Best line to cruise New England/Canada

[KKB]

I know Princess is considered the best in AK...

Is there one line that does New England better than others? 

(we have sailed several lines so aren't picky!)

[GTJ]

"Better" is a subjective term, and dependent on the criteria used in judging. Princess Cruises is clearly "best" in Alaska if the sole criterion is the number of cruises scheduled to transport passengers between Vancouver and any of the ports serving Anchorage. If that same criterion were to be applied to New England, then the "best" cruise line would be Holland America Line, given the number of sailings it makes between Boston and Montréal (plus a few additional itineraries only so far as Québec and/or repositioning to or from Fort Lauderdale). Their season extends from mid-April through early October; most other lines sail this route only in autumn.

Edited December 30, 2022 by GTJ

[shipgeeks]

KKB, as noted above, it's hard for anyone to say what would be "best" for you. Some things you might want to consider:

Is flying to one place or another, to begin the cruise, better for you?  Baltimore, Boston, New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn?

Smaller ship, larger ship?

Would you like to sail all the way to Montreal or Quebec, or a shorter loop that takes in Boston, Halifax, Saint John, etc.?  Are there any ports that you would especially like to visit?

More formal (Cunard) or casual (NCL)?

Length of cruise?

 

[CCJack]

I am also interested in booking our first cruise to this area, although we have sailed on many cruises elsewhere (mostly on Celebrity and  RCCL, but some on Cunard, NCL)   

 

We are interested in a one way cruise that includes Quebec City.   It seems like the ships that mostly do this are NCL Pearl, NCL Joy, HAL Zuiderdam, RCCL Jewel OTS, and Princess Caribbean Princess. 

 

Leaning towards Zuiderdam due to the itinerary, but it is an older ship and we have never been on HAL.   I believe the ship was refreshed in 2017.

 

A lot of these ships are older, is there a reason the newer larger ships don't travel in this area.    Perhaps there isn't the demand and they cannot fill the larger ships like they can in Europe or Caribbean, etc.

 

For us the ports are the most important, but we do like good food in the MDR, etc.    We did go on NCL out of Rome a few years ago and we felt it was not as high quality as Celebrity..   So I am hesitant to try the NCL Joy although that itinerary looks good to us as well.....

 

Any thoughts?   Thank you.

 

 

 

 

   

[shipgeeks]

The time that we did a one-way itinerary like that, we were on HAL, a small ship. Perhaps the reason the smaller ships are used is due to the river restrictions at times.  In our case, even on little Veendam, we were scheduled to finish in Montreal, but could not go all the way there due to the high water under the last bridge, and had to port instead some distance downstream.

That ship was not only smaller, but also older, but we did not feel that it was a disadvantage at all.  No bumper cars/ice rink/roller coasters, but a really nice ship with lots of viewing areas all over, which was a good thing in the cold weather!

[CCJack]

44 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

The time that we did a one-way itinerary like that, we were on HAL, a small ship. Perhaps the reason the smaller ships are used is due to the river restrictions at times.  In our case, even on little Veendam, we were scheduled to finish in Montreal, but could not go all the way there due to the high water under the last bridge, and had to port instead some distance downstream.

That ship was not only smaller, but also older, but we did not feel that it was a disadvantage at all.  No bumper cars/ice rink/roller coasters, but a really nice ship with lots of viewing areas all over, which was a good thing in the cold weather!

thank you.   We have no interest in bumper cars etc!   we are empty nesters now... However, we didn't want a run down ship or bad service.   We may try HAL.

 

 

[GTJ]

7 hours ago, CCJack said:

We are interested in a one way cruise that includes Quebec City. It seems like the ships that mostly do this are NCL Pearl, NCL Joy, HAL Zuiderdam, RCCL Jewel OTS, and Princess Caribbean Princess.

Cruises that are both one-way and include a stop in Québec, for the 2023 season, are as follows.

