Prince Edward Island — The Tour I Wanted to Love (But… Didn’t)
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Prince Edward Island was the port I was most excited about on our Canada & New England cruise. I’ve wanted to visit Green Gables for years — the trails, the scenery, the red cliffs, the whole Anne‑of‑it‑all. So it pains me to say this… but this ended up being our least favorite tour of the trip.
Not terrible. Not a disaster. Just… not what I hoped for.
We booked our excursion through Viator because it was the only one I could find that included walking the trails at Green Gables, which was super important to me. I always prioritize the outdoors over shopping, and this tour seemed like the best fit.
But the day had other plans.
🌿 Book This Tour (or Find One That Fits You Better)
If you want to try the same tour we did — or compare it with others that might be a better fit for your style — you can browse options here:
👉 Book the PEI Green Gables Tour
I always recommend comparing a few options so you can choose the pacing, stops, and style that match your perfect PEI day.
How I Book Shore Excursions — My step‑by‑step guide to choosing between cruise line vs. independent tours.
The Lobster Cage Mystery Stop
Our first stop? A 20‑minute look at a lobster cage on the side of the road.
I still don’t know why.
It wasn’t scenic, it wasn’t educational, and it definitely wasn’t Green Gables. Meanwhile, the bus was so warm that the chocolate I brought as a snack melted into liquid and exploded all over everything in my bag.
Passports. Credit cards. Receipts. All dipped in fondue.
So while everyone else admired the red cliffs, I was standing there cleaning up a chocolate crime scene.
10 Essentials for Cruising — Everything I pack for smooth sailing days and port adventures.
Finally… Green Gables (But Not Enough Time)
When we finally arrived at Green Gables, I was thrilled — this was my moment. But because of the tour is structured, we didn’t have enough time to do everything.
I chose the trails (because that’s always my priority), which meant I didn’t have time to go inside the house. Tanner was a good sport — this was definitely a “me” adventure, not a “him” adventure — but we both agreed the trails absolutely saved the day.
They were peaceful, beautiful, and exactly what I had hoped for.
How I Book Cruises— Learn how I stack points, perks, and elite benefits to save thousands each year.
The Strip Mall Detour
Just when I thought we were heading somewhere scenic next… We pulled into a strip mall.
No thanks.
All the Green Gables tours include shopping, and I did my best to pick the one with the least shopping because that’s not our thing. We’re more into memories than things, and this stop felt like filler.
The one bright spot: I bought Tanner a milkshake at Moo’s for being such a good sport.
The Day Was Saved by Oysters
By the time we got back to the ship, I was starving — melted chocolate does not count as lunch — but I had one more thing I had to do in PEI:
Raw oysters.
There was a lobster house I could see from the ship, so we walked over and I ordered a dozen salty, briny oysters and a cold beer. Tanner got fries. I was finally happy.
Sometimes that’s all it takes.
My Zuiderdam Review— See what made this Holland America ship one of our favorites.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m still glad we did the tour — Green Gables has been on my list for years, and the trails were worth it. But the day could have been better. Between the lobster cage detour, the overheated bus, the chocolate disaster, and the strip mall stop… it just wasn’t the dreamy PEI day I had imagined.
If you’re considering this tour, keep in mind:
It’s great for trail lovers
It’s not great if you hate shopping stops
The pacing felt off
And the bus was very warm
But even with all that, we still found moments of joy — especially those beautiful trails and my end‑of‑day oyster feast.
Overall, I’m still glad we did the tour — Green Gables has been on my list for years, and the trails were worth it. After talking it through later, Tanner and I both agreed our tour guide was probably brand new. It’s early in the PEI season, and he mentioned several times that he was still in training, which explains a lot of the pacing and the odd stops. I would have been heartbroken to miss Green Gables, so I’m genuinely glad we went — and I honestly wish him the best of luck as he gets his groove. Between the lobster cage detour, the overheated bus, the chocolate disaster, and the strip mall stop… it just wasn’t the dreamy PEI day I imagined. But even with all that, we still found moments of joy — especially those peaceful trails and my end‑of‑day oyster feast.
Cruise Port Guide Hub — Browse every port we’ve visited, organized by region.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — the cruise‑obsessed, points‑collecting traveler behind No Point Left Behind. I help travelers explore more for less with smart travel hacking, casino‑comp cruising, and Lazy Girl shortcuts that make every trip easier.
When I’m not sailing with my sons Tanner and Finn, you’ll find me building guides for retirees, families, and anyone who wants to travel smarter without overthinking it.
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