It may come as a surprise to some, but one of the most interesting ways to explore New England is by cruise ship, especially in the fall when foliage is at its peak. Even better, many New England cruise itineraries also take in ports within Canada. Some of the most popular ports of call include Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Quebec City.
If you’re considering a New England and Canada cruise, there are plenty of options to choose from, too. From large cruise lines to intimate ships, you can explore New England and Canada in any style that suits you. Here are the top cruise lines with New England sailings.
FALL COLORS: 12 best mountain towns in the U.S. to see fall foliage
1. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has officially made Boston one of its homeports, and the line now offers seven-, 10-, and 17-day New England and Canada itineraries departing from Massachusetts on its 3,080-passenger Emerald Princess. New England and Canada cruises are also available out of New York City and Quebec City.
BIG SAVINGS: 8 cruise lines that let kids sail free
Your itinerary may include a combination of ports across New England and Canada. Stops range from Boston to Bar Harbor in the U.S., and Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, and Quebec City in Canada. Feeling extra adventurous? Princess’s 17-day voyage out of Boston takes you on a round-trip sailing to Greenland.
2. Royal Caribbean
Whether you’re departing from Boston, Baltimore, or Cape Liberty (in New Jersey), Royal Caribbean has an array of New England and Canada itineraries. With sailings ranging from four to nine nights, there’s plenty of flexibility for those looking for a long weekend getaway and lengthier vacations. Maine, Nova Scotia, and Halifax are just some of the ports of call you might visit.
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian’s New England and Canada cruise itineraries include sailings that stretch from Maine to Nova Scotia. Cruisers have a multitude of port options from which to depart, including Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Quebec City. Norwegian offers voyages ranging in length from five to eight days as well as from nine to 14 days. 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.
FALL VIBES: From spooky to scary, these are the year’s best Halloween books for kids and teens
4. American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines offers uniquely tailored New England cruises allowing passengers to explore various areas around New England and Canada in more detail. This way, you can head to the popular spots as well as some quieter destinations you might miss on the bigger cruise lines.
FALL SPLENDOR: 10 best New England fall foliage vacations for families
The line’s nine-day Maine Coast and Harbors cruise includes stops at Portland and Bangor as well as Boothbay Harbor, Castine, and days cruising along Maine’s coast. The Cape Codder cruise, lasting eight days, stops at Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown, and Newport. And if you have the time, the 15-day Fall Foliage cruise is a good option for those wishing to sail one way from Maine to New York.
5. Celebrity Cruises
Though Celebrity Cruises offers fewer New England cruises than some of its competitors, the ones it does offer are worth checking out if you’re interested in a long cruise. These are 10- or 11-night voyages sailing round-trip from Boston. Many of the ports of call are similar across these sailings, including Halifax, Charlottetown, Portland, and Quebec City.
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. Shore excursions cater to all kinds of vacation types, from adventurous hikes around Acadia National Park to foodie walks through Saint John, New Brunswick.
RIDE THE RAILS: 10 best fall foliage train rides in the U.S.
Itineraries are available through mid-fall as well as spring and summer. Most of the line’s New England cruises vary in length from seven to 15 days, and there’s also an epic 25-day voyage that includes stops in Greenland and Iceland.
7. Oceania Cruises
If you’ve experienced New England cruises in the past and have visited the typical ports of call, you may want to consider a voyage aboard Oceania Cruises next. It has some unique ports of call you aren’t likely to find with other cruise lines, including Baie-Comeau and Gaspe in Quebec; Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts; and Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
FAMILY FUN: 10 best family vacation ideas for fall, according to travelers and experts
Oceania’s New England and Canada cruises depart in August, September, and October, and include one-way and round-trip itineraries out of New York, Boston, and Montreal. Sailings range from 10 to 12 days on the 1,200-passenger Allura, the 684-passenger Nautica, and the 684-passenger Insignia.
8. Seabourn Cruise Line
Choose Seabourn’s Canada and New England cruises for a yacht-like experience with smaller ships that pull out all of the stops. The majority of its regional itineraries sail out of Montreal and focus on Canadian ports with just a couple of stops in New England, including Boston and potentially Provincetown, Newport, or Martha’s Vineyard.
FALL GETAWAYS: 8 New England fall getaways that will charm the kids (and parents, too)
If you want a longer voyage along the East Coast, select itineraries that sail out of Montreal and go all the way to Miami. Those longer voyages stretch to 22 days. Ultra-intimate Canada and New England sailings on Seabourn Cruise Line are on the 229-passenger Seabourn Quest or the 229-passenger Seabourn Sojourn.
9. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
With four ports in New England and several more in Canada, Regent Seven Seas Cruises lets passengers see the highlights of the region with curated excursions. Stop in Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, Bar Harbor, or Portland to enjoy the sights and sounds of New England with their themed cruises. These include Lighthouses and Lobster Rolls, numerous fall foliage tours, and more. Most of these New England and Canada sailings are aboard the 744-passenger Seven Seas Grandeur or the 746-passenger Seven Seas Splendor.
10. Silversea Cruises
For another intimate New England cruising experience, consider Silversea Cruises. The line’s crew-to-guest ratio is nearly 1:1, and its small vessels can access ports that others can’t get to. Its 10- and 11-day itineraries include stops at ports such as Newport, Portland, and Quebec City.
11. Windstar Cruises
If your idea of a New England cruise also includes multiple stops in Canada as part of your journey, then you should look into Windstar Cruises. The small ship cruise line includes New England ports like Boston and Portland, but the majority of ports you’ll experience are in Canada. For example, its 11-day Southeast Canadian Explorations cruise stops at Halifax and Quebec City as well as lesser-visited destinations like Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, and Gaspé, Quebec.
12. 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 and stops in several Canadian ports along the way before visiting Bar Harbor, Portland, and Newport. It then continues down the East Coast to Florida. A reverse sailing from Florida to Canada is also available.
Viking also has 13-day Eastern Seaboard Discovery and Eastern Seaboard Explorer sailings, offering one-way voyages from Boston to Montreal. Viking’s New England itineraries sail on either the 930-passenger Viking Mars or the 930-passenger Viking Neptune.
