Bermuda, Canada and New England MSC Meraviglia departing 4 Oct 2023

New York is a wonderful port of call for MSC cruise liners on Grand Voyages cruise itineraries. Hidden gardens next to postmodern skyscrapers; priceless art tucked away in medieval-style cloisters; a revamped waterfront you can stroll along to take in the view.

Wandering through the patchwork of neighbourhoods is as great a thrill as any single sight. Frantic Chinatown edges stylish Soho , which is but a stone’s throw from the quiet, angled lanes of the once-bohemian West Village . A perfect espresso in a shabby-chic Williamsburg café, a rooftop view from Chelsea’s High Line or a ride on the “A” to Far Rockaway is worth much more than an “I Love New York” handbag. Cheaper, too, and the memory will last longer.

New York City officially comprises the central island of Manhattan and four outer boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. For many, Manhattan simply is New York; indeed, when your MSC cruise takes you to New York, you’ll probably spend most of your time here. Understanding the intricacies of Manhattan’s layout, especially beyond its grid pattern , and getting a grasp of its transport network should be top priorities during your MSC excursion.
New York is very much a city of neighbourhoods, most compact enough to be explored on foot (at least below 59th Street). On your Grand Voyages cruises to New York, of all America’s symbols, none is more enduring than the Statue of Liberty, looming over the harbour from its pedestal on tiny Liberty Island.
Indeed, there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence than that of Lady Liberty , who stands with torch in hand, clutching a stone tablet. Measuring some 305ft from her pedestal base, she has acted as the figurehead of the American Dream for more than a century.

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. Newport has one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation, in the downtown Newport Historic District, one of three National Historic Landmark Districts in the city. Many of these homes were restored in the late 20th century through grants made by Newport resident Doris Duke, as well as other local efforts such as Operation Clapboard. As a result, Newport’s colonial heritage is well-preserved and documented at the Newport Historical Society. In addition to the colonial architecture, the city is known for its Gilded Age mansions. With coastlines on the west, south and east, Newport is a maritime city. Its harbours teem with commercial fishing boats, power and sail pleasure craft. It is known as the sailing capitol of the United States. Aquidneck Island is home to many beautiful beaches, most public and a few private. In Newport, the largest public beach, Easton’s beach or First Beach, has a view of the famed Cliff Walk. The Newport Cliff Walk is considered one of the most popular attractions in the city. It is a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) public access walkway bordering the shoreline, and has been designated a National Recreation Trail.

If there is any American city where you can breathe some “European air”, it is Boston: a large city built for people, thanks to its center area that can be easily visited on foot or by public transport.

Your MSC cruise will take you on the discovery of the capital of Massachusetts offering many opportunities to relive its history, immerse yourself in its arts, visit its museums and taste the flavors of one of America’s most famous breweries.

What makes Boston different is the unique way that it combines attention to the past with an ambitious enthusiasm for modernity. Walking through the city, it is not unusual to find a historical house from the times of the American Revolution placed next to a futuristic skyscraper, a truly fascinating mixture.

A walk along the famous Freedom Trail is one of the best ways to breathe in the atmosphere of Boston and absorb the spirit of a city rich in historical monuments.
An absolute must to visit is the area of Cambridge, the cradle of the greatest minds in the country, home to MIT and Harvard, two of the most important universities
in the world where both prominent figures and US presidents have studied.
When it comes to Boston, there are not only things to see, but also delights to be savored. If you like gourmet food, take a trip to QuincyMarket: this lively market is a great place to buy fast food and be surprised by eccentric street artists.

Do you want to swim, hike, explore the ruins of an ancient fort and camp under the stars in a national park? You can do all of this in Boston on your MSC cruise. The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area consists of 34 narrow islands scattered around the historic New England harbor where you can visit “hidden pearls” by boarding one of the seasonal ferries that sail from Boston Long Wharf.

Wild landscapes, valleys dotted with farms, fishing villages, parks and islands all along the coast: all of this and more awaits you in New Brunswick, a beautiful maritime province in French Canada.

Your MSC cruise will take you on the discovery of a natural land filled with a thousand secrets, surprising you with its magnificent coastline, mountains, forests and rivers, as well as the variety of wild animals that live there including bears, whales, moose and seals.

