St. Lawrence River Cruise 2027

Day 1

Today we depart for Boston, Massachusetts, the location of our lodging for this evening. Boston is a tapestry of historic grandeur and modern charm. After checking-in to our accommodations, we will enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will be met by a local step-on guide who will show us the highlights of Boston. Free time for lunch on your own will be at Quincy Market. We will then embark on Holland America Line's Volendam for a 12-day cruise including New England, Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River. Inspired by lush gardens, the botanical themed Volendam features a refined, spacious atmosphere. Enjoy live entertainment that moves you, rejuvenating spa escapes, elegant shops, world-class dining, and more. Every detail is crafted to elevate your cruise experience. Immerse yourself in cinematic afternoons, on-demand movies and dazzling stage shows blending music, choreography, and bold visuals for unforgettable evenings. Volendam offers one ocean-view pickleball court plus activities for all: casino games, mahjong, wellness, and more ways to relax, play, and celebrate. A mid-afternoon departure will allow you to become acquainted with all the Volendam has to offer. Dinner this evening will be aboard the ship.

Day 3

Eastport, Maine - Immerse yourself in the quintessential charm of New England. This picturesque port, known for its vibrant arts scene and maritime heritage, offers a warm welcome to cruisers. Sample fresh local seafood, explore scenic vistas, and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

Day 4

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Located on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia's provincial capital is defined by its maritime geography. It's a spirited mix of world-class history and nautical-themed museums alongside bunkers and fortresses that guarded the harbor. You'll also get a glimpse of striking public art, funky shops and excellent pubs serving up folk music (and good pints). Explore the Halifax waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants at Pier 21. Savor the low-key but classy culinary scene for fresh seafood and Nova Scotia specialties. Along Nova Scotia's southern shores, the city is surrounded by lush greenery and charming villages that are worth the trip from downtown proper. Snap photos of attractions in the charming fishing village, Peggy's Cove, with its picturesque lighthouse on a rocky outcropping. Or wander the streets of Lunenburg, whose colorful Old Town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also soak in the charms and sights of Mahone Bay, home to artists' studios and a trio of steepled churches.

Day 5

Full Day at Sea - Enjoy all the Voldendam has to offer.

Day 6

St. Johns, Newfoundland - The capital of Newfoundland is the easternmost city in North America, excluding Greenland, and has its own time zone, a half-hour ahead of the rest of eastern Canada. Long before there was a permanent town, established around 1630, British fishermen would set up camp here in the summer. To this day the harbor remains the center of the city, with its oldest buildings and streets (including Water Street, the oldest street in North America) nearby. And although it was primarily fishing and whaling that drove the economy of St. Johns for centuries, today the oil and natural gas found beneath the ocean floor is increasingly important. The rest of St. Johns sits on hills around the harbor, which has led to frequent comparisons to San Francisco. The tallest, Signal Hill, is one of St. Johns most famous sights with its panoramic views. While the city shines at a distance, it is also in the details that it charms visitors, with its houses painted in jelly-bean hues and cozy restaurants and pubs that provide relief from Atlantic breezes.

Day 7

St. Anthony, Newfoundland - Near the northern tip of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, tiny St. Anthony (population: 2,418) predates even the famed navigator and explorer Jacques Cartier. Though he gave the town its name, it was already a seasonal camp used by French and Basque fishermen when he arrived in 1534. St. Anthony's fortunes have long been tied to the sea: Those fishermen were followed by whalers, and now tourism has become increasingly important, with whale-watching expeditions among the principal draws. Other opportunities for sightings include moose (the area has one of the world's largest populations of them), polar bears in the spring, and icebergs as they drift south along the Newfoundland coast. For many travelers, however, St. Anthony is the gateway to one of North America's most intriguing archaeological sites. While Christopher Columbus is popularly credited with being the first European to "discover" the New World, Viking explorers were there before him-more than four centuries earlier. The remains of an 11th-century village at L'Anse aux Meadows, located less than an hour north of St. Anthony, are the oldest evidence of a European settlement in North America. Today, the reconstructed sod houses at this UNESCO World Heritage Site give a sense of the hard lives of those early settlers.

Day 8

Corner Brook, Newfoundland - This small but bustling city is on Newfoundland's west coast started out as a fishing village, like many other Newfoundland settlements. Captain Cook initially mapped this area, known as the Bay of Islands, in 1767. Later, one of the largest pulp and paper mills in the world was built here. In the city's downtown core, West Street and Broadway are the center of action, thanks to numerous pubs, shops and restaurants. The local university has renowned fine-arts and drama programs. Corner Brook also has an impressive amount of green space - you're always within walking distance of a park or trail. Nearby Humber Valley and the Marble Mountain offer some of the best skiing in Atlantic Canada. Even if you'd prefer to just take in the scenery, the rolling green mountains and the views overlooking the bay are worth the trip.

Day 9

Havre-Saint-Pierre, Québec - Located on the north shore of Québec's Saint Lawrence River, Havre-Saint-Pierre offers panoramic views and miles of sandy beaches. It is the gateway to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, home to abundant wildlife and limestone monoliths, sculpted over the millennia by the elements.

