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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour & cruise

Fall Colors of Eastern Canada Rail & Cruise

13-day escorted rail and cruise from Montreal to Boston through Eastern Canada

Illustration of Fall Colors of Eastern Canada Rail & Cruise

Vacations By Rail's Fall Colors of Eastern Canada Rail and Cruise is a 13-day escorted tour combining VIA Rail travel and a Holland America cruise. The tour departs Montreal and concludes in Boston, with a professional Tour Manager accompanying guests throughout. On Day 3, passengers board VIA Rail's Corridor Service for a scenic journey to Quebec City along the St. Lawrence River. Days 5 through 11 are spent aboard the Zuiderdam, a 936-foot cruise ship, sailing from Quebec City through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and down the Atlantic coast. Port calls include Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Portland, and Boston. Guided tours highlight Montreal's Old Port and religious landmarks, Quebec City's UNESCO-recognized Old Quarter and Citadel, and Boston's Freedom Trail and Quincy Market. The remaining time in each port is free for independent exploration. The package includes 5 hotel nights, 7 cruise nights, and 24 meals. This tour suits travelers seeking guided comfort with structured sightseeing balanced by leisure time, history enthusiasts interested in Canadian and American heritage, and those new to rail travel who prefer cruise-based travel as the main itinerary element.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of USD 3,499 does not include flights or airport transfers; rail and cruise are included.
  • Hotel accommodations listed are for 5 nights total; most stops are aboard the cruise ship (7 nights).
  • Leisure time in port cities is free exploration; no organized excursions are included beyond the guided tours in Montreal, Quebec City, and Boston.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Montreal

    Montreal

    Arrive in Montreal and make your way to the hotel, passing the historic buildings of Old Montreal, Art Deco gems, and sleek contemporary buildings.

  2. Day 2overnight: Montreal

    Montreal Sightseeing

    Guided city tour of Montreal including the Old Port, Notre Dame Basilica, Mont Royal Park and St. Joseph's Oratory, followed by independent sightseeing (Montreal's Botanical Gardens, Jean-Talon Market).

  3. Day 3railovernight: Quebec City

    Quebec City

    Board VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Quebec City, traveling along the St. Lawrence River, then explore Quebec City's more than 400 years of history at leisure.

  4. Day 4overnight: Quebec City

    At Leisure in Quebec City

    Full day at leisure with a guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage Old Quebec, including the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel, plus a visit to Montmorency Falls.

  5. Day 5overnight: Ship

    Ship Embarkation in Quebec City

    Morning at leisure in Quebec City, then a bus transfer to the shores of the St. Lawrence River to board the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam (936 feet, with a fitness center, pool, pickleball courts and restaurants). First dinner aboard.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ship

    Quebec City (cruising)

    Optional return to shore to finish sightseeing in Quebec City, then back aboard as the ship sets sail on the St. Lawrence River, watching for whales and other marine life.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ship

    Gulf of St. Lawrence Cruising

    Cruise through the Gulf of St. Lawrence via the Cabot Strait, passing the lighthouse on St. Paul's Island and an old shipwreck, with wildlife spotting and onboard spa/casino options.

  8. Day 8overnight: Ship

    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

    Dock in Charlottetown, the 'Birthplace of the Confederation', with free time to explore the harbor, downtown, the Founder's Food Hall and Market, or the countryside behind 'Anne of Green Gables'.

  9. Day 9overnight: Ship

    Sydney, Cape Breton Island

    Dock in Sydney with free time to explore the oceanfront boardwalk, the Big Fiddle, or venture to Louisbourg or Baddeck (Cabot Trail, Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site).

  10. Day 10overnight: Ship

    Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Dock in Halifax with free time to explore the waterfront boardwalk, the Citadel National Historic Site, the Botanical Garden, or Peggy's Cove.

  11. Day 11overnight: Ship

    Bar Harbor or Portland, ME

    Overnight sailing along the Atlantic coast crossing the U.S.-Canada border, docking in Portland, Maine, with free time to explore Old Port, an 18th-century lighthouse, and the town's culinary scene.

  12. Day 12overnight: Boston

    Boston, MA

    Ship moors in Boston. Disembark for the final time and take a guided tour including the Freedom Trail, Quincy Market, and Boston Common, with the rest of the day free to explore.

  13. Day 13rail

    Tour Conclusion

    Transfer to the rail station or airport to return home, or arrange a post-tour extension with hotel accommodations through a Rail Specialist.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board VIA Rail's Corridor Service to Quebec City, traveling along the St. Lawrence River.
  • Day 5Board the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam in Quebec City and begin sailing down the St. Lawrence River.
  • Day 6Watch for whales and other marine life as the ship sets sail through the St. Lawrence River.
  • Day 7Cruise through the Gulf of St. Lawrence via the Cabot Strait, passing St. Paul's Island lighthouse and an old shipwreck.

Included

  • The services of a professional Tour Manager from start to finish
  • Hotel accommodations for 5 nights
  • 7 nights aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship
  • Rail travel on VIA Rail Canada
  • 24 meals, including 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
  • Montreal City tour
  • Quebec City tour
  • Boston City tour

Not included

  • Flights and Airport transfers

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes one rail segment on VIA Rail's Corridor Service from Montreal to Quebec City on Day 3. The bulk of travel after Quebec City is by Holland America cruise ship.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is escorted. Vacations By Rail provides a professional Tour Manager throughout the 13 days, and includes guided city tours in Montreal, Quebec City, and Boston.
What is included in the price?
Hotel accommodations for 5 nights, 7 nights aboard the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam, VIA Rail travel, 24 meals (11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners), three guided city tours, coach transport, and Tour Manager services. Flights and airport transfers are not included.
What are the port stops?
After boarding in Quebec City, the cruise visits Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Sydney (Cape Breton Island), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Portland (Maine), and Boston (Massachusetts).
How much free time is there?
Each port stop includes free time to explore independently. Day 2 in Montreal, Day 4 in Quebec City, and the afternoon of Day 12 in Boston are also unscheduled.
What is the physical activity level?
The tour includes guided walking tours of city centers and leisure exploration of ports. Most travel is by coach, train, or ship; no hiking or high-altitude activities are described.

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