AN ODYSSEY OF OPULENCE BY CRUISE AND RAIL

This afternoon, you will board the luxurious ms Maasdam for a Canada and New England cruise experience that will be as enchanting and elegant as the destinations themselves are varied and thrilling. With an exciting cruise itinerary you will visit five ports, including Quebec and enjoy plenty of scenic cruising as you explore the coasts of New England and Canada. Indulge on local lobster and clam chowder while learning about the rich culture of the Northeast, as deep blue waters take you from Bar Harbour, Maine, to Montreal.

A soaring three-deck-high atrium featuring a monumental glass sculpture by Luciano Vistosi of Italy is just one of the magnificent elements waiting for you onboard ms Maasdam. In the tiered grand Rotterdam Dining Room, guests overlook an antique marble fountain from Argentina and beyond into the sea. Grandly proportioned, ms Maasdam is among the most spacious cruise ships at sea. Designed to provide more space for fewer guests than other ships in her class, ms Maasdam ensures you a more comfortable and intimate onboard experience.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

On this gorgeous island, you can have the quintessential New England tourist experience with a walk on the beach followed by a dinner of fresh lobster and homemade ice cream or explore the fir-lined, glacier-carved beauty of Acadia National Park and understand at once why this place was originally called Eden.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Acadia National Park & Carriage Ride, Coastal Sea Kayaking, The Ultimate Island Experience - A private luncheon at Frenchman's Bay.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

This thriving, picturesque city is one of the great North American seaports. Watch the changing of the guard at a citadel built by the British to fend off an attack from the fledgling US. Visit a first-rate maritime museum which includes an exhibit on the Titanic. Or hike to the lighthouse and unbeatable ocean views in car-free Point Pleasant Park.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Peggy's Cove Lighthouse & Lobster Lunch, Soldier for a Day Interactive Tour, Titanic Tour - The Halifax Connection.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Adventure awaits on Cape Breton Island, once a refuge for British loyalists. Wander the narrow lanes of the old French village of Louisbourg. Explore the hands-on exhibits at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site or beeline to hiking, biking and kayaking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, perched on a craggy plateau above the Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): The Bras d'Or Lakes Grand Tour, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park, Black Gold - Cape Breton Mine Experience.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Street actors re-enact the events leading to the creation of the Canadian confederacy, which was born in this charming town. You can cast your vote for seafood, shopping or a walk through Victorian streets. If you love 'Anne of Green Gables', the picturesque farm that inspired the tale is nearby. Sample

Shore Excursions (not included): Island Drive & Anne of Green Gables, Biking on the Confederation Trail, A Day in Dalvay-by-the-Sea, Four Diamond Chef's Table Tour.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Thread 62 miles of spectacular Precambrian cliffs that jut dramatically from a dark mix of freshwater and sea that is home to a rich diversity of wildlife including small, white beluga whales. Quebec City marks the start of Saguenay Fjord. This 200-mile 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.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

The only walled city north of Mexico whose entire, marvelous Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Feast on wild game, delight in boutiques and stroll cobblestones to high tea at the monumental Chateau Frontenac. The Musée d'Art Inuit Brousseau houses masterful carvings by Native Canadians.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Quebec City Walking Tour with Tea at the Chateau Frontenac, St. Lawrence Grand Tour & Lunch.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

This morning, you will arrive in Montreal will you disembark the ms Maasdam. You will be met by your driver for a private 3 hour morning city tour. Experience the best of Montreal during this tour of the City. Discover Montreal through hundreds of places of interest with an uninterrupted commentary by a friendly, knowledgeable & bilingual driver/guide. Your driver will offer suggestions of places to visit including Notre Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, residential and financial districts, Old Montreal, outside view of Olympic Site, McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal.

Overnight - Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth - Fairmont Gold Room (includes continental breakfast)

This morning, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Bell Services department will transfer your luggage to the VIA Rail Station, accessible by an underground walkway from the hotel. Upon arrival at the train station, go straight to the Panorama lounge which is reserved for VIA 1 passengers. You'll be able to unwind as you wait for departure. The day's newspapers, coffee and juice will be yours to enjoy, free of charge. You will depart Montreal and travel to downtown Toronto, Canada's largest and most vibrant city. Travel in total comfort and ease and forget the hassles of driving. You will travel in VIA 1 class which offers you a delicious meal and exclusive access to the VIA 1 lounge in the service-car. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to start exploring this world class destination.

Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold Room (includes continental breakfast)

This afternoon an experienced drive/guide and private limousine will take you to the Niagara Region and treat you to a magical 8-hour tour. Visit one of the World's Natural Wonders, Niagara Falls; refreshingly close up with a ride on the Maid of the Mist. This is followed by a tour along the scenic Niagara Parkway with stops to view the spectacular Niagara River Whirlpool & the Spanish Aerocar the Floral Clock Queenston Heights and more. Next, enjoy time to browse the historic town, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Once the Capital of Upper Canada, this unique town is called Canada's Prettiest Village. You will have some free time to visit the quaint shops of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The piece de resistance will be a visit to the Hillebrand or Peller Estates Winery, where you will enjoy a Winery Tour and Tasting followed by a three course dinner at the winery complete with paired wines for the first and second courses. After dinner, you will return to Toronto.

Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold Room (includes continental breakfast)

Today, you have a full day to enjoy this fantastic city on your own or as a part of an optional sightseeing tour. This evening, the Fairmont Royal York Bell Services department will transfer your luggage to the VIA Rail Station, accessible by an underground walkway from the hotel. Let the journey begin! You are retracing a journey that started over 120 years ago on a ribbon of steel that still connects Canadians from coast-to-coast. As the train slowly moves away and the bright lights of Toronto fade into the darkness, slip into the cozy comfort of your private bedroom accommodation and let the rhythm of the train rock you to sleep.

For the ultimate in luxury, you will have a Romance by Rail suite aboard VIA Rail's Canadian. Enjoy a dream voyage in the intimacy of a private suite. You will be spoiled by: fresh flowers, chocolates on the pillow, top-quality sparkling wine as the train leaves! Your spacious suite, comprising of two converted regular bedrooms, will be the envy of other passengers. Crisp bed linen and an inviting down duvet await you. And if you have a quick word with your attendant before retiring, he will bring you breakfast in bed! Romance by Rail has been designed just for you and your 'significant other'.

Overnight - VIA Rail in the "Romance by Rail" Suite

Wake up this morning and enjoy breakfast in the private dining car. For the next 3 days you will be the guests of VIA Rail and its famous Silver and Blue Service. From the comfort of the scenic dome enjoy the great Canadian mosaic as the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan reveal themselves to you. You will soon find that your fellow travelers are from all over the world. Join them for dinner or a beverage in the lounge car. Although the journey is rarely interrupted by civilization, stops will be made in Winnipeg and Saskatoon. As the train rolls relentlessly westward, the rugged rivers and lakes of Manitoba give way to the rolling wheat fields of Saskatchewan. You may be lucky and witness a dramatic prairie lightning storm from the dome car before you turn in for the night.

Overnight - VIA Rail in the "Romance by Rail" Suite

If you look out your bedroom window early enough this morning, you might catch a glimpse of oil wells and grain elevators as the train crosses the rolling hills of Alberta. While the oil and gas industries drive the Alberta economy the importance of agriculture and the cattle industry are also very visible. Early in the morning the train arrives in Edmonton, the capital city of the province of Alberta. Soon, the Canadian is once again heading west, this time along the banks of the mighty Athabasca River and into the Rocky Mountains and Jasper National Park. Your rail journey comes to an end as the Canadian rolls to a stop in the picturesque community of Jasper, northern gateway to the spectacular Columbia Icefields and the world-famous resorts of Lake Louise and Banff. You will be met by your driver and Luxury SUV and be transferred to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

The beauty and majesty of this area, combined with elegant surroundings and impeccable service, creates this grand Canadian Lodge experience. Accommodation at this world class resort is both historic and contemporary, in rustic cedar chalets and heritage log cabins arranged in the style of an alpine village. With a plethora of wildlife awaiting you just outside your cabin door, exceptional regional cuisine and an overabundance of outdoor adventure opportunities, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge promises all guests an experience they won't soon forget.

