I have been wanting to take a Canada and New England cruise since 2019, so I was so excited to finally board this cruise, and it didn’t disappoint! In fact, it was my favorite cruise ever! There are so many reasons why this cruise should be on your bucket list, so let’s explore just a few.
#1 The ports of embarkation and debarkation are spectacular!
We chose a Holland America cruise from Boston to Montreal, specifically to take advantage of extra time in each of these cities! Boston has so much to offer in the way of historical sightseeing like the Freedom Trail, excellent food like the Italian restaurants in the North End, and so many more things to do like museums, harbor cruises, and ghost tours! Montreal was a fantastic place to spend an extra day exploring. There’s an old town, important modernist architecture, great poutine and smoked meat sandwiches, jazz clubs, and the beautiful park on top of the “mountain” that gives Montreal its name! We didn’t even get to museums or Olympic sites. Other cruises begin or end in Quebec City, which is another great city to spend more time in.
#2 The ports of call in the Maritimes
Atlantic Canada is not an easily-accessible area by car, so it’s an area that is often overlooked, despite its natural beauty. Nova Scotia is a beautiful region of rocky shorelines and picturesque harbors, with beautiful rolling hills inland. Prince Edward Island has incredible red-sand cliffs and beaches, quaint villages, and Anne of Green Gables sites, and Newfoundland has huge tidal changes that reveal whole new worlds from under the Bay of Fundy. These are great places to explore for a day, and see if you’d like to come back for a longer trip!
#3 Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor is a charming town and a fun destination in itself, but its best feature is that it’s the gateway to Acadia National Park. You can rent a car or electric vehicle and take in many beautiful views, hike a bit, and still have time for a picnic lunch before heading back to town. Alternatively, you can take the shuttle buses around the park from Bar Harbor.
#4 Cruising the Scenic St. Lawrence River
There’s just something spectacular about cruising near land, and a Canada and New England cruise will give you an opportunity to see the beautiful river bluffs, towns, and rolling hills of eastern Canada. Quebec has stunning churches in almost every town, and they’re a common sight along the St. Lawrence.
#5 The Temperate Summer Weather
We enjoyed our Canada and New England cruise in July because of the gorgeous weather. The temperatures were comfortable but not too hot, the sun battled with the fog and won every day, and the long days made for a lot more time to explore each port and still enjoy time on deck when we got back to the ship. Of course, if you choose a Canada and New England cruise in the fall, you’ll enjoy crisp weather and beautiful fall foliage!
Are you ready to book your Canada and New England Cruise? Schedule a 15-minute call to start planning!