Canada & New England Cruises: Excursions

Tour Saint John on a San Francisco-style motorized trolley, similar to the century-old streetcars and enjoy the narrative by your driver-guide as Saint John history comes to life. Discover Saint John’s charm and learn about the personalities and events that have contributed to its fascinating history. Visit the Reversing Falls Rapids, where the mighty Bay of Fundy causes the St. John River to reverse direction and flow upstream. View the port of Saint John and your cruise ship against the beauty of the Bay of Fundy from Fort Howe lookout. Discover 400 years of history in the heart of Canada’s oldest incorporated city and experience a delightful blend of past and present. Your tour ends at the Old City Market, in the heart of Saint John. Disembark and explore at your leisure, as you are within a three block radius of Saint John’s top attractions. If you wish, you may stay on your trolley to return to your ship. less

Take a scenic drive through the vibrant city of Boston en route to magnificent Copley Square. Along the way you'll pass the spectacular Boston Common, the oldest park in the country and the start of the Freedom Trail. See the New State House with its magnificent gold dome, the Public Garden, famous for its century-old swan boats, and the Old South Meeting House where the most memorable gathering sparked the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and ignited the Revolutionary War. Drive along Newbury Street with its upscale boutiques, unique galleries and trendy cafes. Your first stop will be Copley Square which showcases stunning examples of medieval, classical, and modern design. The most prominent building is the Romanesque Trinity Church. Located on the south side is the magnificent Boston Public Library. Founded in 1848, it was the first free municipal library in the United States. Noted for its Italian Renaissance-style exterior, it is an important example of early 19th-century American architecture. Overlooking the square is the ultra-modern John Hancock Tower. Designed by world-renowned Chinese architect I.M. Pei, the building is the tallest in New England at 60 stories high and its modernist design transforms the skyline. Enjoy a picturesque drive through the town of Lynn and then the town of Salem where you'll begin with lunch in an elegant restaurant followed by a walk down Chestnut Street. Grand, old homes line this magnificent street, many of them built by sea Captains and merchants in the early 1800's during Salem's 'Great Age of Sail.' Enjoy a visit to the Salem Witch Museum which takes you back to the Salem of 1692. Using stage sets, life-size figures, lighting and narration you’ll learn about the Witch Trials of 1692. There will also be time to explore the "Witches: Evolving Perceptions" exhibit which examines the stereotypical witch, aspects of witchcraft in the 17th century, modern witchcraft and the phenomenon of witch hunts. Prior to departing, stop in the museum's gift shop for unusual mementos and souvenirs. Enjoy a picturesque drive on your return to port. Note: This tour will require walking and standing for approximately 40 minutes at the Witch Museum. Walking in Salem is at your discretion. There is a gift shop available in the Witch Museum and a variety of shops along Salem’s waterfront. Witch Museum is wheelchair accessible however some of the shops in town are not. less

From the moment you leave the pier you’ll be fascinated as your guide takes you to two of the most popular sites in Halifax, Peggy’s Cove and the Fairview Lawn Cemetery also known as the 'Titanic' Cemetery. See rustic coastal communities dotted all the way to Peggy’s Cove. As you arrive at the cove, you’ll see for yourself the impressive rock formations and coastal beauty of this rustic working fishing village. Here you can enjoy leisure time on your own, exploring the unique galleries, taking photos, talking to the local fisherman or trying the famous gingerbread. If you wish, join your guide for a live lobster demonstration and you can even hold a live lobster. Next, your guide takes you to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery and recounts the history of the Titanic, the unsinkable ship that perished late in the evening of April 14, 1912. As you arrive at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, notice the 121 victim tombstones are arranged in the shape of a ships hull on a grassy bluff. See the tombstone of the Unknown Child, the many tombstones that bear only a number, not a name, and the stone of one J. Dawson and learn his true story. On your return to the pier, take in city highlights while listening to your local guide. Note: The Fairview Lawn Cemetery is not accessible to guests confined to a wheelchair. less

Discover the oldest baseball park in the Major League on this half-day outing that includes a narrated scenic drive thorough Boston. 'Stadium' is almost too grand a term for Fenway. Built in 1912, it's smaller than modern parks and full of quirks that only add to its mystique. Seats are narrow, wood-slatted chairs dating back to 1934, many have poor sightlines and no legroom. Incredibly, the scoreboard is still hand-operated, pitchers warm up in bullpens right on the edge of the diamond, in plain view of the spectators. See all that makes this park unique including the lone red seat, the triangle and Williamsburg. Following a 45-minute (upper deck trolley-Princess) drive through scenic Boston, arrive at Fenway where you are greeted by an official Fenway Park guide and escorted through the fabled pitch. Following your tour, browse the Red Sox gift shop before the scenic narrated return to the pier. Note: This tour does not operate on game days. Tour sequence may vary. less

Explore Acadia National Park offering sweeping vistas of majestic cliffs, rocky coves, glacier carved lakes and forests followed by a stop at the Looking Glass Restaurant for a seasonal treat. Travel the 27 mile Park Loop Road to Hull’s Cove and Cadillac Mountain, passing famous sights including Jordan Pond House, Otter Cliffs and Thunder Hole, where ocean swells converge against granite cliffs to create a thunderous roar. Most of the park was donated by the Rockefeller family, as you wind through it, you’ll see hand-cut stone bridges and other evidence of their elaborate carriage trails. Depending upon weather conditions, stop for a souvenir photo atop Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Atlantic coast, north of Rio de Janeiro.

The summit offers spectacular views of Bar Harbor and its surrounding islands. After visiting the park, enjoy a typical Maine seasonal dessert accompanied by tea, coffee or a cool beverage at the Looking Glass Restaurant with commanding views of Frenchman Bay. The restaurant is located on the estate formerly owned by Mary Roberts Rinehart, a mystery writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the tour you’ll also pass by some of Bar Harbor’s city sights as well as mansions built by some of the country’s most prominent citizens. Today, many have been converted to quaint Bed and Breakfast Inns.

Note: Walking is at your discretion. Most surfaces are paved but there are some uneven, slippery-when-wet areas and some steps. The photo stop at Cadillac Mountain is paved and partially accessible by wheelchair. However, there is very limited time for unloading with a lift at each stop. In adverse or foggy weather conditions, the Cadillac Mountain stop will be substituted with a visit to the Acadia National Park Visitors Center. The order of the stops might be reversed to avoid congestion.