Overnight - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lakefront Suite Jacuzzi Room

This morning you will be met by your driver and private luxury SUV for a personal tour from Jasper to Banff. Travel from Jasper through the "heart" of the Canadian Rockies to Banff along the Icefields Parkway. You will be inspired by rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks that create an ever-changing montage of mountain wilderness. The tour along the Icefields Parkway takes you through Jasper and Banff National Parks, stopping at the Columbia Icefield. Included in your package is the "Ice Age Adventure", a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. Travel in a specially designed Ice Explorer to the middle of the glacier, on a 5-kilometre round- trip journey. Your driver-guide will explain how glaciers are formed and point out interesting geological features as you travel in comfort and safety. The trip affords many opportunities to see mountain wildlife and photograph the spectacular views. Arrive in Lake Louise in the late afternoon and check-in at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Few hotels in the world can rival the majesty, hospitality and scenery of The Fairmont Banff Springs. Its unique blend of opulence and seclusion has been a symbol of Rocky Mountain magnificence for more than a century. Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, The Fairmont Banff Springs offers stunning vistas, championship golf courses, unparalleled skiing, classic cuisine and Willow Stream, a world class European-style spa. You will experience timeless beauty and luxurious comfort in a pristine wilderness.

Overnight - Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - Fairmont Gold One Bedroom Suite (includes continental breakfast)

Early today, a private limousine will transfer you from your hotel to the Rocky Mountaineer® train station. For the next two days, you will be experiencing the "Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World"® aboard Rocky Mountaineer®. Travel aboard the train that puts you in the middle of the awe-inspiring scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Upon arrival in Kamloops, transfer to your hotel. With service and interpretive commentary provided by your Onboard Attendants, you will realize that with Rocky Mountaineer®, you are experiencing one of the world's most unforgettable rail adventures. When you arrive in Kamloops your will be immediately transferred to your hotel accommodation. Tonight you may choose to attend one of the dinner shows presented by Rocky Mountaineer® or explore this bustling western town.

GoldLeaf Service®

Overnight - Kamloops (Hotel to be advised)

You will depart early this morning for your second day aboard Rocky by Rail Mountaineer Rail tours. Continue your journey westwards from Kamloops and travel along the Thompson River to the Fraser Canyon. At Hell's Gate watch water torrent past the canyon walls at its narrowest point, a true highlight of the canyon. Upon leaving this region, the train will journey through the fertile Fraser Valley to the coastal city of Vancouver. When the train arrives in the Vancouver Station, you will be met by your driver and transferred by private limousine to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel where you will check into your exclusive Gold Level room.

This evening your driver will transfer you to one of Vancouver's finest gourmet dining experiences at Diva's at the Met. The Chef will personally present each dish of the six course meal and provide wine paring from a wide selection of BC and International wines for each course. After dinner, your driver and private limousine will transfer you back to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

Overnight - Fairmont Waterfront Hotel - Fairmont Gold One Bedroom Suite (includes continental breakfast)

This morning you will be met by your driver and private limousine and be transferred to the floatplane dock for an exciting 35 minute flight over the Gulf Islands to beautiful Butchart Gardens, on Vancouver Island. Once you have arrived, you will have one and a half hours to explore Butchart Gardens, one of Victoria's most famous sites, and rated among the most beautiful gardens in the world. Here you will see the Sunken Garden, the Japanese and Italian Gardens, the English Rose Garden and the magnificent Ross Fountain, all linked by spacious lawns, streams and lily ponds - 50 acres of fragrance and beauty.

Leaving Butchart Gardens behind your private tour continues to Victoria. Your livery for the tour is a gracious British Daimler Limousine. Travel through the beautiful residential areas of Victoria, following Marine Drive with its many spectacular views of the coastline and the Olympic Mountains. Pass through the exclusive Uplands and Oak Bay residential areas in settings of magnificent Garry Oaks.

Upon arrival in downtown Victoria, you will have your choice of a private Victoria City Tour with Afternoon Tea at the Empress OR a Whale Watching Cruise.

