Cruises to Canada and New England offer some of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenery nature has in store. This part of the world may not spring to mind as one of the best known cruise routes, but in fact travelling by sea is the perfect way to experience this stunning region, packed with history and natural beauty. This is why it has become North America's fastest growing cruise destinations.
The majority of cruises are 7-night itineraries, making round trips from a variety of ports in the USA, typically New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Maryland, or Cape Liberty, New Jersey, or from the Canadian ports of Montreal or Québec. There are also 10-night and 14-night cruises, which can include overnight stays, often in Québec City. It is also possible to choose one-way voyages, for instance between Boston and Québec, Boston and Montreal, or Québec and New York City, taking 7 nights or more.
The Canada-New England cruise season runs from May to October, the peak time being August and September. Many people choose September-October, for the chance to enjoy the glorious spectacle of autumn foliage in New England, and it is usually possible to arrange a New England road trip as an add-on, either before or after the cruise. The best months for spotting whales off the coast of Newfoundland, or in the Bay of Fundy, are July and August.
Highlights of your cruise along the Canada coast include Halifax, Nova Scotia, viewed from across an enormous natural harbour encircling the verdant George's Island, with its massive fort dominating the waterfront, and nearby the chance to explore the charming Peggy's Cove, with its iconic lighthouse. To the west, the ship will anchor in the Bay of Fundy, where you can watch seals and Beluga whales, and jet-boat through the Reversing Falls. Along the St Lawrence River, in Québec City and Montreal, with their quaint cobblestone streets and chic boutiques, you can get an authentic taste of France and the French.
In New England, a favourite cruise stop is Bar Harbor in Maine, a scenic seaside village surrounded by the Acadia National Park, with nearly 50,000 acres of rocky shores and forested mountains. Other frequent stops include quaint Portland, further south, and Newport, Rhode Island, once the playground of the super-rich of the 19th century. Most cruises start or end at Boston or New York City, where there is plenty of opportunity to explore what these iconic places have to offer.
Rugged coastlines, colonial history, quaint seaside villages and wonderful marine life -- just a few of the reasons to take a Canada and New England cruise. And what's more, the food on board, with fresh crab and lobster, is among the best cruise food in the world. It couldn't get any better.
