Carnival Victory Fun Ship New York to Halifax Cruise
There are also a few pointers that will help expedite your travels, so I shall endeavor to begin them here. First of all, this is a United States to Canada trip, so the mere possession of a driver’s license and a valid birth certificate is sufficient for those without a passport or whose passport expired more than five years ago. More information can be located on this through any official United States State Department pamphlets, brochures or their website. Naturally, and in light of the post-nine-eleven security demands of our government, it is imperative that you make sure that all data on your documents matches to the letter, and that if you bring your birth certificate, it is a birth certificate that has the raised seal indicating that it is not a mere copy. In addition, items which would normally be contraband on a plane or at any other border crossing should normally be treated as such on a ship, so be prepared to lose them, or at least pack them in your baggage, as opposed to your “carry-on” baggage. The irony is that your larger bags are delivered to your room anyway, so it is all truthfully carry on, but there are bags you may carry on and bags that you may not. Before you arrive at the pier to board the vessel, you should take the tags which you will receive from either your travel agent or directly from the cruise line, and you should put those tags on your luggage. This will not only speed your bags along, but also the boarding process. And the great thing is that despite any language barriers with the staff assisting your embarkation, they all seem very willing to help out if you ask them a question (a great deal of the staff are Latino, Asian, and eastern European, so be prepared for an accent that may be difficult to understand in some cases, although this should not affect the quality of your trip. The standards for service are higher than in most other travel industries.
Once inside the pier area, you will be directed to show your ticket/boarding pass and identification to security and ship personnel, so have them ready in a place easily accessed, and, I can recommend placing all the documents into a small sandwich bag, so that no matter the weather, your documents are kept together in a dry place. After passing through security, the ship’s personnel will commonly direct you to a picture of the ship and a large camera, which they will use to take a picture of you and/or your group. Naturally this is a typical tourist ploy, but, if you are traveling and would like to have a keepsake, these photographs are available on board ship for your purchase during the cruise. Subsequent to that, you will check in at the desk directly in front of the main gangway area. During this time, they will confirm you are who you are, and they will ask you for some credit card information and for an electronic imprint of your card. This is apparently the industry practice, and it does come in handy if you want ANYTHING onboard ship, as no one will accept cash, with the exception of the dealers in the casino and a few other folks. You should arrive promptly about an hour before the time boarding begins, as this will allow you time to clear security, check your bags, and obtain your card, which, incidentally, acts as your room key.
A note on seasickness: If you do begin to feel queasy during the trip, there are a few measures that you can take to avoid an unpleasant cruise. Apparently there are wrist bands which control circulation to assist with seasickness, and you can also get over the counter Dramamine to take with you if needed. I recommend them as a “just-in-case” measure as we did experience some stormy seas on our return voyage. So let’s get to the voyage.
As with any cruise, this one has a cut-and-dried itinerary, so here is the basic outline:
Day One: Debarkation from New York and Day at Sea
Day Two: Day at Sea
Day Three: Port in Halifax from 6:15 am to 5:30 in the afternoon
Day Four: Day at Sea
Day Five: Return to Manhattan early morning
Now that you have the basics, here is some of the detail:
Sailing out of Manhattan is a unique experience for the uninitiated. For starters, you are on the West Side of Manhattan facing the Jersey coastline on the Hudson. Not so scenic? So you say. As you make your way South and out to sea, you pass Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, as well as the southern tip of Manhattan, past Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The time of day is close to sunset, so as the ship turns East to clear the tip Brooklyn and Coney Island, Jacob Riis Park, and Atlantic Beach, you get some great scenic views. It is during this time that most folks take the opportunity to walk around the ship and get the lay of the land, as it were. In this case, the Carnival Ship Victory is a 13 deck of approximately 893 feet, with an approximate displacement of 101,509 Tons (yes, TONS!). She is considered a large ship. It may take you the entire 5 day cruise to figure out your way around.
For those who do not wish to get the nickel tour, this is ALSO a perfect time to sample some lunch and check out the top decks. The advantage of a large ship is that in addition to the main cafeteria area adjacent to the pools on the 9th deck, also known as the Lido deck. This area is known on the deck plans as the Grand Buffet, and it is apropos. They have some nice offerings for meat and buffet style food, as well as a truly grand dessert buffet. In addition, there is Chinese Food (Yangtze Wok) Mediterranean Food (East River Buffet), and further aft, you will find the Pizzeria Arno (great pizza and Caesar’s salads) and the Mississippi BBQ. I recommend the Pizza. The advantage of the Pizza is also that this place is open 24/7, so you can get something to nosh on even after the last show (usually the adult show – non-G-Rated material).
Since there is a common conception that cruises are for the food, encourage you to let it all hang out for these five days, and make up for it later. After eating, there should be just enough time to adjourn to your cabin to change and wash up for your first dinner.
