Atlantic Canada Explorer | CA-AC1202

Your first day begins as you set sail from the coastal city of St. John's, the charming capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

As you leave St. John's historic port, enjoy the area's traditional landscapes. Take note of the local landmark, Signal Hill, as we make our way through the narrows.

Keep your cameras out – the colorful houses are worth a picture! Not to mention the icebergs, whales and seabirds in the area. 

Our second day will be filled with learning. As we sail the Atlantic, the expedition team will explain the rich history and ecology of Sable Island. The island is a small national park reserve famous, especially famous for the hundreds of free-roaming wild horses that live there.

While on deck, we'll keep an eye out for the brilliant wildlife of the Atlantic. The ocean is packed with beautiful marine mammals and seabirds. 

Sable Island is a long but small island that's home to a rich ecosystem and plenty of wildlife. On top of the wide variety of birds (including the Ispwich Sparrow) that flock to the island, you'll get up close to world's largest grey seal colony and the majestic wild Sable Island horses that roam the area.

Though the weather at Sable Island can be unpredictable, we'll try and explore the area as much as possible. If the weather cooperates, we'll walk to the dunes, explore the shoreline, and get a close look at the area's wildlife. Plus, we'll get a chance to learn about people who've crossed paths with the island during its past. 

Our fourth day will be all about watching wildlife. The South Shore of Nova Scotia is packed with long shorelines rich in flora and fauna. Marine mammals and seabirds love to spend time along the region's coast during the summer.

We'll have the chance to observe all the wildlife activity and charming coastal villages that speckle Nova Scotia's coastline. 

The fifth day of our cruise will be a chance to join the researchers on-board as we get insight into the Gully Marine Protected Area. 

The Gully is the largest underwater canyon in eastern North America. It's where the sea floor drops down into a submarine valley where coral communities and other stunning wildlife (including whales and dolphins) can be found.

The abundance of wildlife in the area is so plentiful that you'll want to have your camera with you at all times!

On Day 6, we'll make a visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg. The fortress was built in 1720 by the French, who were there until its fortifications were captured by the British in 1745. After being returned to the French, it was re-captured in 1758 and ultimately destroyed.

After its historical reconstruction in the 1970s, the Fortress of Louisbourg is now used as a historical site where people can get a glimpse into colonial Canada and its military.

If weather permits, we'll have a Zodiac boat adventure off the coast of Cape Breton Island on Day 2. We'll tour around the Bird Islands, where we can get up close to the seabird nesting and breeding area. The area includes the biggest Great Cormorants colony in Canada!

Also, we'll enjoy watching out for other wonderful seabirds including Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Leach’s Storm-petrels.

Cape Breton Island is one of the most beloved islands on Earth. Its friendly people, Gaelic music and culture, and majestic coastal highlands are the top perks of the area. It's also home to the famous Cabot Trail and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. 

On Day 8, we'll get a look into local culture at Chéticamp – a small fishing village on the western shore of Cape Breton. Chéticamp has a bustling harbour, rug-hooking museum, and local shops and restaurants where you can get a taste of Acadian culture. 

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is close to Chéticamp and, if the conditions are right, we'll enjoy a hike along the Skyline Trail. The scenery and wildlife are fantastic!

Today we head to the beautiful shores of Prince Edward Island (more commonly called P.E.I.). The province's capital city of Charlottetown is the birthplace of Canadian confederation and a popular place to visit in the summer. 

We'll have the option to enjoy fun additional excursions in P.E.I. These include a visit to Anne's house at Green Gables and a stop at Lennox Island Mi’Kmaq First Nation.

We'll head towards southern Newfoundland on Day 10. The area is home to a few small communities and lots of incredible wilderness. Stops here are often a big highlight on the trip!

You'll have many options for fun excursions while we're at this beautiful and remote coast. We can explore the coves and unique bays along the shoreline or opt for land exploration. The rugged geology and flora and fauna here is outstanding.

Of course, there's lots of wildlife to be seen so keep your cameras close!

Today, we'll make an international visit to the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The islands are official territory of France that are located just off the shores of Newfoundland. 

Saint-Pierre is a bright town and the perfect finale to our cruise. We'll get a taste of Europe as we weave our way through the winding streets and check out the town's beautiful houses, shops and cafés. 

Our last day of our trip will take us back to where we started: the beautiful harbour of St. John's.

As we sail through the city's picturesque narrows, we'll soak in our last glimpses of North America's oldest city.

OCEAN ENDEAVOUR

Our vessel for this voyage is the Ocean Endeavour. A 1B ice-class sailing boat with a maximum of 198-passengers and is outfitted with 20 Zodiac boats, our ship is perfect for expedition cruises. Facilities include a top deck observation room, swimming pool, outdoor dining, sauna spa, library, and top-class navigation equipment. Our three onboard lounges are excellent public spaces for our educational seminars, workshops, and entertainment. Launched in 1982, she’s been upgraded many times, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137-m (450-ft) length and 21-m (69-ft) breadth, the Ocean Endeavour is the pride of our cruises in Canada and beyond.

Learn more about the Ocean Endeavour.

ARCTIC CRUISES PRACTICAL INFO

No Single Supplement! Solo Adventurers are welcome. Most cabin categories on the ship are available as a private cabin to single travelers at no additional cost.

Temperatures run around 8-15° Celsius (46-60° Fahrenheit) on average. That said, guests have been known to enjoy a day of shorts and t-shirts in the Canadian Arctic! Do note that temperatures can fall below zero (especially at night) and snowfall can be expected at any time.

ARCTIC CRUISES PLEASE NOTE

This program features activities such as walking, wildlife viewing, and Zodiac cruising, all at a relatively easy to moderate level of exertion. The majority of shore landings are undertaken using Zodiacs. Zodiac embarkations involve descending gangway stairs with double handrails and stepping into the Zodiac from a small platform at water level (assistance is provided).