There’s no bad time to take a cruise, but if you want to journey to New England, the region really shines in the fall. The leaves shift to vibrant hues, the air is crisp, and you don’t have to traverse busy national parks and roadways to experience it all. In fact, some of the best New England cruise itineraries even take a dip into Canada. So you’ll have the chance to enjoy two countries on one incredible trip.
If you’re thinking about a New England and Canada cruise, there are plenty of options for every type of traveler, from large family-friendly ships to smaller luxury cruise lines where nearly everything is included in the fare. Keep reading to learn more about the best cruise lines sailing to New England in 2026 and 2027.
1. Disney Cruise Line
In 2027, Disney Cruise Line will return to New York City for the first time in years. And with that comes new itineraries to New England and Canada. Many cabins for the New England and Canada cruises were booked quickly. As of writing, one itinerary has availability: the five-night Canada and New England Cruise from New York. The cruise is on the beautiful Disney Wish and calls upon Saint John (New Brunswick), Canada, and Boston, Massachusetts.
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Onboard the Disney Wish, your family can experience everything from dining in a restaurant themed to the animated film Frozen to seeing Broadway-style shows, and even meet some of your favorite Disney characters. This sailing is also special because it features Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas. The ship is decorated for the holiday, and Halloween-themed activities take place throughout the cruise. So be sure to pack your favorite costume.
2. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers seven- to 14-day New England and Canada itineraries, departing from home ports like Boston, Massachusetts; New York City, New York; and Quebec City, Canada in 2026 and 2027. Depending on your itinerary, your cruise may take place on the line’s Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sapphire Princess, or Caribbean Princess ships.
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What really makes a cruise to New England stand out on Princess Cruises is the option to extend a cruise to include a few days on land. Cruisetours range from 14 to 19 days and include stops in multiple destinations on land before or after your cruise. For example, one of the most exciting cruisetours is the 14-day Historic America. You’ll visit places like Washington, D.C.; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before getting onto a weeklong cruise.
3. Royal Caribbean
Whether you’re departing from Boston, Baltimore, or New Jersey, Royal Caribbean offers an array of New England and Canada itineraries. With four- and nine-night sailings, there’s plenty of flexibility for travelers looking for a long weekend getaway or a lengthier vacation.
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Some of the exciting ports of call include Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. If you time your cruise right, you may be able to catch a baseball game at historic Fenway Park in Boston. And if you’re not into sports, that’s okay too. New England and Canada have walkable streets that encourage exploring, so you never know what you may see.
4. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s New England and Canada cruise itineraries include sailings that stretch from Maine to Nova Scotia. Cruisers have five home port options: Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Quebec City. Norwegian offers voyages ranging in length from weeklong escapes to 11-day cruises. That allows you plenty of time to explore New England and the surrounding areas, whether your ship brings you to Boston, Bar Harbor, or Halifax. Even better, the ships sailing these itineraries are all recently refurbished, so they all feel fresh and new, even though some have been in service for more than 20 years.
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If you’re looking for an all-inclusive-style cruise, NCL offers its Free at Sea package. This includes unlimited open bar, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, excursion credit, and the option to add on service fees (the latter is only available with Free at Sea Plus). These packages can help you see the full cost of your cruise before you even get to the ship.
5. Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers a handful of New England and Canada cruises every year. The sailings are longer at 11 nights and are round-trip from Boston. This means you can enjoy one of America’s best cities for a few nights pre- or post-cruise. In 2026 and 2027, the cruises take place on Celebrity Silhouette and visit places like Rockland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Portland, Maine.
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Celebrity Silhouette is a charming ship that’s ideal for adult travelers, though children are allowed as well. The ship has plenty of dazzling features, like the must-do Le Petit Chef interactive dining concept and the Martini Bar, where a layer of ice tops the bar so your drink stays cold until the last drop. End your night with one of the incredible entertainment offerings, like the high-flying Euphoria.
6. Holland America
With cruises departing from Boston, Quebec City, and Montreal, Holland America’s New England and Canada cruises include popular ports of call in Nova Scotia and Maine. Itineraries range from one to two weeks, starting in mid-May and running through mid-October. This really gives travelers plenty of time to decide if they want to enjoy a relaxing summer vacation or the quintessential fall cruise through New England.
