Canada's Historic Cities & Waterways

A Voyage from the Atlantic to the St. Lawrence Seaway and Lake Ontario

Cruise Dates:
June 7–19, 2010

Rail/Cruise Option Available!

On this voyage we've combined the scenic beauty and natural wonder of some of Atlantic Canada's most dramatic waterways with visits to historic cities that beguile visitors with their old world influences and French charm. After exploring the birding paradise of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (comprised of four islands), set forth from Newfoundland's capital of St. John's for Ingonish, on the island of Cape Breton. Explore Prince Edward Island, Gaspe Peninsula and nearby Ile Bonaventure, where, for millennia, tens of thousands of gannets return every summer to nest. A highlight of our journey is navigating the full expanse of the St. Lawrence River and Seaway, one of the world's most magnificent inland waterways. En route we visit the enchanting city of Quebec and the alluring old quarter of Montreal. One of the outstanding engineering feats of the 20th century, the St. Lawrence Seaway comprises seven locks, which elevate the ship 228 feet into Lake Ontario. Clelia II is the ideal ship for this voyage. It enables us to enter shallow harbors, thread our way through locks and tiny inlets, and intimately experience the scenic grandeur of eastern Canada and the St. Lawrence River.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1	USA | ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Canada | EMBARK Fly to St. John's and embark Clelia II.
Day 2	ST. JOHN'S | CAPE SPEAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Drive along the magnificent coast to visit Cape Spear National Historic Site. Enjoy a nature walk to Petty Harbour. Board local boats to Bay Bulls for an excursion to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, where millions of seabirds come to breed every summer.
Day 3	AT SEA
Day 4	BADDECK, CAPE BRETON ISLAND, Nova Scotia Visit Baddeck and discover the Cabot Trail, which linked the Scottish, English, and Acadian communities.
Day 5	CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island Today visit Prince Edward Island, known as the Garden of the Gulf for its pastoral landscape. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the island, including the colonial seaport of Charlottetown and its historic Province House. Continue to Prince Edward Island National Park, where we will see the Anne of Green Gables House—the inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel—and take in some of the 200 bird species inhabiting the parkland.
Day 6	GASPE | PERCE | ILE BONAVENTURE | GASPE Gaspe, on the eastern coast of the remote peninsula of the same name, is where Jacques Cartier first claimed Canada for France. From "Land's End," visit the National Park of Bonaventure Island and Perce Rock. Carved by volcanic action, Perce Rock is a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains, which extend from the peninsula to Alabama. Rising out of the sea to a solitary height of almost 300 feet, the dramatic sight of Perce Rock attracts visitors from all over the world. Its neighbor, Bonaventure Island, houses a migratory bird sanctuary with the largest concentration of Northern Gannets in North America.
Day 7	AT SEA | SAGUENAY RIVER Relax aboard Clelia II and attend a lecture by one of our onboard experts as we navigate the Saguenay River. The river was an important trade route into the interior for First Nations (the aboriginal peoples of what is present-day Canada) and, during the French colonization of the Americas, was a major route for the fur trade. Bordered by steep cliffs, the waterway is home to Beluga whales, which breed in its cold waters. As we watch from the deck of Clelia II, we are likely to encounter a pod of whales.
Day 8	QUEBEC CITY Quebec City, built on the site of the Iroquois village of Stadacona, sits high above the narrowest point of the St. Lawrence River. With its old city walls, narrow cobblestoned lanes, country squares, oxidized copper gables, outdoor cafes and historic battlements, Quebec City remains one of the most romantic places in North America. The authentic, undeveloped charm led UNESCO to designate it a World Heritage Site in 1985. Discover the Upper and Lower Towns; the Citadel; the Plains of Abraham, where General Wolfe claimed the city for England in 1759; and the Place Royale.
Day 9	MONTREAL The second-largest French-speaking city in the Western world after Paris, Montreal is one of North America's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Known for its fashionable boutiques, gourmet restaurants and vivacious nightlife, Montreal strikes a dynamic balance between the avant-garde and the charms of the Old World. Our tour includes a stroll through the cobblestoned streets of the Old Quarter; the resplendent Notre Dame Basilica; and Mont-Royal Park, where the Iroquois established their original settlement. The afternoon is at leisure during which you may wish to visit the outstanding Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the Chateau Ramezay Museum.
Day 10	THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY Today we begin our beguiling transit through the seven locks of the historic St. Lawrence Seaway. Enjoy lecturers while sailing toward Kingston.
Day 11	KINGSTON | THOUSAND ISLANDS | LAKE ONTARIO This morning board a local boat for an excursion to the Thousand Islands, a scenic region that has been a popular vacation destination for more than a century. In the afternoon Clelia II cruises Lake Ontario.
Day 12	ROCHESTER, New York, USA From Rochester, drive to Niagara Falls. Alternatively, explore Rochester, visiting the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House and the Memorial Art Gallery.
Day 13	TORONTO, Canada | DISEMBARK | USA

Program Inclusions

• 11-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 100-guest Clelia II
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Open bar aboard ship throughout the cruise
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturers
• Professional Tour Staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program departure and arrival dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers