Catching the colors of autumn triggers something of an annual pilgrimage. For fans of falling leaves, this usually means piling into the family car and heading north to exclaim at landscapes of russet and gold.
If traveling roads clogged with like-minded tourists isn’t your thing, you can peek at peak-season colors in a more leisurely way–on a cruise that lets you drift past leaves, rather than the leaves drifting past you.
This year a number of ships will ply traditional paths in search of color on Canada/New England routes. Despite their seemingly similar itineraries, each offers some distinctive feature that may appeal to you–a ship’s atmosphere, a specific port of call, a unique shore excursion, or a good price.
Here are some highlights of fall cruises:
– The 188-passenger Hanseatic uniquely blends luxurious on-board amenities with soft-adventure cruising. Rated five stars by Fielding’s Guide to Worldwide Cruises, the Hanseatic typically visits isolated villages and areas rich in wildlife, with passengers going ashore to explore via the vessel’s 14 inflatable Zodiacs. The Hanseatic has just added a 13-night trip from Montreal to Washington, D.C. The cruise departs Oct. 17 and stops in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, and Martha’s Vineyard. Fares start at $2,990, and include gratuities and round-trip air fare from East Coast gateways, including Orlando. For more information, call Radisson Seven Seas Cruises at 800-333-3333.
– The atmosphere on Clipper Cruise Line’s informal 100-passenger Nantucket Clipper is like that of a small country inn–one that bakes chocolate-chip cookies daily. Its young American crew is genuinely friendly and welcoming. Naturalists immerse passengers in informal lectures and one-on-one discussions; they also lead Zodiac adventures ashore. A variety of 8- to 12-day cruises depart Aug. 31 to Oct. 22. The first sailing explores the rocky coast of Maine and watches for whales in New Hampshire.
The ship also cruises on the Chesapeake Bay, and sails Hudson River itineraries along the pastoral countryside of New York’s Duchess County to Kingston and West Point. Fares start at $1,800. For more information, call 800-325-0010.
– Lovers of unabashed luxury can sail Silversea Cruises’ sleek new 296-passenger Silver Cloud. The latest entrant in the luxury category features private teak verandas in 75 percent of its staterooms. Silversea Cruises’ fares include wines and spirits, gratuities, air fare and a precruise stay at a deluxe hotel. Each sailing also offers a complimentary surprise shore “event,” arranged exclusively for its passengers as a surprise. For instance, passengers on two voyages visiting Newport, R.I., will be feted at Beechwood House, the gargantuan turn-of-the-century summer “cottage” of Mary Astor, creator of The 400 List, America’s first social register. Silver Cloud sails five 10-day cruises from Sept. 19 to Oct. 29 between New York and Montreal. Its final itinerary includes the warmer harbors of Colonial America, visiting Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville. Fares start at $4,795. For more information, call 800-722-6655.
– Also in the luxury category is Seabourn Cruise Line’s newest acquisition, the 200-passenger all-suite Legend (formerly the Queen Odyssey). In typical Seabourn style, Legend delivers impeccable food and service (staterooms have no verandas, though.) Nine 14-day departures are scheduled through Oct. 4. Seven-day segments are available. Passengers on Legend’s first Canada/New England sailing (Tuesday from Montreal) may opt for a unique excursion: a seaplane flight to a bistro at the edge of Lac Masson in the Laurentian Mountains for a wine and cheese party. Fares start at $2,975. Seabourn’s fares normally include air fare; however, Legend’s inaugural-season rates are cruise-only but do include gratuities. For more information, call 800-929-4747.
– Holland America Line’s newest ship, the 1,266-passenger Veendam, will have four 10-day departures from New York and Montreal between Aug. 29 and Sept. 28. A first this year: HAL will introduces an overnight stay in Quebec City on every sailing, giving passengers two full days there to savor the city’s French ambience.
On Oct. 8 the Veendam will depart on a 12-day round-trip from New York City. The ship will call in Bermuda for two days before heading to such ports as Boston, Bar Harbor and Halifax. Fares for 10-day cruises start at $2,495. For more information, call 800-426-0327.
– Princess Cruises’ 1,200-passenger Royal Princess entered service in 1984 as the first modern liner to have all outside cabins. From Sept. 12 to Oct. 12, it will sail four 10-night cruises between New York and Montreal that include an extended call in Quebec City. Shore excursions include an authentic New England lobster-bake in Bar Harbor. Noted photographers in each port will lead passengers to picturesque spots, offering pointers to guarantee great vacation photos. Fares start at $3,187, and include air and a pre- or post-cruise stay in Montreal. For more information, call 800-421-0522.
– For uniqueness, no ship equals the QE2, the only liner in the world making regular trans-Atlantic crossings. Cunard Lines’ 1,700-passenger grand dame of the sea will sail a five-day Canada/New England cruise from New York on Oct. 4. In addition to a maiden call at Portland, Maine, stops include St. John, New Brunswick and Newport. Passengers traveling with children may appreciate QE2’s full-time nannies. Fares start at $1,090. For more information, call 800-528-6273.
– Bargain-hunters or first-timers can net some excellent values if they don’t mind vessels that have seen better days. For example, the recently refurbished 1,000-passenger Regal Empress, built in 1953 as the Olympia, offers one-week cruises from New York between Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Fares start at $599.
The ship retains some features typical of its vintage, such as its enclosed promenade deck, which can be a plus on nippy New England cruises.
Port calls include Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, Bar Harbor, and Canada’s St. Andrews By the Sea, site of filming of Stephen King’s horror movie, The Shining. For more information, call 800-270-7245.
Dolphin Cruise Line’s five-night budget-priced departures start at $235. Sailings on the 1,146-passenger IslandBreeze (formerly Carnival Cruise Line’s Festivale) depart weekly from New York through Sept. 29. Itineraries include Newport, Portland and Halifax. For more information, call 800-222-1003.
– The heartland of America doesn’t stint on autumn colors either. Beginning Sept. 28, Delta Queen Steamboat Co.’s fleet of three paddle wheelers offers down-home cruising on upriver routes along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Three- to 10-day autumn cruises stop in such places as Hannibal, Mo.; Dubuque, Iowa; Paducah, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn. Passengers will enjoy foods of the season, such as pumpkin pie and apple cider. And experts on board tell tales of the towns and help to spot wildlife. Fares start at $490. For more information, call 800-543-1949.
