Considering Canada borders three oceans and is home to more fresh water than any other country in the world, a cruise may be the perfect way to explore our magnificent country. For those of you who have embarked on such a trip before, you know that cruises can offer serious rest and relaxation. So why not put your feet up, and let the ship’s captain guide you on a trip through one of these beautiful regions.
Northern Canada
Experience a summer in the Arctic on the Ocean Endeavour, a 198-passanger vessel made for cruising remote environments. The spacious cruise ship is 137-meters long and has multiple decks equipped with lounge chairs, outdoor dining, a swimming pool, a sauna, and a hot tub. Sail through the Northwest Passage, crossing Davis Strait before reaching the majestic fjords surrounding Greenland. If you’re really lucky, you may even catch sight of some bowhead whales in Niqinganiq (Isabella Bay). These incredible mammals can break through ice more than 20 centimeters thick with the crowns of their heads. More info: adventurecanada.com
Eastern Canada
Explore Eastern Canada with Atlantic Cruise Ship Services, the largest cruise operator in Atlantic Canada. The operator handles more than 220 ships per year, which equates to more than 120,000 passengers. The Canada and New England family-friendly adventure cruise runs in spring, summer, and fall, and takes you to five different ports. On this cruise you’ll get the chance to explore Prince Edward Island and see much of Quebec, including Québec City and Montreal, the beautiful Gaspé Peninsula, the Innu nation at Sept-Îles, and Baie-Comeau’s man-made glacier. More info:
maritimetravel.ca
West Coast
Canada’s West Coast is postcard perfect with coastal rainforests, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains that will take your breath away. The Alaska and Pacific Northwest Cruise will take you on an adventure through Canada’s Inside Passage, travelling through Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Prince Rupert, all the way up to the glaciers of Alaska. As you cruise more than 40,000 kilometers of the Canadian coastline, you’ll cross plenty of gems along the way, including historic lighthouses, totems in front of First Nations’ long houses, orca wales, and some of the densest populations of bald eagles in the world. More info: cruisebc.ca
The Great Lakes
The Saint Laurent is the perfect way to explore these iconic freshwater lakes. The new vessel, set to sail this July, will travel along the lakes from Montreal to Chicago, stopping off at smaller ports and moving through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal before dipping down to Niagara Falls and the Windsor/Detroit port. From there, it heads north to cottage country, passing by Georgian Bay, Manitoulin Island, Sault Saint Marie, and Mackinac Island before arriving in Chicago via Lake Michigan. The four-level vessel is equipped with 105 rooms, multiple decks, and a dining and lounge area that hosts live entertainment. More info:
greatlakescruising.com
Central Canada
If you’re looking for something a little mellower and small-scale, the St. Lawrence Cruise might be right up your alley. This Central Canada cruise takes you on a voyage along the calm waters of Lake Ontario past Kingston, into Montreal, and all the way up the St. Lawrence River into historic Quebec City. Highlights along the way include the Thousand Islands, the heritage village of Cumberland, the fur trade museum near Montreal, and 10 kilometers of greenery in the Laurentian forest’s Omega Park. More info:
stlawrencerivercruise.com