If you happen to really feel overlooked every time your social media feeds blow up with stunning footage of fall foliage, you in all probability ought to plan your individual leaf-peeping journey. Positive, you could possibly organize an epic street journey, full with visitors jams and overpriced, overcrowded vacationer traps. Or, you could possibly take a fall foliage cruise.
From a cruise ship, you may benefit from the autumnal hues of the Canadian and New England shoreline as you sail between northeastern U.S. dwelling ports like New York and Boston and Canada’s Montreal or Quebec Metropolis. Guide shore excursions for a extra enjoyable day trip; the bus driver will navigate the visitors alongside tree-lined byways to scenic vistas, and your mealtimes might be prearranged (or held on board your ship’s a number of eating venues).
If you happen to’d fairly discover fall’s colours outdoors of the Northeast, a number of cruise strains will take you to fall foliage locations in different components of the U.S., too.
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You will need to ebook your Canada and New England cruise not less than six months (if not a 12 months or extra) upfront for the most effective pricing and availability. Right here, we current the 5 finest fall foliage cruises it’s best to take into account in New England, Canada and past.
7-night Canada and New England Discovery cruise on Holland America
Holland America‘s 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam is a delightfully midsize ship, so you do not have to fret about crowds as you sail between Boston and Quebec Metropolis. The ship begins crusing this route in late August, however for the most effective leaf peeping, you will need to ebook one of many two October departures. (In 2025, the itinerary is an identical however has a distinct title.)
Ports of name embody Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Rockland, Portland or Bar Harbor, Maine. Take your choose of scenic drives or strolls by way of gardens or alongside climbing paths, digicam on the prepared. On board, spend your evenings rocking out to stay music or having fun with a leisurely meal of steak or seafood on the Pinnacle Grill.
Finest for: Holland America attracts primarily retirees and {couples} who respect the road’s give attention to tremendous eating and stay performances. Zuiderdam’s itinerary is right for anybody who does not thoughts flying out and in of various cities with a view to journey farther north into Canada than the one-way sailings.
Associated: 11 finest cruises to Canada and New England
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7-night Canada and New England cruise on Princess Cruises
For a straightforward round-trip New York cruise that leans extra into New England than Canada, take into account Princess Cruises‘ weeklong October sailings in 2024 and 2025 on the three,660-passenger Enchanted Princess. Select from itineraries with 4 or 5 ports, together with Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Bar Harbor or Portland; Halifax; and (solely on sure sailings) Saint John, New Brunswick.
If seascapes are your factor, do not miss the gorgeous coastal panorama by the Bay of Fundy (from Saint John) or Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. Head to the hills in Bar Harbor for elevated views, or escape to sea with a harbor cruise from Newport.
Finest for: Princess Cruises additionally attracts mature {couples} and lovers of traditional cruising, however the 2019-debuted Enchanted Princess is far bigger than Holland America’s Zuiderdam. Sit back with the road’s signature Films Beneath the Stars (full with blankets for fall nights in New England), or take pleasure in a number of specialty eating places dedicated to Italian specialties, steakhouse fare and seafood. Bundle up for a romantic breakfast in your balcony whereas the colourful shoreline passes by.
Associated: The very best time for a Canada and New England cruise
7-night Canada cruise on Royal Caribbean
Mix a straightforward Boston round-trip crusing with a fall foliage cruise targeted extra on Canadian than New England ports with Royal Caribbean‘s seven-night voyages on the two,191-passenger Jewel of the Seas, setting sail in September and October 2024, and a pair of,142-passenger Brilliance of the Seas, departing in September and October 2025. Most itineraries name in Portland, Saint John, Sydney and Halifax.
The ships are amongst Royal Caribbean’s older and smaller ships, so do not go in anticipating a humongous megaship with wild top-deck facilities (a very good factor or not, relying in your fashion). You will nonetheless discover loads of eating choices (together with Izumi for Japanese delicacies and Giovanni’s Desk for Italian), the road’s signature round Viking Crown Lounge and — excellent for fall climate — an indoor, adults-only solarium.
