Most of us are caught in a heatwave that appears by no means ending, so it looks as if a superb time to remind everybody that fall is on its approach! We discuss lots about beachy cruises (Caribbean, Mexico, Mediterranean). However autumn is fall foliage season in northeast America, and it makes for a fantastic journey.
Mr. Mills and I took a 9 night time cruise to New England and Canada in 2018 for our 5-year anniversary, and it nonetheless stays certainly one of our favorites so far as ports go. We have now in any other case principally sailed to the Caribbean, and this cruise was simply so distinctive. In our land-lubber life, we’re foodies and beer connoisseurs, so we actually took that to coronary heart when planning this one, and I even took to calling it “The Beer Cruise.”
Be mindful this was in 2018, so pre-Covid. Some companies and/or itineraries could have modified since then. I believed it might be enjoyable to reminisce a couple of enjoyable crusing.
In case you are in search of one thing completely different, or simply need to get away from all this warmth, try our “Beer Cruise” itinerary*.
Cape Liberty
As a result of we booked the 9 night time cruise, we departed from Cape Liberty. Some New England & Canada cruises skip this port and depart instantly from Boston, and are 7 nights.
Learn extra: Information to cruises from New York
We flew into Newark Airport, and stayed at a resort close by. We took an Uber to the cruise port within the morning. I believe the drive took possibly 10-Quarter-hour at most. Pretty unexciting boarding course of.
We picked up our WOW bands at Boleros after which went about exploring the ship. I virtually missed sailaway, as a result of I had gone all the way down to the room for one thing, after which realized the ship was transferring. I’ve by no means sprinted up so many flights of stairs so quick! I’ll by no means try this once more!
Boston
Boston was the port we had been most excited for previous to crusing, but additionally one which was the primary time we’ve ever nervous about making sailaway.
We began with a tour of Boston Beer Firm–the oldsters that make Sam Adams. When you’re in Boston, and are a beer nerd, that is one that could be a should.
The tour is $10, and features a guided tour of the Brewhouse, tasting of the flagship Boston Lager, present seasonal, and an unique R&D model. I’m undecided in the event that they nonetheless do it, however we received to maintain our tasting glasses as nicely. There’s additionally a taproom on the finish the place you may hang around and drink extra nice Sam Adams beer.
We caught round for a drink, and met one other couple decked out in Houston Astros gear. We chatted with them, and ended up sharing a cab over to Fenway, our subsequent cease.
The opposite should do, when in Boston, is after all Fenway Park. We’re huge baseball followers, and are on a mission to go to all of the Main League Baseball parks within the US. So may we even contemplate lacking a house sport whereas in Boston’s port? Completely not. It was going to be an in depth name although, and we had been solely capable of catch 4-5 innings earlier than racing again to the ship.
Nonetheless, sitting in these iconic lacquered bleachers and listening to the crack of the bat because the ball raced in direction of the Inexperienced Monster…we wouldn’t have provided that up. Simply regulate your watch!
Portland
Subsequent up was Portland, Maine–that is actually the place the beer in The Beer Cruise got here into play.
I had booked us on the Maine Brew Bus, realizing that in such a brewery-heavy city, we’d by no means make it to all of them on our personal. This ended up being an important resolution, and we had a unbelievable day.
Not solely did we not have to fret about transportation round city, however the Brew Bus works with the breweries to ensure they’re getting in at the very best occasions, and are offering a superb expertise for his or her prospects.
For instance, at Bissell Bros, which is a significant sizzling spot and may have an enormous line across the constructing, we had been there earlier than open, to make sure we received full consideration from the workers.
The breweries we visited:
Additionally had my first Lobster Roll (I’m from Indiana, okay? Don’t choose me!) whereas in Portland, and oh was it all the pieces I’d ever hoped for. Butter and carbs and tender lobster. I most likely may have had 6 and been completely completely happy.
I extremely suggest Portland Lobster Firm in case you’re within the space.
Bar Harbor
I’ll admit, Bar Harbor was most likely our least favourite cease on the cruise–however we did have some enjoyable. It’s only a extra touristy spot, and because it’s an island, you’re a little bit extra restricted on what you are able to do.
The most well-liked excursions take you to the highest of Cadillac mountain, and we had booked a bus tour that wound its approach up for a vista view.
This took a few hours of our morning, and whereas searching over the bay was lovely–in case you get movement sick in any respect, I can’t suggest this one. Perhaps it was because of the beer tour the day earlier than, however we had been positively extra nauseous on this bus trip than traditional.
As soon as we completed the tour, we walked across the city a bit, and received one thing to eat. I couldn’t go to Maine with out getting at the least one entire lobster, since I’d by no means had one (once more…we come from a landlocked state), so we stopped at Stewman’s Lobster Pound for lunch.
It was enjoyable to interrupt aside the crustacean–positively a bit messy, although, and I believe I want to have it completed for me! We popped into Atlantic Brewing for a fast flight, earlier than it was again to the ship.
Halifax
After a number of ports in New England, we crossed the border into Canada. Halifax is such a historic metropolis, and whereas we had been doing a pub crawl, there’s actually no scarcity of issues to see.
Our crawl was on a tour by Royal Caribbean, and we got tickets for various bars and eating places round city. We had the choice to hop on a trolley bus, however Halifax is fairly walkable, albeit hilly!
In case you are able-bodied, I’d stroll it, and benefit from the sights alongside the best way, though I’ll admit to taking the bus again to provide my drained legs a break.
Earlier than we kicked off our crawl, we began at Garrison Brewery, proper off the port. This ended up being our most memorable beer joint from the journey, and we’re nonetheless speaking about going again 5 years later. They serve their flights on beer barrel staves, and so they aren’t quick pours both.
The beers had been tremendous diversified, from IPAs and stouts, to a margarita bitter that was approach earlier than its time. There was a spruce beer that we needed to carry residence. Simply glorious, nicely completed brew that could be a should for any fermented fanatics.
The crawl included a few historic bars in Halifax, in addition to a number of newer choices. We even visited Alexander Keith’s, which is among the oldest working breweries in North America.
Saint John
Our final port cease of The Beer Cruise was Saint John’s in New Brunswick.
This was the one port the place we did not go to a brewery, however we had an tour that took all day. In your first go to to Saint John’s, there’s actually just one factor you have to be doing, and that’s to go to the Reversing Rapids.
This can be a pure phenomenon brought on by the acute tidal circulate within the space. As a result of it’s such a drastic tide, it causes the Saint John river to circulate in two reverse instructions, relying on the time of day! We received to see it at each occasions, and it actually demonstrated how highly effective nature might be.
We additionally received to see the tide are available rapidly on the Bay of Fundy, which is the place we ate lunch earlier than heading again to see the rapids a second time. Alongside the best way, you’ll see the river at each high and low tide, and it’s actually cool to see such drastic modifications.
Final ideas about this itinerary: As a result of we took our New England/Canada cruise in September, there have been only a few youngsters on board. The gang was much less households and extra 50+.
As a result of this was the dynamic, the actions didn’t really feel like the standard Royal Caribbean programming we had been used to. It was positively geared extra in direction of a extra upscale, older viewers.
Much less poppy, kid-friendly, and extra artwork & tradition. I’d think about that varies in case you take this cruise throughout busy vacation weeks, however simply one thing to remember. In any other case, we beloved the port stops, and would completely do that cruise once more.
