Canada & New England

The Canada and New England cruise itinerary typically runs between New York and Montreal or Quebec City, calling at ports along the New England coast and the Canadian Maritime provinces. It’s one of cruising’s most celebrated routes and one of the few that rewards its passengers with genuine seasonal spectacle — the fall foliage that transforms the forests of New England and Quebec into a blazing canvas of red, orange and gold each September and October.

New England ports typically include Boston — a city of immense historical significance and genuine charm, with the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall and the vibrant North End Italian neighbourhood all easily walkable from the cruise terminal. Bar Harbor, Maine, is a beautifully situated resort town on Mount Desert Island and the gateway to Acadia National Park, where carriage roads wind through exceptional coastal woodland scenery. Portland, Maine, offers an excellent foodie scene centred on the Old Port waterfront.

In Canada, Halifax in Nova Scotia is a lively, historic city with an excellent waterfront and easy access to Peggy’s Cove — one of the most photographed lighthouse scenes in North America. The Saguenay Fjord, where beluga whales gather in extraordinary numbers, is a highlight of the St Lawrence River section. Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island — the birthplace of Canadian confederation — is a charming, walkable city with excellent lobster and seafood.

Quebec City is the traditional end point of the itinerary — its magnificent walled Old Town, the Chateau Frontenac and the autumn colours of the Plains of Abraham making it a spectacular conclusion to the voyage. The best time to sail is late September to mid-October for peak foliage, though the route runs from late summer through to early November.