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Above: St. John's is known for its brightly-painted traditional residences.
Below: The city also has modern commercial buildings. 
Above: Water Street.
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St. John's is the largest city and capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located on the island of Newfoundland is so far out in the Atlantic that it is the eastern most city in North America.
A great deal of confusion arises due to the similarly between the name of this city and the name of Saint John in New Brunswick. To reduce the confusion, a protocol has been developed under which the name of the city in New Brunswick is spelled out, i.e., Saint John, and the name of the city in Newfoundland is abbreviated, i.e. St. John's. However, the protocol is not always adhered to and so it is wise to investigate which city the writer means. More cruise ships call at the city in New Brunswick than call at the city in Newfoundland so the likelihood is that if the itinerary says "St. John," the ship is probably going to New Brunswick. St. John's Newfoundland is a substantial city with a population of 110,000 (205,000 in the metropolitan area). However, it does not have the feel of a big city. Most of the business district consists of a mixture of shops and residences although there is also a section of the city with modern commercial office buildings. Located on the slope of a hill that slopes down to the water, most of the ciy is within walking distance from the harbor. Water Street, the main shopping street, is just a block inland. It runs into George Street, which is known for its cafes and bars. Since the collapse of the fishing industry in the 1990s, the economy in St. John's centers upon offshore oil and gas. In addition, as the provincial capital, the public sector is also an important part of the economy. Newfoundland's history and culture also makes it a tourist attraction. Most people in St. John's speak English. In keeping with the rest of Canada, some signs are also in French. The currency in St. John's is the Canadian dollar. Most shops also take major credit cards. Because it is so far east, St. John's has its own unique time zone. It is an hour and a half ahead of Eastern time, which puts it a half hour ahead of the rest of Maritime Canada. St. John's climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream. However, the weather can be cool even in the summer. |
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Above: The coast near St. John's consists of tall rocky cliffs that the ocean has pock marked with caves.
Above right: Homes built among the rocky outcrops.
Above right: Homes built among the rocky outcrops.
Cruise destination profile - St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada - overview