Canada. A wonderful destination for spectacular scenery, impressive wildlife and bustling modern cities, but perhaps not an area that would immediately be linked with a luxury cruise. However, there are a wide range of Canada cruises to experience, which can match anything in the Caribbean for style and quality service.

If you are a cruise veteran looking for something a little different or interested in a unique way to explore Canada, a cruise could be the ideal choice.

Here, there and every bear

Perhaps the most unique cruise experience of all within Canada is exploring the Great Bear Rainforest, located in British Columbia. A private yacht can be arranged to help discover a number of intriguingly remote areas, as well as the wildlife which makes this area their home. The Great Bear Rainforest is the natural habitat of many intriguing animals, including the elusive Spirit Bear. This creature is so rare it has become almost mythical, with the chance to catch sight of one a truly exciting prospect.

Whether you take a cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest or simply a day trip, there are a wide range of Canada sightseeing excursions which can add variety and intrigue to your visit to this great nation.

Round off your holiday in style with an Alaskan cruise

Holland America Alaska Cruise

Once you have seen everything you wish to see in Canada, there is no better way to round off your holiday of a lifetime than with a relaxing cruise through the unique coasts and bays of Alaska. With countless glaciers and other stunning scenery, visitors are occasionally lucky enough to witness whales leaping out of the sea and into the air, creating incredible photography opportunities, as well as an extremely large splash. Depending on your preferences, Alaskan cruises follow a number of different routes and starting locations, as well as ships of various sizes and luxury.

Once your busy day of sightseeing is over, you can spend the evening in style with superb food and luxurious, comfortable staterooms.

Glacier Bay is one of the most popular and spectacular inclusions of many cruises to Alaska, but as with all 1st Class Holidays’ packages, the journey you take is completely down to you. Our travel team will work with you every step of the way to create your ideal experience. You can enjoy all the luxury of a Caribbean cruise, while being the envy of your friends with your unique cruising stories which could not be experienced anywhere else in the world. Get in touch today by contacting us on enquiries@1stclassholidays.com or by calling 0845 644 3939.

Boston

Boston Harbour in the evening

Boston is the gateway to New England, located just 95 miles to the north of New York. Famous for the Red Sox baseball team, Clam Chowder and the historic ‘Tea Party’ there is lots to do to suit all types of visitors. The city has an exciting atmosphere and ambience. It has the feel of a smaller New York but the essence of true New England. Unlike a lot of American cities, this is a place best explored on foot. Winding through the tall skyscrapers, cobbled streets and grand red brick mansions is the Freedom Trail, a route through the city which is the perfect way to explore Boston’s history as well as seeing many of its best sights. This well maintained and signposted path takes you through the city’s historic neighbourhoods. A must see along the Trail is the Old State House, a museum based on Washington Street.

Another great way to see the sights is to take a ride on the ‘Duck.’ This WWII style landing craft literally cruises by all of Boston’s top attractions. Be driven through the main streets to see the main sights and attractions before splashing into the Charles River to take in the Boston and Cambridge skylines from the water.

One thing that is high on many people’s agenda is shopping and Boston does not disappoint in this area. There are endless choices ranging from quirky boutique shops to high end fashion shops and large department stores.

Another must visit attraction in Boston which is also great for those visiting the city with children, is the renowned New England Aquarium. This is undoubtedly one of the world’s best aquariums. Here you might see playful sea lions and the cheeky penguins. If you are lucky you might also get to witness baby turtles just a few days old. Adjoining the aquarium is an IMAX theatre showing fascinating wildlife films, a great treat for children and adults alike.

To experience the city like a true Bostonian, you have to sample the food and drink outlets. Enjoy a drink at the famous Cheers bar, have a signature Fenway Frank hot dog or chow down on the famous Clam Chowder. Boston’s strong Irish links mean there are some great Irish pubs and bars which of course serve Guinness, and as a city of sports fanatics there are many big-screen bars with a great local atmosphere, especially on big game days when the Red Sox or Patriots are playing.

