CRUISING

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Boston

New England’s largest city, Boston, Massachusetts, is home to historic sights and modern neighborhoods.  There are unique stores and restaurants with old-time character, gracious green spaces, and a beautiful, rejuvenated waterfront.

Holland America Cruise

Enjoy the timeless elegance of ocean travel on a spacious, mid-sized ship with beautiful appointments and warm hospitality. For 150 years, Holland America has been introducing guests to new places and cultures, witnessing the transformative power of travel. Between the amazing destinations and excursions, onboard activities, and dining adventures, this Holland America cruise is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Red Lion Inn

The Red Lion Inn is the quintessential Berkshire Hotel, and a Stockbridge landmark on the corner of Main Street for 250 years. The dining experience will feature crystal chandeliers, antique china and colonial pewter, with delicious interpretations of classic New England fare.

Norman Rockwell Museum

Stepping into a museum often feels like stepping back in time, but at the Norman Rockwell Museum, there is a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Discover the highly relatable world of American Illustration and re-visit the art that told the stories and advanced the enduring values held by this gifted artist. One of the great charms of the Museum is its location, since many of Rockwell’s world-renowned images were drawn from the surrounding community and the local residents. 

24-night Cruise aboard Holland America Volendam, Oceanview Cabins

CRUISE PORTS

• Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. (start)
• Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, Canada
• Red Bay, Labrador, Canada
• Qaqortoq, Greenland
• Cruising Prince Christian Sound
• Isafjordur, Iceland
• Akureyri, Iceland
• Seydisfjordur, Iceland
• Djupivogur, Iceland
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Grundarfjordur, Iceland
• Nanortalik, Greenland
• St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada
• St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon (belong to France)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
• Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. (end)

See Greenland & Iceland Up Close!

This adventure of a lifetime includes quaint villages, desolate wilderness, towering cliffs and mountain peaks, icebergs, stunning coastlines, and opportunities to see incredible marine wildlife.

Cruising

Enjoy all the fabulous things to do onboard Holland America’s Volendam as you sail from Boston, to Newfoundland & Labrador, to Greenland and Iceland, and back again. You’ll experience incredible ports of call during the day and great restaurants and entertainment in the evening. This is a great getaway to start seeing the world again!

Stress-Free Travel

We take care of the details of getting you to the cruise terminal in Boston and home again, with an amazing trip of a lifetime in between!

• Our unique Connections Program
• Private coach transportation
• 2 nights of hotel accommodation
• 24-night Iceland Cruise on Holland America Volendam, Oceanview Cabins
• 26 breakfasts, 24 lunches, 26 dinners
• Shipboard meals
• Prepaid shipboard gratuities for cabin steward & dining room servers
• All entry fees to included highlights
• Services of a Professional Tour Director

Prices are in Canadian dollars, are per person, and include all applicable taxes.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

Tour

• Boston Orientation Tour
• Lunch at Red Liion Inn, Stockbridge, MA
• Norman Rockwell Museum

Cruise Ports

• Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. (start)
• Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, Canada
• Red Bay, Labrador, Canada
• Qaqortoq, Greenland
• Isafjordur, Iceland
• Akureyri, Iceland
• Seydisfjordur, Iceland
• Djupivogur, Iceland
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Grundarfjordur, Iceland
• Nanortalik, Greenland
• St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada
• St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon (belong to France)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
• Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. (end)

There will be excursions offered by the cruise line for an additional cost.

Day 1: Travel to Albany, NY

Sit back relax and enjoy the drive through eastern Ontario. We pick up guests along the way as we head for the border and cross into the US at Gananoque. After a lunch stop in Watertown, travel south through lush farmland and forested hills, with picturesque, quaint villages in the valleys. Get to know your fellow travellers during dinner. 

Stay: Hampton Inn & Suites, Albany East Greenbush, NY

Nights: 1

Meals: D

Day 2: Albany to Boston

This morning the journey continues to Boston. After a short orientation tour of the city, proceed to the cruise terminal to board your home away from home. The Volendam has many entertainment options and eating venues for your enjoyment as well as shopping, a spa, a fitness center and pickleball! Make sure to check what’s happening onboard each day so you don’t miss out on something special.

