Although we were too soon to see the fall foliage at its peak, we enjoyed our New England / Canada cruise in September with our friends, Greg and Chris Shepard. We boarded Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas ship on September 8 and sailed along the coast of New England and Canada with shore excursions at the various ports. Ten days later, we sailed down the St. Lawrence River into the harbor at Quebec City. After spending the day and night there, we rented a car and continued traveling to Montreal and driving through New York and Vermont.
On September 7, 2013, we flew from Salt Lake City to Newark, New Jersey and stayed in the Best Western Plus Hotel.
The next afternoon, departing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, we began our cruise. The following photos bring back happy memories of a fun trip.
New York Harbor seen from the ship
as we came on board ready for our
New England / Canada cruise.
Inside our ship, Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.
September 9 - Sea Day
Ready for the entertainment on board.
(Sam, Narene, Chris, and Greg)
A tribute to Motown and R&B starring Spectrum.
This was the show on our second day. We enjoyed
it so much that we went again to the second show.
Our entertainment the first day was a welcome aboard show
featuring the comedy of Ivan Pecel.
Day 3: Fast Forward, a production by the
Royal Caribbean singers and dancers.
Day 4: a magic show, Magic of Misdirection,
starring Matthew Fallon.
Day 5: Invitation to Dance
starring the ship's singers and dancers.
Day 6: the music and comedy impressions of
Joey Van, a good show.
Day 7: comedian Etta May,
whom we did not enjoy.
Day 8: Wild Cool and Swinging,
by the ship's singers and dancers.
Day 9: Analiza Ching's performance,
a young and very talented violinist.
Day 10: Farewell Variety Show,
starring members of the ship's entertainers
featuring Carl William, the
French Canadian singing star.
Day 11: comedy of Jimmy Carroll.
We also enjoyed watching the ice show,
Spirits of the Seasons, in Studio Bon the ship's ice rink.
In the theater, I enjoyed seeing again
the latest movie of Les Miserables.
This ice sculpture was at the entrance
to the late-night banquet on the ship.
to the late-night banquet on the ship.
September 10 - Portland, Maine - Shore Excursion Portland City and Lighthouse Tour
Our ship in the harbor at Portland, Maine.
Portland, Maine - Lighthouse Tour
Portland Head Lighthouse
Ordered Lobster Rolls - Lobster Shack at Two Lights.
Chris's sister, Valerie, gave us a sightseeing tour
in the Portland, Maine, area.
(Chris, Valerie, and Narene)
Chris's sister, Valerie, gave us a sightseeing tour
in the Portland, Maine, area.
(Chris, Valerie, and Narene)
September 11 - Bar Harbor, Maine - Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
Thunder Hole - Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, Maine
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
(Sam and Narene)
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
(Greg, Chris, and Narene on the bridge.)
September 12 - Saint John, New Brunswick
Bay of Fundy - Saint John, New Brunswick,
where each day 100 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out
during one tide cycle. We were not able to time it
to see the landscape when the tide was out.
Sea cave near St. Martins - New Brunswick
(Narene)
(Narene)
Two covered bridges at St. Martins - New Brunswick.
(Greg, Chris, Narene, and Sam)
St. Martins - New Brunswick
John Hooper's wooden sculptures at
St. John, New Brunswick.
(Narene and Chris)
St. John, New Brunswick.
(Narene and Chris)
September 13 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Fort George, Citadel Hill - Halifax, Nova Scotia.
It was a rainy day, but the only one on our trip.
(Narene with two guards)
It was a rainy day, but the only one on our trip.
(Narene with two guards)
Fort George, Citadel Hill - Halifax, Nova Scotia
September 14 - Sea Day
September 15 - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
A war memorial at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
(Greg talking on his iPhone about picking up a rental car.)
Beach at Prince Edward Island.
(Sam and Narene)
(Greg talking on his iPhone about picking up a rental car.)
(Sam and Narene)
The home that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel,
"Anne of Green Gables"
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
(Chris and Narene)
"Anne of Green Gables"
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
(Chris and Narene)
Touring the inside of the house on the
Anne of Green Gables grounds.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Anne of Green Gables grounds.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Inside the barn on the Anne of Green Gables grounds.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
(Sam and Greg)
The Haunted Wood written about in
Anne of Green Gables.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
(Narene and Chris)
Sam and Greg on our tour of the location featured in
the novel, Anne of Green Gables.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Garden at the Anne of Green Gables location.
Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
(Narene and Chris)
September 16 - Corner Brook
Bottle Cove at Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
Bottle Cove at Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
(Narene and Greg on the trail.)
Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Our ship in the harbor.
Our ship in the harbor.
September 17 - Sea Day
Each evening we were greeted by a towel sculpture
on our bed in our room.
This pig is wearing my sunglasses.
Two more of the towel sculptures.
The elephant was a favorite, but did not get photographed
until after one eye was missing.
Coming into the harbor at Quebec City.
Another view from the ship approaching
the harbor at Quebec City.
Artists' Alley in Old Quebec City
where we purchased a winter farm scene featuring
an old barn that now hangs in our office.
Quebec City
A UNESCO historical site at the top of the hill
where the funicular ends in Quebec City.
Montmorency Falls - Quebec City
The falls are 98 ft. higher than Niagara Falls.
They drop over the cliff shore into the
Saint Lawrence River.
We walked over the suspension bridge for another
impressive view.
Old Quebec City with the funicular seen in the background.
The office of the funicular is behind us where
tickets are purchased to ride it to the top.
Sam and Greg did ride the funicular up to meet
Chris and I, and then we all took the stairs down.
(Narene and Sam)
Chateau Frontenac,
a huge hotel that towers over the landscape
in Old Quebec City.
a huge hotel that towers over the landscape
in Old Quebec City.
Quebec City to Montreal in a rental car
L'Hotel de Ville
(City Hall of Montreal)
(City Hall of Montreal)
Montreal, Canada
On a walking tour in Montreal, Canada
(Chris and Greg)
Leaving Montreal in a rental car, we continued our adventure back through New York and Vermont. These photos will be in the next blog.
