St. Lawrence River Cruise plus 2 nights in Quebec City
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart Toronto for Kingston by coach, with a stop in picturesque Picton. Upon arrival in Kingston we transfer to the MV Canadian Empress. This evening we enjoy our first delicious dinner onboard.
This morning we sail around the beautiful 1000 Islands, Wanderer’s Channel and the Admiralty Group of Islands. Nature lovers will be in awe of the wildlife spotted along the shores of the islands. In Gananoque, we will enjoy a tour of the Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands, featuring vintage boats, dioramas, and interactive displays related to the history of the area. We will also visit the 1000 Island Boat Museum, and also Fulford Mansion - once home to Senator George T. Fulford. The mansion showcases the luxurious lifestyle of another era.
To start the day, we enjoy a tour of Aquatarium featuring an interactive experience of history and nature along the St. Lawrence River. Then we visit Fort Wellington National Historic Site, one of the best preserved 19th century fortifications in Canada. It depicts life when the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment was stationed here in the 1840’s.
This morning horse-drawn wagons take us to Upper Canada Village. The village is a fascinating living museum community that recreates the life, work, and development of the early settlements along the upper St. Lawrence River valley. In the afternoon we will pass through the American Eisenhower and Snell locks on our way to Couteau Landing, Quebec.
We arrive in the port of Montreal in the late morning and upon arrival enjoy a harbour tour. Later, on our coach tour of Montreal, we will see Notre Dame Basilica - a masterpiece of Gothic Revival, Mount Royal with its sweeping views of the downtown area and St. Lawrence River, St. Joseph’s Oratory - one of the world’s most visited shrines, Old Montreal, the French Quarter, and McGill University.
We arrive in Trois Rivieres in the afternoon, and enjoy a city tour. Then you may choose to visit either the Shrine at Cap de la Madeleine, or the Borealis Industrial Museum. Cap de la Madeleine is an oasis of peace and greenery. The huge Basilica here has impressive stained glass windows, and the beautiful grounds feature a lake with an island in the middle, gardens, and walkways overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The Borealis Industrial Museum is located in the former filtration plant of the Canadian International Paper Company. The museum shows the human side of the paper industry, as it pays tribute to the lumberjacks, log drivers, and workers, who dedicated their lives to their job. Tonight we enjoy big band sounds, songs, and dancing on our last night onboard our ship.
We sail past magnificent Montmorency Falls (weather permitting) upon our approach to romantic Quebec City. In the afternoon we disembark our ship and proceed on our city tour, during which we’ll see the provincial Parliament buildings, the Belvedere overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Plains of Abraham, Joan of Arc Garden, Laval University, Old Quebec City, Place Royale and Petit Champlain Street.
A day at leisure to stroll the romantic European-style cobble-stone streets of Quebec City’s famous Old Town. Those who wish may also visit Montmorency Falls or Ile d’Orleans. Tonight is our Farewell Dinner.
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
