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There were three people in our party. One of us at times used a cane, walker, and wheelchair, depending on the situation and her level of mobility at the time.
We flew from home on Delta and it was fast, easy on and off of the plane. The flight attendants and ground personnel were very helpful.
The La Guardia employees who assisted us from the plane to the baggage claim area were friendly and very helpful.
Pre cruise hotel stay: One night at the Millennium Hotel just off Broadway in Times Square. Fast, easy check in. Nice hotel. Great location, very close to all the action.
We walked all around Times Square and the surrounding area. Some areas were easier pushing the wheelchair than others. The pedestrian walking zones created in the middle of the street were easy, going from some street corners to the other side sometimes took remaining in the street, going around the curb to get onto the sidewalk from the other direction's cut because it looked smoother, had less standing water, or was the only cut where you could easily get a wheelchair up onto the sidewalk. It was do-able, but some improvements could be made and would be welcome.
During this time before the cruise, we wandered Times Square, shopped, walked down to the Empire State Building that night and went up to the observation deck (easy, fast, friendly employees, handicap accessible - very nice experience). A light rain started while we were on the observation deck and remained raining for the walk back to the Millennium. Along the way we stopped by a drug store to see about getting an umbrella, but had no luck in finding one. We stopped by a Wendy's to eat before turning in for the night. Ended up getting a show along with our meal as the restaurant's manager and a customer had an open, loud argument in front of all the patrons and the manager and customer called the police on each other. Wild! What an end to the day.
Embarkation Day:
Getting to the pier was easy and fast. We didn't have a wait at the terminal. Getting signed in was fast, friendly, and easy.
After eating in the buffet, and getting stuff settled into our cabin, we went down to the ship's shore excursion desk to give them a heads up about the excursions we'd booked and that we would be using a wheelchair on them. Going to the excursions desk before sailing was done at the request of the excursions department I talked with on the phone before leaving for the trip. Roy K. at the ex. desk was very helpful, checked our choices to make sure they were handicap accessible and told us details of what Mom would have to do while on tours and getting off and on NCL with limited mobility and the chair. He made a notation in a book - if I remember correctly, in order to prepare crew for Mom's needs.
We had requested a few items to assist Mom while on the cruise. We were told that they would be available and I assumed they would have been placed in the cabin before we boarded. I had to ask the cabin stewards for the items. While I sincerely thank NCL for having the necessary items available for use, I wish I hadn't had to bother the stewards at such a busy time.
First Port - Halifax:
Free time in the morning then afternoon ship-booked excursion.
Walked along the wharf then headed back to ship to get on the motor coach for the drive to Peggy's Cove. The guide was very knowledgeable about the area and was interesting in his delivery of the information. He did a very good job of singing a song toward the end of the excursion. Our driver was nice and helpful with my Mom.
Peggy's Cove and drive were beautiful. I really wish we'd had more time there; way too short to see the town, shop, eat, walk to different vantage points to take photographs or just stay in one place and take it all in. Either had to choose to do several things in extremely tiny amounts or reduce what we did and have a bit more time to accomplish them. Hubby and I chose to split up - he would go on the town tour with our guide while I was going to take Mom to the lighthouse.
Mom decided she didn't want to be pushed to the lighthouse and opted to sit by the street/path entrance. The sidewalk to the lighthouse has a place where it stops for rock and there are strips in the rock that were worn away by nature. I'm pretty sure the wheelchair would have made it. It would have been good for her to see the views from the lighthouse path, but she didn't want to try. :(
Hubby met up with me as I was coming back from a quick stroll to different vantage points on the rocks. He said he'd left the short guided town tour early because he wanted to have time to see the lighthouse area.
I was surprised to find that the post office wasn't actually IN the lighthouse, but in the store nearby the lighthouse.
I had just enough time for a whirlwind shopping spree, but didn't have time to explore the goods available, or get something to eat or drink. I would have liked to wander the town also and check out the other shops as well.
Please, please, please tour operators and NCL, add extra time to this excursion!
I'd love to return to Nova Scotia someday. Way too much to see and do in half a day.
St. John/ Bay of Fundy:
Morning free time, afternoon ship-booked excursion.
When we disembarked from the ship, each woman was given a beautiful single rose. What a nice touch!!! Thank you to whomever does this, it made us smile all day long.
In the morning Hubby, Mom, and I took a motor coach (which my husband purchased seats on at the pier) that drops people off at the shopping mall & city market in St. John then you can get a return ride back to the ship.
