Dayenu

1) looking at September and October - I think September is better weather-wise, correct?

2) thinking of a one-way over round-trip - will this allow to see more, less back-tracking?

3) and advantages of going north or south, let's say Boston to Quebec, or Quebec to Boston?

4) is there a port in US or Canada that is better to start a cruise: Boston, New York, Quebec, Montreal, any other? Like better public transportation to the pier, less chaotic for embarkation/disembarkation?

5) anything else to keep in mind?

qwovadis

September best late to catch fall color will be more booked then
One way cheapest best check fall color calender which way matters little for me when i did it.

[email protected]
vacationstogo.com for discounts
Boston Based discounters like cruisecon.com super deals

Color changes every year for best experience keep up by
checking fall color calender...

cruisecritic.com for ship reviews...

Happy Cruising,

qwovadis

http://www.boston-discovery-guide.co...ge-cruise.html

Dayenu

Qwovadis, you've changed formatting, before your posts were like double-spaced, now they look normal, so much easier to read! Thank you!

ParrotMom

Since mother nature is very fickle you never know...leaves would be changing from North to South.. Second you might consider the ports offered..(oh yes, once we started to go to Bermuda from NYC ended up going north..l0l. Here are some ports that the ships might land at..Newport, R.I. (from NYC), Martha's Vineyard, Boston, Portland (charming), Halifax which is one of my very favorite places now, St. John which is absolutely lovely, Bar Harbor (best lobster in the world) and some now...depending on where the ship originates are stopping in Gloucester, Ma...and of course my beloved home... Boston..with the Black Falcon Pier now being surrounded by chic restaurants and a wonderful walking city...or now you can rent a bike.Boston at this time of the year is exciting, alive with students coming and going, tourists in from Europe to see the "colors" and of course the original "Duck Tours"

DAYENU you've helped me so much that it's my turn to help you if I can..SO...any questions that you want [email protected]

Dayenu

Thank you, Parrot Mom! I only glanced at the tours, but one certainly got my attention. "Ha! Ha!" in its name. I am intrigued.

Dayenu

Opppsss... I mean, one cruise stops at the port with Ha! Ha! in its name.

ParrotMom

Dayenu...must be a joke...there is one place called Corner Brook, a friend just camped there and said there is NOTHING, NOTHING..not even a "Trader Joes"s..lol One place that we loved was Halifax...and believe it or not the graveyard of the Titanic victims..St. John is old red brick homes, the Reversing Falls..the CityMarket and a secret lobster shack near the cruise ships.."they" told us the place is being bought by Europeans for summer vacations. Oh yes, in St. John your greeted by the Lord Mayor himself.

Dayenu

No, not a joke! Norwegian cruise, the port stop is "La Baie des Ha! Ha!" 7 night Boston to Quebec.

There is even a page in Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Baie,_Quebec

Learn something new every day

ParrotMom

NCL had in previous years a problem in that area....like running aground..lol and I notice it's only been a few years since the area has gotten together.. Sounds like a quaint village and no diamond and jewelry shopping..lol

jacketwatch

We did a R/T in 2009 NYC to NE and Canada and I agree that Halifax was wonderful. There is a maritime Museum there w/ a Titanic section. Boston was very cool as was my reception there by the locals. Could it have been my NY Yankees baseball cap?? Nah.
We were met by a friend in Portland ME. They gave us a great local tours which included lunch at the lobster shack which I saw featured on the travel Channel once. and also saw a fab lighthouse. We saw the bay of Fundy in St. John. Overall it was nice though for a day or two the weather on sea days kept us inside.

doug_stallings

I'm leaving on a cruise on September 17, and the disadvantage in doing a round-trip is the limited number of Canadian ports. We only have two in Nova Scotia (Halifax and St. John). I'm leaving from NYC, but I think Boston's port is easier to access than the various NYC piers, and since fewer cruises depart from there, it's less hectic. Plus, you get to see more of Canada and the fall colors.

If you wait and go in October, you may see less color, but the September cruises are already close to selling out, so you will have fewer cabin choices. There were relatively few cabins on my cruise when I booked in early August.

If you do want to leave from New York, take a look at Holland America's longer itineraries. They are a lot better than the 7-day cruise I'm taking. You can also leave from Quebec City or Montreal and sail down to NYC.

ParrotMom

DOUG..I'm excited about your going to Halifax...you can hire a taxi and go to the Titanic Graveyard which is very moving...and then the Citadel for the noon firing of the cannon.It is a colorful and hilly city.. Don't bother with Peggys Cove which is a tourist trap and if it's foggy you won't see a thing. In St. John there is a free public bus that will take you to downtown.. you can then take a bus to the Reversing Falls...we took the ferry back to the square with all sorts of sea lions cavorting. Check with the locals to see if it's still there but on the walk back to the cruise ship on the left side set back is an authentic lobster shack. Boston now has free trolleys running from the Black Falcon Pier I believe to Quincy Market.. This area has now become a beehive of restaurants and pubs from JerryRemys, Atlantic Beer, Legal and so many more.

Dayenu

Thank you, all! Doug, I hope to read your report as my cruise is a year away.

Jacket: cap story duly noted, my husband will have SF Giants on

Parrot Mom: NCL will give a future cruise credit if something happened... hmmm... by the way, I like all about them except their no fixed dinner time policy.

Jimingso

We cruised from Montreal to Boston on HAL last September. Everything was going smoothly until Hurricane Earl arrived and forced us to miss three of our ports.

Hurricanes never affect New England and Canada, right, Irene?

ParrotMom

DOUG...never, ever wear a Yankee Jaket or hat in Boston...especially during the play off series. We took Wally The Green Monster toy with us from NY and although he had a great time these two Red Sox fans were the butt of many jokes...

ParrotMom

For those going and stopping in Bar Harbor there is an article in Cruise Travel this month about the port, Acadia National Park, whale watching and of course real Maine lobster, not the Carribean fake stuff (Boston snobs that we are we never ever order lobster on a ship). A little hint for you all... ask the crew members where there favorite lobster shack is.. Lobster right now in N.E. is inexpensive. Since it was several years ago since we did that trip.. let me reminisce abut having picked out in the shack two large soft shells (over 1 1/2) pounds each, steamers, corn and iced coffee... all put in a net to steam and when your number is called you carry the tray to the deck of the building next door and gorge yourself to the best lobster in the world (it's the cold waters that do it). If you still have room....there is a well known ice cream/candy shop up the hill where even President Obama stopped.