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Some itinerary highlights include visiting up to five National Parks and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites in one trip, and dining onboard themed to each destination, including Maine lobster and Prince Edward Island mussels.
7. Seabourn
Choose Seabourn’s Canada and New England cruises for a yacht-like experience with smaller ships that pull out all of the stops. The sailings are varied, with some one-way options from Montreal to New York and Montreal to Miami, along with a selection of roundtrip options from Montreal. Depending on the itinerary you choose, the ports of call will either be all in Canada or a mix of American and Canadian ports. The itineraries range from 12 to 13 days. This is an ideal length of time for exploring ports and enjoying everything that the ships have to offer.
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If you’ve never sailed with Seabourn before, you’re in for a real treat. The cruise line is known for its educational programming, which brings on experts in various fields for lively discussions. Additionally, Seabourn’s Signature Events bring once-in-a-lifetime moments to life. On New England and Canada cruises, that means going shopping with the ship’s executive chef as you taste your way through local markets.
8. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
From September through the end of October, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers New England and Canada itineraries, and all cruises are one-way. In 2026 and 2027, the sailings alternate between starting and ending in Montreal and Boston, or Montreal and New York. While the ports of call are dependent on the exact itinerary you choose, highlights include Martha’s Vineyard and Boston in the United States, and Gaspé and Saguenay in Canada.
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In 2026, sailings take place on Seven Seas Splendor, while 2027 cruises are on Seven Seas Grandeur. I’ve been lucky enough to sail on Seven Seas Grandeur, and the ship is as warm and welcoming as it is opulent. One highlight for me was dining at Pacific Rim, the ship’s Pan-Asian restaurant, where lobster tempura is the menu’s star dish. The ship also has a stunning Culinary Arts Kitchen, where guests can learn how to cook regional dishes inspired by the ship’s current itinerary.
9. Silversea
For another intimate New England cruising experience, consider Silversea, the luxury cruise line from the Royal Caribbean family. The line’s crew-to-guest ratio is nearly 1:1, and its smaller vessels can access ports larger ships can’t navigate to. In 2027, Silversea’s New England cruises range from 11 to 14 days, though the longest cruise is actually a repositioning cruise from Montreal to Miami.
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Cruises take place on Silver Shadow, which accommodates just 392 guests and 302 crew members. The ship features four restaurants. La Dame, the French-inspired locale, is a fan favorite. Additionally, the ship’s outdoor pool deck is the ideal spot to hang out and enjoy the passing scenery, drink in hand. But what makes Silversea really stand out among its luxury cruise counterparts is the dedicated service staff, who anticipate your needs before you can even ask.
10. Windstar Cruises
If your idea of a good time is small ship sailing with yacht-like amenities, you should consider Windstar Cruises. The itineraries include New England ports like Boston and Portland, plus stops in Canada in ports of call like Halifax, Bonne Bay, and St. Anthony. Sailings range from 11 to 25 days, allowing you to decide how much of the fall atmosphere and rustic shorelines you want to take in.
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All of the New England and Canada cruises take place on Star Pride, an all-suite yacht with room for 312 guests. On Windstar cruises, all of your dining is included, so go ahead and enjoy the specialty dining options onboard a few times. And after a few days of exploring ports of call, book a spa day at the World Spa by Windstar, where you can enjoy heated loungers and a sauna before your treatment.
11. Viking Cruises
Want a New England cruise that also includes a few palm trees? Viking Cruises is distinct in that its 15-day Canada and New England Scenic Shores cruise also brings passengers to Fort Lauderdale. So, if you’re interested in a one-way cruise that brings you somewhere a bit more tropical than New England, this might be the perfect itinerary for you. The journey begins in Montreal, making stops in several Canadian ports before visiting Portland and Newport. It then continues down the East Coast to Florida. Viking also has a 13-day Eastern Seaboard Discovery cruise, offering one-way voyages from Montreal to New York.
Editor’s Note: This story contains reporting from Carly Neil.
