St. Lawrence, the Maritimes Plus New England Cruise

Day 1 - Day 1 – Welcome to Montreal
On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to our luxury hotel in the heart of this cosmopolitan city. A+R guests will be upgraded to spacious Fairmont View Guestrooms overlooking downtown Montreal. The rest of this day is yours to relax and explore as you wish.

Day 2 - Day 2 – Welcome aboard the mv Victory II
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, A+R guests will enjoy a privately chartered transfer to the pier where our elegant ship awaits. Step aboard and settle in to your outside stateroom before gathering with your fellow passengers for a congenial dinner with free-flowing wines, cocktails and beverages.  Meals B+D

Day 3 - Day 3 – Bienvenue à Québec City
With our expert Québécois guide, this morning’s sightseeing tour begins with a guided stroll through the lovely Joan of Arc Garden, laid out in 1938 with a harmonious blend of classical French and English flower-garden styles. At the Plains of Abraham, you’ll learn how the British won a decisive 1759 battle here against the French, thereby changing the fate of North America! In the city’s historic Upper Town, we’ll visit the landmark Château Frontenac, a luxury hotel built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in 1893. In Place Royale #WHS#, one of the oldest settlements on the Continent, our narrated walking tour reveals a fine ensemble of 17th and 18th-century buildings, including Notre-Dame-des-Victories, a handsome stone church that traces its history to 1687.

After lunch onboard, you’ll have free time if you wish to return ashore to explore the charming cobblestone streets of the Petit Champlain Quarter. Here you’ll find stately stone buildings and centuries-old fur trading posts that are now home to inviting boutiques and cafes.  Meals B+L+D

Day 4 - Day 4 – Whale Watching along the St. Lawrence River
The wild waters off Tadoussac, where the Saguenay River flows into the St. Lawrence, is one of the most celebrated whale-watching sites on the planet. This morning, an expert marine naturalist who is based in the region will come onboard for the day. With their deep knowledge and keen insights, you’ll thrill to an exciting and enriching day as we navigate these pristine waters on the lookout for the blue whales and magnificent humpbacks that gather here to feed in the nutrient-rich waters.  Meals B+L+D

Day 5 - Day 5 – Cruising the Gulf of St. Lawrence
As we navigate the waters of the scenic Gulf of St. Lawrence, our shipboard experts are on-hand to share deeper insights into the history, stories and natural wonders of French Canada and the Maritimes. Fine dining, time to engage with your fellow travelers and our Open Bar enhance this delightful day at sea.  Meals B+L+D

Day 6 - Day 6 – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
This charming town of 35,000 was the site of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference where delegates from the Maritime colonies first met in a process that led to the Confederation of Canada. Explore its historic streets and then travel along the north shore to Prince Edward Island National Park, a beautiful coastal refuge. Fans of the novel Anne of Green Gables will delight in today’s visit to the L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site which encompasses the landscapes and home that inspired the settings for Ms. Montgomery’s beloved tale of a red-haired orphan. Meals B+L+D

Day 7 - Day 7 – Scenic Cruising through the Strait of Canso
Separating the eastern shores of the Nova Scotia Peninsula from beautiful Cape Breton Island, the Strait of Canso is a thin channel of water that averages less than 2 miles across! Enjoy another wonderful day of cruising as we navigate through this lovely region of the Canadian Maritimes. Take in the fresh sea air from the Sun Deck or enjoy convivial conversation with your fellow travelers in the Compass Lounge. As always, your cruise is enriched by our shipboard experts, fine dining in two distinctive venues and our Open Bar.  Meals B+L+D

Day 8 - Day 8 – Ashore in Halifax, Nova Scotia
An enriching day in Nova Scotia’s capital begins with one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian Garden in North America. Established in 1867, the Halifax Public Gardens encompass 17 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and garden beds set behind ornate wrought iron gates that bear the city’s coat of arms. Next up is the Citadel, an impressive 19^th-century fort built by the British on a strategic hilltop setting with commanding views over the city. At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, you’ll delve into Nova Scotia’s rich seafaring heritage and the role that Halifax Harbor played during World War II. We’ll be here in Halifax until this evening, so you’ll also have time to return to shore and enjoy more of Halifax at your own pace.  Meals B+L+D

Day 9 - Day 9 – Cruising the Atlantic Seaboard

Delight in this final day at sea as we navigate southward toward the New England Coast. Enjoy the convivial company of your fellow passengers, fine dining with wine and cocktails, and perhaps another talk with our shipboard experts. Meals B+L+D

Day 10 - Day 10 – Portland, Maine
Today’s tour of Portland takes us through the elegant Victorian Mansion District, past the boyhood home of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and other fine residences built by wealthy seafaring merchants and captains. Continuing to Kennebunkport, we’ll discover a still-thriving community that traces its history to the 1600’s when it was a shipbuilding center known for its skillfully constructed 5-masted schooners. In nearby Kennebunk, we’ll discover an impressive ensemble of historic homes including the celebrated “Wedding Cake House.” Built in 1825 by a prominent shipbuilder, its Gothic-inspired ornamentation does indeed give its otherwise simple Federal-style façade the appearance of a frosted cake. Before returning to ship, you’ll also tour the lovely English-style gardens and riverside woodlands of St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery Estate.  Meals B+L+D

Day 11 - Day 11 – Disembark in Boston, Massachusetts
Upon disembarking the mv Victory II here in Boston, A+R guests will enjoy a privately chartered transfer to the airport.  Meals B