Stay:  Holland America Volendam, Oceanview Cabin 

Nights: 24

Meals: B, D

Day 3: At Sea

Discover the amazing amenities on the ship while at sea.  Check out eXc, Explorations Central, to learn more about the shore excursions and the culture of the ports of call you will be visiting. Join in on some fun and games, tastings, or cooking demonstrations, and indulge in the variety of dining experiences.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 4: Sydney, NS (8am – 5pm)

Sydney is the largest city on Cape Breton Island and the attractions start at the harbor. Visitors can shop for locally made crafts and see the world’s largest fiddle, which towers beside the port’s cruise pavilion. Some of the city’s historic houses and churches date back to the 1700’s and 1800’s and are open for tours. Day trips offered by Holland America include the Cabot Trail, Boat ride on Bras d’Or Lake, Trip to the Fortress of Louisbourg or a trip down a coal mine

Meals: B, L, D

Day 5: Corner Brook, NL (10am – 6pm)

Meals: B, L, D

Day 6: Red Bay, Labrador (8am – 4pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited, time subject to weather & ice

Meals: B, L, D

Day 7: At Sea

Meals: B, L, D

Day 8: Qaqortoq, Greenland (10am – 6pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited, time subject to weather conditions

Meals: B, L, D

Day 9: Cruising Prince Christian Sound

Cruising only, subject to weather conditions

The ship will navigate one of Greenland’s most scenic passages, indeed, the sound has been called “The Most Majestic Fjord in Greenland.” The journey offers an up-close look at glaciers, icebergs, and the imposing mountains of Greenland’s landscape.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 10: Day at Sea

Meals: B, L, D

Day 11: Isafjordur, Iceland (7am – 5pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

Meals: B, L, D

Day 12: Akureyri, Iceland (8am – 5pm)

This might be your day to float among the icebergs, just below the Arctic Circle in a RIB (rigid inflatable boat), or perhaps explore Tasermiutfjord by boat and visit an old Norse settlement. Akureyri is described as the capital of north Iceland with its own fjord, and is surrounded by incredible landscapes, boasts an array of interesting shops and restaurants, and has a fascinating museum.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 13: Seydisfjordur, Iceland (8am – 8pm)

Meals: B, L, D

Day 14: Djupivogur, Iceland (7am – 3pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

This quiet fishing village was first established by the Vikings, and is near natural wonders like the Hofellsjökull Glacier and the Valley of Waterfalls. It will also be possible to journey to nearby Papey Island and meet some of eastern Iceland's beloved, cute and quirky puffins.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 15: Reykjavik, Iceland (10am – 11pm) 

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

Reykjavik, the world's most northerly capital, is like nowhere else on earth, with a staggering backdrop of gnarly lava fields, majestic glaciers, and rainbow-colored houses. During your stop, enjoy one of the many shore excursions like bathing in the Blue Lagoon or take a tour of one of many world-class museums or at galleries.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 16: Gundarfjørdur, Iceland (8am – 5pm) 

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

Black-lava beaches, crystalline waterfalls and massive glaciers are found on this long stretch and Grundarfjørdur is a good place to see some of these natural wonders. Kirkjufell, the town’s landmark, has the distinction of being the most photographed mountain in the entire country; it’s even featured in the Game of Thrones. Here, excursion options include sitting in a steaming hot spring, seeing how petrified shark meat is made at the Shark Museum, or watching puffins around on sea cliffs from a boat tour off Melrakkaey Island. Don’t forget to sample some of the local fare such as thick and creamy yogurt called skyr, Iceland hot chocolate, and plokkfiskur (fish stew), a hearty comfort food after a day of exploring.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 17: Cruising Prince Christian Sound

Cruising only, subject to weather conditions

Meals: B, L, D

Day 18: Nanortalik, Greenland (9am – 4pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

