Halifax, Nova Scotia Review.... - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Boo's Mom · 10-07-2009, 03:49 PM

I pulled this from one of my reviews.
Some things never change....

The Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

Having to clear Customs, it took a while for the passengers to be allowed to disembark in Halifax. We arrived @ 8:00. I think it was after 9:00 before we saw folks getting off.

We arranged a private tour of Halifax with Greg Inglis of Kiwi Kaboodles's Tours and Travel. Greg is good. He books up and had to turn business away. We had such an enjoyable day with Greg....I highly recommend his tour.

Greg is from New Zealand. Very nice. Very knowledgeable. Very accomodating.

Greg picked us up along the waterfront in Halifax. He uses a mini van. He is the driver and the tour guide. His pricing is very reasonable.

We toured Halifax and then headed to Peggy's Cove...a 30 - 40 minute drive outside of Halifax. Arriving in Peggy's Cove, we are wowed by the sites ! The water, the rocks, the Lighthouse.....you just have to see it. There is a Post Office inside the lighthouse....so be sure to bring your addresses with you if you visit Peggy's Cove.

We had lunch at a tourist restaurant in Peggy's Cove, which has a large gift shop inside. They have great black/white prints for sale in this shop.

Proper shoes are required for walking around at the lighthouse area. Waves and wet rocks are treacherous...as we were warned several times.

I highly recommend a tour to Peggy's Cove. We were there about 1.5 hours....and could have used another 30 minutes to venture through the Cove...of only 60 residents. The Swiss Air Memorial is just outside of Peggy's Cove.

Greg ended our tour by dropping us at the Maritime Museum. We were very interested in the Titanic Exhibit. We paid $18.00 for a family day pass to the Museum. Time is running short for us, as we need to head back to the ship for our 6 pm dinner (Formal Night). We have only time for the Titanic Exhibit and it is very good. Of special interest is the breakdown of the 1st/2nd/3rd classes onboard the Titanic....what their cabins looked like....the different menu's they were offered...the prices they paid to sail.....and the advertisements that were published to sell this cruise on the Titanic.

I highly recommend this Museum.....but allow a couple of hours, to see the other exhibits.

I highly recommend Greg Inglis as a tour guide for Halifax. Did I say that already?

A 20 minute, very pleasant walk back to the ship from the Museum...on the Halifax boardwalk.

Upon boarding, you will need a photo ID...and your charge/key card...as you will have been on Canadian Soil.

Final Comment on Halifax: I love Canada. I have been to Canada on three occasions. I love the slow pace, cleanliness and how the Canadians are very "content" with whatever they are doing in life..

Char · 10-16-2009, 09:39 AM

Thank you for the good info about the tour and your tour guide.

Sounds like something I would enjoy. First hand experience is always appreciated.

LuLu · 10-16-2009, 05:01 PM

That's great information! Thank you so much!

The Titanic Exhabit sounds fascinating!

nealberk · 10-16-2009, 05:28 PM

Lulu, we had the opportunity to go to Halifax on our TA two years ago. I have nothing but good to say about the city. The day we were there was in late September but the weather was phenomenal. There were people in the park in short sleeves and loving the sunny day.

We took the HOHO bus around whcih suited us perfectly. We got to see all the sights from a very knowledgeable tour guide and we were impressed by the attitudes of the people. They still remember the two big disasters in the town history (the Titanic and the mega explosion in the harbor). Both shaped the city and both made it a better place.

I would also like to suggest that people go to the immigration museum. Halifax is to Canada what Ellis island is to the US.

A trip to the fort and the view of the city below is also on the must list. You can still hear the pipers perform daily.

A phenomenal city.