Day 10

Baie-Comeau, Quebec - Baie-Comeau is beautifully located on the banks of the Mancouagan and Saint Lawrence Rivers. Here you can stroll the lovely quartier Sainte-Amélie or learn about regional wildlife at the Maison de la Faune.

Day 11

Saguenay, Quebec - The quaint waterfront town of Saguenay is situated in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean - a stunning region named after two standout geographical features that were formed by glaciers: Lake (or Lac) Saint-Jean and the Saguenay River, which winds through one of the longest fjords in the world. These natural glories allow visitors to Saguenay access to a number of seasonal outdoor activities, from kayaking on Lac Saint-Jean and hiking and biking in Saguenay Fjord National Park. Saguenay merged with the former paper and pulp-making town of Chicoutimi in 2002. The role of the region in Québecois history is celebrated at nearby preserved villages, a theatrical show called La Fabuleuse Histoire d'un Royaume and at the Chicoutimi Pulp Mill, a museum dedicated to Chicoutimi's paper-making past. (The museum's collection includes a Canadian national treasure: the home of artist Arthur Villeneuve.) Saguenay is also a gateway to whale-watching opportunities along the majestic St. Lawrence River at Tadoussac, where you have the chance to see up to 13 species of whales. Shoppers: Don't forget to explore La Route des Artisans (Craftsmen Road), home to 90 small local artisans that specialize in different fields, including paper, textiles, glassblowing and ceramics.

Day 12

Québec City, Québec - The nearly 750-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence River is a lighthouse lover's paradise, with more than 40 of them lining the Québec portion alone. Quixotic weather and sudden choppy waters account for the building of these historic monuments, such as the one built in 1830 at Pointe-des-Monts and the Phare de Matane, both of which are now small museums. Centuries-old fishing villages line the mighty waterway that alternates between imposing cliffs and plateaus and broad estuaries filled with fertile islets. Humans have fished the rich river and hunted its tributary lands for some 10,000 years. Much is still not known about the two dozen St. Lawrence Iroquoian tribes that had vanished by the time Québec City founder Samuel de Champlain arrived in the early 17th century. The river was a major entry point for exploring North America, and during the Seven Years' War the British navigated to Québec City to defeat the French at the Plains of Abraham. Today, some 200 miles of the river are called the whale route, along which some 13 resident species thrive, including blue, beluga and right whales. Few places in North America are as steeped in history as Québec City, Canada. Older than Jamestown and founded before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, it is the only city north of Mexico whose original fortifications remain intact. The Québec City historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still home to religious orders and hospitals that date back to the 17th century. Its Place-Royale would look familiar to the explorer Samuel de Champlain, even with its modern attractions of gift shops and cafés. On the Plains of Abraham, you can walk the battlefield where, in 1759, the French forces under General Montcalm were decisively trounced by the British, led by General Wolfe. The British took control of all of New France within a year of that 1759 battle, but even so French culture still lives on here in Québec City. More than 95 percent of Québec City's population speaks French as its first language, though it's easy to sightsee and navigate the city in English. As you tour the museums and historic sights of Québec City that celebrate Québecois history, you'll discover a remarkable culture that has survived and thrived into the 21st century.

Day 13

Montréal, Canada - Montréal sits on the New World's St. Lawrence River, yet it has an undeniable Old-World French flair. It is a historic city, founded in 1642, and the streets of Old Montréal are lined with sights that range from a 17th-century seminary to grand commercial buildings erected in the 19th century. Breakfast will be included aboard the ship before disembarking the Volendam. A Perkiomen Motorcoach will be awaiting your arrival, which will transport you back to Pennsylvania. Arrival home is scheduled for later this evening.

For Your Information

A current passport valid for at least six months from departure date will be required.
If you are bringing children on the tour other than your own, customs is requiring that you have a registered letter of approval from their parents.

Please Note

Our intention is to run each tour as originally planned and published. However, if deemed necessary to do so, Perkiomen Tours reserves the right to make changes to tour components, schedules or itineraries without prior notification.

Tips for Perkiomen motorcoach drivers and tour escorts are not included in the price of this tour. We feel that these gratuities should be extended on an individual basis and dictated by the level of service provided.

Motorcoach seating is assigned at the time of reservation but cannot be guaranteed. Although we do our best to keep each traveler in the seat assigned at the time of reservation, there are times that it is necessary to move seat locations. Please be sure to verify your final seat number(s) with your driver at the time of boarding. Historically, daily seat rotation was practiced on most multi-day tours. We have suspended this practice for a period of time. Seat rotation will be explained by your driver or tour escort if reinstated.

Perkiomen Tours recommends that you consider purchasing Travel Insurance for your tour. Travel Insurance is purchased directly by you from a third-party of your choice. One option is Travel Safe Insurance. You can purchase insurance directly from Travel Safe through our website. www.perkiomentours.com.

Please be aware that optional Travel Protection/Insurance offered by the cruise line may not cover transportation (airfare or motorcoach) to and from the cruise terminal. If you would like coverage for this portion of your trip, please inquire with a Perkiomen tour reservationist.

B=Full Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner