Cruises to Canada and New England are known for the vibrant colors of their fall foliage at many of their ports of call. However, the region's photogenic landscapes, charming harbors, and fresh seafood make time ashore exceptionally enjoyable for passengers.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 69 – June 2024
Cruises to New England and Canada are primarily offered from late August through mid-October, with late spring and early fall getaways designed for residents of the U.S. Northeast. These are generally round-trip cruises from New York or Boston, or one-way cruises between either of those cities and Montreal or Quebec City. New England and Canada cruise itineraries typically range from seven to eleven nights.
Cruise ships often call at ports in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, as well as Portland or Bar Harbor, Maine, or even Newport, Rhode Island. A few years ago, this cruise destination was almost exclusively the domain of premium or luxury operators, with high-end cruises and relatively small ships that could offer more exclusive 11- to 15-night itineraries, but increasingly, cruise lines with larger vessels are now offering this destination.
The fact that this destination's peak season falls outside the school calendar means that cruises to Canada and New England tend to attract mature, experienced passengers who are more interested in the destination than the onboard experience, although families are also becoming increasingly common.
Significant growth in port calls and passenger numbers:
Canada’s Atlantic coast ports had a season in 2023 that exceeded all expectations, demonstrating the destination’s resilience and the evolution of Canada’s Atlantic region as a premier cruise destination. The region welcomed more than 600 cruise ships, building on the strength seen in 2022 with a 28% increase in port calls, giving more than 870,000 passengers the opportunity to explore ports such as Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, Corner Brook, and Sydney. The region’s boutique ports also maintained their appeal, attracting more than 34,000 passengers last season. The 2023 season saw record activity at Sydney Harbour, with a 74% increase, and at Corner Brook Harbour, with a 58% increase over the number of cruise passengers registered in 2022. The area's major ports have docks capable of accommodating any mega-ship and offer spacious and modern maritime stations to passengers.
Furthermore, the region is working to reduce the seasonality of its cruise season. The number of cruise passengers between April and August 2023 increased from 157,454 in 2022 to 235,962 in 2023. Saint John, which boasts two modern cruise terminals in the heart of the city, was a finalist in Seatrade's "Port of the Year" award in 2023, ranking among the top three cruise ports in the world. With such consistent growth in the number of cruise calls and passengers during 2023, there is strong anticipation of another upward trend in the coming year, the group said. While economic impact figures for the 2023 season are still pending, the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) emphasizes the vital role of cruises in the Canadian Atlantic tourism sector, citing pre-pandemic figures that indicate an impact of over 2,000 jobs and $347 million on the region's economy.
Cruise passengers arrive on Canada's Atlantic coast attracted by its unique culture, hospitable nature, and stunning landscapes
ACCA also announced that it is designing an exclusively digital promotional campaign to try to convince people of the advantages of visiting Canada's Atlantic coast during the shoulder period of the cruise season.
Following a record-breaking 2023, the ACCA anticipates another outstanding season in 2024. This year, more than 600 cruise ship calls are expected in Canada's Atlantic region, representing a 10% increase over 2023. Further growth is projected for the future. Regarding passenger numbers, the ACCA closed the year with 870,130 passengers, recovering to pre-pandemic levels, as 873,600 passengers were recorded in 2019. It is important to note that the number of cruise passengers has tripled in twenty years, since only 341,800 passengers visited Canada's Atlantic coast in 2003.
Halifax will receive 204 cruise ship calls, including 12 inaugural calls, several overnight stays, and a 35.7% increase in the summer months. It receives almost 40% of the destination's cruise passengers. Sydney is on track for another record season, with 119 calls expected and a 17% increase in the summer months. On Prince Edward Island, Port Charlottetown is expecting 96 calls and around 166,000 passengers, including five inaugural calls, eighteen days with two ships in port, three days with three ships, and four cruise ships arriving at its docks on October 1. Port Saint John will receive a total of 75 calls and more than 170,000 cruise passengers, with ten inaugural calls. It is the only port that has seen a decline in its statistics, having received 196,000 passengers in 2019. Following its record-breaking 2023, the Port of Corner Brook will welcome 37 ships, including 10 inaugural calls and 57,000 passengers, more than double the number recorded in 2019.