Glad we did this because I was able to stop at a post office and get a cancellation stamp on a couple of postcards (I collect these things when I can). We also got to have a nice amount of time to look at stores in the mall then go over and wander the whole city market - what a neat place! We purchased some items - two of the items were bottles of delicious maple syrup which later gave my husband a good story.
We hopped on the motor coach for a return to the pier so we could catch our excursion of the city and reversing falls.
Back at the ship, hubby took our morning purchases back to our cabin so we wouldn't have to juggle them in the small space on the next motor coach.
Before he came back from the ship, the line for the excursion formed. I started to get worried that he'd miss the tour. Come to find out, he thought he would too!
The maple syrup we'd purchased was in bottles that resembled alcohol and needed to be looked at by the crew. Hubby told them to go ahead and hold it for him since he had an excursion he could be late meeting. Once the ingredient label was read, they released the bottles so he could take them to the cabin.
We took the city and reversing falls tour. It was interesting with lots of information. There was a short stop at the city market, but since the 3 of us had already seen it earlier, Mom and I stayed on the coach and hubby got off to take pictures of the building and park across the street. Some other passengers stayed on the coach, too, and some of them asked the driver about himself and the the town. I liked this so was glad we stayed on the bus.
Bar Harbor:
AM free time, PM ship-booked excursion. Tender port.
The crew did an excellent job getting my mother and her wheelchair transported from ship to tender then back again at the end of the day. They really seemed to care about her safety and comfort. We're grateful for that.
In the morning the three of us journeyed up the street from the pier. We gawked at the beautiful park and buildings, shopped, and dined at the restaurant Rupununi at 119 Main Street. Great food (lobster bisque, Mexican hot chocolate), awesome service, nice place. Only thing I didn't care for was that if I wanted a second glass of iced tea it would require another charge, but there were free refills on pop (?why?). We dined on the outdoor patio so got to watch the action on the sidewalks and street.
After eating, we made a stop at the shop located in the side of the restaurant building to buy a pillow to make the wheelchair more comfy for Mom, then started back towards the pier to meet the ship's excursion pick-up point at the park. Along the way I made a detour into the Jordan Pond Ice Cream & Fudge shop because hubby spied Creamsicle Fudge which is one of my favorites and hard to find. Bought a pound of that and a pound of my other fave - Maple Walnut Fudge. Yum
Our excursion was the Acadia National Park and Rinehart Pavilion. First stop on the tour was the Mary Roberts Rinehart Pavilion for coffee and a slice of blueberry pie. Then off to drive along the park roads. Absolutely beautiful scenery!!! Our guide works at the National Park, so she gave good information about the park.
Boston:
We purchased round-trip tickets for transportation from the pier to the marketplace.
Wow! Boston's a lot different than what I expected. We did lots of walking and picture taking here - in fact, we had to buy extra memory cards :). Visited Boston Common, the market, ate lunch at Durgin Park, wandered the cemeteries, stopped by a Radio Shack and CVS. Hubby and Mom had the lobster roll special which included the lobster roll, baked beans, cole slaw, cornbread and one other item I believe, while I had fried oysters, fries and cornbread. The food was very good. We were seated in the bar area which I enjoyed because we could look out the door on either side of us. Love to see the action out on the sidewalks and streets.
After lunch we walked through the tents and stores selling fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and ethnic foods. There were so many tents/vendors it was incredible. The goat heads…at least I think they were goat's heads since one of the nearby butcher shops had a sign up about ordering half or whole goat…kind of grossed me out.
From the food stands, we walked up to the north end to see Paul Revere's house and the North Church. We loved this area's flowers and plants. Very pretty! We saw an ad being made by one of the local businesses. Something out of the ordinary for us. We were running short of time so didn't get to go inside any of the historical buildings, shops, restaurants, or bakery ---we saw lots of people with Mike's Bakery boxes, but we never ran across the bakery on the streets we traveled. Oh well, with any luck we'll get back to Boston one day.
Walked back to the ride pick-up area and went back to the ship.
Newport:
Tender port. Toured on our own.
Woke up to the Queen Mary 2 anchored across the way from our balcony cabin and rain.
After breakfast we tendered over to Newport. Once again the crew was terrific in aiding Mom from ship to tender to pier and back through each step later in the day. There care really does warm my heart. Thanks guys!
We sloshed our way down to the visitor center to purchase tickets to the mansions and find out about transportation to them. I'd decided to tour the Breakers and Rosecliff because they were listed as the most handicapped accessible.
At the visitor center we caught the #67 bus yellow line to properties. Purchased all day tickets for $5.00 each person. They did a great job because the buses are equipped with a ramp so a wheelchair can be rolled up onto the bus easily. They have hooks that secure the chair with the occupant in it. Kind of difficult to get the hang of, but am sure we'd be able to do it all ourselves after seeing it done three times.
