What's New

Things change verrrrry slowly in Eastern Canada, and sometimes they don't change much at all. Nevertheless, there are a few recent developments to note.

Planning Your Trip -- If you prefer an oversea journey to one by air, there's one big change to take note of: Prince of Fundy's Scotia Prince cruise line -- a popular overnight/daylong cruise ship connecting Portland, Maine with Yarmouth, Nova Scotia -- has sadly ceased operations after a protracted dispute with the city of Portland over a marine terminal could not be resolved.

To pick up the slack, the fast CAT ferry service (tel. 888/249-SAIL; www.catferry.com) operating out of Bar Harbor, Maine, increased its summertime service schedule in 2005. However, bear in mind that you'll need to plan for 3 extra hours of driving beyond Portland to catch it -- and most departures are early in the morning. Check the ferry's website for details of the ferry line's 2006 sailing schedules.

VIA Rail, Canada's national rail line (tel. 888/842-7245; www.viarail.com), has added a higher class of service on its overnight run from Montréal to Halifax. Check the website for details of this new Easterly Class service, which is expected to operate from May through October in 2006. Standard overnight sleeper cabin service on the route will continue to be offered year-round.

Exploring Nova Scotia -- In the historic waterside town of Lunenburg, restoration of the St. John's Anglican Church, which burned to the ground in late 2001, has finally been completed. The church was reopened to the public in a stirring ceremony in June 2005, and it may once again be toured for free daily. It is a fine reminder of what had been one of the most beautiful of all wooden churches in North America.

Exploring New Brunswick -- It's getting easier all the time to reach this province. Where you once had to fly into Saint John if you wanted to visit, Delta (tel. 888/221-1212; www.delta.com) now flies twice daily from Boston to Fredericton, and Calgary-based WestJet (tel. 888/937-8538; www.westjet.com) connects Moncton with Halifax, Toronto, St. John's, and Calgary, which can then be connected onward to Florida, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas without switching airlines.

Exploring Prince Edward Island -- Lady Catherine's, a B&B in Montague, has closed its doors. And Café St. Jean in Oyster Bed Bridge -- a fine place to get a Cajun or Creole meal and catch live music -- is no longer operating.

Exploring Newfoundland & Labrador -- The most important museum in the city of St. John's has a new home. The Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador relocated to new digs known as The Rooms, at 9 Bonventure Ave., in the summer of 2005.