I had taken 2 weeks off of work in July already. The timing was perfect as Seth and Rhys were headed to their Boy Scout Northern Tier trip that same weekend. So I started looking for something, anything, for the 2 of us to do during those 2 weeks. I finally found a very cheap cruise on Holland America with the right timing and to a location that we've never been before. Bingo! On May 11th, I booked a cruise for the 2 of us: the Holland America 7-day Canada and New England Discovery Cruise aboard the ms Veendam in an ocean-view cabin.
| Cruise Itinerary - 7 Days from Quebec City to Boston | |||
| Day | Port | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada | -- | -- |
| Day 2 | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada | -- | 04:00 PM |
| Day 3 | Cruising Gulf Of St. Lawrence | -- | -- |
| Day 4 | Charlottetown, Prince Edward, Canada | 08:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| Day 5 | Sydney, Canada | 08:00 AM | 04:00 PM |
| Day 6 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | 08:00 AM | 04:00 PM |
| Day 7 | Bar Harbor, Maine | 08:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| Day 8 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA | 07:00 AM | -- |
Next step, book flights. This was also a challenge given that I had gotten such a cheap price for the cruise. I figured out that it was going to be much cheaper to fly out of Dallas than either OKC or Wichita. Luckily, we had the time to drive down to Dallas, stay overnight at my sister's house, and then have them take us to the airport the following morning. On our return, we would stay another night at their house and head back on the Sunday before I had to go back to work. I also got to add 3 days of work back before we leave so that somewhat justified paying for this trip. Hahaha.
Our flight from Dallas to Quebec City will leave at 10:30 am on Delta via JFK....$232 pp. Our return will be on Spirit airline from Boston to Dallas (direct flight)....only $93 pp. Totally worth it to make that extra drive to and from Dallas. BUT.....here was mistake #1 in my haste to book/plan this trip... I've never been on a cruise where you stay overnight in the same port that you cruise out of. Out of habit and experience, we fly into Quebec City the day before to spend the night so we don't "miss the boat" on the day of embarkation. On this cruise, however, we embark on Saturday, the 6th of July, and we stay another night before sail away the following day. Oops. We could have saved $399 that I paid to stay at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. I'm still excited to be staying at this historic hotel, though. At least this basically gives us 2 days to explore the city.
So, with cruise and airline now booked, it was time to dive into meals and shore excursions. My first stop, though, was the Cruise Critic message boards - always a wealth of information for any cruiser, where I easily found the roll call for our particular cruise. Surprisingly, there aren't very many people in this roll call. Maybe we'll have the ship nearly to ourselves.
First jackpot from the CC message board roll call was Tom's Port Guides - very very detailed information about almost all of the ports that we are going to. I downloaded each of the guides for our various ports onto my ipad for future reference.
With our itinerary and 3 restaurants to choose from on the Veendam (and taking into consideration the typical formal nights - probably Monday and Friday evenings), I booked dinners on board at:
Tuesday, 9 July, 6:30 pm - Canaletto, $10 pp
Wednesday, 10 July, 6:30 pm - Evening at Le Cirque, $39 pp
Thursday, 11 July, 6:30 pm - Pinnacle Grill, $25 pp
As for shore excursions:
Saturday and Sunday, 6-7 July, Quebec City
Predicted temperature: 83 F
Saturday morning to sleep in and/or check out the hotel. Check out of Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac by noon. The pier is within walking distance of the hotel (0.5 miles) so I think we can just take our luggage and walk through the city to embark?
Welcome lunch on board is from noon - 1 pm in the MDR. Afternoon and the next day free to explore QC. We have complementary tickets to the aquarium du Quebec. There is also the walking tour on Tom's Port Guides which we should probably do on Sunday, have lunch, then return to the ship. The ms Veendam sets sail at 4 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Monday, 8 July, Cruising Gulf of St Lawrence
2 pm - Elemis deep tissue massage, 50 minutes, $160
Formal night?