The Breakers was everything we'd read about. Impressive. Hubby and I were able to accompany the operator and my mother on the elevator here, though I later wished one of us had taken the stairs in order to see what the view on/from them was like.
I would have liked to have seen the grounds of this property, but it was just too wet at the time. What I did see hinted at something incredible. Will have to find out on another trip.
In the gift shop I purchased bottles of water, some post cards, and a couple of mystery books written by a woman who used mansions in her story(ies). The author was on hand to sign the books. Cool!
Rosecliff was nice to see. It is pretty, but not over the top as the Breakers is. The view of the water made this property something to be treasured. Beautiful gardens and ground. Of course, this mansion is interesting because it has been used in several movies.
The elevator in this mansion is even smaller than the one in the Breakers so hubby and I couldn't ride up with Mom. Though I was worried about leaving her, it was fun walking up and down the beautiful heart-shaped staircase and see the views of the house while on them.
After touring Rosecliff we caught the bus back to the main street.
We finished up our trip in Newport with a couple of stops in shops then headed for the tender.
***Tip***: 1. Take a weather resistant tote bag along to carry purchases in. I failed to do so and the nice paper bag the shop gave me disintegrated from the rain, getting my books damp a bit before I could try to shelter them as best I could, a bottle of water fell on the wet, dirty ground, and it was a big hassle trying to keep everything held together in my arms.
***Tip***: 2. Take a poncho, raincoat, rain hat or bonnet. You can get soaked quickly while walking between properties, up the long driveways, or waiting for the bus. I tried to use an umbrella, but it was difficult to use as when shopping you have to constantly put it up and down, have to put it down when passing under trees with low limbs, or have difficulty using it because you're trying to hold onto a disintegrating bag and purchases with both hands and arms (rolling eyes). Hubby wore a poncho, and Mom had a raincoat with hood on and I used our second poncho to cover her legs, seat, and feet as best we could to keep her dry.
Debarkation:
We opted to get off the ship at 10 am. This seemed like a good idea until we found ourselves sitting around on the ship and Mom getting antsy to get off rather than sit around doing nothing.
A friendly, helpful officer of the ship was kind enough to wheel Mom down the gangway. Very sweet of him to take the time to help us out. Cool.
The port was a zoo jam packed with people. According to hubby, we waited at the curb for an hour and forty minutes for our ticket number to come up for a cab to take us to our hotel for a post cruise overnight stay. During that wait, porters were getting after people who were in their way, people were coming to get on the ships, and more people were getting off the ships. Chaos! To add to the discomfort, it was warm enough we had sweat running down our faces. Ugh! There was a marathon taking place and that was one of the reasons we were given for the long wait for taxis. I'm not sure if that was the reason or not, but who knows?
Post cruise hotel stay:
We stayed one night at the Excelsior hotel on 81st Street and Central Park West, right across the street from the Museum of Natural History and across the street to Central Park. Subway station nearby. Fast, easy check-in. Nice hotel. Great location.
After checking in and getting settled in our room, we got ready to attend an afternoon performance of Wicked at the Gershwin Theater.
Took a taxi to the theater district, ate lunch at Appleby's, and made the 3 pm show.
The show was fantastic. While taking pictures of the boards outside, Hubby and Mom said that the show's cast was out there. Took a picture of one of the lead actresses as she was signing autographs and having her picture taken with people. Cool!
We decided to walk back to the hotel. Along the way we went through some of Central Park. Found ourselves at Tavern On The Green. Always wanted to go there but never thought I'd get the chance. Since we were right there, I decided to see if we could get a seat for desserts and beverages. They had table ---YES! There was a full moon and we could see it peeping through an opening in the tree branches. It was the icing on the cake! During our repast my husband laughed and said I was ticking off quite a few of my "Bucket List" items. I had no problem with that :). Took pictures on my cell phone because the small camera's batteries died after two pictures.
We finished our trek to the hotel along Central Park West. There was a group of people singing near the entrance at, I assume, the Strawberry Field area. Saw quite a few people walking their dogs and the dogs seemed happy since the temperature was a little cooler that evening.
Checked out of the hotel the next morning. The hotel graciously held our luggage for us so that we could take in the Museum of Natural History before we headed for the airport.
The employees at LaGuardia who assisted Mom through the airport and to the plane were friendly and very helpful. The flight home on Delta was a good one.
The days spent in New York were terrific, the cruise very good, and the traveling from and to home one of the easiest times ever. The only blip that caused us to be unhappy was the extremely long time we had to wait at the port for a taxi following the cruise.
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