From Halifax To Boston - History, Seafood And Nature Reserves

Your exciting journey begins with a night in a hotel in Halifax, the cosmopolitan capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It sits in the center of Nova Scotia's east coast and is an important seaport that looks out over one of the world's largest natural harbours. With its red-brick heritage buildings, the landmark Citadel Hill National Historic Site, a historic 1820 brewery and the epic 4-km seafront boardwalk, Halifax makes for a great start to any adventure.

Take a stroll in Halifax Common, Canada’s oldest park which opened in 1763. Visit one of the many museums, like the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which contains a large exhibit of the Titanic. And if you enjoy art, the extensive collection in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is sure to make an impression on you.

In recent years, the city’s nightlife and dining-out scene has grown by leaps and bounds, but to really appreciate it, you’ll need to come here a few days before your cruise starts. Well, you’re in luck because that’s exactly what our Pre-Programme is there to do for you!

After an overnight stay, you’ll have the opportunity to spend the morning exploring Halifax at your own pace. Perhaps you’ll want to drop in at the sizeable Halifax Shopping Centre and purchase some last-minute items for your cruise.

Later on, you’ll join an included excursion that explores some of the highlights around the harbour. We’ll travel along the winding coastal highway known as the Lighthouse Route to the tiny fishing village and unspoiled beauty of Peggy’s Cove. Take time to view what’s said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the world before heading back and boarding hybrid-powered vessel, MS Roald Amundsen.

Once you’ve checked in, you’ll pick up your complimentary expedition jacket and be shown to your cabin. There’s a mandatory safety briefing to attend, but otherwise you can explore the ship and settle in. After we set sail, the Captain will give a welcome address to all guests and you’ll enjoy the first of many sumptuous meals as you get to know your friendly Expedition Team.

Our first stop after Halifax is the long crescent-shaped Sable Island, some 300km to the east. The name comes from the French word for sand, and there are no natural trees on this unusual sandbar island. People come here to see the free-roaming horses, which are descended from horses originally released here in the late 18th century. There are believed to be more than 550 horses here, and the Canadian government gave them full protection from human interference in 1960. In 2011, the island was declared a National Park Reserve.

Due to frequent heavy fog and strong currents, as many as 350 sailing ships are believed to have fallen victim to the long sandbars around the island. Even for our modern navigation equipment, the waters close to the island pose a challenge, especially in unfavourable weather. But don’t worry, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, the ship will try to manoeuvre close enough for you to see the horses from the ship’s deck. Even better if they are trotting and galloping on the beaches. If we are able to go ashore, we’ll see the Sable Island horses at close range, and be on the lookout for harbour and grey seals on the shoreline.

Your first view of UNESCO designated World Heritage Site Lunenburg will be the colourful buildings along the waterfront. With its brightly painted houses and square gardens, the town has barely changed since the 1700s, when it was a British colonial settlement.

You’ll love strolling around the Old Town and soaking up the maritime atmosphere. This antique seaport seems almost preserved in time, and yet there’s nothing old fashioned about the dining options, the galleries and the artisanal shops.

There are great cycling trails nearby for those who would like to explore on two wheels, and rental bikes are readily available from local outfitters. And if you have seen the TV show The Curse of Oak Island, Oak Island is in fact only around 23km away. The island is popular with treasure hunters, and if you visit, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the shipwrecks and treasures talked about on the show.

As we cross from Canadian waters into the USA, the next stop on our expedition cruise is Eastport City on Moose Island. Archaeologists believe the native Passamaquoddy lived here for at least 10,000 years before the first Europeans appeared in 1604. Eastport has the deepest natural harbour on the eastern seaboard of the USA, but never attracted as many settlers as its then rival trading port New York City. We can only imagine what this peaceful New England settlement would have become if history had turned out just a little differently!

Stroll round the historic downtown district to check out the shops, restaurants and cafés. There are local volunteers stationed at different points of interest, and they’ll be more than happy to answer your questions about the town and its history.

