I really like this city – at least the parts I have seen. The waterfront walk is so nice now that all the construction seems to be over. I even Googled average price of oceanfront condos in Halifax –
Mid-range oceanfront condo: ~$800k–$1M for a 2–3 bed unit with direct beach access
Luxury penthouse: $1.2M–$1.5M for a 4–5 bed penthouse with panoramic ocean views
Smaller waterfront unit: $600k–$750k for a studio or 1-bed with partial ocean view
Oh well. They are nice to look at.
After coffee and a leisurely breakfast, we left the ship about 9:45 and started walking to the downtown area. As I mentioned before, the walk to downtown is uphill.
There was some construction going on at various streets we had to detour around. However, the detour led us to a very nice park. We spent some time people watching before we headed back downhill to the boardwalk. My watch recorded 3 miles.
We spent the rest of the day in the Sea View area and as we departed Halifax, the clouds started rolling in and it became much cooler.
Tonight was the second dressy night, so we went to the main dining room for an early dinner since we had skipped lunch. Chuck had the beef tenderloin with crab and I had the NY strip. I had to give Chuck some of the steak. I didn’t realize how big it was going to be.
After dinner, we went to the Casino and then to the first set of the Ocean Bar band. We decided to see the repeat of Breton Thunder’s “Unleashed” show since we enjoyed it so much the first time.
After it was over, Chuck decided to play some cards, and I called it a night. Somehow, we managed to miss the Chocolate Surprise parade of servers handing out all sorts of chocolate treats. Bummer. 😒
Chuck woke up feeling great this morning so after coffee and a Lido breakfast, we decided to go for another walk in Sydney.
This time we retraced our steps from a previous visit. I wanted to see if the Gargoyle was still keeping watch in someone’s yard. He was. We walked about 2 miles round trip.
Still looking good!
When we returned to the ship, I found our Immigration schedule for Portland, Maine and our luggage tags for disembarkation for Boston.
There are pros and cons to having to go through Customs and Immigration in a port other than the disembarkation port. Our time in port for Maine on Friday is 1:00 to 9:30. We have nothing scheduled.
However, if you have an independent tour scheduled, you might be out of luck if your time to meet with C & I is later than your tour time. Nobody gets off the ship until they meet with officials and people with HAL tours get priority times. If the officials get to the ship late, too bad for you. The ship doesn’t control C & I.
However, once we get to Boston, disembarkation should go very smoothly and no C & I will be necessary. We have already done it in Maine. Grab your luggage, grab a ride, and off to the airport.
We spent the afternoon by the pool. Before dinner, we attended a performance by the Vivace Strings – a trio (pianist, cello, violin) who perform both classical and contemporary songs. They have also performed in the main dining room during dinner. They are excellent musicians.
Tonight was the Orange Party for this cruise. The party this time was being held at the Lido pool area which I think is a better venue than the World Stage. We went to the main dining room for the Dutch dinner menu. Chuck had the Dover sole and I had the pork cordon bleu.
We attended the Hal singers and dancers performance of “Feel the Beat” – an upbeat presentation of music and dance from the different decades. It was a very good show. After the show, we stopped by the Lido pool area, and the Party was in full swing.
The guide gave us information about the Citadel on the ride back from Peggy’s Cove so when we arrived, we were free to explore the grounds and the museum on our own.
Our last stop was the Public Gardens. I love those gardens. We have wandered around the grounds on previous stops but this was the first guided tour. I enjoyed hearing about the history of the Gardens of Queen Victoria while I admired the flowers.
I thought it was very interesting that there are plants from every continent in the World, except Antarctica, represented in these Gardens. I am glad it was guided though because I would have kept wandering and missed the ship if left on my own.
One of the many Garden residentsDesert plants that are dug up before every Winter, stored in climate-controlled greenhouses, and then replanted when it’s warm enough for survival.Sunday concerts are held in the SummerReplica of the Titanic drawing the attention of a local sea gull.Never know who might be hiding in the flora.
While we were almost finished with the walk, the guide got a call from the port asking about our return as it was 5:25. He told them we were close to the bus. Then he kept talking as he said we paid for the full tour, and we should get it.
