For many, it might be unexpected, but cruising is an incredibly enjoyable and unique way to explore New England, especially during fall when the foliage is brilliantly colorful. Plus, many cruise itineraries in New England also include stops in Canada. Popular ports often visited include Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Quebec City.

If you’re thinking about embarking on a cruise through New England and Canada, you’ll find a wide range of options. Whether you prefer large cruise ships or smaller, more intimate vessels, there are numerous ways to explore the region. Check out these leading cruise lines offering New England voyages.

1. Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has officially established Boston as one of its homeports, now offering itineraries of seven, ten, and seventeen days to New England and Canada from Massachusetts aboard the 3,080-passenger Emerald Princess. Cruises to New England and Canada can also be boarded from New York City and Quebec City.

Your cruise itinerary may include a mix of ports throughout New England and Canada, with stops in places like Boston, Bar Harbor in the U.S., and Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, and Quebec City in Canada. For those with a spirit of adventure, Princess also offers a 17-day round-trip voyage from Boston to Greenland.

2. Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of New England and Canada cruise itineraries from ports like Boston, Baltimore, and Cape Liberty in New Jersey. With cruises lasting from four to nine nights, you can easily plan a quick getaway or an extended vacation. Potential stops include Maine, Nova Scotia, and Halifax among others.

3. Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line’s itineraries for New England and Canada feature sailings that take you from Maine to Nova Scotia. Departures are available from various ports, including Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Quebec City. Their cruises range from five to eight days as well as longer options of nine to fourteen days, providing ample time to enjoy areas like Boston, Bar Harbor, or Halifax.

4. American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines specializes in personalized New England cruises that allow passengers to delve deeply into various regions of New England and Canada. This approach enables you to explore well-known attractions as well as hidden gems that larger cruise lines may overlook.

The nine-day Maine Coast and Harbors cruise features stops in Portland, Bangor, Boothbay Harbor, Castine, and offers scenic cruising along Maine’s coastline. The eight-day Cape Codder cruise visits Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown, and Newport. Additionally, for a more extended experience, the 15-day Fall Foliage cruise sails from Maine to New York.

5. Celebrity Cruises

Although Celebrity Cruises has fewer New England options compared to some other cruise lines, the ones it offers are certainly worthwhile for those looking for a longer adventure. Their itineraries consist of 10- or 11-night round-trip voyages from Boston, visiting various ports, including Halifax, Charlottetown, Portland, and Quebec City.

6. Holland America

Holland America offers cruises from Boston, Quebec City, and Montreal, featuring popular stops in Nova Scotia and Maine. Their shore excursions accommodate various vacation styles, ranging from adventurous hikes in Acadia National Park to culinary tours in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The cruise line’s itineraries run through the mid-fall season as well as during spring and summer. New England cruises typically last between seven to fifteen days, with an incredible 25-day voyage that includes visits to Greenland and Iceland.

7. Oceania Cruises

If you’ve previously enjoyed New England cruises and want to explore some lesser-known ports, Oceania Cruises may be your next adventure. They offer stops at unique destinations like Baie-Comeau and Gaspé in Quebec, Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, and Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

Oceania’s New England and Canada cruises depart in August, September, and October, with both one-way and round-trip options from New York, Boston, and Montreal. The durations of these sailings range from 10 to 12 days, featuring ships like the 1,200-passenger Allura and the 684-passenger Nautica and Insignia.

8. Seabourn Cruise Line

For a yacht-style cruise experience, look into Seabourn’s Canada and New England options. Most of their itineraries begin in Montreal, focusing largely on Canadian ports, with a few destinations in New England, including stops in Boston and possibly Provincetown, Newport, or Martha’s Vineyard.

9. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

With access to four New England ports and several in Canada, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers curated excursions that highlight the region’s beauty. Ports like Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, Bar Harbor, and Portland feature themed cruises, such as Lighthouses and Lobster Rolls, along with various fall foliage tours. Popular ships include the 744-passenger Seven Seas Grandeur and the 746-passenger Seven Seas Splendor.

10. Silversea Cruises

For a more personal New England cruising adventure, consider Silversea Cruises. With a crew-to-guest ratio of almost 1:1, their small ships can reach ports that larger vessels cannot. Their 10- and 11-day itineraries include visits to Newport, Portland, and Quebec City.

11. Windstar Cruises

If your dream New England cruise incorporates multiple Canadian stops, then Windstar Cruises is worth checking out. While they do feature ports like Boston and Portland, the majority of their stops will be in Canada. For instance, their 11-day Southeast Canadian Explorations cruise includes Halifax and Quebec City, along with less-frequented spots like Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and Gaspé, Quebec.

12. Viking Cruises

If you’re seeking a New England cruise that also allows for some sunny destinations, consider Viking Cruises. Their 15-day Canada and New England Scenic Shores cruise takes travelers to Fort Lauderdale as well. For those wanting a one-way journey with a tropical twist after exploring Canada, this itinerary starts in Montreal, making stops at various Canadian ports before reaching Bar Harbor, Portland, and Newport, then continuing down the East Coast to Florida.

You can embark on a reverse sailing journey from Florida to Canada.

Viking also offers 13-day cruise options called Eastern Seaboard Discovery and Eastern Seaboard Explorer, which provide one-way trips from Boston to Montreal. Sailings in New England are featured on either the Viking Mars or the Viking Neptune, each accommodating 930 passengers.

The beauty of New England in autumn: This piece originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com and highlights 12 cruise lines that showcase the region during its most exquisite season.

The insights and views in this column are solely those of the author and may not align with the opinions of YSL News. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are part of Vacationist Media LLC. Utilizing the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation method, we evaluate and curate ideas for family vacations, destinations, all-inclusive resorts, and classic trips that cater to all ages. TourScoop specializes in group tours, tour operators, tour reviews, travel itineraries, and gear suggestions.