Holland America Line will debut three new ports in Québec on its 13-, 14- and 15-day cruises to Canada and New England between May and October 2009. The longer cruises of the Signature-class ms Eurodam and popular ms Maasdam will call at Gaspé, Baie-Comeau and/or Sept-îles, creating new opportunities for guests to enjoy extraordinary scenic, cultural and wildlife watching experiences in Québec.
Together, the five-star Eurodam and Maasdam will offer 21 Canada and New England cruises ranging from seven to 15 days in 2009. Guests will have the choice of sailing from five convenient home ports – Boston, Montréal, Québec City, New York and Fort Lauderdale.
“Gaspé, Baie-Comeau and Sept-îles are fantastic new ports that feature outstanding attractions,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our goal is to introduce guests to a wide range of new outdoor activities and cultural experiences on these cruises, whether on a fall foliage cruise or enjoying a summer family vacation.”
From Gaspé, guests can experience dramatic sea cliffs of Forillon National Park, Bonaventure Island with North America’s largest colony of gannets, and Percé Rock National Park, known for excellent opportunities to see blue, humpback, fin and rorqual whales. Baie-Comeau features the Borealis Center, a maritime adventure park with spectacular landscapes and activities such as hiking, sea kayaking and interpretive cruises.
Sept-îles introduces guests to a native Innu community, providing a unique cultural experience through its historic trading post and Innu museum. The Rail and River Tour takes guests by train along the majestic Moisie River, known for its salmon and unforgettable scenery, to an Innu summer camp where guests enjoy reenactments of tribal customs and a salmon bake.
Maasdam Offers 15 Seven-Day Sailings for Easy Family Cruises
The Maasdam kicks off the 2009 season May 8 with a 15-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Montréal. The 1,258-guest ship calls at Charleston, S.C; Newport, R.I; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island before spending a day each at new ports Gaspé and Sept-îles. The Maasdam then cruises the scenic Saguenay Fjord, calls at Port Saguenay and visits Québec City for two full days before reaching Montréal.
In the fall, the Maadam departs Oct. 10 on a similar 13-day cruise from Montréal to Ft. Lauderdale that features Gaspé and Baie-Comeau. Most ports of call are the same with the addition of Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick and several days at sea from Bar Harbor to Ft. Lauderdale.
From May 23 to Oct. 3, the Maasdam sails 14 seven-day cruises between Montréal and Boston, featuring scenic cruising of the St. Lawrence River and calling at Québec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor. Guests can opt for excursions such as touring Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor by bike, exploring the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse Route near Halifax and joining the popular Anne of Green Gables tour in Charlottetown.
The ship also offers a seven-day, roundtrip cruise from Boston Aug. 29 that calls at Portland, Maine, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney and Bar Harbor.
Eurodam Offers 10-day Cruises, plus 14-day Sailing Featuring Gaspé
Signature-class Eurodam features three 10-day cruises between New York and Québec City departing Aug. 27, Sept. 6 and 16. The 2,104-guest ship calls at Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Québec City for a full day and overnight stay.
On Sept. 26, the Eurodam sails a special 14-day cruise from Québec City to Ft. Lauderdale that features the new port of Gaspé during the peak of fall color. The ship continues to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, cruises the scenic Bay of Islands and calls at Charlottetown, Saint John, Portland, Boston, Newport and New York before sailing for Ft. Lauderdale.
On all of Holland America Line’s Canada and New England cruises, a wide variety of shore excursions offer hundreds of optional tours ranging from soft adventure to culinary experiences. Medallion excursions provide unparalleled access to events and sights not otherwise available. For example, guests can experience a day in the life of a British redcoat at the Halifax Citadel, sail Nova Scotia’s Bras d’Or Lake or enjoy a private luncheon at one of Bar Harbor’s most elegant Victorian summer homes.
Holland America Line offers pre- and post-cruise hotel reservations in Boston, New York, Montréal, Québec City and Fort Lauderdale. It also features a three-night Montreal/Montebello/Ottawa package.