Tuesday, 9 July, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (8 am - 5 pm)
Predicted temperature: 74 F
8:30 am - Duncan's Island Tours, Anne of Green Gables Adventure with Terry Allen ((902) 393-5758 cell). Meet next to the information desk inside the cruise ship terminal near the exit.
4.5 hours
This tour is for the ultimate Anne fan but will also delight those fascinated by the beauty of PEI as described by The Anne of Green Gable author Lucy Maude Montgomery in her the Anne of Green Gables books, the first of which was published in 1908 to international acclaim.
Driving
through the picturesque Island country side you will view rolling
farmlands, coastal views and villages coming to life as she described
them in her novels. You will enjoy your first stop of the day at Silver
Bush, and the Anne of Green Gables Museum owned by the descendants of
Lucy Maude, the Campbell family her cousins. Lucy Maud’s books have
delighted generations with their colorful tales of the feisty,
red-headed orphan with the big imagination. “Silver Bush" which was her
name for the farm was the place where she was married and was the
inspiration for four of her novels including "Pat of Silver Bush" and
"Mistress Pat and her favorite book the Story Girl." The homestead was
built in 1872 by her Uncle John and Aunt Annie Campbell. It is also the
setting for her novel "Anne's Lake of Shining Waters." The house still
belongs to L.M Montgomery's family, the Campbell's, and you will
immediately see why she called it the "wonder castle of my childhood."
You will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful flower gardens,
the gift shop and enjoy views of the Lake of Shining Waters. 
On
our way to the next stop we will make a photo stop at French River, one
of the most photographed sites on the Island. A majestic fishing
village nestled at the base of the French River and surrounded by
beautiful farmland. You will also drive by Montgomery’s birth place
in New London which has been preserved as a historic site.No Anne Adventure would be complete without a visit to the charming Green
Gables
House, the old farm site that inspired the first Anne of Green Gables
novel. Located in Cavendish, the area that was inspiration for the
village of Avonlea in many of Lucy Maud’s novels. Because of that you
will be able to enjoy the well-kept gardens as well as tour the main
farmhouse, barns, outbuildings and extensive grounds. If you're a fan of
these classic novels, then seeing the island through the eyes of Anne
is an opportunity you simply cannot afford to miss.On your return to Charlottetown a trip through the national park and the fishing the village of North Rustico will complete your day.
Admission to the Green Gable sites are not included.
$270 for up to four passengers so we're looking for 2 more passengers to join us. $135 pp right now
Wednesday, 10 July, Sydney (8 am - 4 pm)
Predicted temperature: 72 F
10 am - Tartan Tours
Fortress Louisbourg
Step back into the year 1744 and stroll thru the streets of the fortress and watch history come alive right in front of your eyes. The streets are a buzz with talk with the impending war with the English. Talk to Noblemen, Soldiers , Servants and get to feel for what the day to day life was like (This tour is 4 hours and can be customized)
$373.75 for 4.5 hours
Taking this tour with John and Leslie Wilson as well as Tatiana and her daughter, Alex, from the Cruise Critic message board roll call. $62.29 pp
Thursday, 11 July, Halifax, Nova Scotia (8 am - 4 pm)
Predicted temperature: 73 F
We are booked for the Urban Scavenger Quest after a few other options didn't pan out. I was interested in the food tour in Halifax but it was already booked up.
Urban Scavenger Quest in Halifax
Take the Quest in HalifaxIndia Pale, Red Amber, Premium White, Light, and Dark. What are the varieties of Alexander Keith's ale? 1820. What is the year that Alexander Keith's was founded in Halifax? We hope you enjoyed that lightning round of Jeopardy. Now enjoy this Quest starting at Grand Parade.
Purchase your Quest here and be sent your code to enter at an online address provided on your E-Ticket. Register and schedule your Quest at that online address to set the ball in motion for you to "get your Sherlock Holmes on" by solving clues and puzzles while walking through interesting Halifax locations.
And, if you choose the "mystery restaurant" option when registering your Quest, you will get a secret password at the end of your Quest to figure out where you will be having lunch or dinner. The price of your Quest does not include the cost of the meal.
Cost: $22.73 per team and we requested the "mystery restaurant".