Venture through Victoria viewing the unique downtown shops, exclusive residential areas and scenic vistas. During your travels, your experienced driver guide will provide a fascinating narrative on Victoria's rich historic background. The tour includes the City Center, Chinatown, Antique Row and the English flavoured Rockland area. After your tour enjoy Afternoon Tea at The Empress. The Fairmont Empress hotel has been pleasing Victoria visitors with its afternoon tea service for over 90 years, so you're sure to get an authentic experience! As the professional pianist fills the room with soft harmony, your Afternoon Tea experience will begin. You can choose from four great teas, including the famous Empress Blend, a tea created specially for the Fairmont Empress. Pick your favourite flavour and sip away, seated at your plush Victorian-style chair. And no afternoon high tea would be complete without a full selection of delicious pastries to satisfy your afternoon hunger! You'll enjoy authentic English scones, tea sandwiches, fruit and delicate pastries prepared by a master pastry chef!

Whale and Marine Wildlife Watching expeditions have become one of Victoria's most popular activities. The waters around Southern Vancouver Island are home to three resident pods of Orca (or Killer Whales). You can also see gray and humpback whales (in season) dozens of species of seabirds, playful Porpoises, Seals & Seal Pups, Sea Lions, the majestic Bald Eagles, Lighthouses and marine eco-systems. Choose to have your excursion on exhilarating 28' open Zodiacs or a beautiful 46' MotorYacht (offering an enclosed cabin as well as outside viewing decks). Experienced skippers & naturalists, a perfect safety record, high whale sightings & free Marine Mammal Information Kit are included.

The remainder of the afternoon will be available to continue exploring. Shopping in Victoria is fabulous! You can browse quaint shops and local markets; Victoria offers everything from antiques to the wares of local artisans and the designs of the hippest trend setters. In the late afternoon, your driver will transfer you to the Victoria Harbour Heliport for your helicopter flight back to Vancouver. When you arrive in Vancouver, you will be met by your driver and private limousine and transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight - Fairmont Waterfront Hotel - Fairmont Gold One Bedroom Suite (includes continental breakfast)

You have the morning at leisure to explore Vancouver. This afternoon, the Fairmont Waterfront Bell Services department will transfer your luggage to Canada Place Pier, located just steps from the hotel. Here you will set sail for new adventures on board the exciting ms Volendam.

The beautiful garden theme of the ms Volendam is reflected in an artful floral motif throughout the ship's spacious public rooms and elegant staterooms. "Flowers" can be found in abundance in the forms of floral fabrics and tapestries, as well as huge vases of tropical floral arrangements and chrysanthemums. In addition to fresh flowers throughout the ship, Holland America Line has drawn on its collection of incredible artwork to enhance the interior of the ship's public spaces. Everything from pre-Columbian fetishes and sculptures to Renaissance-era fountains imported from Italy are included in its hallway galleries. At the heart of the ship an elegant sculpture by Luciano Vistosi, inspired by the myriad of moods and colors of a kaleidoscope, greets visitors in a soaring three-story atrium.

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA - Verandah Suite

Today is at sea. Journey deep into one of nature's most isolated monuments accessible only by sea and air and encounter the magnificence of the Ice Age as you slowly glide through the Inside Passage. Expect the unexpected on your Alaska cruise - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. With guaranteed views of sky-splitting peaks, glaciers and vast wilderness.

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

In the morning, you will cruise through this narrow, 26-mile long fjord is another of Alaska's most dramatic glacier settings. Stand on deck as the lush forest recedes and you enter a stunning canyon of bare rock. The panorama of 7,000 foot mountain peaks and nearly vertical rock cliffs is astounding. Waterfalls appear at every turn. Icebergs make their way to the sea in all sorts of wondrous shapes. And tucked away at the end of this remarkable waterway are two very active reminders of the Ice Age - the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The face of the South Sawyer Glacier stretches one-third of a mile and calves icebergs big and small. Harbour seals dot the floating platforms. Kittiwakes and mountain goats are a common sight. Whales and bears may even make an appearance in this magical place where closeness and intimacy make visitors a part of the scene.

