Viking Oceans Cruises – Eastern Seaboard Explorer (Canada, United States) 13 Days

Embark your ship in Montreal, nestled on an island on the St. Lawrence River. You will have the afternoon free to settle in to your ship or set off to explore the city on your own, perhaps going underground to experience its subterranean city, popular with residents during cold winter months.

Today you will continue to explore Montreal. Step into the city’s rich history of fur trading in its Old Port section, lined with picturesque stone buildings along the St. Lawrence River. Ascend to the heights of Mount Royal Park for sweeping city and river views. And marvel at the glorious architecture and interiors of the Notre-Dame Basilica. Alternately, you might venture farther to witness the natural beauty of the Laurentian Mountains or sample the region’s maple sugar delicacies.

Quebec City is by many accounts the most French city in New France. The Old Town’s centerpiece, the magnificent Château Frontenac, seems transported from the palatial landscapes of the Loire Valley, and its French-accented streets lead past white-stone buildings that evoke old-world medieval villages. The only remaining walled city in North America outside of Mexico, Quebec City was fortified in the 17th century soon after its founding in 1608. Its strategic setting on the rocky promontory of Cape Diamond gave troops a close view of the St. Lawrence.

Saguenay is one of southern Quebec’s most cosmopolitan cities. It consists of three boroughs: Jonquière, Chicoutimi and La Baie. Once neighboring towns, they were merged to form the present-day city in 2002. Except for some Inuit and Cree villages, there are no towns due north between Saguenay and the Arctic. Like so many Canadian cities founded amid woodland, Saguenay grew its pulp and paper trade with the late 19th century arrival of the Canadian National Railway. Since then, this resilient town has recovered from a great fire, a landslide and a flood.

Today you will make your way down the St. Lawrence River, an important waterway that allows vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of the Midwest. As you sail, you might attend an illuminating enrichment lecture in the theater. This evening, enjoy cocktails with new friends in the Explorers’ Lounge.

Gaspé is one of North America’s earliest European settlements, set amid stunning natural beauty at the tip of the Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Claimed first by the French, then by the British, Gaspé is known as the “Cradle of French Canada.” Across a small bay from the charming town lies the rugged wilderness of Forillon National Park. With hundreds of species, the Gaspé Peninsula is a spectacular area for bird-watching, and the surrounding gulf is home to wildlife including blue and humpback whales.

Enjoy the day cruising to your next destination, taking advantage of your ship’s generous amenities. Perhaps you will swim in the Infinity Pool or mingle with newfound friends over tea in the Wintergarden. This evening, enjoy soft piano music in the Living Room or lively jazz in Torshavn.

Halifax exudes a fine European air and lies along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors by sea are greeted by the 1758 Sambro Island Lighthouse, the oldest surviving beacon in North America. In the harborside Historic Properties district, grand and charming stone buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries grace the cobblestone streets. The city grew up around Citadel Hill, where Fort George protected the harbor. The fortress, along with the adjacent stately Halifax Town Clock, has been gloriously restored and preserved.

Sail along the scenic coasts of Nova Scotia and Maine, crossing the Bay of Fundy. As you cruise, you might grab a workout in the Fitness Center or indulge in a facial or manicure in The Salon. This evening, perhaps you will dine on a regional favorite such as New England clam chowder or boiled lobster.

Arrive in Boston today for an enriching overnight stay. Birthplace of the American Revolution, the city holds a large repository of history. Among the many sites you will visit are Old North Church, where Paul Revere hung his telltale lantern, and the Old South Meeting House, where Samuel Adams started the Boston Tea Party. Farther afield, you can tour the famous USS Constitution or travel to the revolutionary fields of Lexington and Concord.

You will have another half day to explore Boston, perhaps returning to the Public Garden for a flower-filled stroll or a ride on the famous swan boats. You might also take in the prestige of Harvard University in Cambridge, beautifully set on the meandering Charles River. Later, we get underway and cruise into Cape Cod Bay to begin a scenic transit of the Cape Cod Canal, a century-old engineering marvel that delivers you to Buzzards Bay.

You will cruise into New York Harbor early this morning, thrilling at an iconic view of the Statue of Liberty as you arrive. You will have the day to put yourself in a New York state of mind with a city overview that highlights the landmarks of Manhattan. View the Empire State Building, Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Theater District and Times Square. If you prefer, you can visit the powerful 9/11 Memorial or tour the city’s waterways by luxury catamaran. You will enjoy an overnight stay on board, so you might also choose to relive the stylish nights of the 1920s with a Harlem jazz and blues tour this evening.

Disembark your ship after breakfast and return home, or extend your journey amid the energy and endless cultural offerings of New York City.