USA and Canada cruises

The USA features vibrant cities on both east and west coasts, and these are not to be missed. Cunard makes regular visits to New York City, where world-famous sights such as the Empire State Building and Central Park await exploration. North of NYC lies Boston, where a whale-watching tour and The Freedom Trail, a route of historic sites and museums, are at the top of any visitor's list. A cruise along the Californian coast means port calls in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Golden Gate Bridge and the island of Alcatraz are well worth a visit in San Francisco, whereas Los Angeles is home to the stars: walk along Hollywood Boulevard and keep your eyes peeled for celebrities.

Canada offers stunning cities and incredible scenery in equal measure. The western city of Vancouver perfectly blends modern architecture with the great outdoors, offering boat tours and whale watching, museums and markets, beaches and mountains. There's no place better to learn about Canadian history than the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, and Halifax, on the east coast, is the birthplace of Cunard itself.

Cunard's Transatlantic Crossings sail almost all year round, and often these can be sailed in combination with a visit to New England and/or Canada. June, July and August are the best months for warmer weather but, if you don't mind the colder temperatures, a cruise in September or October offers the chance to see the region in its full autumnal glory.

Your suitcase will look quite different depending on where on the continent you visit. Cruises to Central America or the Caribbean often include some USA port calls, such as San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale or New York City. For these, pack layers so you can adjust to the warmer climate, and when it cools on sailing north. Particularly if you sail to New York City, make sure you have one or two warmer jumpers and a coat for when the evenings chill. Seeing the sights on shore is a fantastic experience, so make sure you pack comfortable shoes you can walk long distances in.

If you are cruising New England or Canada, warmer clothes are a must. Bring jumpers, a coat, hat and gloves and warm trousers for the cooler temperatures on deck, and for your on shore experiences. As with all Cunard cruises, don't forget swimwear and formalwear: our pools and spa await, and our Gala Evenings are not to be missed.

Cunard sails to a variety of North American ports, including New York City, Boston and Halifax in the east, Miami in the south, San Francisco in the west and Vancouver and Victoria in the north. For a more complete list of ports, visit our dedicated ports page for the USA and Canada.