Capitals of Eastern Canada and the St. Lawrence River

Day 1 (Door to Door)

Arrive Toronto (2)

Enjoy your private car door to door transfer to your departure airport before your scheduled flight to Toronto, where a transfer is provided to your first hotel. Join us at 6pm for a Welcome Drink at the hotel.
Hotel: Fairmont Royal York Hotel (MD)

Day 2

Toronto sightseeing and Niagara Falls excursion

This morning we explore cosmopolitan Toronto, rising to the top of the CN Tower and viewing Toronto from four different lookout levels. Travelling up stately University Avenue, we see Ontario's Parliament buildings, Queen's Park and the city's museum row. We then move on to one of the world's great natural wonders, Niagara Falls to enjoy close-up views of the falls on the Maid of the Mist cruise before browsing the shops and galleries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. (FB)
Hotel: Fairmont Royal York Hotel (MD)

Day 3

Toronto - Ottawa

We travel north along the shores of Lake Ontario to Canada's first capital, Kingston. Our orientation tour shows us the numerous historic buildings, churches, picturesque neighbourhoods and 19th century fortifications. We arrive in Ottawa, the nation's capital, and visit the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada's largest and most popular cultural institution. This evening, our Tour Director offers a selection of restaurants for our dining pleasure. (FB)
Hotel: Fairmont Chateau Laurier (D)

Day 4

Ottawa - Quebec City (2)

This morning we enjoy an orientation tour of Ottawa, famous for its stately boulevards, imposing buildings and tulip-filled gardens during the spring. We see the greenpeaked roofs of the Parliament, the Royal Canadian Mint, City Hall and the National Art Gallery. Then we follow the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City, the first French settlement in North America. This evening is at leisure to enjoy this romantic city. (FB)
Hotel: Hilton Quebec (MD)

Day 5

Quebec City sightseeing

We join a local guide who will show us the charm of this historic city, with its Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, ramparts, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place Royale and Citadel. Then we venture north to visit the shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, the first pilgrimage shrine in North America, and the spectacular Montmorency Falls, before returning to Quebec City. (FB)
Hotel: Hilton Quebec (MD)

Day 6

Quebec City - Montreal

We continue to Quebec's largest city, Montreal. On a locally guided tour we admire the city's diversity, from the grand mansions of Mount Royal to the modern downtown area. We see the historic old town of Vieux Montreal with its cobblestone streets and the Old Port. We visit dramatic Notre-Dame Basilica with its glorious stained-glass windows depicting Montreal's religious history. This evening, bid, "au revoir" to your Tour Director with a delicious Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant in Old Montreal. (FB, HD)
Hotel: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (D)

Day 7

Depart Montreal - St Lawrence River cruise

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Montreal before joining the Canada and New England Discovery Cruise aboard Holland America Line's ms Maasdam. (FB, D)

Day 8

Cruising - Quebec City

Today we can explore the city or beyond. Available activities include biking at Montmorency Falls, wine-tasting at Canyon Sainte-Anne and rafting down the Jacques-Cartier River. (FB, L, D)

Day 9

Cruising - The Gulf of St Lawrence

The lifeblood of French Canada, the St. Lawrence River delivered explorer Jacques Cartier to indigenous peoples in 1534. Today it will deliver us to majestic landscapes, rich aquatic life and multiple species of whales that feed at the St. Lawrence Estuary. (FB, L, D)

Day 10

Cruising - Charlottetown

We call in at Charlottetown, where red double-decker buses motor along streets lined with Victorian houses. Perhaps join an optional excursion to Cavendish, with ample time to visit the Anne of Green Gables homestead and Prince Edward Island National Park for a leisurely walk along the boardwalk. (FB, L, D)

Day 11

Cruising - Sydney

Alexander Graham Bell observed, "I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes and the Alps, and the Highlands of Scotland; but for simply beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all." Perhaps join an optional shore excursion along the 184-mile-long Cabot Trail, or be a soldier for the day at Louisbourg. (FB, L, D)

Day 12

Cruising - Halifax

Lighthouses stand sentinel on cliff-side ledges; tiny villages huddle in rocky inlets; lobsters make it from the ocean to your plate in record time - all in Nova Scotia. In Halifax, the ramparts of the Citadel defend the city and await your inspection. (FB, L, D)

Day 13

Cruising - Bar Harbor

Tucked into a cove by Acadia National Park is Bar Harbor, a quintessential New England coastal town where we can enjoy an optional bike ride or kayak adventure or participate in a lobster bake and chew on hand-stretched taffy from an upscale boutique. (FB, L, D)

Day 14

Depart Boston

First thing this morning we are transferred to the hotel in Boston, for passengers wishing to extend their stay, or Boston Logan International Airport for the return flight back to the UK. If you are arranging your own flights please do not schedule them before noon. Please note that flights to the UK will generally depart in the evening. (FB)

Day 15 (Door to Door)

Arrive UK

On arrival at your UK airport, your driver will greet you and escort you to your waiting private car for your door to door transfer to your home.

Please note that on one of the evenings on board your cruise ship a formal dress code will apply.

Dates and prices

Destination Info

Overall customer rating 5 () 2 Reviews

• • Product :
    recognise that parts of the tour, mostly on the Nova Scotia side governed by the locations available. But some were rather poor: eg Sydney and Bar Harbor which offered little of great interest. The remainder of the tour including the standard of the hotels, the facilities on board ship etc were first class. Some of the optional excursions were rather pricey. Overall a very good tour even to the point that an accounting error involving a double payment was satisfatorily resolved.

  • Service Rating :
    A professional service with the specialist tour advisor readily at hand both by e-mail and telephone.
    

  • Response :
    Thank you for your kind words. Our Personal Travel Consultants really help make the whole experience first class and try their best, to give you as much information as you need.
    
    It is unfortunate the you did not enjoy some aspects of your tour; however, we are pleased to read that the reminder of your tour you found to be first class. It is positive news that the accounting error was resolved.
    
    We look forward to welcoming you onto another Milestones holiday.
    
    
    
    
    Kind Regards
    Shasheen Norton-Laver
    Customer Relations

  • Left 127 days ago

• • Product :
    Need for a classification between GOOD and POOR as I would class this tour as MODERATE. Uses excellent hotels in good locations and all the capitals are interesting and well worth a visit.. Comfortable coaching but long travel distances mean too much time spent sitting on a coach! Our guide was a 'control freak' and she did not allow for any independence. Throroughly enjoyed the cruise from Montreal to Boston even though bad weather prevented us from docking at Prince Edward Island and Charlottetown - bonus was extra time in Halifax!.

  • Service Rating :
    Easy booking process and prompt delivery of tickets and other relevant infoirmation.
    

  • Response :
    Thank you for your comments. We take all comments seriously good and bad. I am glad you enjoyed the hotels you stayed in, we have improved our products further for 2012 including even more upgrades to our hotels and I hope you will join us again in the near future.
    
    Chris Fundell
    Marketing Manager

  • Left 128 days ago