1 day in St. John
 

We will be stopping on our cruise ship in St. John for 1 day. What are the top suggestions to do? Should we go on our own or book a tour through Cunard

Probably book the Cunard tour. St. John is small - pleasant, but may not offer enough to keep you busy for a day within walking distance of the port. What does the Cunard Tour involve? For instance, maybe they'll get you out to see the famous Fundy Tides somewhere like Fundy National Park which is a little over an hour drive from St. John. Or the quaint town of St. Andrews about the same distance in the other direction.
In your post asking the same question about Halifax, I suggested either option (tour or on your own) could be enjoyable. But Halifax is a much larger city than St. John with more to do in a fairly compact area.

These are the tours being offered by Cunard. What is your opinion?
SAINT JOHN HIGHLIGHTS
Saint John’s history begins in 1604, when Champlain landed near the present-day city on the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Explore this historic city, visit the oldest farmer’s market in Canada, a (more...) Approximate Duration: 2.5 hours
Adult Price: $39 / Child Price: $31 (12 & under)


RIDE THE RAPIDS
The Reversing River Rapids Jet Boat Ride is an adventure you won’t forget! See Saint John’s historic sights and then ride a jet boat along the famous reversing river rapids. (more...) Approximate Duration: 3 hours
Adult Price: $119 per person / Child Price: n/a


HARBOUR CRUISE & CITY HIGHLIGHTS
See the best of Saint John by land and sea. (more...) Approximate Duration: 2.5 hours
Adult Price: $89 / Child Price: $71 (12 & under)


ST. JOHN RIVER CRUISE
Enjoy an approximately two-and-a-half hour scenic cruise along the majestic St. John River, often referred to as the “Rhine of North America,” aboard the M.V. Voyageur II. (more...) Approximate Duration: 3.5 hours
Adult Price: $89 / Child Price: $71 (12 & under)


SCENIC ST. ANDREWS & THE FAIRMONT ALGONQUIN WITH LUNCHEON
Enjoy this scenic drive along the Bay of Fundy Coast to St. Andrews, a picturesque town where visitors have come for hundreds of years to breathe in the fresh sea air and settle in to a slower pace of (more...) Approximate Duration: 6 hours
Adult Price: $99 / Child Price: $79 (12 & under)


THE BAY OF FUNDY AT FUNDY NATIONAL PARK WITH LUNCHEON
Come experience the natural wonders of the Bay of Fundy on this exclusive tour of Fundy National Park. Joined by an interesting and knowledgeable National Park Interpreter, your visit to this beautifu (more...) Approximate Duration: 7 hours
Adult Price: $149 / Child Price: $119 (12 & under)


TRADITIONAL BAY OF FUNDY LOBSTER BAKE
There is no better Bay of Fundy experience than strolling along the shore as you get ready to crack a fresh, juicy Bay of Fundy lobster. Experience it for yourself on this Bay of Fundy Lobster cookout (more...) Approximate Duration: 2 hours
Adult Price: $99 / Child Price: $79 (12 & under)


BAY OF FUNDY COASTAL PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Led by a professional photographer, this tour will provide you with tips and techniques on photography at some of the Bay of Fundy sites. (more...) Approximate Duration: 3.5 hours
Adult Price: $69 / Child Price: $55 (12 & under)


BEST OF SAINT JOHN & REVERSING FALLS BY TROLLEY
View Saint John via a green San Francisco-style motorized trolley. (more...) Approximate Duration: 1.25 hours
Adult Price: $39 / Child Price: $31 (12 & under)

Are you going to Saint John, New Brunswick or St. John's, Newfoundland? An important distinction.

Ahhh I did not read the second post carefully enough: Saint John New Brunswick!

Recommendations are difficult depending on individual tastes and interests. I haven't done the Reversing Rapids outing, which I'm sure many people find fun (just not my thing). As for the downtown tours - as mentioned, St. John is a pleasant enough little city. I haven't cruised the St. John River, but have driven the valley with lots of views of the river. Again - I would call it pleasant.
I lean more towards unique scenic atractions in my interests, and so would probably choose the Bay of Fundy Coastal Photography Tour (depending on exactly where they are going), or the Bay of Fundy National Park. The tides are very unique - however - it's difficult to fully appreciate them unless you see both the high and low tide. But, I see this outing is 7 hours so may be designed to allow viewing of this contrast. St. Andrews is a nice little tourist town if you like that kind of thing - quaint with lots of arts and craft shops, cafes, etc.

These are the best bets:
Re>
SCENIC ST. ANDREWS & THE FAIRMONT ALGONQUIN WITH LUNCHEON


THE BAY OF FUNDY AT FUNDY NATIONAL PARK WITH LUNCHEON

TRADITIONAL BAY OF FUNDY LOBSTER BAKE

BAY OF FUNDY COASTAL PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Me, I'd go to the lobster bake. True, you can get lobster on the ship, but it is different on the ground, in New Brunswick.

Take the photography tour if you're a serious photographer, but skip this if you only take pictures casually.

I like St. Andrews, where there's a real town and things happening, better than Fundy, which is a nature-kind-of-place, with, my memory says, a great golf course. But the water is too cold for swimming, and the serson's past, and the beach is muddy, etc., etc.

St. John, itself, is not a lot of fun, and I've never in my life heard of the St. HJohn River being compared to the Rhine, and I've seen both.

BAK

The St. John river valley is beautiful, but you wouldn't really have time to enjoy it fully in a day...I'd go for St. Andrews.

By the way...locals spell the city Saint John, and the river is St. John...might not seem to be a big difference, but it is to us :)

I've been on a cruise with Cunard - it was the first time ever that the QEII stopped in Saint John - big welcoming party with the Mayor on hand and it seemed like everyone in the entire city turned out to see the ship off - even the crew said they'd never seen anything like it.

Re tour choices - don't pay for a tour of Saint John - you can walk everywhere worth seeing on your own including the market.

I think taking a harbour cruise when you're already on a ship that sailed into the same harbour (and will sail out again) is goofy myself.