 

American Queen Voyages, Ocean Navigator, Portland, Me. to Toronto, Ont., 10 nights, departs Apr. 27; Detroit, Mich. to/from Montréal, Qué., 9 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 4 and Oct. 1; Montréal, Qué. to Gloucester, Mass., 9 nights, departs Oct. 10

American Queen Voyages, Ocean Voyager, Portland, Me. to Toronto, Ont., 10 nights, departs May 8; Montréal, Qué. to Gloucester, Mass., 9 nights, departs Oct. 11

Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2, Brooklyn, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 2 departures on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6

Explora Journeys, Explora I, New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 8-10 nights, 3 departures between Sept. 25 and Oct. 13; Québec, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 20

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hanseatic Inspiration, Boston, Mass. to Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, departs May 4; Milwaukee, Wis. to Halifax, N.S., 18 nights, departs Oct. 8

Holland America Line, Zaandam, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, 2 departures on Apr. 18 and Sept.24; Boston, Mass. to/from Montréal, Qué, 7 nights, 14 departures between Apr. 29 and Sept. 13

Holland America Line, Zuiderdam, Boston, Mass. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 5 departures between Aug. 26 and Sept. 23; Québec, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, 10 nights, departs Sept. 30

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Joy, New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 7-9 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 4 and Oct. 4

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Pearl, Boston, Mass. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 6 departures between Sept. 1 and Oct. 6

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Sky, Baltimore, Md. to/from Québec, Qué., 10-11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 1 and Oct. 2

Oceania Cruises, Insignia, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, departs Sept. 27; Boston, Mass. to/from Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, 3 departures between Oct. 8 and Oct. 30

Oceania Cruises, Vista, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, departs Sept. 18; Montréal, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 15 nights, departs Sept. 29

Pearl Seas Cruises, Pearl Mist, Portland, Me. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures on May 13 and Aug. 30; Portland, Me. to/from Québec, Qué., 10 nights, 2 departures on Sept. 14 and Sept. 24

Ponant, Le Bellot, Reykjavik, Iceland to Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, departs Aug. 20; Toronto, Ont. to Gloucester, Mass., 14 nights, departs Oct. 9

Ponant, Le Dumont-d'Urville, Toronto, Ont. to Gloucester, Mass., 14 nights, departs Oct. 16

Princess Cruises, Caribbean Princess, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Québec, Qué., 12-13 nights, 2 departures on July 22 and Oct. 19; Brooklyn, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 10 nights, 6 departures between Aug. 4 and Oct. 9

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Mariner, New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 17 and Oct. 20

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Navigator, Miami, Fla. to Montréal, Qué. 15 nights, departs May 5; New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 11-12 nights, 3 departures between May 20 and June 11

Royal Caribbean International, Jewel of the Seas, Bayonne, N.J. to/from Québec, Qué., 10-11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 28 and Oct. 30

Saint Lawrence Cruise Lines, Canadian Empress, Kingston, Ont. to/from Québec, Qué., 6 nights, 12 departures between May 18 and Oct. 1

Seabourn Cruise Line, Seabourn Quest, Dover, England to Montréal, Qué., 24 nights, departs Aug. 1; New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 12 nights, 4 departures between Aug. 25 and Oct., 12; Montréal, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 24

Silversea Cruises, Silver Shadow, Southampton, England to Québec, Qué., 13 nights, departs Aug. 1; New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Que., 10 nights, 6 departures between Sept. 6 and Oct. 25; Québec, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 16 nights, departs Nov. 4

Viking Expeditions, Viking Octantis, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures, Apr. 13 and Sept. 15

Viking Expeditions, Viking Polaris, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures, Apr. 18 and Sept. 26; New York, N.Y. to /from Toronto, Ont., 12 nights, 4 deaprtures between May 3 and Aug. 17

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Mars, Bergen, Norway to Montréal, Qué., 14 nights, departs Sept. 12; Montréal, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 14 nights, departs Sept. 26

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Neptune, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 12 nights, 4 departures between June 20 and July 26

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Star, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 12 nights, 3 departures between July 14 and Sept. 28; Montréal, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 10

Windstar Cruises, Star Pride, Reykjavik, Iceland to Montréal, Qué., 14 nights, departs Sept. 9; Montréal, Qué. to Boston, Mass., 11 nights, 3 departures between Sept. 23 and Oct. 15

[CCJack]

5 hours ago, GTJ said:

Cruises that are both one-way and include a stop in Québec, for the 2023 season, are as follows.

