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There is an Enterprise in Downtown Halifax – rates start at around $90 for the day. This day itinerary consists of a half-day wine tour by bus, followed by a nice dinner just a short walk from Halifax Cruise Port. It is for anyone who enjoys wine, whether you know a lot about it or not! This is a great itinerary for those that like a bit of structure but not for the entire day at port. The Seaport offers more than 2,000 feet (611 meters) of continuous berth space. Passengers enjoy the convenience of moving direct from ship-to-shore.
Stroll Along Halifax’s Waterfront Harbour Walk
You’ll find a handful of colorful shops along the waterfront, plenty of seafood joints, and ice cream shops. You can even rent a kayak and explore the coast on your own or join a guided trip out to McNabs Island. Visitors can easily set out to explore Halifax’s compact downtown area on foot, or connect with public transportation, taxis, or rideshares at the terminal.

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More than 400,000 people live in Halifax, with 75 percent concentrated near Halifax Harbour. So, we were located right in the heart of the action, and this was apparent as we saw residents out for their daily runs, bike rides and walks. There were plenty of tourists, too, as Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, Holland America Line’s Veendam and Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn cruise ships all were in port that morning.
Top Tours & Excursions In Halifax – Nova Scotia
Halifax sees two of the busiest cruise ship days of the year this week - The Coast Halifax
Halifax sees two of the busiest cruise ship days of the year this week.
Posted: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You’ll also find Nova Scotia wines and ciders produced in the orchards, and Annapolis Valley vineyards near the city. If you’re in the city on a weekend, head for the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, where artisan producers sell everything from local cheese to organic fruit and fresh oysters. A handsome example of a formal Victorian garden, the 17-acre Halifax Public Gardens have been open since 1867.
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It takes 15 minutes to cross from the waterfront to Dartmouth and is an enjoyable and affordable way to travel like a local and take in the scenery. When the port is visited by more than two cruise ships, additional ships dock at the container port and their passengers are transported to the Cruise Pavilion Comlpex by complimentary shuttle buses. In 2015, the cruise port received 141 ship calls and 222,309 passengers.
They also have a great wine shop where you can purchase bottles and gifts. Here you will enjoy tastings of their many different wines as well as an included cheese tasting from their farm-to-table restaurant, Le Caveau. As we strolled the are during our late morning and early afternoon, we discussed how we were a little bummed out that we would have to be sailing away from this port city in just a few hours.
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Halifax is also known for its exquisite mouth-blown, hand-cut crystal. Located along the Halifax waterfront, NovaScotian Crystal is a workshop and showroom where you can watch master craftsmen melting and shaping crystal into fine art. You can find donairs in most pizza shops, and you’ll also find donair-inspired donuts, egg rolls, poutine, and more around town. One hundred fifty bodies recovered from the Titanic were buried in three of the city’s cemeteries, all marked with black granite headstones inscribed with the same date, April 15, 1912. In 2002, the port received two awards - “Most Receptive Port” (at Canada-New England Cruise Symposium Marketing Awards) and “Best Port Welcome” (by Dreamworld Cruise Destination Magazine). The traditional cruise passenger greeting includes live performance by 78th Highlanders Regiment of Foot (bagpipers band).
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is Canada’s oldest and largest Maritime Museum, located a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal. It has a view over Halifax Harbour and contains impressive collections of 30,000 photographs, charts, and rare books. If multiple cruise ships are in port, they may dock at lower berths and passengers will be shuttled to the terminal. A popular port of call on Canada and New England cruises, ships dock at piers 20 and 22 near the downtown area — providing passengers convenient ship-to-shore access. In front the Pavilion 22 cruise terminal there is a taxi rank with available taxis and tour buses. Liners from the fleets of all major passenger shipping companies visit on roundtrips leaving from US East Coast homeports (mainly out of NYC New York and Boston MA).
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The busiest day (Sept 14) was 5-ship day, with over 11,000 passengers plus crew. You could also rent a car from Halifax Cruise Port if you wanted to take a day trip to Peggy’s Cove on your own terms. There are plenty of car rental companies within short walking distance of the port.
Halifax has a long history as a military outpost thanks to its strategic position on Canada’s eastern coast. The Mi’kmaq people originally occupied the area, and inhabited much of present-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Situated on the eastern coast of Canada on one of the largest natural harbors in the world, Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and the largest metropolitan area on Canada’s Atlantic Coast. This is a more casual spot in Downtown Halifax offering a locally sourced menu and an impressive cocktail selection. Enjoy different walking paths as you take a moment to chill on your day of exploring Halifax.
We almost immediately decided that to come back soon for a much longer visit. This beer garden was one of the cool and quirky restaurants, bars and eateries that I saw all along the boardwalk. It was our first visit to this seaside city in Nova Scotia, and we were here to embark on our first Canada/New England cruise. Annapolis Valley, a Nova Scotia region of some of the richest farmland in Canada also became home to French Acadians in the 1600s. Because of Halifax's large, ice-free harbor, the British established a colony and built a fort in 1749. Not only was the city involved in various aspects of North American military conflict including the American Revolutions and Napoleonic Wars, but it also became a hub of trade and industry.
The church is best visited on foot via Prince St, about a 10-minute walk away from Halifax port. Tours include convenient round-trip transportation from the cruise port and interesting commentary about the city’s historical, cultural, and political significance from a local guide. Unfortunately, Halifax was also the site of one of the worst maritime disasters in history. In December of 1917, a French munitions ship collided with a Norwegian vessel in the harbor and the explosion resulted in the loss of over 2,000 lives and leveled much of the city’s northern end. Both are part of the Cruise Pavilion Complex, and named "Pavilion 22" and "Pavilion 20". Both berths are connected to their terminal buildings via hydraulic gangways (mobile covered passenger bridges).
Port Halifax generates 11,800+ local jobs and contributes USD 1,7+ billion to Canada's economy. The Port has capacity to handle even the world's largest boxships (container carriers) and bulk cargo ships. Cruises are one of its 3 main businesses - together with cargo shipping and real estate. Halifax is a major port city and among Canada's most popular cruise ports of call on itineraries from the USA to New England.
The Harbourwalk area also offers the Discovery Centre interactive science museum, as well as numerous other touring opportunities, including renting bikes. We visited Halifax on a sunny late-summer weekend and saw four cruise ships in town. Halifax Public Gardens are one of the finest examples of Victorian Gardens and the only surviving authentic Victorian Gardens in North America.
You’ll also find a collection of handsome 18th- and 19th-century buildings, a long waterfront walkway, and a beautiful park. For season 2019, the cruise port had scheduled 190 ship calls (berth bookings) with expected ~320,000 passengers. In 2018, Port Halifax cruise industry's annual economic impact was estimated at ~USD 123 million (a study based on 250,000 cruise ship passengers per year). The busiest day was October 9 (5 liners with over 11,000 passengers).
Continue along the Harbourwalk, which, at over 4 kilometers, is one of the longest continuous boardwalks in the world. You’ll also find Alexander Keith’s — Nova Scotia’s oldest brewery — right across from the boardwalk, open for tours. There are also vendors serving lobster rolls, seafood chowders, kebabs, and more.
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