Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Our port of call today is Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This my second visit with the Parental Minions since we visited back in 2021. Since we had a more extensive stay that time we didn’t have a set plan other than to wander around. So off the ship we go and we spend our first little while in Charlottetown exploring the waterfront and retracing some familiar steps of when we were here last! The weather is beautiful which makes walking along the water a very pleasant experience.
Receiver Cafe & Bistro
After a bit of walking, we decide to pop into Receiver Cafe & Bistro to chill and grab some coffee. Back in 2021 we also visited Receiver Coffee, so it’s a known spot for good coffee and a good place for us to rest our legs and people watch a little bit.
St. Dunstan’s Basilica
After a little rest we continue walking around a little, we pickup some ice cream and find our way to St. Dunstan’s Basilica. It’s a beautiful cathedral in the centre of Charlottetown and a nice refuge from the sun a little! We spend a little time exploring the church and admiring it a little before moving on.
After the Basilica, we were getting a little peckish. Along the water we spot the Chip Shack. We order a few items and sit outside to enjoy the sun, some seafood and some lobster rolls! Being able to sit outside, enjoy the family’s company and snack makes it a wonderful time.
Lobster on the Wharf
You would think that after the snacks food wouldn’t be on our minds. But our next stop is a Lobster shop called Lobster on the Wharf. One of the things Papa Minion wanted for the family to do on our visit to Charlottetown is to have lobster together. Even though we just had snacks at the Chip Shack, we still decide to drop in have some drinks and share some plates. Thankfully due to the pre-eating, we didn’t have to eat too much lobster, but we did get some chowders, a bit of salad and shared a lobster. I think in our exuberance, we didn’t take any photos. Probably a testament to the good times we were having!
Back on Board
After the lobster we make our way back to the boat and get ready to set sail again. It’s still a beautiful day so we head up on deck to enjoy the view from the top of our boat. Another reason for us being on deck is our ship will be sailing under the Confederation bridge later on. So along with many other fellow cruisers we get up on deck and take in the sights!
Confederation Bridge
When we first boarded this boat, one of the things we noted is the boat isn’t as big as some of the other cruise ships we’ve been on. A reason for this is it needs to be able to fit under the Confederation Bridge. While it’s a long bridge, not all cruise ships can clear the bridge. So now it makes sense why Holland America chooses this specific boat for this route.
As we near the bridge we can see just how close it gets. As the tallest portion of our boat clears the underside of the bridge, you appreciate just how close it really is! And just like that, the bridge is behind us and we are through!
Dinner
After enjoying more of the glorious weather outside, we head indoors and head to dinner. We share a delightful meal together as a family and recount the days activities. Instead of heading to our usual spot of the Lido Market, we decide to partake in the dining room this time. The theme is seafood and we are very happy to partake in the offerings! The rest of the evening is spent checking out the various entertainment options aboard the boat before we retire back to our rooms to settle in for the day.
Sea Day
Today is a sea day. Which means we don’t have any ports of call and will be sailing the whole day. There are several ship board activities planned to keep the guests occupied. I think the only thing noteworthy for us is there is a cake making event. Beyond that, we mainly spend the day relaxing and doing our favourite ship board activity: playing cards and spending time as a family. I’d like to say I had much more exciting news to report but it really was a very lazy sea day for us.
The only other notable thing for the day is the continued beautiful weather we experience. As the lazy day comes to an end we head up on deck and take in a beautiful sunset. I think days like this allow us to reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to travel. And also how thankful we are to have a family that is as close as we are and are able and enjoy travelling together!
With a quiet and relaxing day behind us, we tuck into bed ready for our final port of call tomorrow, Quebec City.
Beautiful memories! Such sweet times!
For accuracy’s sake, I just wanted to clarify that it wasn’t a cake-making event on the sea day — it was a cake-eating event! Like they had a bunch of beautiful cakes in the buffet and you could just go up and ask for a variety of slices! It was great 🙂