Cruises from Montreal to Canada & New England

Which lines sail from Montreal to Canada & New England?

• Azamara
  Intimate, relaxed and destination-obsessed, with a boutique-hotel feel and a well-traveled crowd.
• Holland America Line
  Gracious and unhurried; live music at night, a good book by day and plenty of ocean views.
• Oceania Cruises
  Refined, relaxed and food-obsessed, with a country-club feel and a strong focus on the destinations.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  Opulent, quietly sociable and genuinely all-inclusive; the kind of ship where you sign nothing all week.
• Silversea Cruises
  Quietly elegant and well-traveled, with butler-level service and a strong sense of place.
• Viking
  Quiet, elegant and intellectually curious; think a stylish Nordic hotel where the evening entertainment might be a history lecture.

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 Montreal

From Montreal-Trudeau, a taxi or rideshare to the Old Port typically takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, and the airport also has an express bus downtown. VIA Rail and Amtrak trains arrive at Central Station downtown, a short taxi ride from the Old Port. If you are driving from the U.S., allow time for the land border crossing.

Long-term parking near the Grand Quay is limited to Old Montreal and downtown public garages, and most cruisers arrive by plane or train. If you drive, reserve a multi-day garage in advance and confirm overnight and in-and-out rules.

• Bring a passport. U.S. citizens need one to fly into Canada, and one-way cruises between Canada and the U.S. make it essential.
• Book fall sailings early; September and October departures are the most popular.
• One-way itineraries mean open-jaw flights, often into Montreal and home from Boston or New York, or the reverse.
• Pack layers and rain gear; weather on the St. Lawrence and in the Maritimes changes quickly in fall.

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 Montreal cruise port guide and our Canada & New England cruise guide.

Related routes

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