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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour & cruise

Eastern Canada Cruise Featuring Quebec & Montreal

Boston to Montreal by cruise ship and VIA Rail through Eastern Canada

Illustration of Eastern Canada Cruise Featuring Quebec & Montreal

Vacations By Rail's Eastern Canada Cruise Featuring Quebec and Montreal is a 13-day escorted holiday that blends cruise and rail travel across the northeastern seaboard. Departing from Boston, the tour boards Holland America's MS Zuiderdam for a seven-night voyage through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and along the St. Lawrence River, calling at Portland, Halifax, Sydney on Cape Breton Island, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, and Quebec City. After two nights exploring Quebec City's Old Town, guided tours, and the nearby Montmorency Falls, the group travels by VIA Rail Corridor Service to Montreal for a final two nights. A Tour Manager accompanies throughout, handling all logistics and leading half-day guided tours of Boston, Quebec City, and Montreal. The itinerary mixes guided sightseeing with free time to explore independently. September and October departures offer the chance to witness the East Coast's fall foliage. Breakfasts, six lunches, and seven dinners are included, along with all transport and accommodations in 4-star hotels and aboard the cruise ship.

What to know before you look closer

  • The majority of this tour is a cruise; rail travel is limited to one three-hour VIA Rail segment from Quebec City to Montreal on Day 11.
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; arrangements to and from Boston are your responsibility.
  • Optional shore excursions, such as the trolley tour in Portland and the Peggy's Cove excursion from Halifax, are payable locally and not included in the tour price.
  • September and October departures offer the chance to see fall foliage; other departure months are not listed in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Boston

    Arriving on the East Coast in Boston

    Make your own way to the downtown Back Bay hotel and check in. Free time to explore Boston independently. Meet the Tour Manager and group this evening; dinner on your own.

  2. Day 2overnight: Ship

    Sightseeing in Boston and boarding our ship

    Guided city tour of Boston including highlights such as the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, the Historic District, ending at Quincy Market. Afternoon coach transfer to the harbor to board the Holland America cruise ship; first dinner as the ship sets sail.

  3. Day 3overnight: Ship

    Our first port of call: Portland, Maine

    Morning free time in Portland, Maine, to explore Old Port, the Portland Museum of Art, or a local trolley tour (payable locally). Ship sets sail for Canada around lunchtime.

  4. Day 4overnight: Ship

    Exploring Nova Scotia's capital

    Dock in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with free time to explore the waterfront boardwalk, the Citadel National Historic Site, and an optional prebookable shore excursion to Peggy's Cove. Ship sets sail for Cape Breton Island in the evening.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ship

    A day in Sydney, Cape Breton Island

    Full day docked in Sydney, with free time to explore the town, the oceanfront boardwalk, or venture further to Louisbourg or Baddeck (start of the Cabot Trail).

  6. Day 6overnight: Ship

    Arriving on Prince Edward Island

    Dock in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the 'Birthplace of the Confederation', with free time to explore downtown, the Founder's Food Hall and Market, or the countryside that inspired 'Anne of Green Gables'.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ship

    Cruising through the Gulf of St. Lawrence

    A day at sea cruising the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with opportunities for marine life spotting and use of the ship's amenities such as the Greenhouse Spa & Salon.

  8. Day 8overnight: Ship

    Following the St. Lawrence River

    A day cruising inland along the St. Lawrence River, passing lighthouses, cities, towns and forests en route to Quebec City.

  9. Day 9overnight: Quebec City

    Quebec City at your leisure

    Disembark in Quebec City for the final time; included transfer to a hotel in Old Quebec for a two-night stay. Free day to explore the old town, museums, or Montmorency Falls.

  10. Day 10overnight: Quebec City

    Guided touring in Quebec City

    Guided tour of Quebec City covering sites such as the Plains of Abraham, the fortifications, and the Citadel, with a free afternoon to explore further, including the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Montreal

    To Montreal with VIA Rail

    Free morning, then an included transfer to the railway station for a journey to Montreal aboard VIA Rail's Corridor Service (around three hours). Check into a central hotel for a two-night stay with free time to explore.

  12. Day 12overnight: Montreal

    Uncovering the many sides of Montreal

    Half-day guided tour of Montreal including sites such as the Old Port, Mont Royal Park or St. Joseph's Oratory, followed by free time to explore museums, galleries and neighborhoods independently.

  13. Day 13

    Tour conclusion

    Breakfast at the hotel, after which you are free to continue your onward travels home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Boston covers the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, and the Historic District before boarding Holland America's MS Zuiderdam at Quincy Market.
  • Day 5Full day docked in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, with the option to explore the oceanfront boardwalk or venture to Louisbourg and the start of the Cabot Trail.
  • Day 8Cruise inland along the St. Lawrence River, passing lighthouses, cities, towns, and forests en route to Quebec City.
  • Day 11Free morning in Quebec City, then travel to Montreal aboard VIA Rail's Corridor Service, a three-hour journey.
  • Day 12Half-day guided tour of Montreal includes the Old Port, Mont Royal Park, and St. Joseph's Oratory, followed by free time to explore independently.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 5 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • 7-night cruise onboard MS Zuiderdam
  • Standard Class rail travel on local rail networks
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes the three-hour VIA Rail Corridor Service journey from Quebec City to Montreal in Standard Class, plus all other rail, coach, and cruise transport throughout.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from start to finish who handles organization, offers expertise, and accompanies all guided tours.
Which hotels are included?
One night at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza in Boston, two nights at either Delta Hotels Quebec or Hotel Chateau Laurier in Quebec City, and two nights at the Novotel Montreal Centre. Rooms at sea are aboard MS Zuiderdam for seven nights.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each day, six lunches, and seven dinners. Optional meals and beverages on the ship or in port are at your own cost.
How much walking is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating 1, meaning minimal walking beyond ship docks and hotel transfers. Guided tours and free exploration are on flat, accessible terrain in cities and ports.
When does this tour run?
September and October departures are highlighted for fall foliage viewing. No other departure dates are published in the available information; contact Vacations By Rail to confirm availability.

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