North America is a land of beautiful landscapes, iconic cities and adventure around every corner offering a perfect blend of natural beauty and man-made achievements in one unique package. If you’re the type to chase after wilderness on your holidays, you’ll easily find a forest of towering trees to immerse yourself in, hikes to the top of many mountains or journey to sun-drenched deserts. There’s no limit to the terrain and climate offered throughout the continent and is definitely deserving of one or more visits to see its natural wonders. On the other hand, for those who are more inclined to people watch and soak up various cultures, we have North America’s many world-renowned and iconic cities; some providing important historical significance while others that offer cutting-edge music, art and other modern delights. While many who live in North America dream of international travel for their holidays don’t always consider that there’s always something truly incredible to enjoy close to home. Below we’ll list our top North American destinations and experiences all available through your CruisePlus travel agent.
Canada & New England Cruising
A real crowd pleaser, cruising the Canada/New England coast has become a favourite among our loyal cruisers. The Canada and New England voyages offer plenty of photo opportunities and self-guided touring. Unlike most European sailings, ships travelling this coast tend to dock in the center of port cities providing you with the opportunity step off the boat and immediately immerse yourself in the culture. In many ports, travellers are encouraged to rent bicycles or kayaks for a more adventurous and in-depth tour.
Visiting the Canadian province of Quebec offers travellers “the best of the French experience” without the need to cross the Atlantic ocean. Montreal and Quebec City are extremely popular bustling metropolis cities that show off a rather unique sophistication and playfulness of the French Canadian culture.
Along the way, you might just visit Newport, Rhode Island a city on the water. A historic destination where America’s wealthiest resident built their summer homes with the intention of revelling in the coastal beauty. This destination is a hot spot for historians, athletes, students and of course travellers.
Seadays often allow passengers the ability to admire breathtakingly beautiful unspoiled landscapes along the entire coastline. Our favourite view along these voyages is the Sandstone cliffs of Prince Edward Island which are uniquely shaped by the tides and rain offering travellers a fantastic “postcard photo” opportunity that is sure to make friends and family envious of the trip.
Must Do’s
- Visit a Venetian style Palazzo in Boston
- Take a food tour in Montreal
- Go whale watching on the Bay of Fundy
Alaskan Cruising
The biggest and wildest state in the USA, Alaska offers some of the most immersive wilderness experience available. Many Alaskan destinations like the state capital city, Juneau are only accessible by plane or ship. With a complete lack of roads, all vehicles in these locations are actually brought over the same way most people are, by ship. There’s endless opportunity for adventure found in every Alaskan port, from guided mountain hikes, zip lining, kayaking and even dog sled runs. For those that don’t mind spending a bit extra to get a truly unforgettable experience, travellers can take a helicopter ride that will land directly on a glacier offering you a unique “top of the world” perspective of the icy giants. Whatever your skill or adventure level there is always an exciting excursion at every turn. The most ideal way to visit the Glacier Bay National Park Preserve is by cruise ship as they offer travellers the best possible views of the historic site. You’ll watch towering glaciers shed ice into frigid waters known as calving as well as a variety marine wildlife such as humpback whales and sea otters that playfully frolic in these waters. Bring your camera because these are moments you’ll want to remember and capture for your friends and family back home.
Must Do’s
- Explore the Various small towns
- Experience Denali National Park
- Appreciate the wildlife (bring binoculars)
Pacific Coastal Cruising
Pacific coastal cruising offers some of the greatest value in the industry. On many cruise lines, the nightly cost of these cruises is usually less than that of a low range hotel. This means you don’t have to break the bank to get a quick cruise fix that will tide you over until your next grand voyage. For those who have always been curious about a penthouse experience aboard their favourite ship, you can try one out for a few nights at a fraction of the cost on these often budget-friendly cruises. It’s also a great opportunity to try out a cruise line you’ve been thinking about in the past but have been hesitant to make the leap. First-time cruiser? Pacific coastal can offer a chance to dip your toe in the water so to speak and try cruising without any long commitments.
Coastal cruises are for the most part repositioning cruises, many simply go from point A to point B without many stops in between, but a keen eye can catch itineraries with some rather unique destinations in between such as Victoria, British Columbia; Astoria, Oregon; San Francisco, California, and Catalina Island California. All incredible and underrated destinations that most won’t get to visit on a typical itinerary. Although Pacific coastal cruises are only offered a few times a year they can be a whole lot of fun for not a lot of money. Ask our expert travel consultants about our exclusive coastals that include a stay in Las Vegas on your return home! Those are some of our most popular and sought after CruisePlus packages
Must Do’s
- Explore San Fransisco
- Try your luck in Las Vegas
- Visit Balboa Park in San Diego
Land Touring
Of course, cruising isn’t the only way to see everything this magnificent continent has to offer. We have many incredible land partners that provide a wide variety of once in a lifetime experience tours.
Our land travel and tour suppliers provide some very unique vacations that you can’t find anywhere else such as camping coast to coast throughout the US, tour the entirety of New York State, tour the National Parks of the Canadian Rockies or embark on a Canadian polar bear experience.
Looking for a truly moving journey? Enjoy much more than a train ride with our partner Rocky Mountaineer. They provide an incredible scenic 5-star luxury experience that navigates you through the Canadian wilderness aboard an all-domed sightseeing train car. For a truly unique perspective of the rugged Canadian wilderness that you’ll never forget.
Endless Opportunities
North America is full of safe and exciting destinations suitable for the entire family and people of all generations. This is just a small handful of our favourite ways to see these incredible countries and if we listed everything we loved this post would be a mile long. The next time you’re planning your next holiday, consider the many ways you can explore North America and contact your CruisePlus travel agent to arrange a once in a lifetime trip right in our backyard. 1-800-854-9664
