Day 1
Depart Boston aboard Holland America's ms Maasdam
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 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)
Day 2
Bar Harbour, Maine
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)
Day 3
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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)
Day 4
Sydney, Nova Scotia
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)
Day 5
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
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)
Day 6
Saguenay Fjord, Scenic Cruising
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)
Day 7
Quebec City, Quebec
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)
Day 8
Arrive Montreal / Greater Montreal Guided Tram Tour
This morning, you will arrive in Montreal will you disembark the ms Maasdam. A private sedan will transfer you to your hotel. At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a 3 hour morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time.
Greater Montreal Guided Tram Tour
Experience the best of Montreal on an exciting 3 hour sightseeing tour. Enjoy a complete tour of the City, taking in over 200 points of interest, including a stop at the Notre Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory (photo stop), residential and financial districts, Old Montreal (photo stop), French Quarter, outside view of Olympic Site (photo stop), McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal. Discover Montreal through hundreds of places of interest with an uninterrupted commentary by a friendly, knowledgeable & bilingual guide.
Overnight - Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)
Day 9
VIA Rail - Montreal to Toronto
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. Upon arrival in Toronto transfer (on own) to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to start exploring this world class destination.
Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)
Day 10
Toronto City Tour
Today, you will embark on a 2 hour guided tour of the city. Your fully commentated tour highlights include the Eaton Centre, Chinatown, CN Tower and Old and New City Halls with the opportunity for pictures along the way. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at the CN Tower. Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), it is the World's Tallest Building.
OPTIONAL
Niagara Falls by Night Tour
No trip to Ontario is complete without a visit to Niagara Falls and the famous Horseshoe Falls! This afternoon, you will depart on a 9 hour tour and travel through the orchard laden countryside of the Niagara Peninsula and the historic community of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Like no other, this tour allows you to experience the real wonder that is Niagara Falls. By starting your tour in the afternoon, you will receive all of the experiences of the day tour, along with opportunities for sightseeing only possible in the evening. When you arrive in Niagara Falls, you will board the Maid of the Mist for a truly amazing boat ride to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. From there, you will enjoy a buffet dinner while taking in breathtaking views from the Penthouse Dining Room. After dinner, you'll have some free time to explore the mighty Niagara Falls and stand at the brink of the Falls to view the daily multi-colored illumination show, before returning to Toronto.
Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)
Day 11
Day at Leisure / VIA Rail - Toronto / Ontario
Today, you have a full day to enjoy this fantastic city on your own or as a part of an optinal tour. This evening, transfer (on own) to the conveniently located VIA Rail station to board the world-famous Canadian. 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.
Overnight - VIA Rail in a Private room
Day 12 & 13
VIA Rail - Ontario / Manitoba / Saskatchewan
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 a Private room
Day 14
VIA Rail - Arrive Jasper
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. Your overnight accommodation is nearby. You will transfer (on own) to your hotel for check-in.
Overnight - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lakeview Junior Suite
Day 15
Columbia Icefield Tour
You will travel along one of the worlds' most scenic highways, the Icefields Parkway. Your guide will tour you along the famous Icefields Parkway with stops at Athabasca Falls to view dramatic falls and other viewpoints along the way. En route, have your camera ready as you will be watching for wildlife, which frequently includes bears, bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goats. Included in your package is the Ice Age Adventure, a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier. You will 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.
Note: The Columbia Icefield Tours operates until Mid October. If not operating, it will be replaced with a Maligne Valley Wildlife Tour.
Maligne Valley & Wildlife Tour
Embark on a tour of one of the most spectacular areas of Jasper National Park. Visit shimmering Patricia and Pyramid Lakes and take a stroll over a rustic footbridge to Pyramid Lake Island. From there, travel through the Maligne Valley in search of Osprey, eagle, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, deer and bear. Stop at Maligne Canyon where 10,000 years of erosion have created a 165-foot deep gorge. Here you will set off on a short walk to marvel at the Maligne River as it thunders through the canyon in a series of waterfalls. From the canyon, continue to disappearing Medicine Lake and then to spectacular Maligne Lake. Have your cameras ready as both areas are rich in wildlife and scenery.
Overnight - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Lakeview Junior Suite
Day 16
Morning at Leisure / VIA Rail - Jasper to Vancouver
Morning at leisure. In the early afternoon, VIA Rail's world famous Canadian will glide to a stop at the Jasper station. As soon as you are on board and settled into your private bedroom, make your way to the scenic dome car, take a seat and enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view of the spectacular Canadian Rockies. As the train slows to allow a closer view Mt Robson, the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, you will be leaving the province of Alberta and entering Canada's most westerly province, British Columbia. Don't miss your call for dinner as the Canadian gently rolls along the banks of the mighty Fraser and Thompson Rivers. Enjoy the fine cuisine and the renowned Silver and Blue service as you share your adventures with fellow travelers. Later, make your way to the scenic dome car and catch a Canadian Sunset before retiring to your private bedroom and letting the rhythm of the train rock you to sleep.
Overnight - VIA Rail in a Private room
Day 17
VIA Rail - Arrive Vancouver / Deluxe Vancouver City Tour / Chef's Table Dining Experience
Wake up early and take a peek through your bedroom window. You might just catch the last of rugged Fraser River Canyon as the train makes its final dash for the Pacific Coast. Enjoy breakfast as the lush Fraser Valley gives way to the beautiful coastal mountains and the sprawling metropolis of Vancouver. All too soon your epic rail journey comes to an end as the Canadian slowly pulls into the station. Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will be met by your private sedan and transfer to your hotel. At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a 4 hour morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time.
Deluxe Vancouver City Tour
You will be taken on a 4 hour city tour of Vancouver including Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, Stanley Park, English Bay, Queen Elizabeth Park, Granville Island and admission to the Lookout - for bird's eye view of Vancouver.
Diva at the Met Chef's Table
This evening, you will enjoy dinner at Diva at the Met where you will experience a 6 course Chef's Table dining experience. The Chef will personally present each dish with a brief presentation & wine pairing for every course.
Overnight - Fairmont Hotel Vancouver- Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)
Day 18
Depart Vancouver
Today, you will transfer by private sedan from your hotel to the Vancouver International Airport in time for your flight departure home.