Compare Passage through New England & Eastern Canada by Globus vs The Maritimes: Nova Scotia by Intrepid Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
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5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 12 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 3,468 | $ 1,728 |
| Price Per Day | $ 289 | $ 288 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | If you didn’t cruise through North American history as a student, now’s the perfect chance. This enlightening tour through the great cities of New England and Eastern Canada – including a 7-night cruise – is the ultimate hands-on field trip. Explore the revolutionary city of Boston, the exhilarating White Mountains of New Hampshire, and an idyllic maple syrup farm in Stowe, Vermont before the sweet experience of cruising through Eastern Canada’s most scenic cities, straits, and sounds. Sail through the greatest chapters of the past aboard a Holland America cruise ship, including the lighthouse-lined St. Lawrence River, the French-infused cities of Montréal and Québec, the green and Gaelic Cape Breton Island, and the pleasing provincial capital cities of Charlottetown and Halifax where walkable Victorian streets await. Cruising through centuries of history, this East Coast tour perfectly balances learning and laughter with one last recess at Bar Harbor, Maine’s oldest summer resort. |
Colourful fishing villages, seaside hiking trails, a famous lighthouse, and a Prohibition-era rum-running town all await on this 6-day tour that shows off Nova Scotia’s most iconic highlights. From the rocky shores of Peggy’s Cove to the Skyline Trail of Cape Breton, you’ll discover why this corner of Canada is so beloved by all who visit. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, tour the historic town of Baddeck, drive the spectacular Cabot Trail, and shop for locally made Mi’kmaq arts and crafts, all before finishing up on Prince Edward Island. |
Day 1: ARRIVE IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Welcome to Boston! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Day 2: BOSTON–FRANCONIA NOTCH STATE PARK, NEW HAMPSHIRE–JACKSON
Treasures of New England Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Boston including Boston Common, the State House, and Faneuil Hall. Depart Boston for New Hampshire and the scenic White Mountains, New England’s greatest range and premier outdoor playground. Then, visit Franconia Notch State Park. Tonight, enjoy a [LF] Raven Interpretive Wildlife Program presentation by a Local Naturalist. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITE NATURAL WONDERS Hear historical and ecological insights into New Hampshire nature from a Local Naturalist at the Raven Interpretive Wildlife Program. Discover the flora and fauna of New England in a fun and fascinating evening to enjoy your vacation even more!
Day 3: JACKSON–MONTPELIER, VERMONT–MONTRÉAL
Sweet Tastes & Small Towns Visit Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, for a tour at a historic maple syrup farm, where you’ll learn the art of making maple syrup and enjoy a local treat. Travel northwest to Montréal, Canada’s second largest city. Montréal has a unique mix of historical, natural, and cultural offerings. After a city tour, enjoy leisure time to visit Old Port Montréal, the McCord Museum, or stroll lively St. Catherine Street before dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES Visit a local farm where maple syrup is produced in the tradition of their ancestors who helped settle Central Vermont and learned the art of tapping maple trees from Native Americans. The farm has been boiling the sweet sap ever since.
Day 4: MONTRÉAL–QUEBEC CITY
Royal Mountain Views This morning, sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Old Seminary of St. Sulpice and a drive to the top of Mount Royal to enjoy a panorama of the city. Continue to Québec City for an orientation tour and free time in one of the most historic and best-preserved cities in North America.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY SIGHTS Named for Mount Royal on an idyllic island on the Saint Lawrence River, Montréal is the largest city in Canada's Québec province. At its heart are cobblestone lanes of French colonial Vieux-Montréal – with the Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Seminary of St. Sulpice, and a hilltop panorama view from Mount Royal itself.
Day 5: QUEBEC CITY (EMBARKATION)
French Canadian Treasures Free time this morning in the heart of Old Quebec City to stroll through historic streets and experience genuine French culture. This afternoon, transfer to Quebec City’s port and wave goodbye to your Tour Director and Driver as you embark on your ship for a 7-night cruise.(Breakfast,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE in Canada’s only walled city, which, until the British victory of 1759, was the center of New France and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll within the walls and see the Place d’Armes, Laval Seminary, and ancient Place Royale. Also see Old World houses crowding the narrow streets in Lower Town by the St. Lawrence River and the historic Plains of Abraham.
Day 6: ST. LAWRENCE RIVER
River Views and Villages Explore the ship and numerous amenities while watching charming fishing villages and lighthouses illuminate the passing shores. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
Day 7: GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE
Atlantic Adventures Spend the day at leisure aboard your ship, taking advantage of the numerous amenities. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTCRUISE VIEWS Saguenay Fjord is a 200-mile-long natural canal brings saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean inland and creates a beautiful environment for waterfront living for the communities of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Day 8: CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Royal Beauty Spend the day in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE on Prince Edward Island town of Charlottetown, the provincial capital named after Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. The city is famous for hosting the 1864 conference that three years later led to the creation of the independent Dominion of Canada. Perhaps take a trip to Cavendish and visit the famous Anne of Green Gables homestead. Your GlobusGO app has maps and tips for a great day on the island.
