Cruise destination Portland Maine; Lighthouses Photos and Video

With the coming of fall, many cruisers are taking or thinking of a cruise to Canada and New England. The leaves are starting to turn color in that region and there is something refreshing about being out in the crisp air in a place of such scenic beauty. Accordingly, cruise ships gather each fall in the embarkation ports of the northeastern United States for their annual fall foliage cruises.

It should be noted at the outset that it is very difficult to time it so that your cruise matches the height of the fall colors. The time when the leaves are at their height varies each year as a result of temperature, rainfall amounts and other conditions. But while the changing leaves can be indeed breathtaking, the good news is that the scenic beauty of this region goes beyond the leaves. In fact, in my opinion, the cruises earlier in the season are usually nicer because the weather is usually warmer and so it is more pleasant to be outside viewing the scenery.

The state of Maine is in the heart of this region. Relatively undeveloped, it is known for its forests which come down to its rocky coastline, its lighthouses and, of course, for its lobster.

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Most cruise ships call at either Bar Harbor or at Portland. Some call in both ports because they are quite different experiences. Bar Harbor is a small town on an offshore island that is dominated by the Acadia National Park. It was once a summer playground of wealthy Americans but now its unspoiled charm is accessible to all. Beyondships' photo guide to Bar Harbor begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Bar-Harbor.html

Portland is Maine's largest city and has been a major port since Colonial days. However, during the second half of the 20^th century, many of its traditional businesses declined to moved elsewhere. As a result, Portland had to re-invent itself - - something that it has had to do several times in the past due to war and natural catastrophes. The city which has emerged is quite tourist friendly with restaurants, art galleries and interesting shops as well as places of historical interest. Beyondship's new photo guide to Portland begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination---portland.html

As mentioned earlier, one of the things that Maine is known for is its lighthouses. These lonely sentinels standing at the edge of the sea have a unique romantic appeal. Consequently, many travelers to Bar Harbor and to Portland choose to visit some of the area's lighthouses. I've put together a photo essay showing some of the lighthouses that can be visited in both ports. http://www.beyondships2.com/lighthouses-in-maine.html

One lighthouse that just about everyone has seen is Portland Head Light. Standing on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Casco Bay, Portland Head Light has been the subject of numerous paintings and photographs. It is the classic image of a lighthouse. However, while the image is well-known, one thing that struck me about visiting Portland Head Light in person was how much the image was enhanced by the sight and the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below the lighthouse. Therefore, I have put together a short video in which you can hear and see the power of the waves. It is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/video-the-portland-head-light.html

Quebec City - Cruise Destination Photo Guide

A cruise port that comes into its own in September and October is Quebec City. This is when the cruise ships do their Fall Foliage cruises and more of them take the journey down the St. Lawrence River from the sea. Even before the trees change color this is a scenic trip as much of the shoreline is undeveloped and covered in forests.




Quebec City appears quite suddenly. One moment the ship is sailing past forests and farmlands and suddenly the river narrows and there is a substantial city on the northern bank. Most of the city towers above the river on a high plateau that drops almost vertically to the river. As a result, Quebec City presents a bold skyline to visiting ships dominated by the romantic Chateau Frontenac.



The cruise ships do not dock in the commercial seaport where the cargo ships go. Rather, the cruise terminal is along the river in the historic Lower Town, where the first French settlers in the early 1600s built their homes. The area has been thoughtfully preserved and it is only a short walk from the ship to the area’s shops, museums and historic places. You can take the funicular up to the Upper Town and explore the rest of the attractions of the Old City including the Chateau, the Citadel, the Cathedral, the boardwalk, the cafes and the shops.



For history lovers, there is much to see in Quebec City. It is one of the oldest settlements in North America. It is here where the titanic struggle between Great Britain and France for North America was finally decided in the Battle of Quebec. More recently, Churchill and Roosevelt met here twice during World War II to plan the defeat of the Nazis.



Another attractive aspect of Quebec City is its old world atmosphere. Although the city passed to British control in 1763, the first language of Quebec remains French and the city has maintained ties to French culture. The streets of the Upper Town bear a resemblance to European cities. Many visitors also appreciate the fact that the city has maintained the French emphasis on good food.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide of Quebec City is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Quebec.html

Cruise Destination Photo Guides To Boston and Halifax

As Fall starts to approach, people start thinking about cruising to New England and Canada. These “Fall Foliage” cruises are famous for combining crisp air with spectacular colorful displays. However, the region is a nice place to visit just for its history and lifestyle. Of course, the best way to get there is by cruise ship.




Quite a few ships do New England/Canada cruises in the Fall. In addition to the ships that ply these waters during the spring and summer, quite a few ships come to the region to do a season of cruising. Many of these ships come over from Europe as the European cruising season winds down. Eventually, they go to the Caribbean for the winter but the Fall is the peak hurricane season down there so its better to spend some time in Northeastern America before heading south. Moreover, these are popular cruises.



The unofficial capital of New England is its largest city, Boston, Massachusetts. It is both a port of call on New England/Canada cruises and an embarkation port. Several ships use it as their base for such cruises while others cruise from Boston to Bermuda and points south.



Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and so has an extensive history. Indeed, if one is interested in the birth of the United States, Boston has preserved many of the sites that played an important part in the early days of the American War for Independence.



With a long cultural and intellectual tradition, it is not surprising that Boston has a bevy of museums covering a spectrum of topics from fine art to politics to science. There are also some 50 colleges and universities in the area, which gives the town a youthful feel.



While Boston is a large city, it is a friendly town. Moreover, many of the things of interest to visitors are centrally located. In fact, quite a few of the historic sites are along the two and a half mile long Freedom Trail.



Beyondships new cruise destination photo guide to Boston is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Boston.html



A second popular stop on Canada/New England cruises is Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Even more so than Boston, the majority of the places of interest are concentrated not far from the cruise port. Furthermore, the short walk along the Harbor Boardwalk to downtown Halifax is a pleasant stroll takes you past sailing ships, shops, museums, and restaurants.



Beyondships has had a section about Halifax since last year. However, I have added an additional page to that section to incorporate photos that I took last month on yet another cruise to Halifax. The cruise destination photo guide to Halifax is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Halifax