A note about Cabin Selection. Prices will vary based on deck level and whether or not you have a window, no window or a balcony. We were fortunate enough to have rooms on the outside of the deck with balconies. My friend, who had me along as a guest of his older sister and her husband, had us in a Balcony Cabin with two single beds, TV, couch, deck chairs and bathrooms and closets. His sister and her husband had a Suite, which includes a larger balcony, refrigerator, separate seating area, entertainment area, VCR, Whirlpool bath and a walk-in closet. It was as big as my rather modest Manhattan apartment. Deck plans are available at Carnival’s website, and your price should determine what you get. I recommend that you decide what you are willing to spend before you price it, so you already have a budget in mind as you plan. Bear in mind that there are no balconies below deck six (the upper deck), and there are no staterooms on decks three (the lobby deck), four (the Atlantic deck) or five (the promenade deck). My recommendation is that if you would like a balcony, book well in advance. I did spend a few hours each day on it just watching the sea roll by or looking for shooting stars at night (although the light given off by the boat limits this somewhat on the Empress Deck (deck seven).
Now, as you are at sea, you will prepare for your first dinner aboard ship. The nice change about this is that on a cruise, long pants are required at dinner, and there will be at least ONE formal dinner, meaning a jacket and tie. For female readers, appropriate dress will correspond as you would expect. Dinner is a strictly scheduled affair, and is even printed on your card with the time for service. For example, mine was with my group at 6:15 every night. We would alternate dining rooms between the Pacific dining room and the Atlantic Dining room each night. They were virtually identical, and we sat together for each dinner. Meals are included on cruises and they will give you a menu to select your entrees and your appetizers and dessert, of which you can have as many as you want (which I loved). There are a few items on the menu listed that do not have prices but which are not included (notably, the alcoholic drinks and desserts). Be aware of this when you order, as you may find these charges on your bill legitimately if you don’t pay attention. Service is prompt, courteous, and you can expect a visit from the Maitre’d each evening to see if the meal was up to snuff. It is a refreshing change from normal dining out.
After all of this, there is still evening entertainment on board the ship, and you will have your choice of events. There is a jazz and cigar lounge, an Irish pub, a karaoke bar, a main stage that has live acts, dancing and bingo as well as other games. One nice feature of some of these games is that there are frequently free awards and gifts given to the winners of the games. In addition, many of the winners received credit for use in the ship’s many duty-free shops. We had a chance to sample all of them during the course of the cruise, and I recommend you do the same, as you will be able to choose what you like best.
The second day is a full day at sea, and during this time, we sampled the games of chance at the Casino (blackjack, roulette, craps, and various forms of poker, as well as slots), had an afternoon tea with classical music, and put in a little time in the sun on the top decks. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t let you know how breakfast and lunch are handled. Breakfast is seated first-come, first-served, and open seating, meaning that if you arrive without the full party, you will likely be seated with other passengers. This is kind of a nice change of pace, though, since you have the opportunity to meet and talk to other guests on the cruise. The drawback is that you could also be seated with some duds. Fortunately this did not happen to me. Lunch is buffet style and catch as catch can, since all of the restaurants are open and are informal and cafeteria style. I recommend the pizza or Chinese food, and definitely a stop by one of the many soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt machines up on the promenade deck. They also serve all the iced tea, fruit punch, apple juice, coffee, tea or decaf coffee that you can drink, and both the frozen dessert machines and these drinks are available 24/7.
The second day is also notable because there is a schedule of events slipped under your door on the first night that will include raffles, on-board games, sales in the duty free shops and a list of the evening entertainment for the night. Noteworthy items on our list were the high tea, a tanzanite raffle and education session in the jeweler duty free, and the evening’s comic show. They also have a library and pay-as-you-go internet service in the Jazz lounge and the nightly Jazz trios. Your best bet to plan out your fun is to grab the schedule and carry the perforated summary with you so that you can flit from one even to another as we ended up doing. That way, if the even isn’t your cup of tea, you can find something that is.
Day three found us in port EARLY in the morning. At this point another important fact should be revealed. There is much to do in Halifax, and that includes small tours which you can take, if you don’t mind a few hours on the BUS or on a small ship sailing the harbor. But you need to book them in advance, so you should have selected them by the second night. They are a PAID feature, and you must see the Purser at the information desk in the lobby of the ship to book them. In my case, I was as happy to tool around free in Halifax with my buddy from graduate school, who was hosting. That way, we could wing it. Other guests who were also friends of his chose a brief ship tour of the harbor, which allowed them a few hours of free time as well. Debarkation for tours starts early, so factor that into your second night plans, so you don’t overdo it. I can’t tell you how much sleep you need, but it is wise not to do a tour on two hours sleep. It could be miserable.
Halifax is a scenic and historic city, most notably for its status as a major port of call for the British, and the local Celtic influences. Halifax even has its own official Scottish tartan, so if you have a little Scot in you, this might be an interesting port. Even if you don’t they won’t hold it against you, as they are a very friendly lot, and the whole city feels very comfortable in the way a small town would. Here are a few tours that may be of interest, and I will venture a few tips for the freewheelers.
Walking Tour: This is a cheap walking tour that takes you through scenic gardens, historic districts and other points of interest. Halifax is a very steep city, though, so be prepared to walk several tall hills. It takes about two hours.
