Halifax Canada Cruise Port

Table Of Content

• Top Sights & Attractions on Cruises to Halifax, Nova Scotia
• MSC Meraviglia’s autumn 2023 schedule includes itineraries from NYC to Canada/New England
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Grape Escapes Nova Scotia Wine Tour
• Start off by Visiting Pier 21: The Canadian Museum of Immigration
• Seabourn unveils 24 voyages to Alaska, Canada and New England USA (summer & fall

Enjoy different walking paths as you take a moment to chill on your day of exploring Halifax. Other exhibits include the Halifax Harbour explosion, the history of pirates and more! Located on picturesque Halifax Harbour, this is a great stop to learn about the history of Halifax. Did you know that Halifax and the Titanic crossed paths in history?! Cable ship crews from Halifax were in charge of recovering all the deceased from the sinking of the Titanic.

Two Royal Caribbean Ships Impacted Due to Hurricane Lee - Cruise Hive

Two Royal Caribbean Ships Impacted Due to Hurricane Lee.

Posted: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Top Sights & Attractions on Cruises to Halifax, Nova Scotia

But these rocks are not the main attraction that brings thousands of visitors to Peggy’s Cove each year. The rain let up enough so that we could queue up for the motor coach without getting soaked. Most everyone carried an umbrella and wore some sort of rain parka. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

MSC Meraviglia’s autumn 2023 schedule includes itineraries from NYC to Canada/New England

The city is Halifax is among Canada's largest economic centres on the Atlantic Coast. Among its major employers / companies are the Port of Halifax, Halifax Shipyard, Department of National Defence, the universities of Dalhousie and St Mary's. The city's main resource industries are commercial fishing, agriculture, mining, forestry, natural gas extraction, also tourism. As premier Canadian tourist destination, the city attracts over 1,2 million visitors a year. Today, Halifax is a thriving container and cruise ship port, with a rich culture of music, pubs and cafés, and year-round festivals. It’s especially popular as a cruise destination in fall when the trees in the surrounding countryside are sporting their dazzling colors.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

It’s a 17-acre park right in the middle of the city and has been there since the Victorian age. Once you reach Lower Water Street, you can’t miss Alexander Keith’s Brewery. Located in a 200-year old ironstone brewery, Keith’s tours take guests back in time to explain the beer-making process that began here in 1820. Grape Escapes offers many different kinds of tours – half-day, full day, lunch included, private tours, etc. I went with a group of 8 friends on the Afternoon Escape from Halifax.

Or opt for one of the less pricey spots, where you can order some of the freshest fish and chips you've ever had. If you’re in Halifax on a Saturday, you can visit the oldest-running farmer’s market in North America, which is located on Lower Water Street. Pick up souvenirs from here including handmade sea glass jewelry, tins of maple syrup, local wines, and Nova Scotian knitwear. Peggy's Cove is a tiny, picture-postcard fishing village on St. Margaret’s Bay along the rugged Atlantic coast, a short drive from Halifax. Peggy’s Cove is especially known for its colorful fishing boats, quaint houses, and stately lighthouse, which dates back to 1915. This brilliant white icon with a red lantern room on top is perched on wave-lashed rocks.

Halifax cruise terminal

Located on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean, Halifax—Nova Scotia’s provincial capital—is defined by its maritime geography. Halifax's picturesque waterfront is easy to explore on foot -- and close. Even if you're not in the mood to shop, stroll the boardwalk that zigzags along the harbor, lined with shops, restaurants and attractions. In 2023 the Port had scheduled a total of 191 cruise ship calls (of which handled 178, from 28 brand lines/companies) and estimated ~325,000 tourists (received ~301,000). There are plenty of upscale eateries along the downtown waterfront area serving full lobster dinners. Try the classic Nova Scotia seafood chowder, which brings together the best of the local seafood — mussels, haddock and scallops are commonly in the mix — in a creamy broth flavored with bacon.

Start off by Visiting Pier 21: The Canadian Museum of Immigration

This is a more casual spot in Downtown Halifax offering a locally sourced menu and an impressive cocktail selection. Just about a 15 minute stroll from the Harbour Walk, towards the center of town, you will come upon The Halifax Citadel. This site was the original fortress for colonists arriving from Great Britain in 1749. With its hilltop location providing the best vantage point, the community used the Citadel as a fortress to protect themselves against British troops. Enjoy some time in the vineyards learning about their harvesting strategies while taking advantage of all of the photo ops! They also have a great wine shop where you can purchase bottles and gifts.

History buffs won’t want to miss a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The museum covers everything from the region’s first shipbuilders and tragic shipwrecks to the city’s involvement in the World Wars, the Halifax explosion, and the sinking of the Titanic. 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.

Take a left turn at Prince Street and continue a short distance to Lower Water Street to the Brewery Market. Here you can learn the process of beer making, and sample a few during the tour. The story goes that the Duke was obsessed with time and ordered the four clock faces to be built so that no one in his regiment had an excuse to be late. Head west a few blocks to the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, located high above George Street. Rebuilt in 1856 on the grounds of the original fortress from 1749, the Citadel played a major role in naval defense for the British Empire.

In January 2018, as containership port, Halifax reported a record year with containerized cargo shipping volume 559,242 TEU-containers, or 16% increase over 2016. Port's total cargo tonnage in 2017 was 5, million tons3 (or 12% increase over 2016). Cruise port's stats showed 173 ships (27% increase over 2016) and 292,722 passengers (23% increase). This blockchain system integrates seaports, containership terminals, shippers and forwarding agents. Retail therapy in Halifax includes both world-class shopping and carefully curated boutiques. Try the Historic Properties for sweaters, the Hydrostone Market for art or Bishop's Landing for jewelry and unique cosmetics.

The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market is open daily during the summer months and is the longest continuously operated market in all of North America. Linked with disaster, another tragic accident was Swiss Air Flight 111, which crashed five miles off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on September 2, 1998. Alexander Keith’s brewery was founded in 1820 and ranks among the oldest working breweries in North America, dedicated to crafting small-batch brews, inspired by local Nova Scotian culture. This grave gained fame following the release of the 1997 film Titanic. I learned that it belonged to Joseph Dawson, an Irishman who worked in Titanic’s boiler room as a coal trimmer and not the popular character in the movie.

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. The distance from Halifax cruise port to Peggy’s Cove is about 45 km/28 miles and it takes 50 minutes drive to get there. The best option to visit it is to book a guided shore excursion, especially if the ship has limited time in port. Travelers say Halifax is best seen on foot, so forget about the car and start walking! Most guided tours will be with a medium-sized group on a tour bus.