 

American Queen Voyages, Ocean Navigator, Portland, Me. to Toronto, Ont., 10 nights, departs Apr. 27; Detroit, Mich. to/from Montréal, Qué., 9 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 4 and Oct. 1; Montréal, Qué. to Gloucester, Mass., 9 nights, departs Oct. 10

American Queen Voyages, Ocean Voyager, Portland, Me. to Toronto, Ont., 10 nights, departs May 8; Montréal, Qué. to Gloucester, Mass., 9 nights, departs Oct. 11

Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2, Brooklyn, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 2 departures on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6

Explora Journeys, Explora I, New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 8-10 nights, 3 departures between Sept. 25 and Oct. 13; Québec, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 20

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hanseatic Inspiration, Boston, Mass. to Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, departs May 4; Milwaukee, Wis. to Halifax, N.S., 18 nights, departs Oct. 8

Holland America Line, Zaandam, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, 2 departures on Apr. 18 and Sept.24; Boston, Mass. to/from Montréal, Qué, 7 nights, 14 departures between Apr. 29 and Sept. 13

Holland America Line, Zuiderdam, Boston, Mass. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 5 departures between Aug. 26 and Sept. 23; Québec, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, 10 nights, departs Sept. 30

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Joy, New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 7-9 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 4 and Oct. 4

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Pearl, Boston, Mass. to/from Québec, Qué., 7 nights, 6 departures between Sept. 1 and Oct. 6

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Sky, Baltimore, Md. to/from Québec, Qué., 10-11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 1 and Oct. 2

Oceania Cruises, Insignia, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, departs Sept. 27; Boston, Mass. to/from Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, 3 departures between Oct. 8 and Oct. 30

Oceania Cruises, Vista, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 11 nights, departs Sept. 18; Montréal, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 15 nights, departs Sept. 29

Pearl Seas Cruises, Pearl Mist, Portland, Me. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures on May 13 and Aug. 30; Portland, Me. to/from Québec, Qué., 10 nights, 2 departures on Sept. 14 and Sept. 24

Ponant, Le Bellot, Reykjavik, Iceland to Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, departs Aug. 20; Toronto, Ont. to Gloucester, Mass., 14 nights, departs Oct. 9

Ponant, Le Dumont-d'Urville, Toronto, Ont. to Gloucester, Mass., 14 nights, departs Oct. 16

Princess Cruises, Caribbean Princess, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Québec, Qué., 12-13 nights, 2 departures on July 22 and Oct. 19; Brooklyn, N.Y. to/from Québec, Qué., 10 nights, 6 departures between Aug. 4 and Oct. 9

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Mariner, New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 17 and Oct. 20

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seven Seas Navigator, Miami, Fla. to Montréal, Qué. 15 nights, departs May 5; New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 11-12 nights, 3 departures between May 20 and June 11

Royal Caribbean International, Jewel of the Seas, Bayonne, N.J. to/from Québec, Qué., 10-11 nights, 4 departures between Sept. 28 and Oct. 30

Saint Lawrence Cruise Lines, Canadian Empress, Kingston, Ont. to/from Québec, Qué., 6 nights, 12 departures between May 18 and Oct. 1

Seabourn Cruise Line, Seabourn Quest, Dover, England to Montréal, Qué., 24 nights, departs Aug. 1; New York, N.Y. to/from Montréal, Qué, 12 nights, 4 departures between Aug. 25 and Oct., 12; Montréal, Qué. to Miami, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 24

Silversea Cruises, Silver Shadow, Southampton, England to Québec, Qué., 13 nights, departs Aug. 1; New York, N.Y. to/from Québec, Que., 10 nights, 6 departures between Sept. 6 and Oct. 25; Québec, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 16 nights, departs Nov. 4

Viking Expeditions, Viking Octantis, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures, Apr. 13 and Sept. 15

Viking Expeditions, Viking Polaris, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to/from Toronto, Ont., 15 nights, 2 departures, Apr. 18 and Sept. 26; New York, N.Y. to /from Toronto, Ont., 12 nights, 4 deaprtures between May 3 and Aug. 17

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Mars, Bergen, Norway to Montréal, Qué., 14 nights, departs Sept. 12; Montréal, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 14 nights, departs Sept. 26

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Neptune, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 12 nights, 4 departures between June 20 and July 26

Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Star, New York, N.Y. to Montréal, Qué., 12 nights, 3 departures between July 14 and Sept. 28; Montréal, Qué. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 14 nights, departs Oct. 10

Windstar Cruises, Star Pride, Reykjavik, Iceland to Montréal, Qué., 14 nights, departs Sept. 9; Montréal, Qué. to Boston, Mass., 11 nights, 3 departures between Sept. 23 and Oct. 15

Thanks!  This is very helpful.    

[shippmates]

CC Jack the Cunard September 29, 2023 sailing is from NYC with stops in Boston, Halifax, Sagaunay, Sydney, and 2 overnights in Quebec City.  This is a 14 night sailing but you can get off the ship in Quebec after sailing for 7 days.