Friday, 12 July, Bar Harbor, Maine (8 am - 5 pm)
Predicted temperature: 68 F
9 am - At Your Service tours in Bar Harbor (5 hours)
Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor Maine's Premium Sightseeing Tours
Cadillac
Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond House, Asticou Gardens,
Somes Sound, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Park Loop Road, Mansions are a few
of the many options available to you for your custom narrated
sightseeing tour.Our driver-guides create a unique narrated experience tailored to your time and interests. Ride in comfort in your own private van that stops when and where you want for as long as you want.
Consider us an extension of your family while you are on vacation. Our goal is to provide you with the best island experience available by providing distinct personalized tours. All of our drivers are from Mount Desert Island with extensive knowledge of the area.
From the tour service: "The total is $400 for the tour (five hours * $80) , plus $40 per person for the lobster lunch.
Thanks,
See you on the 12th! We will meet you where you disembark for the
tenders, at street level. We wear bright red shirts that say At Your
Service Tours. We will have Eve Switzer on a sign."
John and Leslie Wilson will be joining us on this tour as well. We're looking for 2 more passengers to join us. $400 total + $40 pp for lunch = $110 pp right now
Saturday, 13 July, Boston, Maine
Predicted temperature: 87 F
We arrive into Boston at 7 am and our flight doesn't leave until 6:40 pm so we have the day to explore. I had to search hard to find what to do with our luggage when we arrive into Boston as there are no lockers at the airport. We can store our luggage at the MBTA south station at a place called Package Express on the 5th floor. I've read anywhere from $2-$5 per bag. Apparently, the lockers at south station are only for Amtrak customers. I toyed with the idea of booking a hotel room for the day - that's our backup plan in case we can't store our luggage at the station. According to google map, the station is very walkable from areas of Boston that we are interested in seeing: Emerson college, Chinatown, the Freedom Trail.
I put us on the waitlist for a Chinatown Market Tour at 9:30 am for 3.5 hours, $69 pp. Dim sum lunch is included. I guess the minimum for the tour is 4 person.
Boston Chinatown Market TourAre you intrigued, yet a little intimidated by the fascinating, colorful neighborhood of Chinatown? Crazy about Asian food, but easily confused by the huge variety of unfamiliar ingredients in markets?
Join us as we step through the Chinatown Gate on a walking tour through one of the oldest Chinese communities in America. Our Boston Chinatown Market Tour offers a glimpse into the daily routines of a Chinatown that, unlike many, has never been extensively developed for tourism. We'll explore a thriving ethnic enclave rife with colorful immigrant history and undiscovered "hidden gems".
The traditional Asian diet is believed to be one of the world's healthiest. Hippocrates said "Let food be your medicine, and medicine your food". Here in the West, this has largely been forgotten. To the Chinese however, there is a thin line between the two.
Follow your guide on this 3.5 hour tour of some of the best Chinese markets this side of Hong Kong.
• Slip inside a Cantonese barbecue shop and savor the
tastes and aromas of roasted and braised meats
• Check out the oldest traditional pastry shop and discover
the origin of moon cakes
• Visit an herbal pharmacy and explore the concepts of
Yin/Yang, the five elements , the twelve organs, and "qi".
Learn why some foods are "hot" while others are "cold"
• Experience the textural curiosity of bubble tea
• Find out what the chefs are buying at a 70 year old family
run grocery overflowing with exotic produce, the freshest
fish, and an endless array of spices and seasonings
• Learn the hallmarks of regional styles of Chinese
cooking and discover which "Chinese" dishes are of
American origin and unknown in China
Complete your stroll with a delicious Dim Sum lunch hosted by your guide, where you'll be shown the ins and outs of ordering from the roaming carts, as well as the unique rules of dining etiquette.
South Station Luggage Locker Option
Another convenient spot where you'll find luggage storage is at Package Express, located on the 5th floor of South Station (700 Atlantic Avenue). South Station is one of Boston's major train/subway terminals, and is near the Financial District, Chinatown, and the South Boston Waterfront.Storage at Package Express costs $5 per bag. Call in advance to make sure they're open: 617-526-1810. They only take cash but there's an ATM machine in the 1st floor waiting area.