We were the last bus to arrive at the port at about 5:40. We left Halifax at a little after 6:00. The Captain warned us to expect rougher seas than last night. I took a Bonine to be on the safe side.
We had the New England Themed dinner in the Lido that night. It was excellent. We each had the crab mac and cheese, haddock, and shrimp.
We finished the evening listening to one set of the Ocean Bar Band and then going to the 9:00 show of Breton Thunder “Heritage.” Breton Thunder has different members sailing on the different HAL ships that stop in Canada. Each group sings the same songs for their performances. The You Tube video below is a group from 2025 singing one of the songs from the “Heritage” show.
After some time in the Casino, we called it a night.
We’ve been to Halifax before, but we had never seen Peggy’s Cove, the inside of the Citadel, or walked through the Titanic Cemetery. We decided to take a HAL tour that would include all those places and a guided walk through the Public Gardens. Even though we had to set the clocks forward one hour last night, I still managed to get up at 6:30 and we had room service breakfast delivered at 8:00.
After breakfast, we decided to go to the Sea View and watch the sail-in to Halifax. As we neared the elevators, I spotted a rubber duck on the railing. If you have never heard of the cruise craze of hiding and finding rubber ducks, it is a real phenomenon. Some people bring a suitcase full of rubber ducks to hide around a ship. You can even upload your finds to a Facebook Cruising Ducks page.
I have found very tiny ducks before, but this one was the first standard one I have seen. I’m a card-carrying AARP member so did I smile and just leave it on the railing for a child to find? Nope. I grabbed it like it was solid gold.
Once we got to the Sea View deck we saw how foggy it was and learned that rain was in the forecast. I knew we needed to pack our rain jackets as it was a long tour.
Our tickets said that we should meet our group on the pier at 10:15. I prefer to meet in the World Stage. You wait for your tour to be called and then disembark as an orderly group. But we’ve met on the pier before. You just have to look for the HAL representatives once you disembark the ship. The problem with today was that we weren’t even supposed to get to the port until 10:30.
Apparently, everyone else got the same notice to be out on the pier at 10:15 so when the announcement came that we could disembark at 10:30, it was chaos in the halls and exit to the gangway. One of the worst port disembarkations that I have ever experienced.
It was so poor that I cancelled the other HAL shore excursion that I had booked because it too had us meeting on the pier 15 minutes before our docking time. I wasn’t going to fight my way through another crowd like that. I definitely noted the mess in my exit satisfaction survey.
The tour today was Best of Halifax – 7 hours
ABOUT THE EXCURSION: Experience Halifax’s top things to see and do, all in a short time.
Head out of town to Peggy’s Cove — Nova Scotia’s most authentic fishing village to see the well-known lighthouse — the most photographed one in Canada. Take time to visit and explore the rugged, sea-sculpted granite shores.
Sit down for a group meal at a local restaurant.
Visit the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where 121 victims of the Titanic disaster are buried.
Escape to the lush oasis of the Halifax Public Gardens — an authentic Victorian garden nestled in the city’s busy downtown.
See the busiest street east of Montreal — Spring Garden Road — voted the “best place to people watch” with its many restaurants and boutiques.
Finally, explore Citadel Hill, one of Canada’s most visited National Historic Sites, with a fantastic city view. Step into the buildings, see the cannons and watch the 78th Highlanders regiment on site.
Notes: At Peggy’s Cove, visitors are asked to stay off the rocks and away from the shoreline. Terrain includes gravel pathways, paved areas, wooden decking, cement sidewalks, inclines, steps and rocky areas. Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Bring a warm sweater; bring an umbrella and a rain jacket. Tour sequence may vary.
Once we finally made it to the tour bus, I was happy to find that it was comfortable and we could hear the tour guide easily. We didn’t leave until 11:00 so if we were really going to be gone for 7 hours, we would not be getting back at 5:30. Oh well, that was HAL’s problem.
The guide decided to go to the Titanic Cemetery first to try and beat the predicted rain. I was under the impression that the cemetery was only for Titanic victims. No. Its name is Fairview Cemetery and only one section is dedicated to the Titanic.
