Hillside harbor town at dawn with docked fishing boat, colorful homes, church steeples, fall foliage & glassy water.
Perce's beige rocky outcrop with arch & detached islet over the sea, seen on small boat cruises on the St. Lawrence River.
Saguenay, Quebec, Canada in fall with golden-leafed trees surrounding a calm bay, seen on a St. Lawrence River cruise.
Red & white lighthouse sits on rocky sea wall by calm ocean under blue skies seen on a St. Lawrence river cruise.
Rocky & forested shoreline of Bar Harbor, Maine on a sunny day seen on a St. Lawrence River cruise.
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North America Canada Cruise

St. Lawrence River Cruise

Travel round-trip from Montreal aboard a luxury French ship  for the vast unspoiled expanses of Canada on a St. Lawrence River cruise. On this Discoveries cruise, sail along the St. Lawrence River, a prodigious waterway home to exceptionally beautiful nature. Discoveries include a mix of curated shore excursions and naturalist-guided activities.

Call at two emblematic cities: Montreal, famous for its energy and cultural vibrancy, and Quebec, capital of Canada’s Beautiful Province, located on the St Lawrence estuary and founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Watch for beluga whales in Saguenay fjords. Look for birds, seals and cetaceans plus take in the giant limestone formations in a national park reserve near Havre-Saint-Pierre, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

This Expedition Along Saint Lawrence conveniently operates round-trip from Montreal, with a charter flight to complete the loop. This route spends time along Newfoundland and in the peaceful Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago. In these distant lands, the hilly horizon is dotted with ponds, the forest blends with the peat bogs, and the coastlines alternate between lagoons, sheer cliffs and mountains that plunge into clear ocean.

These small boat cruises on the St. Lawrence River are offered aboard a selection of sister ships: 244-guest Le Boreal or Le Lyrial. These ships offer 100% private balconies or terraces, innovative equipment, elegantly designed guest accommodations and welcoming lounge areas that open to the outside. A variety of onboard activities engage guests while the ship cruises, including the Blue Eye underwater lounge–a multi-sensory space in the ship’s hull featuring hydrophones, expansive underwater views and other amenities that create the feeling of being underwater beside the marine life that the ship is sailing past.

Read on for details about these St. Lawrence River cruises, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s East Coast cruises and Canada small ship cruises.



Itinerary

Exploration Along Saint Lawrence Itinerary

The Exploration Along Saint Lawrence cruise operates round-trip from Montreal, Canada, starting with a charter flight to embark the ship in Saint Pierre Island, Saint Pierre & Miquelon. Sail along Newfoundland, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River. These Discoveries include a mix of curated shore excursions and naturalist-guided activities.

Route map of Exploration Along Saint Lawrence cruise, round-trip from Montreal, Canada with a flight to embark Miquelon Island & visits to Newfoundland, Saguenay, Quebec & more.
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Day 1
Fly Montreal, Canada to Saint Pierre Island, Saint Pierre & Miquelon & Embark

Start your adventure with a charter flight from Montreal, Canada to Saint Pierre Island, Saint Pierre & Miquelon. Off the Canadian coast, discover Saint Pierre Island, one of the two main islands of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago, the only French territory in North America. Endowed with a natural harbor, the island, whose name is a reference to the patron saint of fishermen, developed around the fishing industry and still has many traces of its past today. Whale hunting, cod fishing, alcohol smuggling during the Prohibition: all of these memories are still very much alive in the capital, Saint-Pierre. The island is also renowned for the observation of exceptional fauna including, among others, whales, fin whales, dolphins, seals, puffins and petrels.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

dinner

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Day 2
Miquelon Island

At the entrance of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, not far from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Miquelon is one of the two main islands of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago and will delight those with a love of wide open space. Connected by a sand isthmus, with Miquelon in the north and Langlade to the south, this wild land is famous as the home to France’s only boreal forest and has sublime scenery of hills, dotted with ponds, woods and bogs, and ringed by lagoons and steep cliffs. The rich and varied wildlife will guarantee fine encounters, whether inland, which is populated with white-tailed deer and bald eagles, or on the coast, refuge to many seabirds and common seals.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 3 - 4
Cap-aux-Meules, Magdalen Islands

Although it is the administrative and economic centre of the Magdalen Islands archipelago, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the village of Cap-aux-Meules remains a peaceful location and is ideal for exploring preserved nature. Located on the eponymous island, in reference to the sandstone rocks of the cape that were used in the past to make grindstones, the location is above all considered to be the maritime gateway to the archipelago. In this respect, it offers privileged access to many sites renowned for their natural and historic heritage, such as the village of Havre-Aubert which is a member of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
Woody Point, Gros Morne National Park

Located in the heart of Gros Morne National Park, the small town of Woody Point has the typical charm of territories found at the end of the world. From there, you will set off to discover the national park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the beauty of its landscapes, whose geology unveils the evolution of continental drift through its extraordinary rock formations. Sculpted by glacial activity, the park is home to coastal lowlands, alpine plateau, hemmed-in fjords, immense valleys, jagged cliffs and several preserved lakes: you will marvel at every moment!

