Ontario Canada, Niagara Falls Cruise from Toronto to Boston — 17 Days

Toronto, Canada

Toronto rewards a day ashore with a skyline made for lingering and neighbourhoods best explored on foot. The CN Tower rises above a city whose residents trace roots to more than 200 ethnic origins. Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands for open lake views. Back downtown, choose the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Royal Ontario Museum. Save time for St. Lawrence Market, where local produce and prepared food make an easy, memorable lunch.

St Lawrence Seaway, Canada

Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway is a working passage between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes. Its canals and locks lift ocean-going vessels past rapids and dams, revealing the scale of a remarkable feat of engineering. Along the route, Quebec’s riverside towns, Montréal’s historic waterfront and Lake Ontario offer distinct shore excursions. From deck, watch freighters negotiate locks at close range; shore visits reveal French-Canadian culture and maritime history.

Montreal, Canada

Montréal is a city of French character and North American energy, best explored on foot. From the Old Port, cobbled streets lead to Old Montréal’s grand squares, cafés and Notre-Dame Basilica. Climb or drive up Mount Royal for a broad view of the skyline and the St. Lawrence River. Then follow the city’s appetite, from market produce and bagels to inventive French-Canadian cooking. Allow time for the museums and lively terraces; Montréal’s pleasures are close together, but never feel hurried.

Quebec City, Canada

Québec City is best explored on foot, where French-speaking Canada feels unmistakably distinct. Within the UNESCO-listed Historic District, stone walls, steep lanes and 17th-century façades tell the story of New France. Ride the funicular between Upper and Lower Town, then browse Petit-Champlain’s boutiques beside the St. Lawrence River. Allow time for the Plains of Abraham, where a pivotal 1759 battle changed the course of Canadian history. Come ashore ready to climb; the finest views reward a little effort.

Tadoussac, Canada

At Tadoussac, the St. Lawrence meets the Saguenay in a dramatic seam of cold, whale-rich water. From shore or a small boat, look for belugas and minke whales; humpbacks visit in season. Follow headland trails for sweeping river views. In the village, the Petite Chapelle dates to 1747 and is often described as Canada’s oldest wooden church. Tadoussac’s fur-trading post, established in 1600, anchors its long history.

Saguenay, Canada

Your ship calls at La Baie, where the Saguenay River opens onto a landscape shaped by ice, forest and water. From here, the Saguenay Fjord’s steep cliffs and deep waters lead toward the St. Lawrence. Explore local history at the Musée du Fjord, or head to Chicoutimi for cafés, galleries and the Petite Maison Blanche. Return to the waterfront for wide views across the bay and a taste of Quebec’s maritime north.

St Lawrence Seaway, Canada

Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway is a working passage between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes. Its canals and locks lift ocean-going vessels past rapids and dams, revealing the scale of a remarkable feat of engineering. Along the route, Quebec’s riverside towns, Montréal’s historic waterfront and Lake Ontario offer distinct shore excursions. From deck, watch freighters negotiate locks at close range; shore visits reveal French-Canadian culture and maritime history.

Havre-Saint-Pierre, Canada

Havre-Saint-Pierre sits on Quebec’s Côte-Nord, where the Gulf of St. Lawrence meets a coast shaped by wind and tide. Its nearby Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is famed for sculpted limestone monoliths scattered across islands and islets. Boat excursions reveal seabird colonies, remote shores and formations best seen from the water. Back in town, sample local seafood and enjoy the unhurried rhythm of this small coastal community.

Gaspe, Canada

Gaspé sits at the eastern end of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. It faces the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with fishing harbours and rugged shoreline close at hand. In 1534, Jacques Cartier met St. Lawrence Iroquoians here and raised a cross for France. Beyond town, Forillon National Park protects cliffs, forests and coastal trails, while whale-watching excursions explore the surrounding waters. At nearby Cap-des-Rosiers, Canada’s tallest lighthouse marks the peninsula’s northern shore.

Madeleine-Magdalen Islands, Canada

The Magdalen Islands rise from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, closer to Prince Edward Island than mainland Quebec. Red cliffs, long beaches and fishing villages keep the sea in view. Explore historic La Grave on Île du Havre-Aubert, where fishers’ cottages and galleries line the waterfront. Follow the coast for smoked herring, fresh lobster and views worth a slower day ashore.

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Charlottetown is a compact capital with a claim to Canadian history: delegates met here in 1864 to discuss Confederation. Brick storefronts, leafy streets and a working waterfront make its centre easy to explore on foot. See Province House, where the conference began, then browse Victoria Row’s boutiques and cafés. Beyond town, red-sand beaches and pastoral lanes reward a longer outing. Come for history; stay for Prince Edward Island’s pleasures.

At Sea (At Sea)

Halifax, Canada

Halifax rewards visitors who begin on foot, where the harbourfront’s historic warehouses, boardwalk and seafood restaurants meet. Climb to the star-shaped Halifax Citadel for broad harbour views. At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, exhibits trace Nova Scotia’s seafaring past and Halifax’s connection to the Titanic. Beyond downtown, Peggy’s Cove pairs a working fishing village with a lighthouse set on wave-worn granite.

Bar Harbor, USA

Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, where granite cliffs, spruce forests and coastal trails frame the Atlantic. Closer to town, the Shore Path follows the waterfront past elegant summer cottages and views across Frenchman Bay. Walkable streets lead to independent shops and restaurants serving Maine lobster and other local seafood. Take a boat trip for a different view of the islands, or explore Acadia’s carriage roads and mountain routes.

River Cruising (River Cruising)

Boston, USA

Boston rewards visitors who like their history close at hand and their cities easy to explore. From the waterfront, follow the Freedom Trail to landmarks of the American Revolution, including Faneuil Hall. Beacon Hill’s brick streets, the Public Garden and North End cafés reveal distinct sides of the city. Make time for harbor views and New England seafood; Boston’s pleasures are as tangible as its past. Its museums and universities give the compact city a lively, modern edge.