October 20, 2026
7:49 am
Halifax! We’ll be tendering ashore as there are 3 ships in port and I guess it was NCL’s turn to be at anchor!
Passengers were able to secure tickets for the tender from the large screens around the ship. We selected group 2—no times were listed, and the person at the shore desk told us we could go any time after our number was called.
In the 9 times we’ve called at Halifax over the years (most recently just 4 months ago), this is just the first time we need to tender. It’s cool to have a new experience among the ones we know so well.
The main downside is that we need to be back to the pier earlier than anticipated. We are meeting friends in town and this means about an hour less with them. We may also have to postpone our visit to the Hydrostone District.
8:19 pm
Great news! We made it to Hydrostone, and more.
Tendering was very orderly and worked well. We arrived at the terminal, Pier 4, at 9:55, an hour before we were to meet our friends who live in Halifax. Our family made a leisurely walk along the waterfront, stopping for some souvenirs and photos. This included our favorite shop, Peace by Chocolate.
Autumn leaves were in full color.
As we aimed to be back at the terminal by 2:30, we decided to have lunch close to where we were located. (We typically go to the marvelous Henry House closer to the terminal.) We went to a diner called The Summit Cafe—very informal and excellent comfort food. And great conversation with our dear friends.
Our friend realized that we’d have time for a trip to Hydrostone, which was a 10 minute drive away. This turned out to be a major highlight of the trip. The neighborhood was one of several decimated by the Halifax Explosion of 1917. We stopped at Hydrostone Park along Young Street, just 950 meters (0.59 miles) from the point of the explosion.
It was lovely. The area was rebuilt and completed in 1920 and features fireproof concrete blocks called hydrostone, and was built to resemble an “English-style garden suburb.” I had wanted to visit to get a personal feel for the sheer scope of the neighborhood and it turned out to be so much more. Friendly people, wonderful independent shops, beautiful gardens—both public and private—and magnificent impressive and cohesive architecture.
It was an absolutely wonderful day, ended too soon by our early departure.
Our friends dropped us off at the tender terminal at 2:30 pm, we were through the line and on the tender at 3:04, and on the ship at 3:20. We returned to our stateroom to find a selection of sweet snacks, a Latitudes benefit.
We departed around 4:15. Gorgeous fall foliage lined the shore. As we left, our Captain announced that we are expecting 30 knot winds tonight, so I picked up a green apple from the buffet as a preventative.
From 6:15 to 7:00 I photographed a lovely, vibrant sunset from our balcony. The colors were phenomenal and included—under a pastel blue sky—orange, red, pink (particularly in the clouds), and dark purple.
11:22 pm
We had dinner in the Garden Café tonight, where it was Asian night. I wasn’t very hungry (recall the sweet treats 4 hours earlier), so I sampled fried shrimp, lo mein, and a stir-fried beef. Neil found chicken satay that he said had a nice kick to it. My dinner was good, not excellent as it was buffet food. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed dessert, a no-sugar-added coconut pudding with apricot sauce.
By 9:30 pm we were in the atrium listening to the Prelude Duo perform dance music. At 10:00 the atrium became a disco as the Disco Inferno ‘70s party started. Prelude Duo continued to play, much to the delight of the crowd. There was a large age span in attendance. I loved that the atrium was used for entertainment daily and nightly. It’s often a dead space on some cruises.
We returned to the cabin at 11:00 pm, shortly after the party ended. I’m loving the motion.
Up next: A ride through a nor’easter