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
Providence Island & Harrington Harbor

After riding in an inflatable dinghy around granite tabular islands that are highly characteristic of Basse-Côte-Nord, you will land on an island once occupied by fishermen from Tête-à-la-Baleine and now the summer village of some twenty families. Your guide will take you to a cairn from which you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view over the tundra scattered with a few bushes, moss and white lichen. You will visit the Sainte-Anne Chapel, a beautiful wooden church built in the late 19th century, and taste some local products made from berries.

This small fishing village on Canada’s North Shore is unique in more ways than one: it has very few inhabitants, no cars and a network of wooden pavements linking all the houses together. Lying 1.8 miles (3km) from the coast, the island has extraordinary wild landscapes. It is also home to the Jacques Cartier monument, commemorating the famous French explorer’s visit to the region in 1535. The main activities include walking through the town and strolling along the wooden pavements among the typical village houses. According to legend, the explorer Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval abandoned his niece Marguerite here in the 1540s when she fell in love with a sailor. She supposedly took refuge in a cave on the island before being rescued by fishermen. The cult Quebec film “Seducing Doctor Lewis was also shot here.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
La Romaine

La Romaine is an Innu First Nations reserve in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, with a population of 1,500. Nestling at the mouth of the Olomane River, this fishing village has a spectacular view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, dotted with islets and wild forests. The name La Romaine means red ochre in Innu, and evokes the reddish color of the run-off waters in spring. Here you will discover a fascinating history, regional economy and traditions, halfway between past and present. You can also enjoy a stroll along its charming bay.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
Havre St. Pierre

Located on the Northern Shore of Quebec, Havre St Pierre is the gateway to the amazing natural heritage that surrounds it. This Quebecois town provides an excellent base for exploring the string of islands sprinkled off the coast. From Havre St Pierre, you can visit the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. This is a land forged by the sea and elements, where nature still rules. This chain of islands is renowned for its spectacular limestone formations.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 9
Tadoussac

The Quebec village of Tadoussac stands at the confluence of the Saguenay River and the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence, in southeast Canada. The village is bright with multicolored houses nestling in an emerald-green pine forest. From the waterfront, it’s easy to spy out Tadoussac Chapel, thanks to its bright red roof. Not far from this church built of wood, one of the oldest in North America, stands a century-old village holiday resort, Hotel Tadoussac. Treat yourself to tea on the terrace overlooking the shoreline. In addition, at the marine mammal interpretation center, you can hone your knowledge of the cetaceans that regularly frequent Tadoussac bay.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 10
Saguenay

The city of Saguenay nestles in a valley through which flows the eponymous river, one of the region’s treasures. As it joins the Saint Lawrence, the Saguenay River forms a spectacular fjord boasting extraordinarily differing landscapes. From Saguenay, you can explore the attractive Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which is a paradise for those who love the great outdoors. You can combine country walks with boat trips within the various national parks studded throughout this extraordinary natural kingdom.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 11
Quebec

The capital of “La Belle Province” sits at the confluence of the St Charles River and the Gulf of St Lawrence in southeast Canada. Founded in the 17th century, the city still has an encircling wall, a historic civil engineering work and the only one of its kind remaining in North America. You will love the postcard-perfect stone houses of Old Quebec, the historic district listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shopping is a pleasure in pedestrian streets such as Petit-Champlain Street, or you can relax over a spruce beer, seasoned with pine buds. Dufferin Boardwalk, an esplanade near the emblematic Château Frontenac, is the perfect place for views of the river and old city.

Accommodations

Le Boreal, Le Lyrial

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 12
Disembark Montreal, Canada

Famous for its gentle way of life, Montreal, Canada’s second-largest city, is a warm and cosmopolitan metropolis. Situated on the eponymous river island, it is home to a multitude of districts, each as unique as the other. Set off to discover Old Montreal, most of which is declared a historic area, Little Italy, where you’ll be able to stroll around the largest open-air market in North America, or the Golden Square Mile, the luxurious district located on one of the hills of Mount Royal and which has sumptuous Victorian-style residences. Simultaneously marked by the influences of the Old Continent and North-American gigantism, Montreal will never cease to amaze you.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

An excursion every day; all meals while on board the ship; captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner; “open bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands); evening entertainment and events; room service; highly qualified bilingual French/English expedition team; lectures presented by the expedition team; park entry fees into protected areas; complimentary unlimited Wifi on board; port fees and taxes (except for child passengers–see Families & Children); gratuities.

