Canada & New England Cruises: Excursions

Those wanting the best views of Perce Rock should take this tour. Climb to strategic viewpoints and marvel at the surprising panoramas. Those interested in art and culture will be amazed by Perce’s vitality and diversity. Here, one may meet local artists and artisans or discover Perce’s rich historical and architectural heritage. Perce is an ideal place for shopping. Its many souvenir shops, art galleries, and handicraft boutiques offer a wide variety of local and regional crafts and products, certain to inspire a multitude of gifts ideas. From the outlooks of Le Pic De L’aurore, Mont-Joli and Cote Surprise you’ll enjoy the incredible panorama with magnificent photo opportunities. Enjoy lunch with a spectacular view of Perce Rock, Ile Bonaventure and the village. The small harbor of L’Anse-a-Beaufils is a popular site for fishermen and sailors. Well-protected, it boasts many services and activities, especially at La Vieille Usine de l’Anse-a-Beaufils. Once a fish-processing plant, la Vieille Usine has been turned into a cultural and tourist center housing a variety of activities. Visitors can enjoy an art gallery or relax at the cafe-bistro and terrace. Note: At the marina, must be able to walk approximately 100 yards (92 meters) from the tender dock and manage a flight of stairs. At Perce, walking is at guest’s discretion on mainly flat surfaces. Pic de l’Aurore & Mont Joli photo stops are not wheelchair accessible. less

Explore Gaspe, its surroundings and magnificent Forillon National Park. In the Micmac language, Gaspe means Land’s End. Gaspe is associated with the beginning of western history in North America; the cross that Jacques Cartier erected here in 1534 has made it the birthplace of Canada. The town is unique, covering 606 square miles (975 square km), with 93 miles (150 km) of coastline exposed to the sea! Wherever one is in Gaspe, water – either fresh or salty – is never far away. The deep, coastal indentation is the Bay of Gaspe – a magnificent body of water sheltered by the surrounding mountains. Edged by stretches of sandy or pebble beaches, the bay becomes the gathering place for swimmers, boaters and water-sports enthusiasts. A visit to Forillon National Park is sure to be a unique adventure. The tip of Forillon, which was declared a Canadian national park in order to preserve the wild beauty of its coast, reveals various geological formations and phenomena up to 450 million years old. Its majestic landscapes cover a 152 square mile (244 square km) area that is carved out of the sea, cliffs and mountains. Here, where the land joins the sea, are born pebble beaches, dizzying cliffs, small coves, rocky capes and fine sand beaches. The presence of ten different rock formations, colonies of seabirds and enigmatic Arctic-alpine plants give this park its unique character. The park also bears witness to an important cultural and historical heritage. The mark humans have left on the Forillon landscape speaks of how closely their lifestyle was attuned to the natural environment. In fact, 'Harmony between man, the land and the sea' was chosen as the theme that would guide promotional activities in the park precisely because of the significant natural and cultural characteristics inherent to Forillon. To the west of the village, you can explore Fort Peninsule, an old lookout and vestige of the Second World War. A little-known episode of the Second World War took place right in the Bay of Gaspe. Located in the northern area of Forillon National Park, Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse, erected in 1858, is one of the tallest beacons built by the Canadian Coast Guard in Quebec. Canada's tallest lighthouse, it soars 112 feet (34.1 meters) into the air. The Cap-Bon-Ami Sea Cliffs constitute the rock walls corresponding to the peak front and are located at the northern side of the Forillon Peninsula. Those escarpments are huge especially near the sea, from the end of the Cap-des-Rosiers plains to Forillon extremity. All of the littoral wall vary in heights and can go to 197 feet (180 meters) at the south-east of Cap-bon-Ami. Seabirds give the park a definite maritime feel. Each year, the spring migrations bring double-crested cormorant, black guillemot, black-legged kittiwake, gulls and razorbill, all attracted by suitable breeding sites and an abundance of food in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Gaspe Bay. The sea cliffs of the Cap-bon-Ami area accommodate the park's largest gathering of birds during the breeding period, including thousands of black-legged kittiwakes. Designated a historic monument and a national historic site of Canada, the Manoir Le Boutillier was constructed around 1850 by John Le Boutillier, a leading cod merchant originally from Jersey (one of the Channel Islands). The lively tour introduces visitors to a facet of the regional heritage of the Gaspe Peninsula; the restored manor is as it was when John Le Boutillier occupied the house (1850-1860). Wrap up your tour with lunch at Centre Culturel Le Griffon, a unique cultural center with a maritime atmosphere. Located in a former authentic cold store built in 1942, The Centre Culturel Le Griffon houses a number of services for visitors including the Cafe de L'Anse, a historic exhibit on the time when cooperatives came into being, and an artists' studio. Note: Walking is on both flat and gravel surfaces with 1 1/2 flights of stairs at Le Boutillier Manor. Fort Peninsula and LeBoutiller Manor are not wheelchair accessible. less

