Show boats
By Laura Osborne
Thinking of taking a cruise this season? Here are 10 suggestions for smooth sailing.
Photo: Canadian Sailing Expeditions
1. The Queen Charlotte Islands
Route: Along the coastline of steep mountains and sandy inlets that make up this collection of more than 150 islands, in B.C.
Ship shape: Nine days aboard a 27-m (88-ft) custom-made teak and mahogany sailboat.
Highlight: See some of the last remaining totem poles (immortalized by artist Emily Carr).
Canadian Nature Cruises, 604-596-7077, naturecruises.com
2. Montréal to Massachusetts
Route: Sophisticated Montréal to seafaring Gloucester.
Ship shape: Ten days on the Seabourn Pride, a 134-m (440-ft) yacht (think: marble bath, Egyptian linen and 1.5-m [5-ft] picture window).
Highlight: Tour the exclusive Halifax Club, followed by a British tea service of scones, Devon clotted cream, preserves and tea sandwiches.
Seabourn Cruises, 1-800-929-9391, seabourn.com
3. The Thousand Islands
Route: From historic Kingston, Ontario, to old-world Québec City.
Ship shape: Six nights on a 33-m (108-ft) vessel inspired by a turn-of-the-century riverboat.
Highlight: At the 1000 Islands Skydeck, ride the elevator 122 m (400 ft) up for views of the foliage reflected in the St. Lawrence River.
Cruise West, 1-888-851-8133, stlawrencecruiselines.com
4. High Arctic Adventure
Route: Past the tidal flats and sea cliffs of the Hudson Strait, Québec, to Cape Dorset, Nunavut.
Ship shape: Nine nights on the Lyubov Orlova, a 100-m (328-ft) icebreaker with 55 suites.
Highlight: Experience Inuit throat singing and drum dancing in Kangiqsujuaq.
Cruise North Expeditions, 1-866-CNE-3220, cruisenorthexpeditions.com
5. British Columbia Tall Sails and Ales
Route: A beer aficionado’s dream: Cruise local B.C. breweries!
Ship shape: Five nights on the Douglas-fir-on-yellow-cedar, 28-m (92-ft) schooner Maple Leaf.
Highlight: Try 40 microbrews and cuisine like cream ale apple fritters and Salt Spring Island lamb.
Maple Leaf Adventures, 1-888-599-5323, www.mapleleafadventures.com
6. Highlands and Islands 2008
Route: From Newfoundland and Labrador’s picturesque Lark Harbour to Cape Breton, N.S.
Ship shape: Seven days on the Concordia, a 57-m (188-ft) square-rigged barquentine (a sailboat with three or more masts).
Highlight: Taking the wheel of this traditional windjammer.
Canadian Sailing Expeditions, 1-877-429-9463, canadiansailingexpeditions.com
7. The Magdalen Islands (Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
Route: Past Québec City to the archipelago located in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Ship shape: Eight days on a modern 126-m (413-ft) cruise ship with two restaurants.
Highlight: Snorkel, dive or try body surfing out of sea caves at the Club Vacances Les Îles.
Gendron Travel, 1-800-561-TRIP, voyagesgendron.com
8. Canadian Gulf Islands
Route: From Sidney, B.C., to the marine paradise of the Gulf and San Juan Islands.
Ship shape: Five days aboard the newly refurbished Island Odyssey – originally built as a private yacht – with eight private cabins.
Highlight: Sea kayak with porpoises and sea lions.
Bluewater Adventures, 1-888-877-1770, bluewateradventures.ca
9. The Mackenzie River
Route: Hugging the limestone cliffs and sheer rock faces that line the banks of Canada’s longest river, in the N.W.T.
Ship shape: Eight days on the 31-m (103-ft) MS Norweta.
Highlight: See the dramatic “Roche qui trempe à l'eau” (or “Mountain with its feet in the water”), which rises 366 m (1,200 ft) from the river.
Yukon Adventure Company, 1-866-417-7365, yukonadventures.com
10. Summer wildlife and culture on Baffin Island
Route: From Iqaluit to Cape Dorset, in Nunavut.
Ship shape: An eight-day trip for up to six people on an 8-m (25-ft) steel twin-engine boat.
Highlight: Share hot tea and bannock (traditional pan-fried bread) with local Inuit.
Arctic Odysseys, 1-800-574-3021, arcticodysseys.com
Tips for avoiding storms at sea
Dos
Do the research to ensure you book the ship that’s right for you
Do eat and stay trim by taking advantage of health clubs, luxury spas and fitness classes
Do choose a cabin on a lower deck in the middle of the ship if you don’t have “sea legs”
Do adhere to the dress code Pack casual and formal attire (as specified)
Don’ts
Don’t assume that your trip is “all-inclusive”
Don’t forget your travel insurance Cruise ships are not responsible for loss or damage
Don’t pick an outside cabin with a view obstructed by a lifeboat
Don’t board without cash The ship’s ATM may charge up to $5 per withdrawal
Getting here
Tourism British Columbia, 1-800-HELLO-BC (1-800-435-5622), hellobc.com
Tourisme Montréal, 1-877-BONJOUR (1-877-266-5687), tourisme-montreal.org
Tourisme Québec, 1-877-BONJOUR (1-877-266-5687), bonjourquebec.com
Halifax Tourism, halifaxinfo.com
Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 1-800-565-0000, novascotia.com
Tourism Kingston, 1-866-66KEDCO (53326), tourism.kingstoncanada.com
Ontario Tourism, 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746), ontariotravel.net
Nunavut Tourism, 1-866-NUNAVUT, nunavuttourism.com
Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, 1-800-563-6353, newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com
Northwest Territories Tourism, 1-800-661-0788, explorenwt.com