Cruise Line Offerings:
These are the cruise lines that offer cruises to this destination. MSC Cruises offers several voyages on the MSC Meraviglia from New York, generally 7 nights with stops in Boston, Portland, Saint John, and Halifax. Royal Caribbean sails to this destination from Cape Liberty with the Liberty of the Seas, offering 9-night round-trip itineraries with stops in Boston, Portland, Sydney, Halifax, and Saint John. It also offers cruises to Canada from Baltimore on the Vision of the Seas. Another Royal Caribbean group cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, offers itineraries from New York and Boston, in the form of 11-night cruises in August and September 2024 on the Celebrity Eclipse, with stops in Portland and Rockland (Maine), Halifax and Sydney (Nova Scotia), Charlottetown, and Quebec City. NCL offers cruises on the Norwegian Jade from Boston. And in 2025 it has scheduled 7-night cruises from New York on the Norwegian Getaway with five ports of call: Newport, Portland, Bar Harbor, Saint John, and Halifax.
More and more cruise lines, from all segments, are offering cruises to the Atlantic coast of Canada, mainly in the fall
Princess is planning several voyages from New York and Boston on the Island Princess and the Enchanted Princess, ranging from 7 to 14 nights, to Canada and New England in 2024 and 2025. The most popular is the 7-night cruise from New York on the Enchanted Princess in the fall, with stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Portland, Saint John, and Halifax.
Holland America offers round-trip cruises between Boston and Quebec with the Volendam, with stops in Portland, Saint John, Halifax, Corner Brook, Charlottetown, Saguenay and Quebec City.
Among the upper-premium cruise lines, Oceania offers 11-night round-trip cruises in September and October from New York this year, and from Boston in 2025, with nine ports of call. Other cruise lines, such as Viking and Windstar, also sail to this destination. Viking is the only one that offers cruises on the Great Lakes in the summer.
And in the luxury segment, the latest addition to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet, the Seven Seas Grandeur, will offer a series of round-trip cruises to Canada from New York, Boston, and Montreal this fall. Another luxury cruise line, Seabourn, offers 12-night round-trip cruises between New York and Montreal, with stops in ports such as Charlottetown. Its rival Silversea offers a similar product this fall, but between New York and Quebec City, aboard the Silver Shadow.
stop
in Boston offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the era of the American Revolutionary War, when the colonies fought for their independence from England nearly 250 years ago. The most typical visit is a walking tour along the famous Freedom Trail, which includes several historical sites such as Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, the Old South Meeting House (where the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party of 1773 are explained), and the Old North Church. It was at the latter that Paul Revere placed two lanterns to signal the approaching British by sea during his midnight walk on April 18, 1775. Quincy Market is also a must-see, and if your stop is longer, you can visit the renowned Harvard University.
Aside from its lobster, Maine is well known for the lighthouses that dot its coastline. Cruise ships often stop in Portland. It's a fishing port full of seafood restaurants, located on historic piers, and the ship docks right downtown, next to a trendy arts district. The most famous lighthouse is the Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest, located at the former military outpost of Fort Williams, just outside Portland. It's an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity, atop a monument dating back to 1791.
Another popular excursion is to Kennebunkport, a former fishing port now lined with luxurious mansions, including the summer residence of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. Lunch there, featuring clam chowder and lobster rolls, is a must. If the ship docks at Bar Harbor, you'll likely have the opportunity to visit Acadia National Park.
A stop in Saint John, Canada's oldest city, offers the opportunity to visit the Bay of Fundy, home to some of the world's largest tidal ranges. From June to October, the Bay of Fundy hosts hundreds of fin and minke whales; humpback whales arrive in late summer. Boats depart from Saint Andrews, about 75 minutes from Saint John. The caves of St. Martins, visible only at low tide, are also a popular attraction.
Halifax is the second largest natural harbor in the world. It is famous for its citadel castle, with a garrison dressed in period costume, its vibrant waterfront, and its Maritime Museum, largely dedicated to the Titanic. Almost all cruise lines offer Titanic-themed excursions, including a visit to the cemetery containing the graves of 121 victims.
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