This fascinating tour takes you up-close to the world-renowned Bay of Fundy and its effects on Saint John, the Fundy City. Meet your local guide at the pier for your guided walk to the New Brunswick Museum, where a guide will introduce you to the wonders of the Bay of Fundy. During this exclusive program, discover the forces that work together to create the highest tides in the world here in the Bay of Fundy, which rise to over 40 feet, or the equivalent of a four-story building. Hear about the geology and geography of the Bay of Fundy region, including why the Reversing Falls exist and learn about the variety of birds, seals and fish species that make the bay their home. After your visit to the museum, step outside and board a sightseeing boat for a closer look at the Bay of Fundy and the famous Reversing Falls Rapids. This sightseeing boat has been specially designed to take you up-close to the famous Reversing Falls, where the mighty Bay of Fundy causes the St. John River to reverse direction and flow upstream and from the boat. You’ll cruise around the harbor, alongside your cruise ship and past a number of significant Saint John sights. This is a Bay of Fundy Experience you won’t want to miss! Note: This is a walking tour. Participants must be able to walk a total of approximately 1/2 mile from pier to museum to sightseeing boat, sometimes on cobblestone pathways or a wooden boardwalk, as well as be able to descend a ramp with an incline that varies with the tides and manage 60 steps at the boat landing. less

See the best of Saint John by land and sea. Depart the pier with your local guide and explore the city’s highlights, including the colorful streets of Saint John’s historic uptown and the breathtaking view from Fort Howe. Stop for a photo at Fallsview Park, where the mighty St. John River meets the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy, creating the renowned Reversing Falls Rapids. Next, board an enclosed sightseeing tour boat for a view of the rapids from sea level and a cruise of the Saint John Harbor, including Harbour Passage, the Port of Saint John and of course, your cruise ship. Both on land and sea, your guide will entertain you with tales of Saint John’s fascinating personalities and historic events. Disembark your sightseeing boat at Market Slip and enjoy the walk along the waterfront to return to the pier or stay uptown to explore at your leisure. Note: Participants must be able to descend 60 steps onto a floating dock with an incline that varies with the tides and walk back to the pier after your tour for approximately 1/4-mile. less

Boston’s North End is commonly known as 'Little Italy' and has a multitude of hidden treasures that will whet the appetite of gourmet chefs and lover’s of fine food alike. Following your short transfer from the pier, you’ll arrive at Quincy Market and begin your gastronomic tour on foot. Your guide is a professionally trained chef with a wealth of knowledge about Italian foods, wine and the North End. You’ll learn the secrets of cooking in a healthy Mediterranean style, sample authentic flavors, and discover the traditions behind the food. Walk through a salumeria, a classic Italian deli, in search of olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pasta, prosciutto and cheeses. Discover the pasticcerias offering the best biscotti, amaretti, cassata and cannoli and tour an enoteca to learn about apertivi, wine to compliment and digestivi to conclude your meal. You’ll get an 'insider’s view' of one of the premier food neighborhoods in the country. Buon Appetito! Note: This tour is very limited in capacity and includes approximately two hours of slow walking and/or standing. Distance covered is less than one mile. Minimum required to operate is 10 participants, maximum capacity is 20 participants. less