Fantasy Cruise days 7-13 Canada

So it's July 7 and we arrive in Bar Harbor, Maine at 8 am

Our recommended excursion is

Grand Tour Of Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park 

Tour Length: Full-Day (Approximately 6 hours)

Make the most of your day in Bar Harbor on this comprehensive tour that encompasses all of the highlights of Acadia National Park, the scenic areas of Mount Desert Island including Sieur de Mont Spring and a spectacular lobster lunch.

Starting off from the pier, you will embark on one of the most picturesque drives on the east coast as you journey along the 27-mile Park Loop Road and take in spectacular coastal, mountain, and forest scenery. Visit Sieur de Mont Springs Nature Center, where you learn about Acadia National Park's rich and varied wildlife. Along the ocean's edge, a photo stop will be made at the famous Thunder Hole where ocean swells converge against the granite cliffs to create a thunderous roar (if designated bus parking is not available, an alternate photo stop will be made in the park at the tour guide's discretion). Located in the heart of the Park, you will find Jordon Pond House which has been serving travelers and tourists since the 1780's. This idyllic setting which overlooks Jordon Pond and has views to the Bubble Mountains in the distance offers some wonderful photo opportunities.

Next, a stop is planned at one of the area's local restaurants where a fabulous lunch will be served. Relax and savor world-famous Maine lobster that has been pulled fresh from the local ocean waters and all the accompanying trimmings (Steak is available upon request for non-lobster eaters. Please advise your guide just before the tour departs).

Following lunch, you will continue on to the summit of the 1,530-foot Cadillac Mountain. Weather and traffic/crowd conditions permitting, there will be a photo stop from atop the mountain, the highest point on North America's eastern seaboard. From this wonderful vantage point you can enjoy spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island and see how glaciers have carved through the granite cliffs to form a breathtaking landscape of lush forest, lakes and valleys.In the event traffic or weather conditions prevent a stop here, an alternate photo stop will be made in the park at the tour guide's discretion).

Leaving Cadillac Mountain behind, it's a leisurely drive back to Bar Harbor and your waiting ship.

The ship departs at 8pm and we sail on to Saint John (Bay of Fundy) Canada arriving Friday morning at 8am.  Our outing for the day will be to St. Martins and the Bay of Fundy

Discover some of Saint John's landmark attractions and venture up the coast of the Bay of Fundy to the picturesque fishing village of St. Martins, a classic seaside community.

Depart from the pier, it's not long before you reach Fallsview Park, where you'll see Reversing Falls Rapids, a natural phenomenon caused by a bay tide that rises more than 28 feet. When the tide is low, the river empties into the bay. As the tide rises, the water begins to churn in a series of powerful rapids and whirlpools until the river actually flows backwards. The water flow doesn't reverse until the tide goes out hours later. The Bay of Fundy is an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO's conservation and sustainable development arm for areas that have terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems

After a scenic drive of approximately one hour, you'll arrive at St. Martins, a quaint fishing village known for its Victorian architecture, lighthouses and covered bridges. The area was settled by British loyalists in 1783 and in time became a major shipbuilding community. Sea-related industries like fishing are still vital to the economy, as are attractions like the Sea Caves, which relentless waves have carved out of the red-sand cliffs. Visit the harbor area, which is a favorite with photographers and painters, with its lighthouse, lobster traps, fishing boats and two covered bridges creating a charming scene. After seeing the harbor, caves and enjoying the rugged Bay of Fundy beach, you'll stop at a local restaurant for a bowl of maritime seafood chowder before returning to Saint John.

Here, you'll have some free time to shop at the Old City Market, which was constructed in 1876 and narrowly escaped the devastating Fire of 1877. Canada's oldest continuously operating farmer's market, the Old City Market is filled with locally grown produce, bakery goods, crafts and other Canadian merchandise. The shipwrights who built the market gave it a crowning touch: a roof in the shape of a ship's hull. You'll have free time to browse through the local shops for gift ware, souvenirs and impressive local handicrafts before returning to the pier.

we are only here until 3pm then we set sail for Halifax arriving Saturday morning at 10 am

This port does offer a Tall Ship experience or a Whale Watching tour, but we decide to go with the Oceania recommended tour and choose the Best of Halifax and Peggy's Cove option, is is described:

Enjoy the stunning beauty of Halifax and nearby Peggy's Cove, two seaside communities with a wealth of historic and artistic attractions.

Boarding your coach at the pier, your day begins with a scenic one-hour drive southwest to Peggy's Cove, a community perched on a small cove of the same name. Founded in 1811, this seaside village originally thrived on fishing and has evolved into a beautifully rustic artist's community, as well. During your visit, you'll have time to shop, wander about the galleries, and admire Peggy's Cove's classic red-and-white lighthouse before returning to Halifax.

Once back in Halifax, you will stop at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, a treasure-trove of ship models, marine photographs and the world's largest collection of wooden artifacts from the Titanic, which sank in the North Atlantic 700 nautical miles east of Halifax. Following your time exploring the museum, it's a delicious lunch break at Murphy's on the Water, where you will enjoy traditional Nova Scotia lobster rolls and homemade apple crisp. After lunch, you'll drive to the Halifax Citadel, a military fort built over several decades beginning in 1828. It's become Canada's most visited National Historic Site.

Your final stop will be at the Halifax Public Gardens, a rare example of a formal Victorian garden that has survived with little alteration since opening in 1867. The serene setting is graced with classical fountains, statues of mythological figures, and ponds with black ducks and white swans. There will be some time here to stroll about the grounds on your own before it's time to rejoin your coach for the drive back to the pier and your awaiting ship.

Not sure looking at artifacts from the Titanic is very comforting as we are about to take the next four days crossing the Atlantic, but this is an adventure.

and we return to the ship departing at 8pm and head out for four days of cruising the Atlantic Ocean where we hope to see some whales, but not any icebergs.  Fingers crossed.