By
Richard Humphreys |
Situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward Island has plenty to offer cruise visitors, including unspoiled coastal beauty, red sandstone cliffs and seemingly endless beaches. The uniqueness of the island can also be experienced through its warm and welcoming people, their local culture, cuisine and shore excursions, such as the ‘Taste the Town’, ‘Fun with Falcons’, ‘Charlottetown Church’, and ‘Pipes, Drums & Highland Fling’ tours.
“After two years without cruise ships visiting Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, we’re looking forward to their return and providing excursions that showcase our beautiful island,” says Bill Kendrick, founder of tour company Experience PEI. “We anticipate our most popular tours and experiences will be our small group activities which is what research is indicating people will be more comfortable with.”
Port Charlottetown is steps away from downtown Charlottetown, which is historically popular with tourists and renowned as the birthplace of the Canadian Confederation, where talks to form the country took place in 1864. While in downtown Charlottetown, visitors can stroll the cobblestone tree-lined streets, relax at an outdoor café, or browse the local shops and galleries.
One of the most visited sites on the island is the Prince Edward Island National Park, which features Green Gables Heritage Place. Since the Anne of Green Gables novel was published in 1908, millions have travelled to Prince Edward Island to discover the place and setting that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories and characters.
Part of Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site, Green Gables tells the story of both the author and her famous heroine, Anne Shirley. Visitors can explore the new visitor centre, original house, 19th-century gardens, farmyard, walking trails – including the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane – gift shop and Cordial Café.
As well as excursions, downtown offerings and heritage sites, the island also has a diverse culture that visitors can embrace. The island’s cultural diversity is influenced by both its indigenous population and history that can be traced back to French, English, Scottish and Irish immigrants. The Mi’kmaq are the indigenous people of Prince Edward Island and have called the island home for over 12,000 years. Visitors have the opportunity to see the island through the eyes of the indigenous people, experience their culture, learn traditional crafts from an ‘Elder’ and expand their perspective on the Mi’kmaq story.
This article was first published in the 2022 issue of Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
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