From Boston Logan Airport, you can have any of the water taxis drop you off at the InterContinental Hotel, one block away, or you can take Boston's subway (the "T" as we call it here) directly to South Station from Logan. Check with the water taxi to make sure this will be considered a $10 Downtown stop - otherwise, the fare will be $20 each way. T tickets will cost you $2 each way.
You can also take a land taxi to South Station, but you'll probably pay more. However, if you're traveling with others, taking a taxi may end up costing less on a per person basis.
If, by chance, you're taking an Amtrak train from South Station and have a valid ticket, you can also store your luggage for $3/bag in the Amtrak Baggage Room (617-345-7458).
From South Station, you can easily walk a few blocks along Essex Street through Chinatown (treat yourself to dim sum), and then to Boston Common. From there, you can explore the Freedom Trail or cross Charles Street to the Public Garden and go for a Swan Boat ride or see the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues.
- See more at: http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/luggage-storage-in-boston.html#sthash.kvgYbaTf.dpuf
South Station Luggage Locker Option
Another convenient spot where you'll find luggage storage is at Package Express, located on the 5th floor of South Station (700 Atlantic Avenue). South Station is one of Boston's major train/subway terminals, and is near the Financial District, Chinatown, and the South Boston Waterfront.Storage at Package Express costs $5 per bag. Call in advance to make sure they're open: 617-526-1810. They only take cash but there's an ATM machine in the 1st floor waiting area.
From Boston Logan Airport, you can have any of the water taxis drop you off at the InterContinental Hotel, one block away, or you can take Boston's subway (the "T" as we call it here) directly to South Station from Logan. Check with the water taxi to make sure this will be considered a $10 Downtown stop - otherwise, the fare will be $20 each way. T tickets will cost you $2 each way.
You can also take a land taxi to South Station, but you'll probably pay more. However, if you're traveling with others, taking a taxi may end up costing less on a per person basis.
If, by chance, you're taking an Amtrak train from South Station and have a valid ticket, you can also store your luggage for $3/bag in the Amtrak Baggage Room (617-345-7458).
From South Station, you can easily walk a few blocks along Essex Street through Chinatown (treat yourself to dim sum), and then to Boston Common. From there, you can explore the Freedom Trail or cross Charles Street to the Public Garden and go for a Swan Boat ride or see the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues.
- See more at: http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/luggage-storage-in-boston.html#sthash.kvgYbaTf.dpuf
South Station Luggage Locker Option
Another convenient spot where you'll find luggage storage is at Package Express, located on the 5th floor of South Station (700 Atlantic Avenue). South Station is one of Boston's major train/subway terminals, and is near the Financial District, Chinatown, and the South Boston Waterfront.Storage at Package Express costs $5 per bag. Call in advance to make sure they're open: 617-526-1810. They only take cash but there's an ATM machine in the 1st floor waiting area.
From Boston Logan Airport, you can have any of the water taxis drop you off at the InterContinental Hotel, one block away, or you can take Boston's subway (the "T" as we call it here) directly to South Station from Logan. Check with the water taxi to make sure this will be considered a $10 Downtown stop - otherwise, the fare will be $20 each way. T tickets will cost you $2 each way.
You can also take a land taxi to South Station, but you'll probably pay more. However, if you're traveling with others, taking a taxi may end up costing less on a per person basis.
If, by chance, you're taking an Amtrak train from South Station and have a valid ticket, you can also store your luggage for $3/bag in the Amtrak Baggage Room (617-345-7458).
From South Station, you can easily walk a few blocks along Essex Street through Chinatown (treat yourself to dim sum), and then to Boston Common. From there, you can explore the Freedom Trail or cross Charles Street to the Public Garden and go for a Swan Boat ride or see the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues.
- See more at: http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/luggage-storage-in-boston.html#sthash.kvgYbaTf.dpuf
So, our final tally is approximately $2000 pp for a 1 week cruise including room, board, and tours.