Finest for: Royal Caribbean followers looking for a midsize ship expertise with fewer youngsters on board ought to ebook this cruise. Anybody on the lookout for a round-trip cruise to Canada that does not require a passport will respect the handy Boston departure port (with loads of stunning fall foliage of its personal) and three port calls in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Associated: Canada and New England cruise packing checklist: What to pack for each season
7-night Puget Sound and San Juan Islands cruise on American Cruise Strains
Japanese Canada and New England aren’t the one North American areas recognized for his or her fall foliage. American Cruise Strains presents a number of small-ship sailings in October to different leaf-peeping areas, together with the Hudson River Valley.
However for one thing fully completely different, why not attempt the road’s seven-night, round-trip Puget Sound and San Juan Islands cruise from Seattle on the 90-passenger American Spirit or the 170-passenger American Constellation?
Your itinerary will take you to Anacortes, Friday Harbor, Port Angeles (gateway to Victoria, British Columbia, and Olympic Nationwide Park), Port Townsend and Poulsbo, Washington, with a day spent cruising across the San Juan Islands. Make the most of the Fidalgo Island strolling trails close to Anacortes, and do not miss the photogenic Deception Go close by. Gaze on the Olympic and Cascade mountains of their fall glory, and benefit from the fall climate in historic waterfront cities.
Finest for: Vacationers on the lookout for a distinct vacation spot for his or her fall foliage cruise, but in addition cruisers who prioritize time on shore over time on the ship. American Cruise Strains’ ships are tiny, simply 4 to 6 decks, with facilities restricted to a restaurant, a few lounges, small health areas and a solar deck, maybe with a placing inexperienced. Be ready to entertain your self within the evenings — or go to mattress early so that you’re energized for a full day in port practically every single day. Additionally, know that these ships typically draw an older retiree crowd.
12-night Canada and New England Fall Foliage cruise on Seabourn
Smaller ships can go to extra off-the-beaten-path ports than their big-ship counterparts. Seabourn‘s 458-passenger Seabourn Quest (2024) and Seabourn Sojourn (2025) sail 12-night cruises between New York and Montreal.
Itineraries differ barely by sail date, however go to a number of locations in Quebec, together with Trois-Rivieres, Quebec Metropolis, Baie-Comeau and Saguenay, with scenic cruising alongside the Saguenay Fjord. The ship additionally visits Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Halifax, Nova Scotia; it stops at a few American ports, too, reminiscent of Newport, Rhode Island; and Boston, Martha’s Winery or Provincetown, Massachusetts.
That is additionally probably the greatest fall foliage cruises if you happen to’re on the lookout for an all-inclusive voyage in luxurious environment. On Seabourn Quest and Sojourn, each cabin is a set with a view (to not point out a walk-in closet and spacious lavatory with tub). You possibly can take pleasure in gourmand delicacies, complimentary wine and cocktails and a pleasant crew that can go above and past for you.
Finest for: Luxurious lovers who want to be pampered on their leaf-peeping trip will take pleasure in this practically two-week cruise round Canada and New England. The prolonged itinerary options a number of days at sea to benefit from the ship’s spa or scrumptious afternoon tea service, in addition to some lesser-visited ports and, on choose departures, an in a single day in Quebec Metropolis. It is ultimate for vacationers who need to take advantage of their fall Northeast journey.
Backside line
You could be shocked by what number of decisions you’ve got for late-September and October fall foliage cruises. Along with Seabourn, all the main luxurious cruise strains dedicate a number of cruises to this area, together with such strains as Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Crystal. Huge ships like NCL’s Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway additionally get into the leaf-peeping motion.
Right here, we have picked the most effective fall foliage cruises for various itinerary configurations and ship types. They could be our favorites, however solely which mixture of ports and onboard expertise is the proper match on your journey fashion.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