This region is home to one of the oldest cities in Canada overlooking the beautiful Bay of Fundy: Saint John. There is no other place in the Maritimes with the same urban charm of a historic city balanced with the grandiose, natural charm of a bay famous for its impressive tides.

On your MSC cruise, you will have a chance to discover this port city with its delightful Victorian architecture and steep historical streets, watch the ships dock at the port and admire the restaurants and shops near historic sites such as the New Brunswick Museum, home to the Hall of Great Whales and three floors of fascinating galleries
. Saint John City Market is also not to be missed as it is the oldest agricultural market in North America: its beams are reminiscent of a ship’s inverted hull offering a unique shopping experience.

In Saint John, there is a natural microcosm that awaits you, especially in the Bay of Fundy where you can observe a truly unique phenomenon: the highest and most powerful tides in the world that can reach up to 16 m high. The surrounding landscape has been sculpted by billions of tons of water pouring in and out of the bay twice daily. The Bay of Fundy is also home to Hopewell Rocks Park, a group of rock formations that dot the water like islands during high tide and seem to be towers during low tide.

Canada is a huge country that offers tourists a large number of wonderful attractions to visit and explore. One of those not to be missed is Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia found on the east coast of Canada and one of the places you can visit on an MSC Cruise.

Each city has a symbol that represents it more than anything else: for Halifax, its citadel that dates back to the late 18th century, famous in Canada both for its beauty and for its historical importance, fills that role. Inside the star-shaped citadel, you can explore the history of Halifax on guided tours. The museum staff, dressed as soldiers of the army and navy, will show you the clothes used in the past and other items in maritime activities.

To the south-west of the city, your MSC cruise will offer you an excursion to one of the most beautiful and evocative settings on the Atlantic coast, the small village of Peggy’s Cove, famous for its red lighthouse that was built in 1868. In this fishing village, elements of nature and domestic intimacy coexist: it is a land of boulders eroded by glaciers where
the presence of humans can be found only in a handful of colorful houses and fishing shacks over the waters of the marina. The village lighthouse stands on top of a granite outcropping, made slippery by the splashes of the ocean waves.

Less than a kilometer from the public gardens of Halifax can be found another place of great historical-cultural interest that you can visit on your MSC cruise: the Fairview Cemetery, a Canadian cemetery, famous for being the resting place for 121 victims of the shipwreck of the Titanic.

Halifax’s connection with the famous naval tragedy on April 15, 1912 can also be seen at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which houses an excellent permanent exhibition on the disaster, including photographs, wooden artifacts and the only intact Titanic deckchair in the world.

“Land of emeralds, rubies and sapphires” was the description of the beauty of Prince Edward Island given by author Lucy Maud Montgomery, famous for having narrated the adventures of red-haired Anne ofGreen Gables in many of her novels. It is precisely here, in the land that is home to many events focused around this literary character – celebrated by festivals and places to visit – that Charlottetown is found, a stop not to be missed on your MSC cruise.

Colonial architecture, elegant Victorian-style buildings, tree-lined avenues, perfectly manicured parks and gardens: the capital of Prince Edward Island is a typical example of an urban English checkerboard layout with a central square with public buildings and four other smaller squares arranged symmetrically around it.

On your MSC cruise, you can take an excursion that passes through the most famous, characteristic places in the city: in Victoria Park, you can enjoy the beautiful view across the sea to Fort Amherst, erected by the British on the remains of Port la Joye to keep watch over the entrance of the bay. Only the embankments
of the fort remain, but visitors can enjoy a wonderful view of the city and an information center where the history of the site is told. Victoria Park is also home to the dignified, white, Neo-classical building known as Government House, one of Charlottetown’s most prestigious buildings designed by local architect Isaac Smith.

The most interesting building in Charlottetown, however, is actually the Provincial House National Historic Site, considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the Maritimes. Completed in 1848 by Isaac Smith, it is the headquarters of the provincial parliament and was the scene, in 1864, of the negotiations that then led to the formation of Canada as a single state. It was at this stage that the city assumed a key role in national federal history, so much so that it was given the nickname of Canada’s birthplace.

