Types of Cruises - New England Cruises
CRUISING ABOUT NEW ENGLAND
There’s no better time to see the vivid fall foliage of New England than on a cruise.
Cruising New England on the east coast of the USA when much of it is blanketed in brilliant hues of gold, yellow, red and orange has become hugely popular. The high season for these fall cruises is mid-September and October but cruise prices are at their peak then and there’s a lot to be said for the low and shoulder season of July and August when the summer is at its best. Of course, bear in mind too that the best foliage views are not from the ship ... you will need an excursion to the mountains to do it justice.
There is also the added bonus of visiting New England on these types of cruises. Six of America’s oldest states, each different in character, landscape and history, make up New England: Connecticut, a lacework of preserved Early American and Colonial structures and sites; Maine, famed for its succulent lobsters; Massachusetts, rich in Revolutionary history and whale watching; New Hampshire, the USA’s most livable state, Rhode Island, the Ocean State, and Vermont with its maple syrup and much else.
The New England cruises also take in the charms of the region’s quaint towns and the diverse cultures and attractions of New York and Boston. and provide an opportunity to sample such regional fare as New England clam chowder and lobster
Most New England cruises in the fall incorporate eastern Canada ports of call – there’s the quintessential French Quebec City, Montreal, Halifax in Nova Scotia, and Saint John in New Brunswick, and some even call in on Prince Edward Island.
The Maine coast, with more than 3,000 islands, is considered one of the best and most beautiful cruise and sailing areas in the world. One of the most popular of these types of cruises on the east coast are the windjammer fleet which hails from the ports of Rockland and Camden, located in the mid-coast region of Maine.
The Maine Windjammer Association’s 12 traditional tall ships, seven of them National Historic Landmarks, sail the coast of Maine from late May to mid-October. Each windjammer carries between 6 and 40 guests and 2-10 crew members. Guests may participate in all aspects of windjamming, including hoisting sails, taking a turn at the wheel, navigating, or helping out in the galley if they choose.
photo courtesy Crystal Cruises