Cruises from Boston to Canada & New England

Which lines sail from Boston to Canada & New England?

• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Holland America Line
  Gracious and unhurried; live music at night, a good book by day and plenty of ocean views.
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
• Princess Cruises
  Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.

When to go

1. January: Few or no cruises, average high 32 degrees F Jan 32°17°
2. February: Few or no cruises, average high 33 degrees F Feb 33°19°
3. March: Few or no cruises, average high 38 degrees F Mar 38°25°
4. April: Few or no cruises, average high 48 degrees F Apr 48°34°
5. May: Cruises run, average high 58 degrees F May 58°42°
6. June: Shoulder season, average high 67 degrees F Jun 67°51°
7. July: Shoulder season, average high 74 degrees F Jul 74°58°
8. August: Shoulder season, average high 74 degrees F Aug 74°59°
9. September: Best time, average high 67 degrees F Sep 67°53°
10. October: Best time, average high 56 degrees F Oct 56°44°
11. November: Few or no cruises, average high 47 degrees F Nov 47°35°
12. December: Few or no cruises, average high 37 degrees F Dec 37°24°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Cruises run from about May to late October. Fall foliage season (late September to mid-October) is in highest demand and fills early. Summer has the warmest weather; May and early June can be cool and foggy.

Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) can affect this route, especially in September, when post-tropical storms sometimes reach New England and Nova Scotia and force port changes. Fog is common in early summer. Ports can be cool and windy in May and October, so pack layers.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports Canada & New England cruises most often visit:

• Bar Harbor, Maine, United States: Gateway to Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain, plus lobster shacks. A tender port with a daily cap on cruise visitors.
• Portland, Maine, United States: A food-focused harbor city with lighthouses such as Portland Head Light nearby.
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: A lively waterfront, the Citadel, Pier 21 immigration museum next to the cruise terminal, and Peggy's Cove.
• Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada: The Bay of Fundy and the Reversing Falls, where the huge tides push the river upstream.
• Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada: Access to Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail and the Fortress of Louisbourg.
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada: Red-sand beaches, mussels and oysters, and Anne of Green Gables country.

Before you sail from Boston

From Logan, take the SL1 Silver Line bus (free when boarding at the airport) to Silver Line Way, cross to the outbound side and board the SL2 to the Dry Dock Avenue stop; the terminal is on Black Falcon Avenue across from the Design Center. From South Station (Red Line, Amtrak and commuter rail), take the SL2 directly. A taxi or rideshare from Logan through the Ted Williams Tunnel is typically about 10 minutes without traffic. Drivers follow signs and police directions on Black Falcon Avenue.

Massport offers cruise parking at 93 Fargo Street, about 0.4 miles from the terminal, with a free shuttle every 10 to 15 minutes. It must be booked online before arrival (reservations are handled through parking.com) and is available only for select homeport cruises, so check availability for your sailing early.

• Reserve Massport cruise parking well ahead; it is only offered for select homeport sailings.
• The SL1 from Logan is free outbound from the airport, and the SL2 leg needs a fare.
• Book fall foliage sailings early; September and October are the busiest months.
• Bring a warm jacket even in summer; New England and Atlantic Canada are cool on deck.

Documents: Round trips from New York, New Jersey or Boston are closed-loop cruises. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, and Canada accepts proof of US citizenship plus photo ID for cruise visitors. One-way cruises to or from Quebec City or Montreal are not closed-loop, and you will be flying into or out of Canada, so you need a passport book. US citizens do not need a Canadian eTA. We recommend a passport book for every itinerary. Non-US citizens should check both US and Canadian rules. Check current requirements with your line before you sail.

More detail: our full Boston cruise port guide and our Canada & New England cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Boston: Bermuda.

Canada & New England from other ports: Baltimore, Cape Liberty (Bayonne), Montreal, New York City, Quebec City.