béni" are great (restaurants).

If you like to walk, "les plaines d'Abraham" is a nice place to take a stroll. Rich of history too.

 

[jdb in AZ]

That is what sold us on the cruise - that and PEI as we've never been to either. It's a round trip cruise from NYC, but we overnight in Quebec City, so we get two days there. Lots of what if's for a cruise that far off so we might change to something else, but it's a destination that is definitely on our bucket list. I read on Scott Sander's blog awhile ago that there were rumors that DCL was in talks with Quebec City. That be great but I'm afraid to see what it would cost! With NCL, we can cruise and still pay our son's college tuition . Any must do's for Quebec City?

https://www.viator.com/tours/Quebec...d-Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre-from-Quebec/d626-3455T2

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks for the Quebec tips!

 

[msmama]

I did one of the Canada ones with my son last year (he was 8 at the time). We didn't do excursions, just got off the ship and walked around at one of the ports (skipped getting off in St. John, walked around Halifax a bit - walked to a Tim Hortons for donuts).

It was really a ship heavy cruise, but that's what we wanted. He had tons of fun in the kids club. It was nice enough that I could sit outside and do whatever. He did swim a couple of times. He liked it enough that he's a cruise convert and we're doing a European one this summer. But what works for us is a high ratio of sea days to port days. We couldn't handle a port every single day!!

We're doing a Bahamas (with the day in WDW) from NYC this fall and I'm feeling "meh" about it. I don't really care much about the Bahamas.