6 reasons to cruise in Canada

World's Longest Coastline — St. Lawrence Whales, Icebergs, Niagara & the Northwest Passage

Quick Summary

Canada has the longest coastline in the world — 243,781 kilometres — and three oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic. From whale watching on the St. Lawrence to cruising through Iceberg Alley, from the thundering power of Niagara Falls to expedition voyages through the legendary Northwest Passage, Canada offers some of the world's most spectacular cruising experiences.

Quick Facts

1. 1,000 Islands, Ontario — Lost Ships Cruise

Wind along the St. Lawrence River in search of 400 years' worth of long-lost schooners, barges, and freighters. The Gananoque Boat Line's Lost Ships of the 1,000 Islands Cruise takes you through one of North America's most scenic waterways, dotted with over 1,800 islands and centuries of maritime history beneath the surface.

• Explore shipwrecks dating back four centuries
• Navigate between 1,800+ islands
• Historic castles and millionaires' retreats along the shore

2. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador — Iceberg Alley

Cruise through The Narrows out of St. John's and into Iceberg Alley. Here you can see and hear massive icebergs breaking apart (calving) — chunks breaking off with thunderous cracks. These ancient ice giants, some 10,000+ years old, drift down from Greenland's glaciers. Finish the day with a shot of vodka made from 10,000-year-old iceberg water.

• Best viewing: late spring to early summer (May-June)
• Icebergs some reaching 15 storeys tall
• Spot whales, seabirds, and puffins alongside icebergs

3. Saguenay-St. Lawrence, Québec — Whale Watching

North of Québec City, take in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence River on a whale-watching expedition up to Tadoussac Bay. This is one of the world's top whale watching destinations where the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Saguenay Fjord meet the St. Lawrence, creating a feeding ground that attracts multiple whale species.

• Spot minke whales, humpbacks, and occasionally blue whales
• Three species of seals
• Visit charming French-Canadian villages along the way
• Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park protects this rich ecosystem

4. Northwest Passage, Nunavut — Arctic Expedition

Add this one to the life list: a cruise through the Northwest Passage at the top of Canada in Nunavut. This legendary Arctic route, sought by explorers for centuries, offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one of Earth's most remote and pristine regions.

• Immerse in Inuit culture and communities
• Spot polar bears in their natural habitat
• See narwhal — the "unicorn of the sea"
• Seals and Arctic seabirds
• Dramatic glaciers and ice-carved landscapes

5. Niagara, Ontario — Voyage to the Falls

Hornblower Canada's Voyage to the Falls takes you right up close to one of the world's most powerful waterfalls. Feel the thunder of six million cubic feet of water per minute crashing down. Stand next to the 173-foot drop at Horseshoe Falls — an unforgettable experience of nature's raw power.

• Get drenched by the mist at the base of the falls
• Catamaran cruises operate from May to October
• Evening cruises for illuminated falls

6. Québec City — St. Lawrence Luxury Cruises

Over 500,000 passengers have travelled the St. Lawrence River in luxury over the years. Cruise ships navigate up the St. Lawrence to historic Québec City from summer through mid-fall. Routes cover the Atlantic seaboard, connecting to New England, New York, Boston, Miami, and even Greenland. 

• Cruise past Montmorency Falls (1.5x taller than Niagara)
• Explore 400-year-old Québec City — UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Connect to Atlantic Canada, New England, and beyond