Canada Cruises
All five Great Lakes and beyond
Cruise Canada by Small Ship
Canada’s waterways cover more ground than most travelers expect. Small ship cruises here range from the industrial grandeur of the Great Lakes, passing through locks older than the country itself, to the French-colonial streets of Old Quebec City, to the fog-threaded harbor towns of Nova Scotia along the Atlantic coast.
The Great Lakes are the centerpiece of the Canada product. Multiple itineraries cover all five lakes, Chicago to Toronto, threading through Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, and Ontario with stops at Niagara Falls, Georgian Bay, and the historic port of Duluth. Longer St. Lawrence Seaway sailings continue east from the lakes through the Thousand Islands and down the seaway to Montreal and Quebec City, where the walled upper town and the Plains of Abraham sit above a river that still feels vast and wild.
On the Atlantic side, the Maritimes sailings sail the coastline of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, calling at Halifax, one of Canada’s great port cities, and connecting south along the East Coast as far as Jacksonville, Florida. The New England and Canada combo itineraries bridge the two countries, sailing between Portland, Maine and Quebec City in fall, when the maple forests of Quebec and New England turn together.
Canada Cruises FAQs
Is this a good destination for first-time visitors to Canada?
It depends on what you want to see. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway itineraries are a strong introduction to central and eastern Canada, passing through Ontario and Quebec with stops in major cities like Toronto and Quebec City. The Maritimes sailings are better suited to travelers already familiar with eastern Canada who want to explore a less-visited coastline.
What is the St. Lawrence Seaway, and why does it make for a good cruise?
The St. Lawrence Seaway is the network of locks and canals connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, one of the great engineering achievements of the 20th century. Cruising it means passing through working locks, sailing the Thousand Islands archipelago on the Ontario/New York border, and arriving in Montreal and Quebec City by river rather than by air, with the fortified walls of Old Quebec rising above the water ahead of you.
Do any itineraries combine Canada with the United States?
Several. The New England and Canada sailings run between Portland, Maine and Quebec City, stopping at ports in both countries. The Great Lakes itineraries also move fluidly across the border, and longer Atlantic Coast voyages connect Halifax to Jacksonville, Florida over 14 to 15 nights.
When do fall foliage sailings run?
The New England and Canada itineraries are timed for late September and October, when the maple forests of Quebec and New England peak together. Great Lakes sailings through fall also catch the color change across Ontario and the Upper Midwest.
What is the best way to choose between a Great Lakes cruise and a Maritimes sailing?
They offer very different experiences. The Great Lakes cover a vast inland sea with a mix of industrial history, dramatic scenery, and major cities. The Maritimes are quieter, saltwater, and steeped in fishing culture and colonial history. Call 800-578-1479 and our agents will help you figure out which fits how you like to travel.