From Saint Pierre & Miquelon to Montréal · North America · 11 nights
Sleek and stylish, Le Boréal, Le Soléal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial are wonderful small ships that blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor.
These chic sisters are amongst the most stylish ships at sea,
with muted natural tones, minimalist interiors and playful splashes
of colour. The accommodation is flexible, with the option to
combine staterooms and create expansive suites, while the
restaurants deliver the sort of outstanding gastronomic experience
that you would expect from a French flag cruise line.
The islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon are a post-colonial oddity, a self-governing French overseas territory that sits just off the coast of Newfoundland. There is something more than a little surreal about the freshly baked baguettes, fine French wines and tricolore flags flapping in the breeze.
The town of Woody Point is located in the heart of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the west coast of Newfoundland. Just outside the town are the remarkable Tablelands, a barren and otherworldly landscape of peridotite rock that resembles the surface of Mars.
The Caribbean island of Providencia may belong to Colombia, but its relative inaccessibility and distance from the mainland lends the island its own distinct flavour. Many locals speak an English creole, and tourists are thin on the ground. It’s a great place for diving, snorkelling or relaxing on the beach.
Tadoussac is situated at the meeting of the St Lawrence and Saguenay rivers, and is famous as one of the best whale-watching spots in Québec. Species including fin, minke, beluga and blue whales are drawn here by the bountiful supply of krill where the salt and freshwater meet.
The stunning Saguenay fjord is the fourth largest in the world, and the only fjord in North America navigable by cruise ship. The point where the fjord meets the colder waters of the St Lawrence river is rich in krill, which makes this a great destination for whale watching.
Québec City, the capital of French-speaking Canada, is one of the North American continent’s most beguiling cities. The pretty old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a joy to behold; the cobbled streets and church spires are enclosed within the old city walls, and many of the buildings date back to the 17th century
Trois-Rivières is the second oldest city in Québec, situated at the point where the Saint-Maurice river splits into three channels, and was an important centre for the export of iron ore and lumber. The main attraction is the city’s historic architecture, including the 17th-century Ursuline monastery.
Bilingual Montréal is Québec’s largest city, a vibrant island metropolis with a distinctive blend of old style European charm and thrusting modernity. Architectural highlights include the beautiful Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal, and the city also boasts the world’s third largest botanical garden.
