Canada & New England Cruises: Excursions

Ciad Mile Failte - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes await you. Nova Scotia is Latin for New Scotland and nowhere is this more evident than on Cape Breton Island. This picturesque excursion takes you to the very Heart of the Island. The route includes some of the Island's most dynamic scenery, weaving a route through rugged countryside, touching the shores of the famous Bras d'Or Lakes. Known as the Great Inland Sea (the lakes are salt-water) the Bras d'Or region is a major breeding ground for the bald eagle and other exotic wildlife. As your tour progresses, you'll stop at the geographical center of Cape Breton Island, Hectors' Point, Iona and visit the Nova Scotia Highland Village, a 50-acre historical site overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes. Take a chronological journey through 180 years of Cape Breton’s Scottish architecture, hosted by costumed staff trained in conversational Gaelic and local history. Here you will view a full-size replica of a Scottish Blackhouse, the original one-room structure occupied by the first Scottish settlers in the region, and the only one of its kind in North America. A hilltop panoramic view offers a beautiful blend of land, sky and water. Enjoy tea or coffee and oatcakes before returning to your ship. Note: There is a fair amount of walking at the Highland Village. However, the tour is very scenic and if you wish, you can enjoy the views from the motorcoach and the Visitors Center. Tea or coffee is served at Highland Village. less

Climb aboard a 90 foot jet powered catamaran for a cruise past five of Maine's most beautiful and unique lighthouses. During your cruise, you’ll also pass Porcupine Islands, Champlain Mountain, Great Head, Thunder Hole, Sand Beach and the famous Otter Cliff, which juts out 110 feet making it one of the highest Atlantic coastal headlands north of Rio de Janeiro. An historian will be aboard to provide you with fascinating and fun facts about the five lighthouses that occupy the cliffs and islands that dot Acadia's coastline.

The Egg Rock lighthouse sits on an island in the mouth of Frenchman Bay. Winter Harbor features a round brick tower attached to a two story Victorian wood keeper's house. The lighthouse on Baker Island is round and made out of brick. Great is still an active lighthouse. The Life Saving Station on Little Cranberry Island marks your return trip back to the pier.

Note: Participants must be able to negotiate walking up and down ramps to board the moving vessel. This tour is not available for Norwegian Dawn guests on the September 20, 2013 sailing. less

Cruise to Perce Rock and around Bonaventure Island sectors to see its gannet colony – the largest in the world – then explore Perce on your own. The Parc National de l'Ile-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Perce is an enchanting site. Sculpted by time and the sea at the tip of the Gaspe Peninsula, it makes an extravagant show of its rich historical heritage and amazing geological history. Its remarkable flora and fauna, including its world-renowned northern gannet colony, contribute to the park's reputation as a must-see destination. This rocky bastion is a prolongation of the Appalachian Mountains extending into the waters of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and has for its fortress Bonaventure Island and Perce Rock, Quebec’s tourist-emblem, as its majestic vessel of stone. Bonaventure Island is home to a spectacular congregation of 300,000 sea birds, including razorbills, gulls, murres, and puffins. The island also has 223 species of avian wildlife. Perce Rock, one of the world’s largest and most spectacular natural arches, is proud testament to Gaspesie’s geological heritage. An unshakeable mass of rock and limestone 375 million years old, it measures 474 yards (433 meters) in length, 98 yards (90 meters) wide, and 96 yards (88 meters) at its highest point. Its weight is estimated at five million tons. The arch itself is 49 feet (15 meters) high. The rock is a nesting place for cormorants, kittiwakes and seagulls. One of the most popular activities in Perce is the boat tour around the Parc National de l’Ile-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Perce, which takes visitors to both sides of the famous Perce Rock and then out to see the thousands of birds nesting on the cliffs of Bonaventure Island. A boat excursion to the rock and around the island is an unforgettable experience. The highpoint of the visit is without doubt the sight of 250,000 birds nesting on the island. The island’s colony of 120,000 northern gannets is the most important and accessible in the world. Note: At Perce, walking is at guest’s discretion on mainly flat surfaces. At the marina, must be able to walk approximately 100 yards (92 meters) from the tender dock and manage a flight of stairs. less

Board your Big Pink Sightseeing bus to explore Sydney, the largest community and commercial center of Cape Breton Island. Begin your tour in the historic north end settled in 1785 by British Loyalists from the New England colonies and pass by Victoria Park, the site of the original garrison camp. Continue through downtown Sydney with a brief stop at Wentworth Park for a photo opportunity. You’ll then proceed to Whitney Pier, the former site of Sydney Steel Mill which dates back to 1900. Visit the Historical Museum and learn about the importance the Sydney Coal Fields have on the local economy. These industries brought immigrants from many parts of the world giving Sydney a multicultural mix of more than 50 ethnic backgrounds. Another photo stop will be made at The Melting Pot, honoring these people, their strong work ethic and cultural pride.

Continue to the First Nations community of Membertou where you’ll celebrate the heritage, culture and unique history of these people through educational and interactive experiences. Your tour guide and/or Elders of Membertou will encourage you to experience their story, learn Mi’kmaq dance and drum as they provide a hands on demonstration and instruction. Sample traditional Mi’kmaq food and/or treat as you learn the history of their food, perhaps comparing the old way with the new. Enjoy a walk in their garden area and visit Petroglyphs Gift Shop featuring arts and crafts from the Mi’kmaq Nation and other First Nations across Atlantic Canada. You’ll then board your coach returning to the ship along the waterfront.

less

This tour combines the highlights of the Acadia National Park tour with a true 'Downeast' lobster bake. Your journey takes you along the 27-mile Park Loop Road offering spectacular coastal, mountain and forest scenery. You’ll first pass through the quaint town of Bar Harbor to view some of the charming Victorian mansions built by America’s rich and famous at the turn of the century. Entering Acadia National Park, your journey on Park Loop Road will take you along the ocean’s edge and the spectacular scenery of Maine’s rocky coastline.

Continuing past Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs and the Jordon Pond House, you’ll make your way (weather permitting) to the 1,530-foot (466 meters) summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on North America’s Eastern seaboard. With a 360-degree panoramic view, you’ll see how glaciers carved through the granite cliffs to form a beautiful landscape of lush forest, lakes and valleys. You’ll then be treated to a true 'Downeast' lobster bake in a beautiful setting along the coast. Pulled fresh from ocean water, enjoy typical Maine lobster drizzled with butter as well as all the trimmings.

Note: This tour is conducted in French. Steak is available for non-lobster eaters. Walking is at your discretion. Most surfaces are paved but there are some uneven, slippery-when-wet areas and some steps. The stop at Cadillac Mountain will not be made in adverse or foggy weather conditions. A visit to the Acadia National Park Visitors Center or alternative location will be made instead. The order of the stops might be reversed to avoid congestion. less