2027 Canada & New England with St. Lawrence Cruise

We depart this evening for New York. The flight crosses the international dateline en route and arrives New York in the evening. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2-night stay.

After a leisurely start we enjoy a half day tour of New York city to see its wonderful sights. We explore Times Square and Central Park, as well as a view of the Statue of Liberty. This evening we get together for dinner.

After a relaxing start to the day, we depart the Big Apple, head inland and our overnight stop is in Albany, capital of New York State. There is time to see the Empire State Centre with a diverse range of architecture exhibited in the government buildings before we check-in to our hotel.

A lovely drive today as we sit back on our coach and enjoy the autumn colours of the Mohawk Trail. We travel through many small towns and colonial villages including Williamstown, known as the prettiest village in America and snugly nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Berkshire Mountains. At Shelburne Falls visit the only Bridge of Flowers in America.  We will also enjoy a guided tour at a Shaker Village to learn about their way of life. Later this afternoon, we arrive into the great city of Boston for a 3-night stay.

Our morning tour shows us Boston City, the capital of Massachusetts and the most liveable large city in the USA. It is the cradle of independence, rich in history and culture, and it still retains much of the charm from an earlier age. We visit North Church, associated with the immortal Paul Revere and the Freedom Trail, and visit areas that in the past we have only read and heard about – “The Boston Tea Party”, Bunker Hill, Boston Pops Symphony Hall, Boston Common, and Beacon Hill.

Our tour today takes us down to Cape Cod – “Kennedy Country” and home to the rich and famous – along the rugged coastline through fishing villages and coastal estates. During the morning we visit Plymouth Plantation, a recreated village depicting life at the time of the Pilgrim Fathers. After lunch, we see Plymouth Rock at the harbour’s edge, commonly regarded as the stone on to which the “Mayflower” passengers first stepped ashore when they disembarked, and we visit a full-scale replica of the “Mayflower”. Then it’s down to Cape Cod and Hyannis and the JFK Memorial before we return to Boston late afternoon. Keep an eye out for the cranberry bogs which are a common sight in the area.

After breakfast, we depart Boston and enjoy a scenic drive west through Massachusetts and into upstate New York, with comfort breaks and opportunities to stop at charming roadside towns along the Mohawk Valley, a historic travel corridor once used by early settlers. By late afternoon we arrive in Syracuse, where a guided city tour introduces us to its rich history, vibrant downtown, and cultural landmarks.

We depart Syracuse and travel west through upstate New York, crossing the border into Canada at Niagara Falls, Ontario. Upon arrival, we enjoy a guided city tour before boarding the evening Hornblower Cruise, where we experience the illuminated falls and a spectacular fireworks display, followed by dinner high above the falls at the Skylon Tower.

We depart Niagara Falls and travel along the scenic Niagara Parkway toward Toronto, pausing in the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to enjoy a wine tasting at one of its renowned local wineries. Afterward, we continue our journey to Toronto for our next stay.

After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and then begin a guided sightseeing tour of downtown Toronto, exploring landmarks such as the CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market, Nathan Phillips Square, Casa Loma, and the waterfront. Afterward, we travel east to Kingston for the scenic 1,000 Islands Cruise, before continuing on to Ottawa for an evening at leisure.

We enjoy a sightseeing tour of Ottawa. The wonderful autumn colours in the parks and gardens, the grounds of the Prime Minister and Governor General’s residences, the Houses of Parliament and the embassies make a wonderful display. Next, a trip to the Canadian Museum of History for a special cultural exchange. Indigenous Experiences is situated on the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History on the shores of the Ottawa River, within the traditional territory of the Algonquin people.  Afterwards, we have some free time to experience the museum on our own.  Afterwards, we travel to Omega Park, located just outside of Montebello. From the comfort of the “Omega Bus”, experience Canada’s wildlife up close. A nature guide will accompany and help to spot elk, bison, moose, wolves, bears, beavers, eagles and foxes in their natural habitat. Feed local deer carrots, attend an animal presentation, and consider an easy walk through one of the many nature trails. Consider walking the First National Trail to view totems, inukshuks and more.  We arrive at our historic hotel, modeled after a hunting chateau.  Our dinner is included at our hotel.

Enjoy a morning at leisure with massive grounds for hiking, gorgeous lakes, a full service spa and golf course, the Chateau Montebello has so much to offer. This afternoon, we depart Montebello and drive along the scenic St. Lawrence River corridor, making a stop in Trois-Rivieres to explore its charming downtown and historic sites. Afterward, we continue to Quebec City, where we settle into our hotel and prepare to explore the city’s historic heart.

We spend a half day exploring the charm of Old Quebec, visiting iconic landmarks such as Chateau Frontenac, Place Royale, the Citadel, and Terrasse Dufferin, while wandering cobblestone streets and historic squares with a local guide. Afterwards, we visit Huron-Wendat Village for an immersive cultural experience, learning about Indigenous traditions before enjoying a traditional dinner on-site.

We board a business class VIA Rail train in Quebec City, settling into spacious, comfortable seats with large windows that frame the picturesque landscapes of the St. Lawrence River and surrounding countryside. As we glide smoothly toward Montreal, we can relax, enjoy refreshments, and take in the changing scenery, arriving at our hotel in the evening ready to explore the vibrant city tomorrow.

After breakfast, we start our Montreal city tour with a local guide in charming Old Town. We start our sightseeing at the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica with its wood interior and stained-glass windows illustrating biblical scenes as well as the city’s history. The Old Town area offers a range of buildings covering the centuries since the foundation of the city and our drive-up Mont Royal provides panoramic views over the city and the St Lawrence River Valley.

