Fall Foliage Cruise: Exploring New England & Canada with Princess | Janet Carter | Sojourney Travel

Vivid colors, charming harbors, and plenty of amazing seafood await you on a cruise to New England and Canada. We found that October is a perfect month to visit these destinations.  Fall was in full swing during our cruise, and we enjoyed visiting so many new ports. Each location was adorned with Fall decorations and colorful hues.  

We flew into New York City and booked a stay at a boutique, lower Manhattan hotel. The Guild Hall hotel had a moody, speak-easy vibe that was in a perfect location for exploring the area. At night we walked to the Seaport area, where stunning New York harbor views await, along with plenty of wonderful restaurants and bars. The following morning, we took another walk downtown and took in the very moving 9/11 Memorial, as well as walking down Wall Street. Next, it was time to make our way to Red Hook cruise terminal to board the Enchanted Princess. (Note: you can take a ferry from Lower Manhattan to the cruise terminal, as well.) Check-in was easy and efficient, and we made our way on board. The ship, debuting in 2021, is beautiful and tranquil. Princess cruise lines is famous for being featured in The Love Boat tv series from long ago. In fact, the “sailing away” horns you hear on board is to the theme of The Love Boat show! Such a fun way to depart each port!  We settled into our cabin, a mini suite on deck 15, and immediately began to take in the views from our balcony. This quickly became our favorite spot for dining or having an evening cocktail.  Then it was up to the top deck for our “Sail Away” party. As the ship headed out to sea, we sailed past the Statue of Liberty, complete with a Manhattan skyline backdrop!  

Our first port stop was in Newport, Rhode Island. This port was a tender stop, meaning that we had to use a smaller boat to reach the mainland. The process went very smoothly, as you are given a numbered ticket in the lobby that tells you when to board the tender boat. A ride to the port, directly through the harbor, was a lovely way to start our day! To say that I instantly fell in love with this city as soon as we stepped off the boat, is not an understatement! When you think of a quintessential, New England town-this is it! This historical city is known for the large, gilded-aged mansions that adorn its streets. We embarked upon a trolley tour that took us around the town. We went past presidential estates, drove by celebrity mansions, and ended up at the Breakers- the famous “summer cottage” once owned by the Vanderbilts. Our tour included the Breakers, and we made our way through the interior the home, as well as walking along the seawall in the back. Views of the rocky shores below were stunning! Our day ended with getting a bowl of local clam chowder, as a seafood festival was happening downtown. Quaint shops, delicious food, and charming architecture await you in Newport!  

The next day, we arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. This is one of our favorite New England towns and have visited here before. Having done most of the “tourist” sites on previous trips, we decided to re-visit some of our favorite places. We took a rideshare from the port to downtown Boston, stopping at the Quincy Market. Here you can find an abundance of local food vendors and souvenir shops nestled amongst the historical buildings. We then stopped, once again, for local chowder (are you seeing a theme?) and made our way down the Freedom Trail. This trail, which takes you throughout the city, is a perfect way to imercing yourself into the history of the city. We strolled past Old North Church, Paul Revere’s home and statue, and ended up in Little Italy. Here, we stopped into Mike’s Pastry shop for a few scrumptious cannoli. You know it is good when there is a line out the door! After a little more shopping, we made our way back to the ship. Boston never disappoints!  

Our next stop was Portland, Maine. Once again, this is a city that we have been to in the past, but was excited to revisit. The last time we visited was in December, so we were glad that October provided ourselves with much warmer weather, perfect for strolling about the city. Directly outside the port, local merchants were set up selling their goods. It was fun to peruse the different artisanal creations. The ship docks directly in the downtown area, making it perfect to walk around to the many shops in the area. We stopped for a warm latte at a local café, visited many unique boutiques, and ended up a waterfront restaurant for lobster and live music. As our ship departed the port, we went to the upper deck (starboard side) to catch a beautiful view of the Portland Headlight. On our last visit, we saw the lighthouse up close- so if you haven’t been to Portland before, this is a “must see” stop! In fact, the Portland Headlight is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!  

We then made our way on to Canada. Our first Canadian port was to St. John. As soon as you get disembark the ship, you enter the Container Village. A clever “village” of shops and eateries, all in shipping containers. This colorful and unique setup was such a cool way to bring the port to life! When touring St. John, we followed the “red-brick road”, a pathway that leads you all around the harbor. We followed the trail up to Reverse Falls (about 4 miles round trip). This phenomenon is where the tides actually reverse, due to the high tides at the Bay of Fundy. Here you can see waterfalls and stunning Fall foliage. After our long walk, we ended up at a local café before making our way back on board.   

Our last port was to the Canadian port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Early morning fog hindered our views, but it didn’t diminish how lovely this port was. The Halifax Harborwalk is stunning! It takes you past many stores, eateries, art, and museums. We stopped into the Maritime Museum, where we saw artifacts from the Titanic, local shipbuilders, and even took a mini lesson is morse code. After our harbor stroll, we capped off our adventure with a Lobster Roll and even a local Beavertail for dessert! Delicious! Once back on board, the fog lifted, and it gave way to beautiful views of the city before us.

Our last day on board was a day at sea. This allowed us to take part in Movies Under the Stars, trivia competitions, dance classes, golf, pickleball, and even a wine tasting. The ship had many activities to choose from and we made the most of our last day on board.  

Sadly, every vacation must come to an end. While we can’t stay on board forever, we can always take with us the countless memories we have made!  

So, if you haven’t added a New England/Canadian cruise to your bucket list, be sure to do so. While they sail at multiple times throughout the year, a Fall cruise to this enchanting part of the world will leave you filled with wonder! Reach out to me or your Sojourney Travel Advisor to get started.