Canada & New England Cruises

Late summer and early fall is a wonderful time to go on a New England cruise. The weather is still warm and the trees are beginning to assume their brilliant fall foliage. As September progresses, the colors become more vibrant, and the evenings are cooler.

Ports of call on our Canada & New England cruises include Portland and Rockland in Maine; Quebec City; pretty Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island; Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Boston, Massachusetts, from where our cruises depart.

All of our itineraries include an overnight stay in Quebec City, giving you plenty of time to explore the historic center, the exciting cuisine, and the lush surrounding countryside.

Round-trip cruises from Boston to Canada are technically known as closed-loop cruises, which means U.S. citizens can join one without a passport.

This is one of the reasons why these itineraries are so popular. You can, of course, use your passport or passport card as an ID if you have one. But in the case of closed-loop cruises, U.S. citizens are allowed to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship.

According to U.S. Customs & Border Protection, this includes an Enhanced Driver’s License, which is a state-issued driver’s license that provides proof of identity and U.S. citizenship; a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where the person was born) or passport; and if 16 or older, a government-issued driver’s license or picture ID denoting photo, name, and date of birth.

The Enhanced Driver’s License allows you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean and is valid at land and sea border crossings, but not airports.

Different documentation is acceptable for minors under 16, including an original, notarized, or certified copy of their birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization. Voter registration cards and Social Security cards are not considered proof of citizenship.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport to enter Canada. It’s your responsibility to check the requirements, so consult your government’s website before traveling.

Depending on the time of year you’ve chosen, pack for a maritime climate, which means warm, but not hot summers and mild, but not bitter winters. A light waterproof jacket is handy for the occasional rain showers. You’ll need comfortable walking shoes if you enjoy hiking—and there are some spectacular hikes in Canada and New England. Pack suitable footwear for wandering around towns, too; many in this part of the world have cobblestone streets.

Throughout the ship, casual resort wear, sundresses, shorts, polos, or button-downs are appropriate, paired with sandals, low heels, and loafers. In main and specialty dining, we ask guests to refrain from wearing swimsuits, see-through coverups or robes, bare feet, tank tops, T-shirts, and baseball caps. 

Smart Casual attire is required for entry to main dining, specialty dining, and the Celebrity Theatre. Smart Casual means you look comfortable yet tasteful in a dress, skirt, long pants, or jeans with a stylish top or button-down. Shorts and flip-flops are not considered Smart Casual. 

Each itinerary features one to two more “formal” nights that we call Evening Chic. Evening Chic means you dress to impress, glamorous and sophisticated in your own way, with a cocktail dress, skirt, slacks, or designer jeans, an elegant dress top, or blazer—some guests even pack a tuxedo or gown for onboard photos. 

The daily program, delivered to your stateroom and available at the Guest Relations Desk, will be your guide to the correct attire each evening. If you do not wish to participate in Evening Chic, Smart Casual attire is acceptable for dining and attending the theater.

We offer a wide range of excursions to suit every taste, whether your interest is history, the great outdoors, food, art, or all of these. From Halifax, visit quaint Peggy’s Cove and learn about the tragedy of the Titanic. Sydney, Nova Scotia is where you’ll see magnificent scenery along the spectacular Cabot Trail. In Charlottetown, take a tour in a horse-drawn carriage.

Foodie Portland is the place to join a culinary stroll and then walk it off on the Eastern Promenade Trail. In Quebec, meanwhile, you could join a guided walking tour, visit dramatic Montmorency Falls, and spend an evening at the Sugar Shack to enjoy folklore and local cuisine.

Our Canada and New England itineraries are either 10 or 11 nights long, and all sail round trip from Boston, Massachusetts.

Late summer in Canada and New England brings still-warm temperatures and sunny days. September is, for example, a wonderful month to visit Maine and Quebec City, with fewer visitors, low rainfall, and bright days. 

October is the time to visit to see the fall colors in their full glory, the trees decked out in dazzling crimson, ochre, burnt orange, and yellow. Evenings are cooler by now, but part of the fun is wrapping up warm and enjoying the crisp air.

There’s no shortage of entertainment on our stylish, contemporary ships. Relax by the pool, or in the balmy Solarium on cooler days. Join a fitness class or unwind in the spa. Enjoy dining al fresco at the Mast Grill, and elegant evenings in the beautiful Main Restaurant, where you’ll find regionally inspired and international menus designed by a Michelin-starred chef. Evenings are packed with entertainment, from glittering shows to comedy, quizzes, dancing, and live music.

Elevate your experience to The Retreat® and you’ll dine in the exclusive Luminae at The Retreat, as well as enjoy access to a private lounge and accommodation in a beautiful suite.