New England & Cape Cod

Lighthouse at Chatham, Cape Cod

After visiting Boston you might move into the heart of New England and visit some of the quaint town and villages of the Green & White Mountains or the rugged Maine coastline. Alternatively, travel out to the Cape Cod peninsula, just a short distance from the Boston metropolitan area and home to 15 small towns including Bourne, the Cape’s oldest town and Sandwich, its youngest where you can relax on the beaches, enjoy some fishing or take a day trip out to Martha’s Vineyard.

At 1st Class Holidays we can offer many ways for you to explore the New England area.  Whether you are looking to do a self-drive, escorted tour or a city break, just let us know and our team of holiday experts will be more than happy to help put together a package tailored to your exact needs.

By Laura Kirton, Web Department – 1st Class Holidays
Laura spent 6 months living and studying in the New England region.

Canada offers many exciting opportunities for exploration, with the vast and varied landscape offering many different tour destinations, each with their own unique benefits. In no particular order, here are five of our favourite ideas for Canada tours .

The Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are an area of great natural beauty, stretching across wide areas of Western Canada and attracting thousands of intrigued visitors every year. The Rocky Mountaineer train is one of the most popular choices for visiting the region, with journeys from Vancouver and Whistler travelling to the Rocky Mountain resorts of Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. As well as the glorious mountain scenery, the Rockies are home to clear turquoise lakes such as Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Maligne Lake, and spectacular glaciers. The Athabasca Glacier is located between Banff and Jasper just off the Icefield Parkway, one of the most stunning drives in the world, and is a must for visitors to discover in the Rocky Mountains.

As well as the Rocky Mountaineer, coach tours are also available, as well as the option of renting your own vehicle and doing the driving for yourself at your own pace.

Toronto and Niagara Falls
Think of Canada, and Niagara Falls is one of the first things to come to mind. The extremely famous waterfalls are one of the truly great natural sights anywhere in the world, with many ways to take in and explore the Falls. The Maid of the Mist boat journey which goes underneath the falls is well known worldwide, while for a truly spectacular experience a helicopter can be taken over the falls.

Niagara Falls are located close by Toronto, the largest city in the whole of Canada and the gateway to the province of Ontario. This highly modern city is the perfect accompaniment to a visit to Niagara Falls, with a whole host of things to see and do.

Vancouver
Vancouver is located in truly picturesque surroundings, based on the coast of British Columbia with many breathtaking sights to be found. The main gateway city in Canada, there are a great deal of attractions available to keep visitors to Vancouver busy. As well as an extremely vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene, the city is also well known for sport and the arts.

A tour to Vancouver is also ideally situated to take in the nearby mountain resort of Whistler.

Whistler
Whistler is a mountain town with a permanent population of less than 10,000 people, yet attracts over two million visitors a year. The area is renowned for skiing and other winter sports, highlighted by hosting a number of events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. If you are a lover of skiing or other extreme sports, a visit to Whistler is an absolute must. Even if you prefer quieter activities on your trip abroad, the stunning natural beauty of the area is sure to please. Whistler is truly one of the very best Canadian winter experiences available, making it a wonderful addition to any tour.

Wildlife tours
Wherever you go in Canada, one of the standout features is the sublime natural wildlife which can be seen. With many bear species calling Canada home, eagles, moose and even whales can be seen during a wildlife tour of Canada. The Knight Inlet Lodge is an extremely popular choice, with many visitors each year coming to see the bears which populate this part of the country.

If you are taking a wildlife tour of Canada, an ideal way to end is a cruise to Alaska. As well as the magnificent glaciers which can be seen while taking in the Alaskan coast, whale watching from the side of the ship is a superb added bonus.

Further ideas for a dream Canada tour

While the aforementioned ideas are some of our favourites, there are still many other superb experiences to be found in Canada. Whether your dream Canada tour involves the locations above or you have ideas of your own, contact 1st Class Holidays on 0845 644 3939 to speak to one of our travel experts and take the first step of your dream journey.

We flew into Manitoba’s capital city of Winnipeg which is by far the provinces largest, and home to 60 percent of its population. An important trading point since the 17th Century, the city is full of interesting architecture and fascinating history.

