Our guide to New England and Canada cruises

Cruising New England and Canada is simply breathtaking. Calm waters reflect rugged, snow-tipped mountain peaks, lush forests bathed in deep green and golden hues, and cosmopolitan cities packed with fascinating sights and irresistible smells.

 

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or considering your first holiday to the region, read on to discover more about what makes a New England and Canada cruise such a magical experience.

Why cruise to New England and Canada?

New England and Canada cruise ports

At Cunard, our New England and Canada cruises offer a mix of natural beauty, rich culture and history. If you so choose, you can leave the busy cities behind and take in the rugged natural landscape of the plentiful National Parks. However, a cruise to New England and Canada is so much more than scenic splendour alone, as every port is packed full of cultural, culinary and architectural delights.

Boston, USA

Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts and New England's most famous. Located in a natural harbour full of significant historic sites, including The Freedom Trail, a visit here is truly historic.

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Sydney, Canada

Off the east coast of Canada lies a group of large islands that make up the region of Nova Scotia. The port of Sydney is at the end of a long waterway to Canada’s ocean gateway to Cape Breton Island.

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Quebec City, Canada

Sailing into Quebec City, you arrive at the oldest inland port in Canada, just minutes from the city centre. As you head inland to explore the Old Town, you begin to sense a unique history and romance.

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New England and Canada cruise highlights

New England and Canada cruise sights

Cultural and capital highlights

New England and Canada food highlights

New England and Canada Shore Experiences

New England & Canada festivals and events

New England and Canada cruise seasons

 

The cruise season in New England and Canada typically runs from May to October, with the most popular cruising period taking place in autumn. The trees begin to shift into their renowned fall colours, and the weather is crisp and cool – perfect for a leisurely afternoon watching the beautiful coastline drift by while cosily wrapped up on deck.

 

Summer – June, July, August

 

While summer in New England and Canada may enjoy fewer rainy days and more abundant sunshine, evenings are still cool. Daytime average highs reach around 20 degrees Celsius, with evenings dipping to around 12-15 degrees Celsius, making it a very comfortable time to travel.

 

Autumn – September, October, November

 

Autumn in New England and Canada ushers in the peak season for cruising, with cool, crisp days interspersed with more frequent showers and the first snowfalls arriving in November. Temperatures can change rapidly, with the daily average temperature dropping from a comfortable 19 degrees Celsius in September to a brisk -5 in November.

 

Winter – December, January, February

 

While not the traditional season for cruising, visiting New England and Canada in the winter months provides a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the plentiful snowfall and visit some of the numerous ski mountains close to Quebec City, such as Stoneham Mountain Resort or Mont-Tremblant. Temperatures often dip well below freezing, with an average daytime temperature of -5 to -15 degrees Celsius during the day.

 

Spring – March, April, May

 

While still a quiet period for cruising, the end of spring heralds the beginning of the tourism period, with temperatures slowly rising to reach around 15-19 degrees Celsius in May. Even though rain showers are still frequent, quick spells of sunshine signal the arrival of summer.

Terms and conditions

** GENERAL TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL PARTS OF THE CUNARD LAUNCH OFFER (collectively, “Offer[s]”):  Offer is available to residents of the 50 United States/District of Columbia, Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Mexico who are 21 years of age or older. Offers have limited availability, are for new bookings only, are only for the first two guests in a stateroom (excludes third and fourth guests), are capacity controlled (regardless of stateroom availability), are subject to change, and may not be combined with other offers or promotions (aside from those listed herein). All advertised cruise fares are inclusive of government-imposed taxes and fees. Government-imposed taxes and fees include but are not limited to any and all fees, tolls and taxes imposed by a governmental authority such as wharfage, head taxes, dockage, Panama Canal tolls, US Customs fees, immigration and naturalization fees, government inspection fees, hotel or VAT taxes as part of a land tour, air taxes, and similar government-imposed taxes and fees for the performance of the cruise. Government-imposed taxes and fees are subject to change and Cunard Line (“Cunard”) reserves the right to collect any increases in effect at the time of sailing even if the fare has already been paid in full. Changes or refunds may not be permitted. Offers and their parts (if any) are not transferable, not substitutable, and not redeemable for cash. Cunard is not responsible or liable for printing or other errors. Cunard may change or revoke Offers at any time. A deposit is required for all stateroom guests, and the deposit amount varies according to the cruise length, stateroom type, and number of guests. Fares and credit amounts are all quoted in U.S. Dollars. Reference promo codes: NL1, N8B and N8C. Please refer to Cunard.com/Disclaimer for terms, conditions, and details that apply to all bookings and reservations. 

 

10% Discount Introductory Offer- Savings apply to Cruise Fare portion of Fare and excludes Government Taxes & Fees and Required Cruise Fees & Expenses and Cunard Signature Packages. Guests must book Cunard Fare to receive the discount. Actual discount amount is determined by voyage and stateroom category and applies to cruise fare only (excluding other cruise-related travel expenses). Offer available on Cunard’s new voyages departing between April 16, 2028 and January 4, 2029. Fares are subject to standard Cunard.com terms and conditions. Guests paying single occupancy supplement receive the same discount percentage. Offers applicable to new reservations booked between May 18 and June 30, 2026. Reference promo code: NL1/N8C/N8B.

Onboard Credit Offer – Up to $600 Onboard Credit per stateroom ($300 per person): Offer is based on reserving a Balcony stateroom on voyages 10 to 20 nights. The OBC amounts vary by voyage length and category booked. OBC offer does not apply to third/fourth berth guests. Guests in single occupancy staterooms or guests paying the single occupancy supplement receive the per-person OBC amount applicable to the category booked. OBC must be used on the single voyage it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used for the casino or medical center, and expires at the end of that cruise. Offer is not transferable and may not be combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits. Please see below for Onboard Credit amounts given per person. Offers applicable to new reservations booked between May 18 and September 9, 2026. Reference promo code: NL1/N8B.

 

 

 

Included Hotel & Dining Service Charges for Grill Suites Offer - Guests booking this Offer will have their discretionary Hotel & Dining Service Charges pre-paid by Cunard in the amount of US$19.00 per person, per day. Offer is only available for first two guests in Grill Suites. Other onboard service charges for onboard products and services that are not part of the voyage fare such as Alternative Dining, Specialty Food Items, Drinks, Corkage Fee, Private Group Functions, and Salon and Spa Services are not covered by this Offer and will automatically be charged to the guests’ onboard account. No cash value. Reference promo code: HG2.

What to pack for a New England and Canada cruise

Shore Experiences

Days on board

Evening wear

Read our cruise packing guide for more helpful suggestions on the types of clothing to include in your luggage, Gala Evening theme ideas, and a list of must-haves for a Cunard cruise.

Explore New England and Canada

New England and Canada, with Cunard

Explore our current voyages to this stunning region, including local routes from New York or an unmissable combination with a Transatlantic Crossing.

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New England and Canada Shore Experiences

Whether you seek adventure, local cuisine or cultural insight, Cunard's hand-picked selection of shore experiences are ripe with options for you to choose from.

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