Founded in 1642, Montreal is decidedly “French”, yet it is also very cosmopolitan with many immigrants from all over the world who have made the city their home. We have left the day at leisure, a chance to explore the underground city which protects the locals from the harsh conditions of the northern winters. Enjoy dinner together tonight.

We have a relaxing morning. In the afternoon, we board our cruise ship and become familiar with our home for the next 7 nights. Our ship sets sail from Montreal this evening and cruise towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Few places in North America are as steeped in history as Québec City. Older than Jamestown and founded before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, it is the only city north of Mexico whose original fortifications remain intact. The Québec City historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still home to religious orders and hospitals that date back to the 17th century. Its Place-Royale would look familiar to the explorer Samuel de Champlain, even with its modern attractions of gift shops and cafés. On the Plains of Abraham, you can walk the battlefield where, in 1759, the French forces under General Montcalm were decisively trounced by the British, led by General Wolfe. The British took control of all of New France within a year of that 1759 battle, but even so French culture still lives on here in Québec City. More than 95 percent of Québec City’s population speaks French as its first language, though it’s easy to sightsee and navigate the city in English. As you tour the museums and historic sights of Québec City that celebrate Québecois history, you’ll discover a remarkable culture that has survived and thrived into the 21st century.

Arrives 7.00am, Departs 4.00pm.

Enjoy the ship facilities today on our last day at sea.

Charlottetown is the capital of Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, as well as its largest city, though it has fewer than 35,000 residents. Despite its modest size, the city has an impressive number of Victorian houses and buildings and great parks waiting to be explored. For Canadians, it is perhaps most famous as the Birthplace of Confederation. It was here, mostly at Province House, that an 1864 conference led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada. Prince Edward Island is linked to New Brunswick on the mainland of Canada by the 13-kilometer (eight-mile) Confederation Bridge that soars over the Northumberland Strait. A remarkable feat of engineering, the bridge opened in 1997 and is the longest in the world over icy waters. Sites within downtown Charlottetown include the lovely Victoria Row, which becomes a pedestrian mall each summer, and other historic buildings, some of which are now museums. Nearby Prince Edward Island National Park is home to white-sand beaches and hiking and biking trails—plus fans can see the house and farm that inspired the beloved book Anne of Green Gables.

Arrives 10.00am, Departs 8.00pm.

Sydney is the largest city on Cape Breton Island, which is linked by causeway to the rest of Nova Scotia. Sydney’s attractions start at the harbour, where visitors can shop for locally made crafts and see the world’s largest fiddle, which towers beside the port’s cruise pavilion. Some of the city’s historic houses and churches date back to the 1700s and 1800s and are open for tours. Restaurants often provide live music (expect fiddles and sea chanteys) along with meals of seafood fresh-caught in nearby waters. Sydney’s galleries give visitors a chance to meet local artists and purchase their work. Cape Breton’s natural wonders include the spectacular scenic drive known as the Cabot Trail. Hikers in Cape Breton Highlands National Park will find stunning vistas around every turn, while a boat ride on massive Bras d’Or Lake, which is ringed by wild hills, offers a different perspective on the province. Explore the region’s past with a visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, and learn about the area’s First Nations communities at Membertou Heritage Park. If you decide to go deep underground at the Cape Breton Miners Museum, your tour guide is likely to be a man who toiled for years in the island’s coal mines and has many stories to tell. Another must-see: the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where the famous inventor made his summer home.

Arrives 9.00am, Departs 5.00pm.

Located on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean, Halifax – Nova Scotia’s provincial capital – is defined by its maritime geography. It’s a spirited mix of world-class history and nautical-themed museums alongside bunkers and fortresses that guarded the harbour, plus striking public art and sights, funky shops and excellent pubs serving up folk music.

Explore the Halifax waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants at Pier 21. Savour the low-key but classy culinary scene for fresh seafood and Nova Scotia specialties. Along Nova Scotia’s southern shores, the city is surrounded by lush greenery and charming villages that are worth the trip from downtown proper. Snap photos of attractions in the charming fishing village, Peggy’s Cove, with its picturesque lighthouse on a rocky outcropping. Or wander the streets of Lunenburg, whose colourful Old Town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arrives 8.00am, Departs 4.00pm.

Modern Portland, first settled in 1633, carries the marks of both subsets of Mainers. The restored brick buildings and warehouses of the Old Port and the fine upright houses of prosperous captains, merchants and shipbuilders make the city’s past a living part of its present. And the waterfront is a going concern, not a museum: Fishing boats chug into and out of their berths, buoys clang, harbour seals bark. Those shop windows aren’t displaying hardtack, rope or hand salve, though. Juice joints, art galleries, bookstores (and comic-book stores!), worshipful temples to coffee, locavore bistros with national press, bespoke menswear designers and gelato shops all jostle for attention. Don’t limit your visit to the Old Port, though. Wander through the terrific art museum or take a tour of one of the city’s historic homes. Jump on a ferry or whale-watching boat and get out into the busy harbour. Head to the coast—craggy, windswept, dramatic—a glorious and undeniably New England panorama.

Arrives 1.00pm, Departs 10.00pm.

Sadly, we disembark our cruise this morning in Boston.  We transfer to Boston Airport, for our flight to Houston, where we connect with our direct flight back to Auckland.

We cross the international dateline enroute.

Arrival time is early morning.