Operated by St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, the Celebration of Spring is a seven-day, six-night cruise that is billed at a five-day rate, according to its website. Cruisers hop on board the flagship, the M/V Canadian Empress, and depart from Ottawa. From there, the Empress makes overnight stops in Montebello, Lachine (which is near Montreal, Quebec's largest city), Upper Canada Village, Brockville and Rockport, all of which will allow guests time to sightsee. The cruise then starts toward New York State, and then heads southwest until it terminates in Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian Empress features staterooms on three decks, a dining room, fore and aft observation decks, a lounge and salon for relaxation during the trip.
St. Lawrence Cruise Lines
Suite 200, 253 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON
K7L 2Z4 Canada
800-267-7868
stlawrencecruiselines.com
This eight-day, seven-night cruise, operated by Pearl Sea Cruises, leaves from St. John's, Newfoundland, which is on the tip of Canada's northeastern border. From there, the cruise heads southeast into the Gulf of St. Lawrence toward many of Newfoundland's and Quebec's coastal cities, until the cruise reaches its termination point in Quebec City, Quebec. Cruisers can get a cross-section of French-Canadian history, starting in St. John's, which houses the equipment used to send the world's first wireless message across the Atlantic Ocean. Gaspe, another port of call, was where the explorer Jacques Cartier landed in 1534 and claimed the region for France. There, you can visit St. Pierre & Miquelon, which is France's only overseas territory, according to the Pearl Sea Cruises' website. The ship, which features five decks, has elevators, picture windows in all staterooms, a spa, a library, and an exercise area.
Pearl Sea Cruises
741 Boston Post Road, Suite 250
Guilford, CT 06437
800-983-7462
pearlseacruises.com
If you don't want to travel to Canada to catch a St. Lawrence cruise, you can head for Warren, Rhode Island, and catch the North Atlantic Maritimes cruise, operated by American Canadian Caribbean Line. This 15-day cruise also offers the convenience of returning to its original port of call. The cruise makes its way off the northeastern U.S. coast to Nova Scotia before it heads into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River. Ports of call in the St. Lawrence include Perce, St. Anne-Des-Monts, and Quebec City, all in Quebec. The company boasts three different ships, which can handle up to 100 passengers. All ships have staterooms, dining rooms, a lounge and sun decks. Passengers should remember to take their passports, as they'll be passing through Canadian and U.S. customs.
American Canadian Caribbean Line
461 Water Street
P.O. Box 368
Warren, RI 02885
accl-smallships.com
