Maritime Voyages
Lighthouses, lobster and the St. Lawrence: cruising Atlantic Canada and New England.
Get Canada & New England QuotesLighthouses, Lobster and History by Sea
The coast from Boston to Quebec City is one of North America’s great cruise regions. In a week or two you can sail past Maine’s granite islands, the fishing towns of Nova Scotia, the record tides of the Bay of Fundy and the red shores of Prince Edward Island, finishing beneath the walls of Old Quebec.
Maritime Voyages goes port by port through this route. Each page covers what a cruise visitor can realistically see in a day: the walk from the pier, the classic excursion, the place locals would send you. You will also find when to sail, how the fall color season works, and how the ports fit together into itineraries. For a wider look at cruising from U.S. homeports, our sister site Cruising America has an overview; this site goes deeper into the ports themselves.
The Ports of the Route
Nova Scotia
Halifax’s immigration museum and waterfront, Lunenburg, Peggy’s Cove and Cape Breton from Sydney.
Halifax and Sydney →
Saint John and the Bay of Fundy
Tides that reverse a river, a historic market and red-cliffed coastline.
Bay of Fundy →
Charlottetown
The birthplace of Confederation and the island of Anne of Green Gables.
Prince Edward Island →
Quebec City
A walled old town above the St. Lawrence, often the start or end of the voyage.
Quebec and the St. Lawrence →
New England
Bar Harbor and Acadia, Portland’s Old Port, Newport’s mansions and historic Boston.
New England ports →How the Itineraries Work
Most Canada and New England cruises fall into two patterns. Round trips from Boston or New York usually run about a week and turn around in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. One-way voyages link Boston or New York with Quebec City or Montreal, adding Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and the St. Lawrence River, and often an overnight in Quebec.
Because most of the big ships are registered outside the United States, U.S. law requires round trips from American ports to include a foreign stop. That is one reason Canadian ports appear on almost every itinerary. Smaller American-flagged coastal ships follow different rules and can sail purely domestic routes along the New England coast.
Port Days at a Glance
| Port | Arriving by ship | Classic day |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax, NS | Piers beside the waterfront and Pier 21 | Waterfront, Citadel, Peggy’s Cove or Lunenburg |
| Sydney, NS | Waterfront pier on Cape Breton Island | Fortress of Louisbourg or a scenic Cape Breton drive |
| Saint John, NB | Pier near the uptown core | Reversing Rapids, City Market, Bay of Fundy coast |
| Charlottetown, PEI | Pier near the historic downtown | Province history, Cavendish and the north shore |
| Quebec City, QC | Terminals below the old town | Old Quebec on foot, Montmorency Falls, Île d’Orléans |
| Bar Harbor, ME | Usually by tender | Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain |
| Portland, ME | Pier near the Old Port | Old Port, lighthouses, lobster |
| Boston, MA | Homeport and port of call | Freedom Trail, harbor and historic neighborhoods |
When to Go
The season runs from late spring into October. Summer brings the warmest days and long evenings; September and early October bring the famous fall color and the busiest weeks. Our foliage season guide covers timing, and our sister site National Cruise Vacation Month explains why October is a popular time to plan and book cruises in general.
Pack layers
Coastal weather changes fast. A warm layer and a rain jacket matter even in summer. Cruising Checklist has full lists.
Bring a passport
You will enter Canada. Check the document rules for your nationality before you sail.
Book foliage weeks early
Late September and early October sailings are the first to fill.
Look for value
Our sister sites Cruising for Less and Wave Season track current fares and promotions.
Who Is Behind This Site
Maritime Voyages is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Plan Your Canada and New England Cruise
Tell us your preferred month, departure port and length of trip. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare round trips and one-way voyages and send free quotes.
Get Canada & New England Quotes