Port Profiles | Portipedia

If there is one phrase that characterizes Quebec, it is ‘et pourquoi pas?’ The phrase, which translates to ‘and why not?’ seems to be on the tip of every Quebecer’s tongue. It is a ready response of permissiveness and tolerance, a defender of an important concept — the joie de vivre or ‘joy of living’ — that is alive and thriving in Quebec. Continue Reading »

It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Quebec City to the Saguenay region. We pointed our car toward La Baie, where we checked in to L’ Auberge des 21. Located on the shore of the Saguenay Fjord, the warm family inn also features fine regional (read: French) cuisine at a shockingly good restaurant for such a small inn. Continue Reading »

Quebec City offers beauty, fine dining and delightful diversions. And that’s just in the train station. Our three-hour train journey from Montreal to Quebec ended in what has been called ‘the most beautiful train station in North America.’ Reminiscent of similar grand terminals in Europe, Quebec City’s train station attracts those who come here not only to travel by rail but also to dine at the best steak house in town, according to our cab driver. The train station also houses a few shops and even a dentist office, should you want to dash in for a quick cleaning before the conductor calls ‘All Aboard.’ Continue Reading »

A bartender at Quebec City’s fashionable L’EChaude restaurant expresses mock indignation when a visitor asks how Quebec’s capital compares with the province’s largest city, Montreal. ‘They are not truly French,’ the bartender says, conveniently overlooking the fact that as a Canadian, neither is he. ‘In Montreal, people speak French 50, maybe 55, percent of the time.’ He steps back from the bar and folds his arms to proclaim, ‘Here, we speak French 95 percent of the time.’

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I had traveled the world before traveling to Quebec, and if my foot could reach my behind, I would kick myself for doing so. Of all the places I have visited, Quebec surely ranks in my top ten. The irony is that I traveled halfway around the world to visit less-inspiring places when Quebec was (and is) fewer than three hours by air from my home. The French-speaking Canadian province is practically in my own backyard, and yet it took a cruise (from Boston) and 49 years to get me there. Continue Reading »

I wanted a cruise destination where I could take my kids, a place that offered family activities and family fun, a place that they would remember in later years and want to return to. I wanted an active, nature-oriented experience for them, with a touch of culture and history thrown in. After all, they should learn something on their summer vacations. I wanted a place too that I could enjoy and immerse myself in, a place that I had not yet been on my many cruises throughout the years. Continue Reading »

Start planning your Bay of Fundy getaway now by checking off the activities and attractions that appeal most to you. Continue Reading »

Twice a day, the world’s most turbulent tides rise and fall,transporting more than 100 billion tons of water in and out of the bay. The tidal surges leave the stunningly beautiful Hopewell Rocks high and dry — then, hours later, immerse their huge trunks under water. At low tide, walk on the ocean floor and gaze up at the rocks to the tideline,towering 48 feet above your head — roughly the same height as a four-story building!

The shape and dimensions of the Bay of Fundy are responsible for this exclusive bay phenomenon. The water actually piles up in the bay as the shore grows narrower. The Bay of Fundy “funnel” squeezes the water, forcing it higher and higher, as the gravitational energy of the sun and the moon pull the ocean water.

In New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy, you can walk on the ocean floor, explore magnificent coastline, wander into caves carved by the tides, witness the phenomenon created by the tides at the Reversing Falls and much more.

Two high and low tides are visible each 24-hour period. Time between a high tide and a low tide is, on average, six hours and 13 minutes. You can expect to see at least one high and one low tide during daylight hours. High and low tide times move ahead approximately one hour daily, and tide times vary slightly for different locations around the Bay.

Saint John, the Fundy City, is your port of call when your ship anchors in the Bay of Fundy. Steeped in 400 years of rich history, Saint John offers the old-world charm of a historic seaport and a base for exciting Bay of Fundy eco-adventures that offer a wide variety of unique and unforgettable experiences to explore this marine wonder of the world.

Cruise Saint John
www.cruisesaintjohn.com

Saint John, New Brunswick
www.tourismsaintjohn.com

Tourism New Brunswick
www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

Reversing Falls – The Reversing Falls is a unique phenomenon caused by the tremendous tide in the Bay of Fundy — the highest tides in the world. This is where the force of the Bay of Fundy tides push on the St. John River as they rise and cause the river to reverse direction and flow backwards.

City Market – A National Historic Site, the Saint John City Market offers a unique shopping experience for locals and visitors alike. Nowhere else in Saint John can you experience a traditional “farmers market” while shopping for such a wide selection of handcrafts, souvenirs, and other goods.

New Brunswick Museum – The New Brunswick Museum collects and preserves the natural and human history of New Brunswick and presents them in an array of fascinating and interactive exhibits.

Jet Boat Ride – Challenge the phenomenal Reversing Falls aboard specially-designed jet boats. Hold on tight as you splash your way into whirlpools, white caps and rapids created by the tremendous tides of the Bay of Fundy.

Carleton Martello Tower – The Carleton Martello Tower is a National Historic Site maintained by Parks Canada. The tower was constructed for the War of 1812, as New Brunswick was valued for its overland route to Canada and as an advance post for Halifax.

Irving Nature Park – A winding coastal road and nature walking trails on the Bay of Fundy offer opportunities to see harbour seals, porpoises and hundreds of species of birds.

Rockwood Park – Rockwood Park is the epicenter for fun and outdoor adventure. Summer is playtime, with swimming, barbecues, golfing, and the list goes on. Come fall, the hiking is breathtaking when the forest turns into a brilliant canopy of red, yellow and gold.

Loyalist House – One of the few surviving buildings of the Loyalist era, this house serves as a proud reminder of Saint John’s British Loyalist heritage.

The Fundy Trail & St. Martins – Explore the quaint fishing village on the shores of the Bay of Fundy and explore the Fundy Trail, either by driving the paved parkway that hugs the coastal cliffs or lacing up your hiking boots or hopping on your mountain bike to explore the trails.

St. Andrews by-the-Sea – This resort town is one of the oldest and loveliest in the area and is a treasure trove of beautiful architecture, unparalleled scenery and rich marine life.