Day 9: SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA
Cape Breton Calling Free time to explore Cape Breton Island. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE So green and Gaelic is Cape Breton Island that Scotsman and inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, spent the last 37 years of his life here. In fact, Cape Breton was principally settled by Highland Scots who had come out on the wrong side of rebellions against the Crown. You can still see this heritage in the accents in some remote villages—and in the great popularity of Scottish-style folk music. Today, you may choose to travel along the scenic Cabot Trail or visit historic Louisbourg Fortress, which recreates life in French-occupied Canada. Your GlobusGO mobile app can point you in the right direction!
Day 10: HALIFAX
Lighthouses & Legendary Resting Places Free time to explore Halifax. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE in Halifax, where lighthouses stand sentinel on cliff side ledges and tiny villages are huddled together in rocky inlets. Take time to explore Citadel Hill with its early 19th-century star-shaped fort, the tree-shaded walks of the public gardens, and Fairview Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 100 people who perished on the Titanic.
Day 11: BAR HARBOR, MAINE
Magnificent Maine Arrive in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine’s oldest summer resort, and stroll around the charming waterfront with its many shops, galleries, and boutiques. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE with an optional excursion to picturesque Acadia National Park, one of America’s most visited parks – for good reason! This 47,000-acre Atlantic coast paradise on Maine's Mount Desert Island is blessed with lush woodlands, dramatic rocky beaches, and glacier-carved granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the America’s East Coast. Keep an eye out for fascinating wildlife, including moose, bear, whales, and seabirds.
Day 12: BOSTON (DISEMBARKATION)
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Schedule flights departing from Boston Logan International Airport after noon. (Breakfast)
Day 1 Halifax / Lunenburg
Welcome to Halifax! Your tour starts today with a welcome meeting at 10am before you head to historic Lunenburg on the South Shore, one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Mahone Bay and nearby Blue Rocks on a leader-led walking tour and learn about this old fishing community that’s become a hub for artists and photographers. Enjoy some free time exploring the old town centre, which is a National Historic Site of Canada. And since Lunenburg was a rum-running town in the days of Prohibition, make sure you take the time to sample of the local brews. Head back to Halifax in the late afternoon and meet later in the evening for an optional dinner if you wish.
Day 2 Halifax
Take a trip to famous Peggy’s Cove, a picturesque fishing village that is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada – for good reason! Rocky outcrops, the crashing Atlantic, colourful fishing boats and that famous red-tipped lighthouse are what you expect to see on Maritimes postcards. Follow your local leader along the Peggy’s Cove Rock Walk, which meanders along the barren coastline that glaciers created some 12,000 years ago. Grab lunch in the village (your own expense) – perhaps a creamy seafood chowder or fresh lobster roll.
Day 3 Baddeck
Today you will drive from Halifax to Baddeck, but not without a stop at the excellent Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Center. Located in the heart of a development owned by Millbrook First Nation, it tells the story of the Millbrook Mi’kmaq and the important role they played and continue to play in the Maritimes. Don’t miss the gift shop which sells beautiful traditional arts and crafts. On arrival in Baddeck, relax and settle into your hotel before we head for an included dinner together.
Day 4 Baddeck
Today offers a big day of discovery and adventure. Start with a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site to gain insight into the life and work of this inventor, scientist, and teacher who is arguably best known for inventing the telephone. Then drive along the Cabot Trail and stop for a leisurely hike within Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The Skyline Trail is the park’s signature hike, which leads out to spectacular sweeping views over the sea. If it’s a nice day for driving, your leader will take you further along the Cabot Trail – a 4 hours’ drive, but with plenty of beautiful stops along the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch while you’re out along the trail before returning to Baddeck for the night.
Day 5 Charlottetown
Drive from Baddeck to Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island and the smallest provincial capital in the country. It’s the perfect destination to explore on foot when you arrive in the late afternoon. Stroll alongside the picturesque harbour or take in the leafy parks and Victorian-era streets lined with gabled houses. Tonight you may like to join your group for an optional dinner and toast your adventure.
Day 6 Charlottetown
You’re free to leave at your leisure today, or spend some more time exploring Charlottetown on your own. If you’re joining our Maritimes Prince Edward Island & New Brunswick tour for a combo trip, you’ll meet your group here today in Charlottetown.
