VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Who goes there: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean.
Cruisers like: The beautiful city of Vancouver is often ranked as one of the top cities in North America, if not the world. It is Canada’s third largest city with over 600,000 inhabitants. With the backdrop of beautiful West Coast mountains, and wildlife and rugged coastline just within reach it is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Stretch your legs and take in the clean, crisp air at Stanley Park, an evergreen oasis of 1,000 acres close to the downtown core. Go shopping in the charming Gastown district, on Robson Street, or at the Pacific Centre mall. For adventure, conquer the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, and FlyOver Canada virtual ride at Canada Place. Vancouver boasts exciting nightlife and festivals, as well as fabulous restaurants and international cuisine, Head for some of the world’s best dim sum at Chinatown. With a Chinese “minority” population second only to San Francisco’s, Mandarin and Cantonese are the mother tongues in 30 per cent of Vancouver homes. You’ll find interesting markets with fresh and dried seafood and mushrooms and traditional Chinese medicine. If you’re staying longer, visit British Columbia’s capital Victoria, on Vancouver Island; or the famed Jasper National Park and Banff National Park on the BC-Alberta border.
Best for: Nature and wilderness lovers, adventurers, history buffs, foodies.
Getting around: The Canada Place cruise terminal is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver in close proximity to entertainment, restaurants, shopping and attractions, and is only 30 minutes from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Public transportation, taxi service, shuttles, limousines and long and short-term parking are available for passengers. You’ll find the city is connected by Skytrain, Seabus and public bus as well as the Vancouver Trolley Hop-on Hop-off Tour.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Who goes there: AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, Haimark Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O World Cruises, Pearl Seas Cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking Cruises.
Cruisers like: Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Gorgeous coastal scenery begins just outside the city limits, but the picturesque waterfront is also a delight to explore on foot. Stroll the boardwalk that zigzags along the harbour, lined with shops, restaurants, attractions and pubs featuring live music. Pick up a hand-cut piece of some of the world’s finest Nova Scotian crystal. Visit the oldest running Farmer’s Market in North America, a maze of underground halls and passageways around the Alexander Keith brewery, with buskers playing and stalls selling souvenirs, international cuisine, plus fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood. Close to the cruise terminal, Pier 21 is the modern Canadian Immigration Museum where many of Canada’s ancestors were processed. Halifax also has a strong connection to the sinking of the Titanic since three of the city’s ships were sent to recover bodies. At the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic you can view artifacts from the Titanic including a deck chair from the ship and you can visit the graves of 121 of the victims at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. Hungry? Don’t miss the fried fish sandwich stand near the Maritime Museum. Sweets fans will love Rum Runners Rum Cake Factory and Sugah! Candy shop at Bishop’s Landing. In town, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia boasts an acclaimed collection of folk art. Enjoy a free summer concert at the gazebo in the Halifax Public Gardens, and city and harbour views from the top of the Halifax Citadel. Halifax is surrounded by quaint fishing villages. Take the ferry across the harbour to Dartmouth and visit the World Peace Pavilion. Rent a car and drive to Lunenburg, a 17th Century UNESCO World Heritage Site; see the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, or dine on lobster in the Bay of Fundy
Best for: Maritime and history buffs (especially those interested in Titanic), live music fans, foodies, shoppers.
Getting around: Passengers are greeted by the skirl of bagpipes as the 78th Highlanders perform the traditional dockside greeting. Taxis line up outside the terminal. Car rentals are not available at the piers but you can rent a bike or take a Segway tour.
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC
Who goes there: Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn.
Cruisers like: Quebec is delightful for red fall foliage and spring and summer green. French is the native tongue and Quebec is home to charming pedestrian-friendly plazas and squares, and locals with every French trait (think baguettes in bicycle baskets) except attitude. Rusted 300+year old cannon balls lodged in trees and buildings in the Old City speak to battles between the French, British, Americans and native peoples. Quebec remains the only walled city in North America. The St. Lawrence River flows through the old town into the Atlantic, and Quebec is framed by the Laurentian Mountains to the north and the Appalachian foothills to the south. Fifteen minutes from town you’ll enter the fascinating world of the Huron-Wendat Indians. Not much further are the landscapes of rustic island Ile d’Orléans, the Beaupré Coast and the Montmorency Falls (higher than Niagara), as well as the pilgrimage destination, the Basilica of Ste-Anne de Beaupré. Quebec is foodie heaven. The narrow streets of the Old City are lined with charming cafes. Fine dining restaurants offer delicious French-Canadian cuisine including rabbit dishes. Try a basic meat pie, or a poutine – French fries with gravy and cheese. Shoppers can pick up fresh, crisp apples at Marché du Vieux-Port Farmers’ markets, purchase handcrafted native leather goods and see street performers and glass blowing in the Old Town. Find a treasure in the galleries along Rue de Tresor (Treasure Street), or head to Place Laurier, the largest mall in eastern Canada.
Best for: Foodies, Francophiles, history and culture buffs
Getting around: The cruise terminal is at Lower Town, in the heart of the Old City, a quick walk from Upper Town and Place Royale, the Musée de la Civilisation, the Château Frontenac (one of the world’s great hotels) and the Petit Champlain. The Old Quebec Funicular or the Ecolobus will also get you to Upper Town. Cabs and car rental agencies will pick up and drop off at the terminal.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
Who goes there: American Canadian Caribbean Line, Aida Cruises, Global Maritime Group, Seabourn, Hapag-Lloyd, Oceania Cruises, Pearl Seas Cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Rivages du Monde, Viking Cruises.
Cruisers like: Like Quebec, Montreal has Gallic charm – lively cobblestone streets with sidewalk sunny cafes, French street signs, upscale boutiques, and wrought-iron balcony railings – but the city is truly multicultural and the friendly residents are happy to speak English with visitors. Visit Vieux-Montreal, also known as Old Montreal, and stroll along the waterfront or sign up for jet boat rides and sunset harbour cruises. Pick up French pastries, magazines and wine, as well as local bagels and maple syrup. Montreal is a shopper’s delight. Crescent, de la Montagne and Sherbrooke Streets offer high-end, designer fashion and décor boutiques, international shops, art galleries, jewellers and fine dining. In the downtown area you’ll find major malls like the Eaton Center and boulevard St.-Laurent. In the funky Quartier Latin, the underground passageways are lined with more than 1,000 stores. Montreal’s culture is palpable. The ambient Museum Quarter features the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and buildings with historical and architectural richness spilling over into surrounding streets. Don’t miss the ornate Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal, an early 19th-century cathedral. And, of course, the city is famous for its comedy clubs. Montreal features more than 600 kilometres of bike paths. Bike, walk or even take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Parc du Mont-Royal – nearly 500 acres of forest and winding paths atop the mountain in the heart of Montreal. Families will love the penguins at the Biodome zoo and environmental museum; as well as the nearby Botanical Gardens and Planetarium.
Best for: Nature lovers, culture vultures, shoppers, Francophiles, comedy fans.
Getting around: Cruise ships pull into the dock in the heart of Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), within walking distance of restaurants, bars, boutiques and historical sites. Use the Shuttle service or a taxi from the dock into town or to the airport. The sleek Metro and public bus service are excellent – try a tourist pass.