New England and Canada cruises are the perfect blend of scenic coastline, colonial history, and local cuisine. Passengers can enjoy everything from tours of European-style cities with cobblestone streets to lighthouses to lobster feasts. The best time to visit the region is up to the traveler, but most people enjoy itineraries that include the stunning fall foliage from September to early October.
Cruisers sailing to New England & Canada can embark on round-trip itineraries from New Jersey, New York, or Boston, or one-way itineraries from Québec City or Montreal. Ports of call can include Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Montreal, Québec; Prince Edward Island; and Saint John, New Brunswick.
A stop in Québec City, Québec, offers a visit to the Historic District of Old Québec, a colonial city UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The city features 17th-century cobblestone streets, French-Canadian-inspired cuisine, and the Château Frontenac, an iconic 610-room castle now a historic hotel.
Also in Québec is the port of Montreal. Ships sail into Montreal by way of the St. Lawrence River, meaning only small to mid-size ships dock here. Popular excursions included guided tours to iconic landmarks, Old Montreal walking tours, and day trips to Québec City.
Nova Scotia has two popular cruise ports–Halifax and Sydney. Popular cruise excursions in Halifax include Peggy’s Cove, which features a legendary lighthouse; a tour of Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the resting place of Titanic victims; and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, a historic fortress with daily cannon firings. In Sydney, passengers can explore Cape Breton Island, drive the Cabot Trail, or visit the largest reconstructed French fortress, the Fortress of Louisbourg. Cruisers can also stroll down Charlotte Street in historic downtown or snap a photo with the World’s Largest Fiddle.
Saint John, New Brunswick, is located on the Bay of Fundy. Guests visit the Bay of Fundy to watch its tides reverse the flow of the Saint John River twice a day. Passengers can explore the area independently or take the Big Pink Bus Tour and hop on/hop off at popular landmarks. Guests can visit the historic City Market, the oldest farmers’ market in Canada, which features a roof shaped like an inverted ship hull.
In Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, passengers will find a variety of experiences. Guests can enjoy world-famous Cows Ice Cream or drive the southern coast to the Confederation Bridge, an 8-mile engineering wonder spanning ice-covered waters. Known as Canada’s Food Island, culinary excursions include the island’s world-class seafood in walking food tours as well as craft distilleries and drinks. Lastly, Prince Edward Island is home to the Green Gables Heritage Place and the historic Cavendish farmstead–the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery’s classic novels. Cavendish Beach is also where guests will find the red sandstone cliffs and dunes.
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, is not only a cruise port, but also a cruise destination. Popular excursions in Boston include the amphibious Boston Duck Boat, allowing guests to explore the city by land and by water. Guests can explore American Revolutionary History, walk the Freedom Trail, go whale watching, tour Historic Fenway Park, and even enjoy the not-so-typical “Boston’s Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour.”
If your cruise stops in Bar Harbor, Maine, you are sure to find some lobster. Maine officially certifies the quality and origin of its lobster and is the only state to do so. Every restaurant throughout Bar Harbor serves its lobster, lobster rolls, and any dish involving the crustacean fresh. Bar Harbor is also home to Acadia National Park and Thunder Hole. Passengers can also take the serpentine road to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the East Coast, to enjoy the panoramic view of Bar Harbor.
Another port of call in Maine is Portland. Passengers can board a lobster boat and go lobstering, or take a trolley ride to visit the Portland Head Light, a beautiful lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth. Just a short walk from the ship is the Old Port District. The cobblestone streets are lined with 19th-century brick warehouses that are now shops, boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.
Shore excursions in Newport, Rhode Island, include a glimpse of what life was like for wealthy industrialists during the Gilded Age in America. Tours include the great mansions of The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, Rough Point, or Rosecliff, belonging to various families of prominence around the turn of the 19th-century. Passengers can also visit Rose Island Lighthouse, which overlooks Narragansett Bay, stroll the famous 3.5-mile Cliff Walk, or take tour along the 10-mile Ocean Drive.
The major cruise lines offer itineraries to New England & Canada, with Holland America Line featuring smaller ships that can sail to Montreal. The peak season in the region is September and October, with sailings beginning in late spring. Check with your favorite cruise line to see which ports are offered and make sure you put a cruise to New England & Canada on your “must do” list.