I also hadn’t realized they couldn’t identify everyone that they found from the Titanic. The gravestones were numbered that corresponded with the body that was rescued. It was sad to see the markers that only had a number and there were many of them.
Some people were identified and their families were able to provide a descriptive marker (but it still had a number on it) if they declined or couldn’t afford to bring their loved one home.
At one point, some years ago, a company got permission to exhume some of the graves of the unknown victims to see if DNA matching could be used to find relatives. Only one body was identified – a young child. They were able to use trace DNA to match relatives from England. The other graves either didn’t have enough trace DNA or no relatives were found. Our guide said that was the only time it was tried and won’t be tried on any more graves.
The marker below became famous in 1997.
People would flock here and leave so many flowers every day that the grounds crew would have to clear them out each evening to make room for the ones coming the next day. The guide said that this person was not the real “Jack” but nobody could convince the thousands of fans. Even today, people still leave trinkets and some flowers.
The cemetery also has markers for the victims of the 1917 Halifax Explosion which was the largest human-made explosion ever recorded until Hiroshima.
Once we boarded the bus again, we began the drive to Peggy’s Cove. The drive takes about an hour. The predicted rain came in torrents, and I thought it would last the rest of the day.
However, by the time we reached Peggy’s Cove and our destination – the Sou’Wester Restaurant, the rain had stopped. The guide had already called ahead with our order. It was a fixed menu – non-alcohol drink, either the seafood chowder or a spicy Thai vegetable bowl, and a slice of warm gingerbread with either a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Chuck and I both opted for the seafood chowder and gingerbread with ice cream. Chuck was dismayed to see mussels in the shells resting on top of the chowder, so I was happy to take them off and put them in my chowder.
My only complaint was that the seating was very tight. There were 8 of us at a table for 6. The restaurant and its store were packed with people.
We had time to wander around enjoying the ocean view, but we didn’t venture close to the lighthouse. As I mentioned, the rain had stopped but it was still foggy. Despite the signs all over the property warning about slippery rocks and saying stay close to the lighthouse, there were parents letting their children scoot down the rocks close to the breaking waves. Scary.
Some people opted to go farther into Peggy’s Cove for shopping, but I had found a lighthouse ornament at the restaurant store so I wasn’t interested in looking at the other shops.
Everyone was back at the bus at the correct time, so we were now heading back to Halifax to tour the Citadel.
Having been here before, we had no pressing plans so we were able to start our day enjoying our coffees and a Lido breakfast.
We arrived in Halifax at 10:00 a.m. but ship clearance took almost an hour. The Cruise Director kept asking us over the intercom to not crowd the hallways or the gangway area but people did it anyway. We stayed on the Sea View deck until we could see the first rush of people finally make their way off.
We chose not to walk uphill into the City as we have done on previous trips. This time we ambled down the boardwalk admiring all the new high-rise buildings that have been completed since our last visit. They have stores and restaurants at the boardwalk level and condos on the upper floors. I bet the view and prices are spectacular. I couldn’t figure out where their parking was though.
It was such a nice day, the boardwalk was crowded with kids playing in the different kid zones, people dog-walking, and others shopping and eating. We made our way down to a little kiosk called BeaverTails. I wanted to try one of their pastries as I had heard others talk about how good they are.
I ordered the apple pie beavertail. It basically was a flat funnel cake with apple pie filling and cinnamon on top (shaped like a beavertail). Of course it was delicious but so messy. I should have ordered the beaver bites – donut holes with different flavored drizzles. Maybe next time.
After that indulgence, Chuck was ready for a nap. Luckily, the boardwalk was equipped with hammocks and chairs.
After getting back to the ship, we spent the sunny afternoon back on the Sea View deck. One annoying thing about being in a Canadian port. There is a rule that only one bar per deck can be open. The Sea View deck bar was closed so if you ordered any type of drink – alcoholic or not – the servers had to go all the way to the middle of the ship to the Lido bar to get the order filled. The Lido pool area is nice, but it was so much more pleasant on the Sea View. The Sea View Bar can’t open until we are back out at sea. This situation will be present for the entire cruise. I just don’t see the logic behind this rule.
