Exploring Saint John, New Brunswick | Beavertails, History & Cruise Fun 🚢

We arrive early in the morning as our ship pulls into St. John, and the day already feels calm and bright. We plan to grab breakfast, step off the ship, and start exploring what sits right near the port and beyond the hills.

We walk through town, check out local shops and art, visit historic spots, and try simple local food before heading back. By the end of the day, we relax on board, spend time with friends, and look ahead to what comes next on the cruise.

Key Takeaways

• We explore the town close to the port and enjoy the walk.
• We support local vendors and try classic local food.
• We return to the ship to rest and plan the next stops.

Arriving in St. John

We pulled into St. John around 8:00 a.m., and the weather looked calm and bright. The crew docked the ship while we planned breakfast and a walk through town. This was our first stop here, so we decided to explore on foot.

Right off the cruise pier, we found the Container Village. A nonprofit turned shipping containers into small shops, and the setup sat just steps from our ship, the Majestic Princess. We walked past murals, art pieces, and local vendors, and we picked up handmade items like crochet.

Nearby spots we walked through included:

• Market Square, which felt like an indoor mall
• A working phone booth
• An old stone church and the Loyalist House, which was free to tour that day
• A few streets with steep hills and historic buildings

We also noticed small details along the way, from funny historical signs to bumblebees moving between flowers. The town felt walkable, though the hills made it a workout.

Before heading back, we returned to the container festival area for food. We shared BeaverTails and poutine, with fries, gravy, and cheese curds. After shopping and snacking, we made our way back toward the ship, ready to cool off and rest.

Walking Through the Container Village

Street Art and Creative Displays

We noticed painted walls and art pieces spread through the container area. The murals sit right among the walkways, so we saw them as we moved between shops. The art gave the space a lively feel without needing a guide or signs.

Backing Neighborhood Sellers

We chose to spend our money with people selling items made in town. We watched friends pick up handmade crochet from local makers. Buying from these stalls felt personal since we met the sellers face to face.

One-of-a-Kind Market Finds

Each container held a small shop with different items to browse. We found souvenirs and snacks without walking far from the ship. The setup made it easy to explore at our own pace and stop when something caught our eye.

Exploring Market Square

Finding Local Flavor

We walked over to Market Square and stepped inside together. We joked about hats on the square and noticed how people dressed and moved through the space. The place felt active and lived-in, not staged.

• Details we noticed
  • People wearing hats
  • Open views into a kitchen area
  • A mix of shops and walkways

A Working Phone Booth Surprise

We stopped short when we saw a phone booth that still works. It looked old, but it was not just for show. Seeing it brought back memories and got us talking.

Feature	What we saw
Condition	Old style
Status	Working
Location	Inside the square

Indoor Mall Feel

Market Square felt like an indoor mall. We walked past shops and displays under one roof. The layout made it easy to wander without rushing.

We also noticed fencing designed to stop people from leaning, which looked sharp and unusual.

Historic Places We Walked Past in St. John

The Old Stone Church We Passed

We walked uphill and came across an old stone church. The building stood out right away, and we stopped to take a look as we passed by.

It sat along our walking route as we explored the streets on foot.

Touring the Loyalist-Era Home

We visited a historic Loyalist home and went inside. We explored the rooms during our walk through the neighborhood.

The house offered free entry that day because of a civic holiday in New Brunswick. We also walked around the back of the building before moving on.

What we noticed inside:

• Old rooms open to walk through
• A quiet, historic feel
• A small surprise, including a bunny inside

Humorous History Signs We Found

While walking down the street, we spotted a historical marker that made us laugh. The sign said that nothing happened on that spot in 1897.

We stopped for a moment just to enjoy the joke before continuing our walk.

Enjoying Local Food

Beaver Tail Treats

We stopped at the container festival area and grabbed a classic beaver tail pastry. We cut into it right away and noticed thin, crispy spots with thicker, softer edges. The outside tasted better than the center for us, but we still enjoyed it as a quick snack before heading back.

What we noticed

• Thin and crisp in the middle
• Thicker and fluffier around the edges
• Best texture on the outside

Poutine Stop

While waiting, we ordered poutine to share. It came with fries, gravy, and cheese curds, and it hit the spot after walking around town. They also offered a bacon option, but we kept it simple.

What was on our plate

• Fries
• Gravy
• Cheese curds

Regional Snack Comparison

We talked about how this pastry compares to food we’ve had elsewhere. It reminded us of fried bread in Alaska, though we liked that one a bit more. The beaver tail felt similar, just thinner in the middle.

