Canada & New England Cruises: Excursions

As you rove along the north shore landscape most famous for its red cliffs and sandy dunes, you'll get a real taste of what makes Prince Edward Island such a treasured vacation destination. Stop off at the Anne of Green Gables homestead and walk in the footsteps of one of Canada's most celebrated authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Then indulge in a favorite island tradition, a lobster ceilidh at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. Combine a magnificent view of the River Clyde, impressive surrounding gardens, a traditional lobster lunch and foot-stomping musical entertainment for an experience that will please all of your senses.

Note: Walking is at your discretion on paved sidewalks, gravel pathways, wooden decks and grassy areas with some steps and inclines. The second floor at Green Gables is not wheelchair accessible. 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

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

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