Shipwright Inn

A rather odd-feeling place: I wish I had a more upbeat review. We are frequent travellers to Charlottetown, we have had getaways in many old inns in the Maritimes and abroad, and were looking forward to trying out what seemed to be an iconic heritage inn. Pros: an easy walk to all of the downtown and waterfront. Clean room. Cons: the Inn felt deserted. We arrived after dark, with admittedly clear instructions about finding our key - but it seemed odd that no one seemed to be onsite. I'm well aware it's off-season, but I was rather taken aback to find no one around. In the course of our three days there, we bumped into one person downstairs, and one in the parking lot. We were never actually registered in person; it felt rather like an AirBnB rather than an inn. We thought breakfast would be served, as it is listed on the Inn's website, but it was not. We did appreciate the Keurig provided for making our own coffee, along with real cream. We skipped housekeeping on our first morning, using the Do Not Disturb sign, but did not have any on our next two, although we left the sign off. No shampoo nor conditioner was provided, but the liquid soap did double duty as shower gel and shampoo. We just returned from northern Spain and Portugal, so we are used to older inns and pousadas. We were surprised that charging spots/outlets were hard to access, and in one case hidden well behind the headboard. We are well aware that old buildings pose their challenges - but this was supposedly an upgraded room (which, by the way was small and cramped - lord knows what the non-upgraded room would have been like). Our room had a portable heater, which was fine, but our windows could not open, so we could not get a quick breath of fresh air. The hall and stair carpets seemed rather worn and dingy. Note that the general property photos are a bit misleading, as the inn is right across the street from a brightly-lit parking lot behind a fire station - but it is a very convenient location. We probably should have called the number on a card on the door to address some of these things, but this was, sadly, not a pleasure visit. We were simply exhausted dealing with some serious family issues, and just made do. We wanted to like the Shipwright, but I don't think we will return.

Did a tour of Maritimes, and stayed at many spots, this was far and away the best of the bunch. Due to Hurricane Lee, we had to change days also, and owners were so accommodating and helpful. The place is spotless, historical, unique and quaint, breakfast was plentiful and amazing, walk to downtown is 1 minute away too. We will be back to PEI and this is where we will be staying again. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

A lovely place to stay. A wonderful welcome, superb breakfast, lovely room, excellent location, spotless. I will certainly check here first next time in PEI. The next best thing to staying with family while on PEI.

I would not hesitate to recommend the Shipwright. The staff was wonderful, room was clean, and amenities perfect. A very short walk to downtown and all that it had to offer. Breakfasts were great.... not sure what the fuss has been about on some of the reviews. Perhaps they've realized and changed.

Lovely little place with real character.. We visited when the island was ravaged by Storm Fiona: everything was as normal other than some damaged trees and the iconic sign smashed. It is an old property so some creaky doors and uneven surfaces have to be taken positively as part of the character. Rooms re well equipped and you could spend weeks reading all the books! Breakfast is eclectic as other reviews have mentioned but if you say the night before what you want (I did) your hosts will try to oblige (they did with me). Just a few minutes walk from the city centre and the water's boardwalk.

My wife and I stayed two nights in the Quarterdeck, the nicest room at the Shipwright Inn. Everything about our room was perfectly fine. The room was spacious and very generously appointed with amenities, including a very nice bathroom and a separate whirlpool tub (which we did not use.) The inn is within easy walking distance of downtown and only two blocks away from the Slaymaker & Nichols Gastro House for a dinner that should not be missed. Our first caveat is the lack of communication. I made a reservation (which was confirmed) in late April for our stay in late September. On the two days prior to our arrival, I called the inn 5 times, only to reach a voicemail box that would not accept messages. I also sent an email without a reply. This was very unsettling, since we were coming in to Charlottetown during an event where just about every room in the city was fully booked for the weekend. With the combination of not answering the telephone and no recent social media posts or reviews, we were understandably worried that the inn may have closed and that we would have no place to stay. As a precaution, we booked (and had to pay for) stays at two separate downtown hotels (the first for one night, and the other for the second night). When we arrived at the Shipwright Inn, we did indeed find that it was open and that the owners were anticipating our arrival, but there was no valid excuse for the lack of communication. The second caveat is that the breakfast menu (which is the only meal offered) can be a bit unpredictable and unconventional from what one would expect at a fine country inn. There are options, and the owners seemed to respond to our feedback and constructive criticism, but it is true that there was a grilled cheese sandwich (made with Wonder Bread) on the menu for breakfast and that the fruit cup was 75% apple slices. If you would like a milk substitute or bread baked in-house or at a local bakery, you will be disappointed. Another reviewer was critical of a lunchtime dining experience; however, it should be noted that the inn only serves breakfast, at least at this time. It is fair to say that there are some communications challenges and cultural differences between the owners/staff and their guests, such as the apparent lack of familiarity with the typical breakfast expectations of American and Canadian guests. Nonetheless, all in all, we were pleased with our stay.

The inn was decorated nicely, but the room was a bit dirtier than expected. It is close to downtown, waterfront and Victoria park for a beautiful sunset. The breakfast we were looking forward to was disappointing. It lacked flavor and interest. A plain grilled cheese with greens and 2 sausages was not expected, nor what fit my interests for a main breakfast. There was a fruit cup, yogurt and mini muffin to go along. Not a 4-course breakfast. The staff was very nice, but would not expect much for the breakfast.

Located pretty close to the town centre this is a lovely place run by Jason and his team. It is full of character, rooms are spacious and clean. Breakfasts are great. We loved Charlottetown . This is definitely somewhere we would have liked to stay longer.