After a short stay we took a charter flight up to the frontier town of Churchill, where the adventure really began. Known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’ it is located on the edge of the Hudson Bay. Countless polar bears head here every October & November waiting for the bay to freeze over so that they can venture onto the ice and hunt their main food source of seals. Most bears have not eaten for months at this point and have been in a state of ‘walking hibernation’.

With a population of around 800 the town has a real frontier feel and is home to a host of local characters. Bear traps (and even a Polar Bear jail) are set around the town and it’s always recommended to stay in group and avoid dark areas. Although accommodation and facilities are basic, the quality was good, clean and comfortable.

We spent time at the wonderful Eskimo Museum and then headed for our first activity – dog-sledding. The knowledge and passion of the guide was incredible and the experience was unforgettable – despite the icy temperature of -20!

After a few drinks in a cozy pub I had a very contented night’s sleep in preparation for our first opportunity to view the Polar Bears. In the morning we headed by coach to the ‘Tundra Buggy’ docking station (and spotted a rare Wolverine on the way). We boarded our buggy and quickly found our bearings with the help of our expert guide and experienced driver.

The Tundra Buggy is a huge coach, specially built to travel on the frozen tundra it looks like a monster truck crossed with a bus, with huge wheels and lots of space inside. We headed off in search of the bears with the warmth of the propane heater keeping us all nice and comfortable. We quickly spotted a couple of bears sparring in the distance and you could see the grins appear on the faces of everyone in the group, knowing that our trip wouldn’t be fruitless. The windows were quickly lowered and camera’s pointed to capture these incredible animals in their natural habitat.

Happy that we had all taken some good shots, we headed off in search of more bears. We were very quickly deleting our original pictures as we continued to see bears throughout the 3 days at much closer quarters. The polar bears are incredibly inquisitive and we had a number of them walking up to the Tundra Buggy for a closer look at us.

On our last day we were lucky to witness a mother with 2 young cubs – it was the first time all year that our guide had seen 2 cubs together. This viewing rounded off an incredible trip and a truly unique experience to view the planet’s most dangerous mammal in their natural surroundings.

Remember that the Polar Bear viewing season is only very short, with selected departures in October and November. Spaces are very limited so make sure you book as early as possible to secure your place on a magical, memorable and inspiring trip.

By Jonathan Whiteley, 1st Class Holidays National Sales Manager
If you would like to take part in a similar tour, please see our Polar Bear Viewing packages.

Polar Bear Mother & Her Cubs

Polar Bear Approaching the Tundra Buggy

Polar Bear Up Close...

Inquisitive Polar Bear Looks at Tundra Buggy

Polar Bear Approaches the Tundra Buggy

Downtown Churchill - the Polar Bear Capital of the World

Our Managing Director, Paul Ainsworth and National Sales Manager, Jonathan Whiteley attended the ceremony in Knightsbridge, London on 13th December 2012 where they were presented with the award by Rupert Peters, MD of the Canada Tourism Commission.  The trophy is a beautiful glass polar bear sculpture, and it will make a fine addition to our growing awards cabinet.

Also present at the ceremony was Charley Boorman who won the Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion of Canada award for his recent TV series Extreme Frontiers on Channel Five. This beautifully filmed series took him to visit some of Canada’s most scenic areas and it’s well worth watching if you’re looking for inspiration for your next trip to Canada.

We would like say a big thank you to our travel agent partners not only for voting for us, but also for their continued support over the years. 1st Class Holidays strive to offer the best service available in the industry and aim to keep doing so throughout 2013 and beyond.

1st Class Holidays - Best Tour Operator 2012

Paul & Jonathan with our trophy

Paul & Jonathan with Charley Boorman

Jonathan receives our award from Rupert Peters

A few members of our team have been fortunate enough to travel on a 2 day journey, so we thought that now the 2013 season is open for bookings it would be a good time share some of our highlights of this legendary journey.