In the afternoon, arrive Juneau. For years Juneau's livelihood, like that of many cities in Alaska, was tied to mining. The city itself is built on tailings from the A-J mine whose shafts perforate the hillside above town. Because it is Alaska's capital, Juneau prospers through government work and tourism. This is a great place to sample salmon baked over an alderwood fire, pan for gold, and hike the massive Juneau Icefield. If you feel the need for speed, hop on a sled and let a dog team pull you across the surface of a glacier.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Alaska-style Salmon Bake, Best of Juneau - Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Alaska Salmon Bake, Douglas Island Sea Kayaking, Grand Tour of Juneau - Hatchery, Glacier & Gardens

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. 21st-century summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): White Pass Summit Scenic Railway, Biking, rock- climbing and flightseeing adventures.

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, immerse yourself in Tlingit Indian culture and view the world's largest collection of totem poles kayak the colorful waterfront and stroll the boardwalk that once led to Ketchikan's red light district.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Best of Ketchikan by Land & Sea, Saxman Native Village, Tatoosh Islands Sea Kayaking, Ketchikan by horse-drawn trolley, Exclusive Mountaintop Flightseeing & Crab Feast

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

Today is at sea as you continue your cruise back to Vancouver. You set the pace and choose your pleasure: Start your day early with a brisk walk around the teak deck or enjoy a long, lazy morning with breakfast served in your stateroom. Relax away the afternoon by the pool or participate in one of many classes or speaker presentations. Dress for another stylish dinner or enjoy an excellent meal at one of our more casual restaurants. In the evening, watch a great show, try your luck in the casino or dance into a moonlit night at sea.

Overnight - ms Volendam / AA- Verandah Suite

Arrive back into Vancouver in the early morning. Upon arrival back in Vancouver, you will be met by your driver and private limousine and be transferred to the Vancouver Airport in time for your flight departure home.

• 7 night Canada/New England Holland America cruise aboard the ms Maasdam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
• 3 nights accommodation aboard VIA Rail from Toronto to Jasper in a Romance by Rail Suite including fresh flowers, chocolates, and top-quality sparkling wine and meals
• 8 nights accommodation, room tax and any mandatory service charges
• Rocky Mountaineer® 2 day rail tour in GoldLeaf Service® including 2 breakfasts,2 lunches & snacks & 1 dinner at hotel in Kamloops
• 7 night Alaska Glacier Bay & Tracy Arm Holland America cruise aboard the ms Volendam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
• VIA Rail from Montreal to Toronto in VIA 1 Class including one meal onboard (meal is dependant on time of departure)
• Private Sedan Montreal City Tour, pick-up at the cruise ship terminal, including gratuities
• Private limousine Niagara Falls Tour including Maid of the Mist Tour, Winery Tour & Tasting and 3 course dinner with wine pairing including gratuities
• Columbia Icefields 1 1/2 hour Ice Explorer ride
• Banff Gondola ride
• 6 course dinner & wine pairing Chef's Table at Diva at the Met including gratuities
• Private floatplane charter from Vancouver Harbour to Butchart Gardens
• Choice between private Victoria City Tour with Afternoon Tea OR Whale Watching Cruise
• Helicopter flight between Victoria Harbour and Vancouver Harbour
• Private Luxury SUV transfer from Jasper train station to hotel including gratuities
• Private Luxury SUV Tour from Jasper to Banff including gratuities
• Private Daimler Limousine transfer from Butchart Gardens to downtown Victoria including gratuities
• Private limousine transfers between Banff hotel & train station, Vancouver train station & hotel, Vancouver hotel & Diva at the Met, Vancouver hotel & floatplane dock; Vancouver helipad & hotel; and Vancouver cruise ship terminal & Vancouver Airport including gratuities
• National Park Entrance Fee
• Personalized documentation package

• Shore Excursions
• Alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities not listed as included (including meals & cabin attendants onboard the ms Maasdam & ms Volendam)
• Meals not listed as included
• Transfers not listed as included
• Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)