Snack	Texture	Our Take
Beaver tail	Thin center, fluffy edges	Outside tasted better
Alaska fried bread	Thicker overall	We liked it more

Strolling Through Town

Stepping Inside Local Churches

We walked past several church buildings as we climbed the hills. One stone church stood out right away, and we stopped to look it over from the street.
We also passed another building where we honestly could not tell if it was a church or someone’s home.

Wandering Nearby Streets

We explored the area on foot and kept finding small surprises. We saw an old house tied to loyalist history and toured it for free because of a civic holiday.
Along the way, we spotted a working phone booth, unusual fencing, murals, and even a sign marking a place where nothing happened in 1897.

Things that caught our attention:

• An indoor market with shops and food
• A container village made from shipping containers
• A hilly layout that made our walk feel longer

Watching Busy Bumblebees

We stopped at a corner filled with flowers and watched large bumblebees move from bloom to bloom. One bee worked the entire patch without stopping.
From that spot, we could also see our ship waiting down the street.

Life on Board the Majestic Princess

Everyday Eats on the Ship

We moved between several dining spots during the cruise. We tried the buffet, ate on the Lido Deck, and skipped the main dining room on formal night because it did not fit our mood.

At Ali’s Pub, we ordered simple comfort food. We had burgers, fries, shrimp, fish and chips, and mushy peas.

Drinks and Bar Realities

We ran into limited bar service while docked in Canada. Only a small number of bars stayed open, and long lines formed fast.

Waiting for table service took a long time, so we stood in line instead. We waited about 20 minutes for a Jack and Coke, which felt reasonable given the crowd.

What We Noticed	Details
Open bars	About five
Wait time	Up to an hour with servers
Odd detail	Soda cans labeled for ship use only

Paid Dining Choices We Considered

We already ate at the Crown Grill earlier in the cruise. We talked about booking Sabatini’s, the Italian restaurant, for dinner that night.

We also planned to try the seafood venue called The Catch by Rudi. We had reservations set and wanted to fit it in before the cruise ended.

Cabin Location Notes

Our room lined up with the entrance to the container market at the port. From our cabin area, we could easily spot the activity on shore.

Being close to the port made it simple to head out and return without a long walk. After a busy day, that short distance mattered to us.

Creating Together After Dark: YouTube Team‑Up

Meeting April and Rose on the Cruise

We are cruising with our friend April and her daughter Rose on this New England trip. April runs a YouTube channel called Crafting in the Night, and she is traveling with us on the Majestic Princess.

We invited April to talk about her channel while we relaxed onboard. She shared that her videos focus on crochet and yarn projects.

Upcoming Live Stream Plans

We are talking about doing a live stream together later this week. If it happens, it will be our first live stream with April during this cruise.

The stream would take place on the Majestic Princess and air on April’s channel. We plan to share a link so viewers can join if it goes live.

What Her Channel Covers

Crafting in the Night centers on crochet and yarn topics. April creates content for people who enjoy hands‑on crafting.

Feature	Details
Host	April
Guest Crafter	Rose
Main Topics	Crochet and yarn projects
Platform	YouTube

We are excited to be part of this and spend time crafting and cruising together.

Looking Ahead to the Next Stops

Our Plans for Halifax

We expect Halifax to be a full day with a lot of walking. We want to see the historic fort and plan to visit the Titanic museum and nearby graves. We know this port will keep us busy from start to finish.

What we’re aiming to see:

• Historic fort overlooking the city
• Titanic museum
• Titanic gravesite

Getting Ready for Sydney

After another sea day, we plan to dock in Sydney. This will be our final port on this part of the cruise. We look forward to getting off the ship and exploring before heading back out to sea.

What We’ll Do on Sea Days

We have a sea day before Halifax and another one before Sydney. We plan to relax on the ship and enjoy time with friends. We may also do a live stream later in the week from the ship.

Onboard plans include:

• Relaxing in indoor pool areas
• Having drinks and unwinding
• Spending time together and taking it easy

Relaxing After a Day in Port

We came back on board tired and ready to slow down. We headed to the indoor pool area and grabbed Jack and Cokes while we sat and rested before departure.

Only a few bars stayed open, so lines moved slow. We waited about 20 minutes for drinks, which felt fine after a full day of walking.

What we did to unwind on the ship:

• Sat in the Hollywood Conservatory
• Watched the ship fill back up
• Talked through dinner plans
• Took it easy until sail away

Later, we ate at Ali’s Pub. We ordered simple comfort food like burgers, fish and chips, fries, shrimp, and mushy peas. We stayed put, ate slowly, and let our legs recover from the day.