Canada in the Fall - S2321 Borealis departing 3 Oct 2023

Facilities in Liverpool are constantly being improved to make boarding, stopping off or leaving your cruise ship easy, enjoyable and stress-free.

The capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich, colourful history. St. John’s has oodles of old world charm, interesting architecture, historic landmarks, beautiful countryside and a cultural scene as fresh as the Atlantic.

St. John’s first permanent settlers were the British in the mid-18th century, and North America’s oldest city has long been an exploration gateway to the Avalon Peninsula, Cape Spear and the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. To this day, St. John’s is much-loved by visitors who arrive for the chance to see indigenous wildlife such as puffins, whales and other natural wonders.

St. John’s jelly-bean-coloured houses line hilly streets, and the city is home to artists, musicians, and wonderful, cutting-edge eateries. The Downtown district typically offers the best food, pubs, entertainment and shopping, while Signal Hill, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, provides incredible views of the spectacular harbour and surrounding areas.

The traditional French-speaking town of Havre St Pierre on the Saint Lawrence River’s north shore is a true expression of rural Canada.

Known locally as Pointe-aux-Esquimau, this Quebec port was first settled by French-speaking American settlers, Acadians, and the quaint fishing and lumbering centre boasts pretty landscapes, charming little avenues plus an extensive heritage.

The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is spread over 30 limestone islands and features over 1000 granite islets, reefs and stunning rock formations. This incredible land is home to an abundance of wildlife including whales, seals and puffins. Local fishing for snow crab, scallops and lobster is also popular.

Located on the banks of the beautiful Saint-Lawrence River, Baie-Comeau is one of Canada’s hidden gems built on history and heritage. The region’s landscape has been shaped by glacial retreats and extraordinary natural phenomena – the immense Manicouagan crater is an extraordinary sight.

Smothered with forests, this busy industrial city supplies Quebec with large quantities of hydroelectricity from the impressive Manicouagan Reservoir dam.

Journeying further into the city centre, away from the busy port-side industries, a calm, peaceful city where quaint cafes and pretty theatres await. The delightful old-town district, known as Vieux-Poste, was established in 1889. Formerly the village of Saint-Eugène-de-Manicouagan, it boasts the oak-framed, stained-glass wonder of the Anglican church of St Andrew, and the pink-granited Sainte-Amélie Church.

Perched atop a cliff that swoops down to the St. Lawrence River, Québec is the only walled city on the American continent north of Mexico. The Canadian city is so akin to old European towns that it’s hard to believe this mainly French speaking city is actually in North America.Québec’s style and incredible architecture is unique to this part of the world, which makes this intriguing city ripe for exploration. A stroll along the streets of the Latin Quarter and past the historic fortifications and stone houses of Old Québec, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides a real flavour of the city. This area is home to the world’s most photographed hotel, the Château Frontenac.Show less
The picturesque Place Royal plaza is considered the birthplace of French civilization in North America and the first permanent settlement in New France. Québec’s famous entertainment comes to life in the summer, when musicians, acrobats and actors in period costume take to the streets, and festivals fill the air with fireworks. The city’s Winter Carnival is arguably the biggest and most colourful festival around. A visit to the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, where views of the impressive 83-metre high Montmorency Falls are found, is a must – the falls are actually higher and narrower than Niagara.

Despite being almost completely destroyed by fire in 1908, leaving barely any historic buildings or monuments, Trois-Rivières has blossomed into one of Quebec’s most exciting and cosmopolitan cities.From motor races to musicals, there is much to enjoy. Trois-Rivières’ museums celebrate Canada’s paper, flour milling and metal working industries: the harbour front Boréalis Museum traces the history of the local paper industry, and its underground vault reveals a mysterious trail and a forgotten world that is highly recommended by visitors. In contrast, the Promenade de la Poésie, punctuated with more than 300 panels displaying love poems, is a delightful walk. The city is a thriving cultural centre with cafés, bars, artists’ workshops, galleries and places to shop. There is the Quebec Museum of Folk Culture, and the 19th century Vieille Prison de Trois-Rivières is a haunted museum where tours are led by former inmates. The bustling Harbourfront Park has beautiful unobstructed views of the Saint-Laurent River as well as several stalls, terraces and restaurants.

Port of call on the St. Lawrence route, Saguenay welcomes several cruise ships every year. With its majestic fiord, unique in North America.

The city of Corner Brook is an historic Canadian city located on the west coast of Newfoundland. Corner Brook is lauded for its fishing, railway and paper industries. It is also steeped in history, and boasts the Captain James Cook Monument, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites.

The downtown area is a maze of interlocking brick sidewalks, open green spaces and lots of shops, galleries and restaurants. Although the town is pretty and sleepy, for more adventurous types, there are plenty of outdoor pursuits to try. Marble Mountain Ski Resort is on the doorstep, as is some wonderfully rugged terrain to explore.

From beautiful coastlines to a fascinating industrial heritage, Belfast is a modern, vibrant and stylish city. Famous for being the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, Northern Ireland’s capital offers visitors the chance to visit the Harland and Wolff shipyard and the fascinating Titanic Experience. Only in Belfast can the Titanic story be traced to its source, and the excitement of an era when the city was at the height of its powers relived.

Close to Queen’s University lie the fascinating Botanical Gardens, established for over 180 years. The unique Palm House was one of the world’s first cast-iron glass-houses and displays a wide range of tropical plants, ranging from bananas to rubber. Alongside, the Renaissance-styled Ulster Museum tells Ireland’s 9,000-year history through art, ceramics, costume, and prehistoric archaeology. To the city’s northern edge is the impressive Belfast Castle, offering wonderful views of the city as it stands 120m above the Irish Sea.Show less
Belfast is also perfectly placed to discover the stunning Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and an incredible natural wonder steeped in myths and legends.

Facilities in Liverpool are constantly being improved to make boarding, stopping off or leaving your cruise ship easy, enjoyable and stress-free.