Meals: B, L, D

Day 19: Day at Sea

Meals: B, L, D

Day 20: St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada (7am – 4pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited, route time subject to weather & ice

St. Anthony is best known as the gateway to one of North America’s most intriguing archaeological sites, an 11th-century village at L’Anse aux Meadows. This stop is also an opportunity for a whale-watching expedition and sightings of other wildlife.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 21: St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada (8am – 5pm)

Route time subject to weather & ice

Meals: B, L, D

Day 22: Saint Pierre and Miquelon (8am – 5pm)

Discover this territory of France, just south of the island of Newfoundland, with its own culture, way of life, and time zone. Enjoy the novelty of visiting a little piece of France right here in North America!

Meals: B, L, D

Day 23: Day at Sea

Meals: B, L, D

Day 24: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada  (8am – 5pm)

Halifax is a spirited mix of world-class history and nautical-themed museums alongside bunkers and fortresses that guarded the harbor. Explore the waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants at Pier 21. Choose an excursion to visit the charming fishing villages, Peggy's Cove and Mahone Bay, or wander the streets of Lunenburg, whose colorful Old Town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wherever you venture, be sure to savor the fresh seafood and other Nova Scotia specialties.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 25: Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S. (9am – 6pm)

Tender required, wheelchair access limited

Bar Harbor is the quintessential New England coastal town. Enjoy strolling this picturesque, charming town, visit Acadia National Park, or take a boat tour to explore the waters and islands that surround Bar Harbor, to see wildlife, whales, and lighthouses along the way.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 26: Disembark in Boston, Stockbridge, Travel to Syracuse

After having breakfast aboard the ship, disembark and board the coach.  Arrive late morning in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.  Enjoy some free time exploring this old town in the Berkshires, and then enjoy a special lunch at the award-winning Red Lion Inn.  After lunch, visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, and see where this famous artist lived and worked, and see many of his paintings and some of the familiar covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Then, it’s on to Syracuse where we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner the hotel. 

Stay: Marriott Downtown Syracuse, NY

Nights: 1

Meals: B, L, D

Day 27: Journey Home

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head north to the border, arriving at Gananoque late in the morning, in time for a break and a final opportunity to shop at the duty-free. Once we cross into Canada, we’ll head west, with stops along the way to say good-bye to new friends.  You’ll be home in the afternoon, with stories and great memories and photos of your adventures to share.

Meals: B

HOTEL Accommodations

Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-East Greenbush, NY (1 night)

Conveniently located off I-90, this Hampton Inn & Suites is perfect for our stopover, with a pool to unwind and daily hot breakfast.

Marriott Downtown Syracuse, NY (1 night)

The Marriott Syracuse Downtown is a beautifully restored 1924 hotel with a grand and magnificent lobby. Enjoy rooms with sleek designer furnishings, marble bathrooms, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. The variety of on-site dining includes the cuisine of fine dining and the comfort foods and beverages of an Irish pub. 

CRUISE SHIP Accommodations

Included in the price of this trip are Oceanview Cabins.  Other cabin options may be available at an additional fee and are subject to availability.

Ship:  Holland America Volendam (24 nights)

Elegant and spacious, Volendam takes her décor cues from the garden, with flowers featured in the fabrics and tapestries and huge vases of fresh floral arrangements. Each day, there are enriching activities, delicious dining options, and world-class entertainment to be enjoyed.

This 27-day tour follows pickup Route C1, and includes our unique Connections Program.  The pickup locations are:

• Brampton
• Markham
• Whitby
• Bowmanville
• Lindsay
• Peterborough
• Port Hope
• Cobourg
• Trenton
• Belleville
• Napanee
• Kingston

We recommend comfortable rubber-soled shoes for the walking tours. You should also bring along a jacket, as evenings can be cool on the water. Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen and a hat.

Although for most people medication is not required, there may be some who may want to bring along a remedy for motion sickness.  You don’t want to let that spoil these amazing experiences.

As with any cruise, there are options for day trips offered by the cruise line with an additional fee. Booking early will save you from being disappointed, since some selections may become sold out.