Eastern Canada & New England Cruise – 16 Days

Spend 2 nights in Toronto with a tour to Niagara Falls, then travel on to Canada’s capital city Ottawa stopping off at the lakeside town of Kingston on the way for a cruise of the 1000 Islands area of the St Lawrence Seaway.  Next you will travel to the wilderness Parc Omega looking out for wildlife and on to historic Quebec City.  Spend 3 nights here with highlights of your stay being a visit to Montmorency Falls and a whale watching cruise.  Your tour will then travel on to Montreal, the largest French speaking city in the world after Paris for an overnight stay prior to boarding your 7 night Holland America New England Cruise to Boston.

Tour Highlights

- Stays in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal

- Visit Niagara Falls and take a thrilling boat cruise

- Visit a maple syrup Sugar Shack

- Explore Parc Omega to see native wildlife up close

- Cruise the 1000 Islands region

- Stay in the iconic Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec

- Visit Montmorency Falls

- Take a whale watching cruise from Quebec

- After your coach tour, join a 7 night New England Cruise with Holland America

Tour also available without cruise.

Day 1  Arrive Toronto
On arrival at Toronto Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Hotel: Delta Chelsea (2 nights)

Day 2  Toronto & Niagara Falls Tour

This morning, take a city tour of the downtown and waterfront areas of Toronto. Then head to the spectacular Niagara Falls and board a thrilling boat cruise for a journey to the base of Horseshoe Falls (raincoats provided). Later, visit the village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Return to Toronto, and visit the iconic CN Tower for incredible views of the city.

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3  Toronto to Ottawa

Depart Toronto and head to the Canadian capital, Ottawa.  On your way, stop at Kingston and take some time to explore this quaint colonial town.  Then, enjoy an unforgettable cruise around the 1000 Islands of the St Lawrence Seaway.  Relax on board as you pass the stunning landscapes of the Canada/United States border.
Hotel: Lord Elgin Hotel, Ottawa (2 nights)

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4  Ottawa

Today, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Ottawa, visiting Parliament Hill and the historic Rideau Canal. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.  Perhaps go shopping at the ByWard Market, one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5  Ottawa to Québec City

This morning, visit and explore Parc Oméga and look out for native species including buffalo, bears, deer and wolves, as well as smaller animals including raccoons and beavers.  Continue on to Québec City along the Chemin du Roy (King’s Road) on a gorgeous scenic drive.  On arrival, take time to explore its cobblestone pathways.  Perhaps stroll through historic districts like Petit Champlain and Place Royale, a thriving city hub.  Your special hotel stay in Quebec will allow you to soak up the French flavour at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
Hotel: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (3 nights)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6  Québec City

This morning you will journey to Montmorency Falls, the highest in the province of Québec.  Then continue to the town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.  Here, see the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, before visiting the Island of Orléans, rich in French colonial history. Visit beautiful Sainte-Pétronille village, to view typical French colonial architecture in scenic surrounds. A Taste of Québec – tonight, delight in a hearty Québécois dinner at a local Sugar Shack, and learn about the intricacies in producing maple syrup.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7  Québec City

Travel today from Québec to Baie-Ste-Catherine. Enjoy the picturesque landscape of the Québec and Charlevoix regions, as you follow the mountainous coastline of the St Lawrence River to Baie-Ste-Catherine.  Here you will enjoy a memorable afternoon of whale watching.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8  Québec City to Montréal

Travel from Québec City to Montréal. On arrival, enjoy time to explore this sophisticated European-like metropolis.  Perhaps familiarise yourself with some of the major sights of this historic city, and see the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Montréal and Mount Royal as you roam this cultural patchwork of a city. Alternatively, enjoy some time at leisure and explore Montréal’s stylish boutiques, atmospheric cafes and cobblestone streets.  Share your travel stories with new found friends over a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant this evening as the coach tour part of your journey draws to an end.
Hotel: Montréal, Marriott Chateau Champlain (1 night)

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9  Montréal to Québec City: Holland America New England Cruise

Return to Québec City today to board your premium ship for your New England cruise along the Atlantic coastline to Boston.  Cruise Ship: Holland America Line - MS Veendam (7 nights).  All meals included on board

Alternatively, you may choose to end your tour today by just taking the Eastern Canada Highlights land tour.

Day 10  Cruise - Québec City
Stay in port at Québec City today, the bastion of French culture in North America, and enjoy the sights before an afternoon departure.

Day 11  Cruise - Day at Sea
Enjoy a leisurely day cruising the Gulf of St Lawrence. Defined by stunning coast line and beautiful islands, this is the largest estuary in the world, and home to thousands of migratory birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.

Day 12  Cruise - Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island may be Canada’s smallest province, but it’s big on history and attractions. It is here that the famous Conference of 1864 was held, which resulted in the creation of the Canadian confederacy.  With free time to explore, perhaps visit delightful Charlottetown, or join an optional excursion to the Anne of Green Gables homestead (additional cost).

Day 13  Cruise – Sydney, Nova Scotia
A hundred thousand Gaelic welcomes await you in Nova Scotia, Latin for ‘New Scotland’. Spend the day in Sydney on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. There are highland villages to visit, the scenic Cabot Trail to explore, golden inland seas to sail and the Fortress of Louisbourg to inspect – where every barn, barracks and drum corps appears just as it did when French King Louis’ troops occupied the site in 1744.

Day 14  Cruise – Halifax, Nova Scotia
For ocean scenery at its best, nothing rivals Nova Scotia’s south shore. Here, find craggy coastlines, the fabled Peggy’s Cove, and the striking German village of Lunenburg, so meticulously restored it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Back in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s bustling capital, the ramparts of the Citadel and a museum commemorating the Titanic await your inspection.

Day 15  Cruise - Bar Harbor
Cross into the United States and arrive in Bar Harbor, once the exclusive summer resort of America’s fabulously wealthy. Today, Bar Harbor is an artists’ enclave and gateway to the rich natural beauty of Acadia National Park, much of which was donated by the Rockefeller family.

Day 16  Cruise –Disembark Boston
Cruise into Boston this morning. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight (Departure transfer – after your cruise please ensure your onward flight departs after 1 pm).

Why not extend your stay and spend some nights in Boston after your cruise or perhaps travel to New York City.  We can arrange this for you.

Tour Dates

2013  

May 3

May 17

May 31

June 28

August 23

September 6

September 20

Tour price includes

- 8 night’s hotel accommodation in Canada

- Travel by luxury coach

- Services of a professional tour director and driver throughout your coach tour

- Inside stateroom on board your 7-night Holland America cruise

- 32 meals included: 15 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 11 Dinners

- Sightseeing and excursions as described

- Welcome Reception and a special Farewell Dinner

- Tipping for land and cruise staff

- Port charges

- Airport transfers

Not Included

- Flights to Toronto / from Boston (we can arrange these for you, please ask us for details)

- Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary

- Shore excursions on board the cruise