Nova Scotia: one of the most spectacular wild landscapes on the Canadian Atlantic coast with its vast green areas is a true paradise for nature lovers who can admire moose, eagles, and go whale watching to see the numerous types of cetaceans that live in the surrounding seas, including whales and dolphins.

Your MSC cruise will take you on the discovery of this beautiful Canadian province, which is also home to some of the oldest cities in North America, such as Sydney.

Located on a fjord of Spanish Bay, Sydney is the largest urban center on the island of Cape Breton, with a past linked to the mining industry. The tourist attractions of the city are mainly related to its cultural heritage from Scotland: its population, in fact, is a diverse mix of nationalities that put on various Canadian cultural events of Scottish or Eastern European origin taking place throughout the year.

On your MSC cruise, you can see the world’s largest violin for yourself (called the Spirit of the Fiddle), one of Sydney’s major attractions, located right on its shoreline. You can also visit the heart
of the island of Cape Breton which contains historical jewels such as the Fortress of Louisbourg, the Glace Bay Miners Museum and the town of Baddeck, located on the shores of Lake Bras d’Or, which houses the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.

The northern part of Cape Breton is dedicated to more adventurous visitors via the infamous Cabot Trail: a scenic roadway of almost 360 km, named in honor of explorer John Cabot, the first European to set foot on the island. The route crosses the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a majestic park where the mountains meet the sea boasting broad-leaved forests, plateaus and a rugged but wonderful coast.

Overlooking stunning Casco Bay in the state of Maine, Portland is a maritime city with an important commercial port that is historically famous but also culturally attractive. With a full nightlife including numerous clubs spread over the harbor front and downtown, Portland is the next stop on your MSC cruise.

The immense Victorian mansions on the Western Promenade are a delight to the eye, along with all the other historic buildings in a city made up of Gothic, Colonial Revival, Mission Revival and Romanesque styles. Not to be missed is the old harbor district and the recently renovated downtown area, with five blocks filled with 19th-century shops and restaurants.

Downtown Portland is also home to some of Maine’s most important museums: the Portland Head Light Museum located in the oldest lighthouse in use in the United States (it’s truly spectacular!), and the Portland Museum of Art with collections by Picasso, Renoir and Monet. For an afternoon of shopping and relaxation, there is nothing better than a walk through Maine Mall, the largest shopping center in the city
.

South of Portland can be found a holiday resort with a population of 1,200 inhabitants: Kennebunkport is another unforgettable stop on your MSC cruise. This small but quaint neighborhood, once known for its shipyards, has become a vacation spot frequented by the rich and affluent such as the Bush family. Do not forget to visit the Portland Observatory, at 138 Congress Street, the last remaining historical warning tower in the United States boasting an incredible view of the coast.

New York is a wonderful port of call for MSC cruise liners on Grand Voyages cruise itineraries. Hidden gardens next to postmodern skyscrapers; priceless art tucked away in medieval-style cloisters; a revamped waterfront you can stroll along to take in the view.

Wandering through the patchwork of neighbourhoods is as great a thrill as any single sight. Frantic Chinatown edges stylish Soho , which is but a stone’s throw from the quiet, angled lanes of the once-bohemian West Village . A perfect espresso in a shabby-chic Williamsburg café, a rooftop view from Chelsea’s High Line or a ride on the “A” to Far Rockaway is worth much more than an “I Love New York” handbag. Cheaper, too, and the memory will last longer.

New York City officially comprises the central island of Manhattan and four outer boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. For many, Manhattan simply is New York; indeed, when your MSC cruise takes you to New York, you’ll probably spend most of your time here. Understanding the intricacies of Manhattan’s layout, especially beyond its grid pattern , and getting a grasp of its transport network should be top priorities during your MSC excursion.
New York is very much a city of neighbourhoods, most compact enough to be explored on foot (at least below 59th Street). On your Grand Voyages cruises to New York, of all America’s symbols, none is more enduring than the Statue of Liberty, looming over the harbour from its pedestal on tiny Liberty Island.
Indeed, there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence than that of Lady Liberty , who stands with torch in hand, clutching a stone tablet. Measuring some 305ft from her pedestal base, she has acted as the figurehead of the American Dream for more than a century.