Cruise Itinerary

New York was once the capital of America, but that illustrious title seems insignificant compared to the modern role of the Big Apple. Fashion, finance and fine arts—it all happens here.

In the 19th century, Newport was America's Versailles. It was here that the great merchant princes and robber barons of the Gilded Age erected the elaborate summerhouses they so ingenuously dubbed "cottages." At the height of its splendor, a Newport season was a giddy whirl of grand fêtes, yacht races and elaborate beach picnics for assorted Vanderbilts, Astors and Morgans. Today, it is the privileged traveler who marvels at the splendor of great mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, or Rosecliff. Gone are the days when "Tessie" Oelrichs, one of Newport's fabled hostesses, had 12 skeleton ships anchored offshore and dramatically lit for her legendary "White Ball."

New England’s largest city, Boston, Massachusetts, is home to historic sights and modern neighborhoods; stores and restaurants with old-time character; and gracious green spaces as well as a beautiful waterfront. Legendary figures of the American Revolution come alive at buildings and attractions along Boston’s Freedom Trail, including the Paul Revere House and Old South Meeting House, and in Lexington and Concord just outside Boston. Pay homage to great U.S. presidents at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and in the town of Quincy, birthplace of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Each of Boston’s neighborhoods has its own personality and things to do, whether you’re enjoying the food of the North End’s Little Italy, admiring the beautiful 19th-century architecture of Beacon Hill or watching the street performers in Cambridge’s Harvard Square. The waterfront offers harbor views, while boat tours allow you to take in the city skyline while sightseeing. In every neighborhood, shopping and dining reveal Boston’s true eclectic self, from casual to high-end, but always interesting. Finally, Boston is a city of green spaces where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors. The Emerald Necklace, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, is a 445-hectare (1,100-acre) chain of nine linked parks, including the lovely Boston Common and Public Garden.

Squint your eyes and admit it: Doesn’t that skinny, bearded hipster walking down the cobbled street look a lot like a 19th-century sea captain heading to the wharf to check his ship? Modern Portland, first settled in 1633, carries the marks of both subsets of Mainers. The restored brick buildings and warehouses of the Old Port and the fine upright houses of prosperous captains, merchants and shipbuilders make the city’s past a living part of its present. And the waterfront is a going concern, not a museum: Fishing boats chug into and out of their berths, buoys clang, harbor seals bark. Those shop windows aren’t displaying hardtack, rope or hand salve, though. Juice joints, art galleries, bookstores (and comic-book stores!), worshipful temples to coffee, locavore bistros with national press, bespoke menswear designers and gelato shops all jostle for attention. Don’t limit your visit to the Old Port, though. Wander through the terrific art museum or take a tour of one of the city’s historic homes. Jump on a ferry or whale-watching boat and get out into the busy harbor. Head to the coast—craggy, windswept, dramatic—a glorious and undeniably New England panorama. Get out and take it all in. Welcome to Vacationland.

The capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Halifax was once Great Britain's major military bastion in North America. The beautifully restored waterfront buildings of Halifax's Historic Properties recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage. Stroll the waterfront, and you may find Nova Scotia's floating ambassador, the schooner Bluenose II, tied up to Privateer's Wharf, just as old sailing ships have done for over 200 years. Halifax is also the gateway to Nova Scotia's stunning scenery, including famous Peggy's Cove, where surf-pounded granite cliffs and a solitary lighthouse create an unsurpassed scene of rugged natural beauty.

Rising in the heart of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the archipelago of Iles-de-la-Madeleine offers diverse wildlife and sweeping coastal scenery. The somewhat precarious location of these 12 islands, in the middle of the world's most immense estuary, means they have historically been something of a ship graveyard. The craggy red rocks that emerge suddenly from the waves here have gashed the hulls of countless ships in times gone by. View less A gang of six pretty lighthouses share the task of warning of the islands' treacherous waters, while simultaneously providing a scenic twinkle amid the copper-coloured cliffs and coastal archways. Acadian French accents ring out on the shores and, despite their location, the Iles-de-la-Madeleine form part of Quebec's province. Historically cut off by thick ice, they have developed a distinct culture and character of their own. The 55 mile-long stretch of Route 199 provides the backbone of the island, tying the seven inhabited landforms together, along with a chain of undulating sand dunes. Each of the islands has its own character and profile to explore – offering everything from windswept beaches to sheltered lagoons and rolling emerald hills. Whales cruise through the deep waters offshore, and you can sail up close and personal to the marine mammals, as well as the seals who are occasionally spotted lounging around on floating chunks of ice. Port du Millerand's flotilla of fishing boats reap the rewards of the location, bringing home vast hauls so local restaurants can serve up the freshest lobster, mussels and crab. With bird watching, coastal golf courses, water-sports and diving opportunities among the many recreations on offer here - this clutch of estuary islands has something for everyone.

Opulent clapboard villas lead the way towards Charlottetown's beautiful Victoria Park. Colours is everywhere - from the Victorian architecture to the red sandstone cliffs. Sample homemade island jams, visit the Anne of Green Gables homestead and stroll the boardwalk.

Saguenay is a city in Québec, Canada. It’s known for Saguenay Fjord, which leads to the St. Lawrence River. The Musée du Fjord has history displays and an aquarium. La Pulperie de Chicoutimi museum charts regional history in an 1800s wood-pulp mill. Exhibits on the area’s huge 1996 floods are on show at the Musée de la Petite Maison Blanche. Ski and bike trails wind through the riverside Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin.

Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada's mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada's mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.