If you are searching for cheap cruises to locations that are a bit more off the beaten path than where cruise ships typically go, there are several islands on the Coast of Canada that have exactly what you are looking for in a unique cruise experience. Spread out across several provinces but close enough to see in one voyage, these islands include Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and the Magdelan Islands. Here is a rundown on each location to give you an idea what you will see while visiting each:
1) Newfoundland – If you decide to take a cruise to the St. John’s area between the months of May and July, you may see some of the large icebergs that make their way to the waters off the Avalon Peninsula each Spring. Boat tours are available and will bring you as close as safely possible to these giants and the possibility is high that you will see something else in these waters while you are out there; humpback whales and other marine species that make their home in the area! If you are planning your trip around seeing icebergs, it is a good idea to check ahead to make sure they are in fact around. There are iceberg trackers on the internet that will show where they are and where they are heading and you can also call the local tourist information bureau to see what they have to say. Some other things you can visit include Cape Spear National Historic Site which also happens to be the most Easterly point in North America, Signal Hill National Historic Site and George St. where you will find some of the best live entertainment in all of Eastern Canada not to mention the most exciting nightlife East of Montreal!
2) Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia – If you dock in Sydney or Sydport you can take advantage of many tours offered by various local tour companies. You can take a tour to Baddeck where you can sail on the world-famous Bras D’or Lakes or visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. You can also take a tour of the Cabot Trail which has been voted North America’s most scenic drive and hike various walking trails and view wildlife. There are also options to tour the city of Sydney and surrounding areas if you prefer to stay close to port. Some ships also dock in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park near Ingonish and there is also plenty to see and do there!
3) Prince Edward Island – Often referred to as The Gentle Island, Prince Edward Island is a small island that has a lot of offer! You can visit Green Gables, a place created specifically to commemorate Lucy Maude Montgomery’s fictional character Anne Shirley in her novels Anne of Green Gables. There are many sandy beaches, national parks and green spaces to visit and many lighthouses offer free tours. While in the capital city of Charlottetown, you can take in the local, live music scene that is said one of the best in Atlantic Canada.
4) The Magdelan Islands, Quebec – A series of islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence that have everything including boutique shopping, sandy beaches, museums and various outdoor activities like hiking and parasailing. Also available is a Zodiac tour of Entry Island, an island located away from the other main islands. During this tour, you will see dozens of species of sea birds, whales and dolphins
While at any of these destinations there are so many other things to do that do not cost a lot of money such as hiking, whale watching, sightseeing and beachcombing.
There are cruises available that will travel to one or all of these islands. Most of these cruises also include other ports along the Atlantic seaboard as well and these ports may include Halifax, New York and other destinations along the coast. Many of these cruises are cheap cruises and many of the tours and activities available in port are cheap too because of the location. Some companies that offer cruises to these locations include:
1) Celebrity Cruises
2) Pearl Seas Cruises
3) Cunard
4) Princess Cruises
5) Holland America
6) Groupe CTMA
With the right amount of research, you will be able to find the right Atlantic Canadian cruise for you and see what this spectacular part of the world has to offer!
Photo via angrypandas
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