We opted for an early dinner in the main dining room. I had the cod and Chuck had the veal cutlet. It looked a lot like their wiener schnitzel. I liked the cod. Chuck said the cutlet was tough. I failed to get any photos.
Google photo of wiener schnitzel (looked exactly like what Chuck had)Google photo of baked Cod (very similar to what I had)
Once we left Halifax, the Casino opened, and Chuck played cards while I attended the show Crossroads by the HAL singers and dancers. They sang everything from Dolly Parton to Neil Diamond. I really enjoyed it.
We ended the night with the last set of the Ocean Bar Band.
Woke up to a gorgeous day in Halifax. No overcast skies this morning. Nothing but blue skies and sunshine.
We enjoyed a Lido breakfast and let the bulk of the passengers disembark at 8:00. Our destination today was the Public Gardens of Halifax, so we were not in any hurry.
Once we did get off the ship, our next decision was whether to walk there or take an Uber. Even though the destination was uphill, we decided to walk. We were definitely not speed-walking. More of a meandering stroll.
We even decided to stop at Bliss Caffeine Bar for a cappuccino for me and an iced tea for Chuck – gave us a little more pep in our step. We didn’t order any pastries because we were still full from breakfast but they looked delicious.
Once we arrived at the Gardens there were several tour groups from the ship already there, so we just started at a different location in the park. The garden also gives free tours with the times listed outside of their little visitor center. Public restrooms are also available. We looked at all the flowers and stopped to watch the ducks. Just a very pleasant morning.
Titanic replica in the pond
We took a different route back to the ship. Though the route was longer, it was easier because we were going downhill. We got back in time for a Lido lunch. The day continued to be warm, so we enjoyed the hot tubs on the Sea View deck, and I even got in a little sun-bathing.
The Casino opened at 4:30 so we spent the pre-dinner time there. Dinner tonight was again in the main dining room. I had the beef brisket and Chuck had the sole. We gave each other some of our meal so we each ended up with surf and turf.
We went to the first set of the Rolling Stone Lounge Band and then went to the Breton Thunder “Unleashed” performance that we missed last week. It was just as good as their “Heritage” performance that we did see.
I called it a night, but Chuck went back to the Casino to play some cards.
We had breakfast in the Lido because we had an early HAL tour today. We were leaving the town of Sydney today and going to the countryside. There was a chance of rain, so we made sure that we packed our raingear in our backpacks.
Start your journey with an introduction to the port of Sydney and a panoramic drive through the historic North End.
Step back in time to 1744 and experience the Fortress of Louisbourg — the largest fortified town outside of Europe. Louisbourg was once a thriving seaport and capital of Île Royale (Cape Breton Island) — the third-busiest harbor in North America and one of France’s key centers of trade and military strength in the New World. Situated along a rocky Atlantic coastline, the site now serves as an exciting and entertaining lesson in Canadian, American, French and British history.
You’ll see a selection of buildings and exhibits as costumed actors re-enact the lives of specific individuals residing here during the pre-siege era. Experience the life of a military officer as you visit the home of Captain and Madame DeGannes. Discuss household duties with the servant in the Engineer’s Residence and discover some tips and tricks for open-hearth cooking (which every domestic cook needs to know, of course). Wander up to the spectacular chapel in the King’s Bastion.
Stop and talk to a soldier about his guard duty, living conditions, security and (most interestingly) diet.
Notes: Arrivals before May 22 are during the Fortress’ low season; guests will have access to the grounds only (no indoor visits). Arrivals from May 22 to June 30 and after September 15 will feature a trio of rotating workshops. Tour requires considerable walking. Terrain includes varied surfaces, including gravel, grass, mud, paved and unpaved paths, steps, stairs, boardwalks, and inclines. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress warmly in layers with a wind- and waterproof outer layer; on cooler days, bring gloves, a scarf and a warm hat.
We met on the dock and, once we were checked in, were directed to one of the two busses that were taking people on this excursion. The bus was comfortable, and the sound system was working well so we could hear the guide. Took about an hour to get to the Fortress.
We were given 2 hours at the Fortress. You had the option to stay with the guide or explore the Fortress on your own. We opted to stay with the guide. Without the mic, he was kind of a low-talker so I missed some of his commentary but the signage all over the Fortress was helpful.
We started in the museum that was featuring a 1000-piece Lego replica. The guide told us that it had been on display for quite a while and was popular. However, it was soon to be dismantled because the Legos had been donated by the company and now they wanted their Legos back. Glad we were able to see it.
We enjoyed walking through the various buildings and talking to the re-enactors. Unfortunately, it started raining just at the time they were going to fire the cannon, so we didn’t get to see that happen. The heavy rain lasted for about 20 minutes.
French soldierKing’s BastionThe chapelShackles for prisonersGovernor’s houseTavernEntrance into Fortress from waterLouisbourg Cross
The two hours passed quickly, and we were soon making our way back to the ship. We got back in time for lunch in the Lido. When we got back to the cabin, our disembarkation papers had been delivered. The paper stated that our Mariner benefit would allow us to disembark anytime between 8:00 and 9:30 on Saturday. Because our flight wasn’t until 2:00, we would wait until 9:30.
After all that walking, a nap was in order. Luckily, we woke up in time for happy hour. So tonight, we decided to eat in the main dining room. There was a longer line to get in the dining room that I had seen in a long time. However, the line moved quickly. We were seated at the same table for two as the other night. I enjoyed my meal of eggplant parmigiagna and Chuck enjoyed his baked cod but the wait time between courses seemed excessive tonight. (Again, I forgot to take a photo).
The Rolling Stone Lounge Band had the night off and the HAL singers and dancers were performing on the main stage, so we spent more time in the Casino. Seemed like others had the same idea as the machines were ringing and beeping tonight.
Because we were not arriving at the port of Sydney until 11:00, the ship offered a variety of things to do this morning. Most people were planning to go to the “Ask the Captain” seminar in the World Stage. They are interesting presentations but I was more interested in going to the Future Cruise Consultant’s presentation on … wait for it … future cruises.
Once I watched her presentation, I went down to her desk to sign up for a consultation for that afternoon.
When I went back to the cabin, I saw a sign in the hallway indicating the bow was open. I had heard no announcement about it, but I got my camera and headed out.
The Captain doesn’t open the bow often. However, today was a beautiful day and it would be nice to see Sydney come into view. I was shocked when I went out and realized I was the only person out there. I maintained that status for about 15 minutes when others started to arrive. I know there must not have been any loudspeaker announcement because other times (especially in the Panama Canal) the bow is very crowded if it gets opened.
Once I had finished taking photos, I went inside and found Chuck at the Sea View area and we got a Lido lunch. We let the big rush of people disembark before we made our way off the ship.
The last time we were in Sydney our walk was interrupted by a big protest march by some union workers.
Today we finished that walk in the historic district. We spent about an hour walking the few blocks and admiring the architecture and yard art.
When we came back to the ship, Chuck decided he would like to try the hot tubs and pool. I needed to get to my appointment with the Future Cruise Consultant. I was a little early but the couple in front of me finished up and she called me next. We talked for a while, and I ended up booking two cruises for 2026. Yay!
Wasn’t long before it was time to get ready for our Canaletto dinner. We both stuck to our favorites – Chuck with the meatball appetizer and ossobuco for the main course and me with tiger shrimp appetizer and rack of lamb. We split some gelato for dessert. As always, we enjoyed our meal there.
By the time we finished the meal, we had sailed away from Sydney and the Casino was opened. Some people are so ready for it to open; they will go sit in front of their favorite machine 30 minutes before just to be sure no one else gets it. We’ve not done that, but we might if we ever won really big on one of the machines.
We went to the 9:00 show of the comedian John Wing. We both thought he had a very funny show. I described it to people as PG.
Performance on America’s Got Talent – 2o13
Once it was over, I called it a night and Chuck went back to the Casino to play some cards.