Exclusions

Optional add-on excursions or packages; ground services before or after the cruise; visa expenses; possible immigration reciprocity taxes; luggage handling; beverages beyond those in Inclusions; laundry, hair salon, spa treatments, onboard medical consultations and other personal charges; cancellation, luggage, assistance, repatriation, medical and insurance of any kind.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations beyond 14 days after booking confirmation are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
365 days or more – $250
364 to 211 days – 10% of total trip cost
210 to 91 days – 100% of deposit
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Expedition Along Saint Lawrence cruise begins and ends in Montreal, Canada (YUL). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Recommended flight arrival and departure times are specific to each voyage; consult your Adventure Specialist for guidelines relating to your departure. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Activities

Optional activities on your Expedition Along Saint Lawrence cruise include practicing photography, Zodiac cruising, walking, hiking and museum visits. Optional added-cost excursions (one per person, per day is included) are available on certain days and may be pre-booked from two months to one week prior to departure, or booked on board; these excursions may require a minimum group size. In addition to these off-ship excursions, a multitude of onboard activities keep guests engaged, including live music, dance and theater; spa treatments; exercise and stretching classes; specialty food, wine and cocktail tastings; organized games; and lectures by guides and possible special guests.

Room Configuration

Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. This supplement may vary depending on cabin category and remaining capacity per departure. A willing-to-share program is not available. Triple and quadruple rates may be available in select cabin categories; contact AdventureSmith for details.

Families & Children

Children 6 years and older at time of travel are welcomed on this cruise. Children under 18 years old at time of travel may receive special discounts when sharing a cabin with two full-fare adults. A child sharing a cabin with a single adult is considered to be a paying adult. Contact AdventureSmith for details.

Travel Insurance

A medical form for all travelers is required for every departure. Travelers are also highly encouraged to have full and adequate travel insurance covering the risks of cancellation, assistance being required, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, damages to and loss of baggage, and medical expenses. In addition, we highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and other benefits. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

Rates are variable per remaining availability and are subject to change.

Sep 17 - Sep 28, 2025
Le Lyrial • 12 days
From $11800USD
Per Person
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Sep 27 - Oct 08, 2025
Le Boreal • 12 days
From $11210USD
Per Person
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Sep 23 - Oct 04, 2026
Le Lyrial • 12 days
From $12160USD
Per Person
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Sep 23 - Oct 04, 2027
Le Lyrial • 12 days
From $10670USD
Per Person
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Accommodations

Learn About The Luxury Small Ships On Your Itinerary

This cruise is operated by a selection of 244- to 264-guest ships. Each vessel in this sister ship fleet of refined, luxury expedition ships ensures an elegant, upscale cruise that offers regular off-ship excursions complemented by a multitude of daily onboard activities. With the exception of Deck 6 cabin configurations, these expedition ships are identical, with public spaces including a fitness room, spa, two restaurants, a library, state-of-the-art theater and open bridge.

Expedition Ship
Le Boreal

The 200-to-264-guest Le Boreal combines high comfort with adventure. Cruising primarily in the polar regions, Europe and the Pacific, she allows her guests to experience luxury, gastronomy, wellness, entertainment and active programming in remote destinations.

Expedition Ship
Le Lyrial

The 200-to-244-guest Le Lyrial is a refined, luxury expedition ship cruising Antarctica, the Arctic & the East Coast. Enjoy her private yacht atmosphere, understated elegance and culinary delights, paired with an engaging program of lectures, onboard entertainment and off-ship adventures.

Expert Review

Ship Reviews From Our Experts So You Know What To Expect

Andrew Browning • September 9th, 2020
Expert Aboard: L’Austral, Le Soleal, Le Lyrial & Le Boreal Review

Learn from an AdventureSmith luxury cruise expert what it’s like to travel aboard L’Austral and her identical fleet of sister ships Le Boreal, Le Lyrial and Le Soleal.

Our experts will save you hours.

A single conversation with us is worth hours of internet scrolling. Find your next best trip with ease, then book with the confidence of our 20+ year experience.

Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Cruise

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8 - 9 Day Cruise
A Voyage Along the Great Lakes

Set sail on these 8- or 9-day small ship Great Lakes cruises, operating in the colorful summer months. Cruise between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada aboard a luxury 184-guest ship. Along the way, appreciate points of natural and cultural interest, learning about the Native American and European influences that live on today.

From $9100USD
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10 - 10 Day Cruise
The Canadian Maritimes & Newfoundland

Cruise the eastern Canadian coast exploring historical maritime communities, legendary islands, Viking history and breathtaking sandstone cliffs aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer.

Special Offer
From $11200USD
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Baffin Bay Cruise

Embark 264-guest Le Boreal or 244-guest Le Lyrial for an unforgettable 14-day journey in the heart of the most magnificent Arctic landscapes around Baffin Bay. Experience majestic icebergs, colorful villages, rugged mountains, hearty locals, various bird colonies and ancient Inuit remains, returning on board to a luxury ship with attentive staff.

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