St. Lawrence River Cruise: Canada to The East Coast
From Toronto, set sail aboard a luxury French ship for the vast unspoiled expanses of Canada and the North American coast on a St. Lawrence River cruise. Sail along the shimmering waters of Lake Ontario, then into the St. Lawrence River, a prodigious waterway home to exceptionally beautiful nature.
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.
In 2023, walk on the first stretch of land reached by the French upon arriving in the New World, in Eastport, Maine. And learn more about the origins of the United States in the easy atmosphere of Cape Cod’s Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 2024, uniquely visit Canada’s first capital, Kingston; the historic steel and mining city of Sydney, Nova Scotia; the charming town of Shelburne, Nova Scotia; and the abundant nature, cultural riches and unique atmosphere of maritime Portland, Maine.
The alternative, shorter, Expedition Along Saint Lawrence conveniently operates round-trip from Montreal, with a charter flight to complete the loop. This route uniquely 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.
The themed Symphony on The St. Lawrence: From Quebec to The Canadian Maritimes is a unique departure from a collection of Ponant sailings operated in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. The itinerary follows a similar route with a unique visit to Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island and home to stunning gardens and the Anne of Green Gables House.
The themed Voyage Along The St. Lawrence: From Quebec to The Canadian Maritimes is a unique departure from a collection of Ponant sailings operated in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. The itinerary follows a similar route with a few unique visits. Enjoy whale watching in Tadoussac National Park, where the mammals gather to feed before winter. Explore Perce, one of the most scenic villages of Quebec, before cruising along the coasts of historic Nova Scotia. And visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed fishing village of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
These Ponant voyages in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys uniquely include transfers to and from the ship on embarkation and disembarkation days, talks and discussions aboard ship by world-class experts from Smithsonian Journeys, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the local environment and culture. Look for the themed icon in the Rates and Dates table below.
These small boat cruises on the St. Lawrence River are offered aboard a selection of sister ships: 184-guest Le Bellot, Le Champlain or Le Dumont D’Urville, or 244-guest 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.