While we’re in Passamaquoddy Bay, you may want to go and see Old Sow – a whirlpool believed to be the biggest in the Western hemisphere and named after the ‘squealing’ noise it is said to make as it spins. Some lobster boats offer to take visitors out to experience checking their local lobster traps and to get up close to Old Sow… but not too close. Make sure to also look out for seals, eagles and whales, which are commonly spotted here.

Aside from its five-day international lobster-eating fest each year, Rockland is a usually quiet place of bohemian cafés, pleasant eateries, bijoux art galleries and yes… lobster fishing. In fact, if you’ve ever been served a Maine lobster, chances are it passed through Rockland first.

Art lovers may want to check out the Center for Maine Contemporary Art and the Farnsworth Art Museum, which contains works by Andrew Wyeth and other New England painters. If you’d rather spend your time ashore in the great outdoors, a visit to Camden Hills State Park, some 14km away, offers some hiking trails around Mount Battie.

When night falls, something magical happens. We’ll drop anchor in Castine Harbor, where the unique aquatic ecosystem creates the perfect environment for bioluminescent phytoplankton to thrive. Subject to availability, we have a number of kayaks so that guests can get up close to the natural phenomenon, gliding between the starlit sky and the shimmering water. But kayak or no kayak, it’s still an amazing spectacle and we’ll do our best to make sure everyone can see it, even collecting samples of the glowing water for display in the onboard Science Center.

Perched in Frenchman’s Bay on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor sits at the entrance to Acadia National Park and has views to Cadillac Mountain and the Cranberry Islands.

Its seafood restaurants are said to be among the finest in New England with locally caught lobster, mussels and scallops featuring heavily on menus, often paired with local craft beer. What’s more, there are pleasant ocean-front parks to stroll in, sidewalk cafés and bars to relax in, and many boutiques and art galleries to peruse.

While Bar Harbour boasts true Down East character, it’s the town’s access to the scenery of Acadia National Park that makes it truly special. Most of the park’s 47,000 acres is on Mount Desert Island, consisting of rolling, gently sloping mountains and luxuriant green forests. There is a wide variety of wildlife to look out for, like white-tailed deer, moose, black bears and 300 bird species which includes bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

We’ll be including a hop-on, hop-off bus service that takes you to different sites in the park. Hear the sound of thunder but there are no clouds in the sky? That’s Thunder Hole on the coast, a short walk from Sand Beach. A place to see most of the park’s flora all in one place? You’ll want to head to the Wild Gardens. To really get out and explore Acadia National Park, you can join optional excursions to hike local trails or go kayaking.

Today we’ll arrive at Provincetown, Massachusetts – on the tip of Cape Cod. Also known as ‘P-town’, the small, permanent population here balloons dramatically during the summer months, when people from all over are attracted by the sandy beaches, the restaurants, the art galleries and the progressive atmosphere.

As a matter of fact, Provincetown is something of an artistic hub, and painters, including notables such as Jackson Pollock and Hans Hofman, have been drawn here since the 1940s. They’re attracted by the luminosity of the light and the sense of space, as well as the permissive culture and artistic vibe. As you might expect, the place is packed with galleries featuring many original artists.

The Cape Cod National Seashore protected dunes are within walking distance of the town, and you can explore them on foot or as a possible excursion by dune buggy. For whale watching opportunities, the offshore Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary attracts 17 species of cetacean, including humpbacks and the rare North Atlantic right whales.

It’ll be time for our expedition cruise to come to a close when we sail into Boston. Home to Harvard and legendary baseball team the Red Sox, everyone can find something to love about Boston. This European style city has played a revolutionary role in the history of the US, and with its cobbled streets, its Tea Party attractions and the fascinating Freedom Trail, it’s the perfect place to round off our voyage of discovery.

Just like its people, Boston’s cuisine has a lot of character – you can sample some of its culinary specialities such as seafood chowder, fried clams, or the hearty Yankee pot roast. Of course, you shouldn’t ever visit Boston without paying a visit to the legendary Cheers Bar.

Boston is a big city packed with history and culture, and we recommend that you linger for a while. If you like, you can also book one of our Post-Programmes to explore both the city and its surroundings.