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Photo Tour: The St. Lawrence River to Newfoundland and Labrador
The stunning Saint Lawrence and coast of Eastern Canada
The Saint Lawrence River and Coastal Canada offer visitors sublime scenery such as colorful bluffs, quiet coves, traditional fishing villages and unusual wildlife. Cruising on small ships and larger lines are an ideal way to experience the areas many ports.
Photo courtesy of Sébastien Larose/Le Québec maritime
Boldt Castle in the 1,000 Islands near Alexandria, New York
Small ship cruises often embark from the Great Lakes and enter the St. Lawrence River near the 1,000 Islands. New York's Alexandria Bay is a gorgeous section of the St. Lawrence River, and Boldt Castle is an architectural wonder on Heart Island that is open to visitors.
Photo courtesy of Amber Nolan
Old Port of Montréal
Many small and mid-size cruise lines on the Saint Lawrence River embark from Montreal, including Holland America, Haimark Line, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and Blount Small Ship Adventures. Neighborhoods in this vibrant city blend tradition with modern lifestyle, with outstanding dining and shopping opportunities.
Photo courtesy of Tourisme Montréal
A slow sunset on the Saint Lawrence River
On Haimark Line's small ship, the Saint Laurent, slow sunsets can be appreciated from the open-air restaurant on the aft of the vessel.
Photo courtesy of Amber Nolan
Quebec City is a common embarkation port on the St. Lawrence
Infused with French culture and both English and French architecture, Quebec City feels very European and is a common embarkation port for larger cruise lines. Old Quebec City is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the only walled city north of Mexico and can easily be explored by foot from the port.
Photo courtesy of Luc-Antoine Couturier/Quebec City Tourism
Saguenay Fjord National Park makes a stunning shore excursion
Carved from glaciers and spanning 65 miles, the Saguenay Fjord boasts 600-foot cliffs and is nearly 900 feet deep. The Saguenay Fjord National Park is a hiker's and photographer's dream, and also offers excellent kayaking, camping and birding opportunities.
Grey seals on Bonaventure Island off the Gaspe Penninsula
The town of Perce is a common shore excursion for cruise lines calling on Gaspe because of its stunning Perce Rock formation and Bonaventure Island, a National Park just a short boat ride from Perce.
Photo courtesy of Amber Nolan
Whale spotting near Forillon National Park
The Saint Lawrence River is home to beluga, blue, minke, fin, humpback and sperm whales, as well as dolphins and harbor seals. The Forillon National Park near the port of Gaspé is a common place for whale watching.
Photo courtesy of Le Québec maritime / Marc Loiselle
Coastal Bluffs are typical Îles de la Madeleine scenery
The postcard-perfect, Îles de la Madeleine consists of a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence dotted with vibrant red sandstone. The CTMA Vacancier offers regularly scheduled cruises here, and small cruise lines like Pearl Seas, Cruise and Maritime Voyages and Crystal Cruises include a visit to the islands on summer voyages.
Photo courtesy of Le Québec maritime / Michel Bonato
Tors Cove, Newfoundland near St. John's
Some adventurous cruise itineraries call in Newfoundland, with St. John's being the popular port of call. Others continue north to St. Anthony and other ports once explored by the Vikings with several archeological and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Photo courtesy of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism/Barrett & MacKay Photo
Torngat Mountains in Labrador
Some expedition cruise lines like Adventure Canada visit the Torngat Mountains in Labrador, where even today the Inuit people continue to use the area for hunting and fishing.
Photo courtesy of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism/Barrett & MacKay Photo
About Amber Nolan
Originally from upstate New York, this restless traveler has a knack for befriending interesting characters. You can usually find her just about anywhere that has a hammock. Amber's favorite places are Iceland for its remoteness; Panama for its parties; and Peru for its history. Her work can be found on MSNBC.com, Frommers, and Sherman’s Travel, where she served as the Cruise Editor and Senior Producer. She is currently working on a comic novel about her shoestring travels as she hitchhikes on airplanes across the country in an effort to visit all 50 states. See Jethiking.com.
Read more about Amber Nolan here.