Atlantic & Colonial New England

Fort Lauderdale is South Florida's reinvented waterfront city, where three hundred miles of inland waterways, the NSU Art Museum's contemporary collection, and the tree-lined Las Olas Boulevard create a cruise departure point of genuine sophistication at Port Everglades. Arrive a day early between November and April to explore the 'Venice of America' by water taxi and discover the dining scene that has replaced Spring Break with year-round culinary ambition.

Norfolk is America's premier naval city, where the world's largest naval base meets a revitalised waterfront with world-class art, Chesapeake Bay seafood, and four centuries of maritime history. Must-do experiences include exploring Battleship Wisconsin, feasting on blue crab with Old Bay, and day-tripping to Colonial Williamsburg. April through October is ideal, with autumn bringing oyster season and comfortable temperatures.

Boston is America's revolutionary birthplace and intellectual capital, a supremely walkable city where the Freedom Trail connects sixteen historic sites past Italian North End bakeries and Beacon Hill's gaslit streets. Must-do experiences include walking the Freedom Trail, eating a lobster roll at the Union Oyster House, and exploring the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. September and October bring peak fall foliage; spring brings the Marathon and blooming gardens.

Portland, Maine, is America’s most exciting small food city, perched on a Casco Bay peninsula where the Old Port’s brick-and-granite streets house more restaurants per capita than nearly any U.S. city, fueled by legendary Maine lobster and Gulf oysters. Must-dos include a lobster roll on the working waterfront, browsing the Portland Museum of Art’s Winslow Homer collection, and a ferry ride to Casco Bay’s car-free islands. Visit September and October for New England’s spectacular fall foliage and the finest weather.

Halifax, the historic capital of Nova Scotia, is a refined Atlantic port where centuries of maritime heritage meet a flourishing culinary scene anchored by Digby scallops, donairs, and one of North America's oldest farmers' markets. Visitors should not miss the star-shaped Citadel Hill and the harbourfront boardwalk's constellation of galleries and tasting rooms. The ideal season stretches from late June through October, when autumn's blazing foliage transforms the entire province into a masterwork of colour and the cruise terminal welcomes the world's finest vessels.

Sydney, on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, is a charming harbour city where Scottish-Acadian heritage meets raw Atlantic beauty, serving as the gateway to the legendary Cabot Trail — one of the world's most spectacular coastal drives. Visitors should savour the island's renowned seafood chowder and traditional oatcakes while exploring the colourful waterfront boardwalk. The peak season stretches from late June through October, when autumn's fiery foliage transforms the highlands into a tapestry of crimson and gold.

Charlottetown is the Birthplace of Canadian Confederation and Prince Edward Island's gracious Victorian capital, where Province House witnessed the nation's founding and the world's longest-running annual musical has played since 1965. Visit June through October via Cunard or Regent Seven Seas for legendary PEI oysters and lobster, red sand beaches, and the Green Gables landscape that inspired one of literature's most beloved heroines.

Quebec City is North America's only walled city, a UNESCO treasure where 400 years of French colonial architecture crown a St. Lawrence promontory beneath the iconic Château Frontenac. Visit September through October via Cunard or Seabourn for autumn foliage transforming stone ramparts, elevated Québécois terroir cuisine, and the singular experience of genuine Old World atmosphere on a continent that rarely provides it.

Montreal is the world's second-largest francophone city, set on an island in the St. Lawrence River where French colonial heritage meets North American energy and one of the continent's most exciting food scenes. Must-dos include visiting the stunning Basilique Notre-Dame, eating smoked meat at Schwartz's and bagels at St-Viateur, and exploring the Plateau's bohemian streets. June through September offers peak festival season, including the world's largest jazz festival.