Only passengers with a sense of humour and a willing set of taste buds need get off the ship in the port of St. John’s, NL. Locals here are damn friendly and don’t have much use for boring types. St. John’s has always been tied to the sea, serving as the last truly protected harbour between Halifax, NS, and Greenland. Naval seamen, merchant mariners, oil-rig workers and, most of all, fishers, still make their mark on this port with a booming pub scene and all the music, dancing and craziness that go with it. This port is thriving—and cruise passengers get dropped right in the middle of it.
Who’s visiting:
- For 2010, nearly 15,000 intrepid passengers on a handful of ships—some big, some small—are set to sail in. Some are en route to and from Europe (St. John’s is 1,288 km or 800 mi closer to London, England, than to Vancouver, BC!); others are en route to and from the Arctic.
- 15 ships are scheduled to cruise in, including boats from Silversea, Princess, Holland America, Germany’s AIDA Cruises, Cruise North Expeditions and Carnival.
The hot spots:
- Any local person. Many places have beautiful scenery as a tourist attraction; few can promise people as a living attraction. There is no friendlier bunch of people with a more charming accent than Newfoundlanders. Smart cruise passengers will bring an appetite—or at least their thirst—and head for a pub (The Duke of Duckworth, perhaps), where the bartender and server will likely be the most welcoming people you’ve ever met. Of course, shop clerks, restaurant servers, bank tellers or folks on the street will do, too.
- Rooms to Explore. St. John’s is home to an unusual museum and public art space called The Rooms, notable as much for its striking architecture as for its exhibits. The Rooms reflects the style of old-fashioned fishermen’s shacks in a dramatic setting atop the city’s hill. The structure is part museum, part art gallery and part working studios. A good café with an exceptional view is a great spot to photograph your ship in the harbour below.
Something different:
- Try cod’s tongue. Cod was once the backbone of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy. While times have changed, the fish remains a favourite dish. Cod are big fish, with big tongues. Many local restaurants serve breaded and fried chunks of cod’s tongue with scrunchions (super-salty bits of pork). Order some to share. Whether you love it or hate it, you’ll have a helluva fish tale to take home! Velma’s on Water St. is a good option.
www.newfoundlandlabrador.com
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Pub Night
