Hi Dorlee: We did a similar cruise in June on Holland America. We started in Montreal and disembarked in BOS. I would be happy to share with you the excursions we did. I spent a lot of time researching excursions before I signed up for the ships own excursions. I just could not find great independent ones that were that much cheaper unlike our last European/Med cruise. And as OldPenny wisely states there is an advantage to the ship's excursions in that you will never get left behind.

We have done several cruises on RCCL and HAL. I find them to be equivalent. I call them the "Marriott" cruises: it's not Ritz Carlton, but they are both consistent in quality. I don't think you can go wrong.

I didn't realize you were looking at a Canadian cruise for you and your mother or else I would have volunteered my recent experience sooner.

[This message has been edited by paradocs (edited 08-08-2003).]