After visiting Canada for the last two ports, we would make a quick visit to France before going returning to Canada and then back to the USA.

FRANCE!  How are we going to do that?

Dating back to the US Revolutionary War, the islands were occupied by both the British and French.  With the French ultimately maintaining control, in 1946 they were recognized as French Overseas Territory.

There are two main islands:  St Pierre Island and Miquelon Island (which actually consists of two connected islands:  Grande Miquelon and Petite Miquelon).  We would tender into St Pierre Island.

Close to St Pierre Island is L’Île-aux-Marins or “Sailors Island”.  Only a few people live there during the summer and it is otherwise unoccupied.  There is a ferry that will take you over for a visit and it is also the location of one of the HAL walking tours.  The most prominent building is the church Notre-Dame-des-Marins.

As you would expect in France – they speak French here and use the Euro.   While most people in the tourist business will speak English we discovered a shopkeeper who didn’t speak English and we used Google Translate to communicate.

We were originally scheduled to dock, but for some reason, that was changed and we tendered.  Be ready for either possibility.

Holland America offered four excursions:  Three walking tours and a Zodiac tour around the harbor.

We booked one of the few private tours on the island.  This was a 90-minute bus tour offered by SERVICE TOURISME ROULET.

https://en.tourismerouletbustours.com/.  The price was $25 Euros per person and they used a modern 40-passenger bus.

We relaxed aboard the ship until 1 pm when we headed ashore arriving at the tender landing around 1:20 pm.

Despite arriving far after the morning rush, we were still greeted by the local well-wishers who handed out French flags and tourist information.

As we headed toward the main part of town, we passed along some sheds, most were closed, but a few were open and selling souvenirs and snacks.

We passed by a jetty leading to a lighthouse, but it was not open to visitors.

The meeting place for the tour was Place du General de Gaulle in the center of town.  The tourist information center is nearby along with a few shops.  This is not a very touristy town and only a few restaurants were in the area and nothing in the immediate vicinity of Place du General de Gaulle.

Our bus arrived around 2:15 pm and was scheduled to start at 2:25 pm.  We were on the second tour today and the bus left about 1/2 full.

Our guide presented an interesting history of the Island and a snapshot of current life.  The tour was 25 Euros and we had a wonderful time.  We stopped three times for photographs.

You can read more about St Pierre HERE

The last tender was 4:30 and our tour ended at 4 pm.  We were given the option to get dropped off at the tender landing which would save us a short walk back from Place du General de Gaulle.

THE PRESIDENT’S CUT

Usually once a cruise I will splurge and get one of the President’s Cut Tomahawk Steaks for our dinner table table.  It’s enough for 6 people to share along with another entrée.  I always tell the staff a day in advance so they can get it ready, otherwise, it may take longer than you care to wait.