Fisherman’s Cove: This is akin to a riverboat cruise, which requires a five minute walk from the ship to a paddle-wheeled steamship. Your destination is a 200 year old fishing village, admission to the aquarium, and all the restaurants, shops and cafes. It takes three and a half hours. It is more expensive than the walking tour.
Halifax & Peggys Cove with Salmon Bake: This is a SIX hour tour, so it starts early, but you will do a lot. You will ride along the coastal highway to Peggy’s Cove, explore the shops and restaurants, see the scenic houses, and then enjoy an Atlantic salmon lunch with all the trimmings. This is in the same price range as the fisherman’s cove, and a good portion of this time commitment may be in the travel time, though I don’t know, so ask the purser.
Highlander for a Half Day: One of the Expensive items available involves dressing in period clothing and preparing to become a fully fledged member of the Queen’s Garrison at the Citadel high atop the hills overlooking the harbor. This is a highland regiment, so be prepared to KILT UP! You will participate in and become involved in a series of historical hand-on activities that will give you a chance to relive a day as a soldier of Queen Victoria’s Army. You will also get a personalized regimental memento of the day. This is an excursion with limited availability, so book this as soon as possible if this interests you. This tour takes three and a half hours.
Sea Kayak & Lobster Lunch: A four-hour tour, which is in the same price range as the fisherman’s cove and the Peggy’s Cove with Salmon Bake excursions, this involves exploring tiny caves, long narrow channels and white, sandy beaches along the shores of the coast. It involves a 40 minute drive outside the city and the minimum age is sixteen, so if you have children, bear this in mind. This is also limited, so book early.
Theodore Tugboat Big Harbor Tour: This is an inexpensive, child oriented tour of the harbor, and takes about an hour.
Historic Halifax Pub Tour: Say no more than three hours in historic pubs. Definitely not for the faint-of-heart, as this is CANADIAN beer, not American beer. I skipped it, but may try it next time out.
There is also a one and a half hour tour on a 130′ schooner called the Silva which runs about $19.95CN for an adult, $13.95CN for a child and $58.95CN for family.
As it so happens, there are non-tour stops which may be worth your time and attention. I had the opportunity to visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which has an excellent permanent collection for a small museum. One notable local folk artist is Maud Lewis. Now deceased, she and her husband were icons in the local folk art community since she first began selling hand-painted Christmas cards in the early twentieth century. After her death in 1970, the Canadian government actually formulated a plan to preserve her rapidly decaying shed in which she lived with her husband, and which she had taken such care to paint every surface of during her lifetime. If you have the opportunity, I think the tickets were about $12CN for museum entry. This will take a few hours to go through. There is also some good Inuit and Aleut art as part of the permanent collection.
Just around the corner on Barrington Street is an interesting diversion called the Freak Lunchbox, which is a kitschy and fun confectioner with all kinds of funky and campy candies, and things like “My mother loves me” air fresheners and “Angry Scotsman” chewing gum and other fun things.
Further up the hill towards the citadel are some historic churches, including the oldest building in Halifax, St. Paul’s Church (built in 1750) and three historic universities. This is noteworthy because Halifax harbor is the site of the largest man-made explosion EVER prior to the detonation of the atomic bomb. It occurred on December 6, 1917, and resulted in the deaths of more than 1000 persons and the injury of over 900 more. Halifax is also noteworthy as the site of most of the rescue operations for the Titanic, as well as the burial site of many of the victims of the sinking of the “Unsinkable Ship.”
The entire waterfront neighborhood is peppered with interesting cafÃ?©’s and there is both a vast historical and cultural variety in Halifax. I had the opportunity to have lunch at a small Greek restaurant near the citadel, and I had the best baklava I have had in a long time as my dessert. Halifax also offers casinos, breweries, crystal, fishing, golf and many other diversions. An interesting side-note is that in Canada, shops which specialize in adult entertainment, such as sexual aides and instruction, are treated much more progressively than most American cities, so if you are so inclined, you can also check out some fun at these local distributors of marital aids and so forth. They will gladly discuss the products with you as well (or so I heard from one of the female passengers).
Finally, on the way back to the ship (or even at debarkation in the morning), there is both a brewery and a kind of flea market set up right by the ship, so you can shop for last-minute gifts or have a beer before getting back on board the ship.
Then you have another day at sea on the way back and you wake up cruising into Manhattan in the morning. I would recommend this as a quick and fun destination just to let your hair down, get your stress out and get your eat on. Cruises run from June through September, and the weather in Nova Scotia and along the way is cooler, so it is best to plan for cooler weather, but be prepared to get a little sun as will. Prices will range from as low as $400.00 or so to around $1300.00 for the 4-day trip. There is also a 5-day version that stops in Saint John, New Brunswick, and a 7-day trip that adds Boston, MA and Portland, ME for up to $2,500.00. Super Saver deals are ALSO available.
In conclusion, this is a little-known gem of a trip on a small budget with lots of extras.
I highly recommend it.