We had to set our clocks one hour forward last night. I was glad we didn’t have early plans for this morning. They also announced we would not have to have any face-to-face Canadian customs inspection. Yay!
We took the opportunity to have breakfast in the Main Dining Room. We were seated with a couple from Canada and a couple from Georgia. We had an enjoyable conversation. I like eating breakfast in the main dining room if I don’t have to be somewhere quickly.
Once we exited the ship, we decided to spend the day on the Hop-On / Hop-Off bus. However, what we failed to realize, until we saw them, was that there were two other ships in port today and many of their passengers were in line for the HOHO busses too. It was also very cloudy and threatening rain.
We still hopped on the bus but decided just to stay on for the whole route which took about 90 minutes. Since we would be back to Halifax next week, I hoped that the weather would be better then, and we could go to one or two of the sites we saw on the trip today.
It was a double-decker bus, and we were on the top deck. It was covered so I wasn’t concerned about getting rained on. It was kind of stuffy, so I was able to lower the window a little for a breeze. However, I had to contend with tree limbs trying to poke through and smack my head.
We enjoyed listening to the driver give the history of Halifax. He spent quite a bit of time talking about the Halifax explosion of 1917. He had relatives who lost their lives in that explosion. Of course, no tour of Halifax would be complete without a discussion of the Titanic.
Once we got back to the ship, we had some lunch in the Lido and then relaxed in the Sea View area. Stayed overcast but never started raining.
Time passed quickly and we were ready for our first dinner in the Main Dining Room. I was surprised the line was as long as it was. I was glad it moved quickly.
We both had clam chowder. I had the spaghetti alle vongole for my main course. Chuck had the beef short ribs. We each had carrot cake for dessert.
Google photo – I ate my dinner before thinking about a photo
After spending time in the Casino, we went to the 9:00 show of Breton Thunder. They are a Nova Scotia band, and we thought they were excellent. I think their sound was a lot like Kentucky Bluegrass.
Once it was over, we went to the last set of the Rolling Stone Lounge band. It was called the “Summer of Love,” and they played songs from Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Jimi Hendrix. Good for listening – not great for dancing.
Once they finished, we called it a night. I was happy to see our laundry had been returned.
Watched the sail away from Halifax in the Ocean Bar while listening to Cat. We had dinner in the main dining room again. I had the roasted chicken, and Chuck had the baby back ribs. I gave him some chicken in an exchange for a rib. Both were very good.
Rose’ Sangria
The Ocean Bar Band had the night off so we played some slots until time for the Comedian – Kelly MacFarland from Boston. I really laughed hard (even snorted once) at her routine, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a ship’s comedian so funny.
After the show, Chuck found a spot at the poker table and I came back to finish my photos.
Woke up at 7:30 again. Went for coffee and latte. I went outside just in time to see the pilot boat pulling aside to direct us into Sydney.
We had breakfast in the main dining room again. I typically get a small cranberry juice and then purchase a large fresh-squeezed orange juice. I drink these instead of coffee here. Today, our waiter got confused on what I ordered and mixed the two juices. Cran-Orange – not great but not bad. I also chose a new breakfast item – passion fruit yogurt – to try. It was very chewy with so much granola.
We were docked and cleared at 9:30. We left the ship about 10:00 and picked up a walking map at the information both. We toured the historical area and were able to go inside the St George church – oldest Anglican Church.
Street ArtStill piles of dirty snow in different places
We then headed to the shopping district and ran into another large protest group. There was also one in Halifax but this one seemed to have more people. Public Service Alliance of Canada appear to be on strike.
We turned to the waterfront area and walked the boardwalk back to the ship. We browsed shops and the craft market. We had our picture made by the giant violin.
We ate lunch in the Lido, and I came back to the room to work on photos. Chuck took a nap.
At five minutes to all-aboard time (5:00), I watched two HAL tour busses come wheeling in “hot” to let off tour groups. I could see shore excursion personnel talking on walk-in talkie- it’s now five minutes after five and then the last tour bus comes in just poking along – no worries. Once they got the passengers hustled aboard, the ship’s engines immediately fired up. Time to go. Time to get ready for the evening.
