Forty-Eight Cruises Highlight 2014 Canada & New England Season

If all of these Canada and New England posts have whet your appetite to explore the eastern seaboard, Holland America Line is featuring 48 opportunities in spring, summer and fall 2014.

Scheduled May through October, the nine different itineraries on ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam and ms Veendam depart from Boston, Mass.; Montréal and Québec City, Canada; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and New York City. The cruises range from seven to 15 days and include family-friendly summer cruises and visits during the height of the fall foliage season.

Here are the regular itineraries on the schedule. Keep in mind that each ship also sails special itineraries, like Veendam’s nine-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Québec City departing May 1 to start the season; Maasdam’s season-ending 13-day sailing departing Oct. 18 from Montréal to Fort Lauderdale, and Eurodam’s 12-day cruise from Québec City to Fort Lauderdale departing Oct. 14.

Whether you want a weeklong getaway or a longer vacation, there several exciting options.

From May 10 through the Oct. 11 departure, Veendam will sail 17 seven-day itineraries between Québec City and Boston. Ports of call include Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor, with scenic cruising on the St. Lawrence River. These sailings also include an overnight at Québec City, Holland America Line’s number-one rated port of call.

From May 24 through the Oct. 11 departure, Maasdam offers seven-day sailings between Montréal and Boston, with calls at Québec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor. The itineraries feature scenic cruising on the St. Lawrence River and make an ideal option for families looking to take a summer cruise without traveling abroad.

In September and October, during the height of the 2014 fall foliage season, Eurodam will sail three 10-day cruises between New York and Québec City, and the one 12-day cruise from Québec City to Fort Lauderdale. Guests will enjoy scenic cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Saguenay Fjord, as well as the line’s only call at Rockland, Maine, this season.

For seven-day Maasdam and Veendam itineraries, two back-to-back sailings can be combined for an extended 14-day roundtrip journey, allowing extra time ashore to get to know each port better with repeating calls. Guests can hunt for antiques, explore the charming fishing towns, learn about local history and sample more of the region’s fresh seafood.

And as the blog has featured, on each Canada and New England cruise Holland America Line’s “On Location” enrichment program brings local traditions, culinary tastes and cultural experiences to life both onboard and ashore to deepen guests’ appreciation of the region. Guests might enjoy a New England clam bake or a Fiddlin’ Flapjack breakfast, complete with authentic Canadian maple syrup and featuring local Cape Breton Celtic fiddlers. Other activities to enjoy include regional beer and wine tastings, a Canadian Bar mixology class, cultural cooking demonstrations, and a special Quebecois L’auberge de Lido or New England sailaway party.

Presently, Holland America Line is offering the “Explore 4” early booking promotion that features a free Signature Beverage Package or beverage card, a free specialty restaurant dinner, free or reduced fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom and 50 percent reduced deposits for bookings on select 2014 cruises made before October 15, 2013. Guests may receive all four offers when booking a qualified itinerary, including Canada and New England.