The Scenery
As the train’s name suggests, you would expect to see plenty of the Rocky Mountains as you climb through (or descend down from) this stunning mountain range with its snow-capped peaks and turquoise lakes, but many guests are surprised that the scenery passing by their window is much more varied.  Depending on the route you choose, the train may run alongside fast flowing rivers, through the arid interior of British Columbia, the fertile Fraser Valley or past the Cariboo and Monashee Mountains.  But it isn’t just about natural wonders, the train passes over spectacular bridges and through tunnels built from the 19th century onwards by brave railway pioneers who helped to open up the west of Canada to European settlers.

The Food
If you are travelling in RedLeaf or SilverLeaf, your meals are served at your seat airline-style, though it’s much better than most airline food we’ve tasted.  You can expect a selection of fine breakfasts and lunches on each day of your journey (chilled food in RedLeaf, hot in SilverLeaf).  However if you are travelling in GoldLeaf, then the food is something else entirely.  You will indulge in gourmet quality meals served on the lower level of the GoldLeaf carriage.  Exquisite hot breakfasts include smoked salmon and eggs benedict, and sumptuous lunches include locally sourced ingredients such as Alberta fillet beef and sockeye salmon, all freshly prepared by the on-board chefs.  The menus in GoldLeaf have been developed by Executive Chef Frederic Couton, who trained at Michelin Star restaurants in Paris and Geneva, so the quality of the food comes as no surprise.

The Wildlife
Of course wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed because it is just that – wild, but 1st Class Holidays staff who have travelled on the Rocky Mountaineer have seen all sorts of animals from the windows of the train including bald eagles, deer, coyotes, moose and black bears.  A familiar cry on the train is “BEAR ON THE LEFT” or “MOOSE TO THE RIGHT” from one of the attendants followed by a flurry of activity as passengers reach for their cameras.

The Pace
The Rocky Mountaineer is no express train.  In fact it’s the complete opposite.  It gently meanders its way through mountains and along rivers and lake-sides, over bridges and through tunnels.  Sometimes it has to pull over into a siding to let another priority train through, but this in no way spoils the experience.  The laid back pace is one of the elements that make the journey so memorable and relaxing.  There are no strict timetables to keep to (other than when the next meal or drink is served) and the priority is to relax as the stunning scenery glides past your window.  The Rocky Mountaineer certainly proves the old saying that the journey is just as important as getting there.

Any 2 day rail journey with Rocky Mountaineer booked with us will qualify for the following upgrades if you book Redleaf or Silverleaf service;

Book a Redleaf 2 day rail journey and receive a FREE upgrade to Silverleaf.  The new Silverleaf service features travel in a dome-windowed coach and hot meals.  This represents a saving of up to £340.  Silverleaf service is currently only available on the Rocky Mounatineer First Passage to the West journey between Calagary & Banff and Vancouver.  For  journeys where Silverleaf service isn’t offered, you can still get a great saving with 50% off the upgrade price to Goldleaf service.

Book a Silverleaf 2 day rail journey and receive a FREE upgrade to Goldleaf service.  Rocky Mountaineer’s award winning Goldleaf service offers travel in a 2-level glass domed coach with gourmet hot meals and drinks included.

More information on this spectacular 2 day journey is available in the Rocky Mountaineer section.

This is a strictly limited offer and is subject to availability so we recommend you book as soon as possible.  Unfortunately we can’t give the offer retrospectively to existing bookings.  Please contact us for more information on the great offer.

We hope you like our new site and find lots of ideas and inspiration for planning your holiday.  With our new online Dreambuilder you can save and share with friends and family any products that you’re interested in.  If you want to book anything or want more information on a product, simply send through your Dreambuilder quote request to us, and one of our friendly team will be back in touch as soon as possible with a price, itinerary or advice.

We still have our selection of Complete Guide brochures to Canada & Alaska, America, Australia and New Zealand & the South Pacific.  You can view them all online or download any pages straight to your computer.

In future we plan to have lots of articles on the blog including details from staff trips to our destinations, features about tours, hotels, wildlife and more products, and any offers.  If there is anything you would like to comment on or features & articles  you would like to see, just let us know in the box below.

Thanks for reading and please check back soon for more from 1st Class Holidays.