| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 15th15 | OctOct | 202626 | Quebec City, Québec, Canada, embark on the EXPLORA III | | 20:00 |
Québec City's alluring setting atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) evokes a past of high adventure, military history, and exploration. This French-speaking capital city is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors come for the delicious and inventive cuisine, the remarkable historical continuity, and to share in the seasonal exuberance of the largest Francophone population outside France.The historic heart of this community is the Old City (Vieux-Québec), comprising the part of Upper Town (Haute-Ville) surrounded by walls and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), which spreads out at the base of the hill from Place Royale. Many sets of staircases and the popular funicular link the top of the hill with the bottom. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and elaborate cathedrals here are charming in all seasons. The Old City earned recognition as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, thanks largely to city planners who managed to update and preserve the 400-year-old buildings and attractions without destroying what made them worth preserving. The most familiar icon of the city, Fairmont Château Frontenac, is set on the highest point in Upper Town, where it holds court over the entire city.Sitting proudly above the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, the city's famous military fortification, La Citadelle, built in the early 19th century, remains the largest of its kind in North America. In summer, visitors should try to catch the Changing of the Guard, held every morning at 10 am; you can get much closer to the guards here than at Buckingham Palace in London.Enchanting as it is, the Old City is just a small part of the true Québec City experience. Think outside the walls and explore St-Roch, a downtown hot spot, which has artsy galleries, foodie haunts, and a bustling square. Cruise the Grande-Allée and avenue Cartier to find a livelier part of town dotted with nightclubs and fun eateries. Or while away the hours in St-Jean-Baptiste, a neighborhood with trendy shops and hipster hangouts. Prepare to encounter a province thriving with culture and cuisine, history and heritage, and so much more. Explore impressive architecture, intriguing history, imposing landmarks and the treasured streets of UNESCO praised Old Québec. Relax at Parisian-style bistros and modern art exhibitions or choose to partake in thrilling alfresco pursuits. Delve deep into nature to kayak through a fjord, walk the width of Montmorency Falls, zipline, paddleboard, surf and mountain bike in tranquil settings. Home to capital Montréal and an incredibly friendly nation, there’s something for everyone in this mostly French speaking region. |
| 16th16 | OctOct | 202626 | La Baie, Québec, Canada | 09:00 | 16:00 |
Submerge into the almost hypnotic nature at the heart of The River Saguenay. Explore the raw beauty and protected wildlife within the Saguenay Fjord. Purify in a biome boreal forest under the canopy cover of climate-transforming coniferous trees. Learn about Canadian history, see black bears in their natural environment and embark on a wealth of activities from helicopter to kayak, sailing to skiing. Relax and restore in this natural habitat of mountains, valleys and forestry - for as far as the eye can see. |
| 17th17 | OctOct | 202626 | Sept-Iles, Québec, Canada | 09:00 | 18:00 |
Viewing the workings of this major Canadian port from a waterfront boardwalk, no one would guess this was once a quiet fishing village. The place boomed after World War II, when large companies decided Sept-Îles would make a good base for expanding northern Québec’s iron-mining industry. But all of the massive infrastructure can’t trump Mother Nature. Beautiful beaches line the coast, and the islands of an archipelago park sit just offshore. Campers and bird-watchers flock here, in part to spot the colorful beaks of the puffins. |
| 18th18 | OctOct | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 19th19 | OctOct | 202626 | Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada | 08:00 | 17:00 |
If you come directly to Cape Breton via plane, ferry, or cruise ship, Sydney is where you’ll land. If you’re seeking anything resembling an urban experience, it’s also where you’ll want to stay: after all, this is the island’s sole city. Admittedly, it is not the booming center it was a century ago when the continent’s largest steel plant was located here (that era is evoked in Fall on Your Knees, an Oprah Book Club pick penned by Cape Bretoner Anne-Marie MacDonald). However, Sydney has a revitalized waterfront and smattering of Loyalist-era buildings that appeal to visitors. Moreover, it offers convenient access to popular attractions in the region—like the Miner’s Museum in nearby Glace Bay (named for the glace, or ice, that filled its harbor in winter), the Fortress at Louisbourg, and beautiful Bras d'Or Lake. Embrace the perfect blend of urban charm, historic sites, captivating scenery and warm hospitality in Cape Breton. Applaud buskers along the charming waterfront, capture a moment beside the world’s largest fiddle and drop into eclectic boutiques. Hike along part of the far-reaching Cabot Trail – a must for anyone wishing to absorb the spectacular scenery. Immerse yourself in Nova Scotian culture as you engage in the works of local artisans – from painters to carpenters and glass blowers to chocolatiers, this truly is a handicraft haven. |
| 20th20 | OctOct | 202626 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | 09:00 | 17:00 |
Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It's a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don't venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There's easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks. It's a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary. Welcome the vibrant, culture-filled capital of Nova Scotia. Trace Canada’s roots back through historic sites and museums, shop in the progressive farmers’ market, dine in a flourishing food scene and head up the ancient fort crowned hill for commanding views of the harbour. Drop down to refresh at a winery, embark on a salt-water ferry cruise and head to Peggy’s Cove to glimpse the iconic lighthouse. With a wealth of wooded nature never far away, wind around the coast and wander through Canada’s most glamourous Victorian gardens to gaze at flower beds blooming with beauty. |
| 21st21 | OctOct | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 22nd22 | OctOct | 202626 | New York, New York, United States | 08:00 | 19:00 |
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park's leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy. History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz. Wake up to be part of a city that never sleeps. Fly by helicopter over the Manhattan Skyline for flawless images of the Statue of Liberty, neon-lit Times Square, sprawling Central Park, the skyscraping Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Explore Picasso, Pollock and others at the Museum of Modern Art. Then create your own kitsch masterpiece from a blank canvas at a painting party in Havana’s emporium. Pay your respects and honour gallant heroes at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum mission. Listen to backstage stories in the Broadway theatre district, shop in the East Village, eat streetside hotdogs, sip cocktails in elegant bars, take in a show. And as evening falls, take a walk with your loved one over Brooklyn Bridge. Big, bold and brash – there's a lot to bite off in the Big Apple. |
| 23rd23 | OctOct | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 24th24 | OctOct | 202626 | At Sea | | |
| 25th25 | OctOct | 202626 | Miami, Florida, United States, disembark the EXPLORA III | 08:00 | |
Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone. Welcome to Miami and the sweep of South Beach - backdrop to every iconic Miami movie, and forefront of Latin American culture. Stroll through pastel-hued geometric buildings in the art deco district, to graffiti mural masterpieces at Wynwood Walls. Watch Latino life unfold in Little Havana - the heartbeat of this great city - where walk-up windows sell café cortadito, sweet sugarcane juice, hatuey beer and guava ice-cream. Watch passionate locals discuss politics, play dominoes and smoke cigars. Shimmy at a salsa class, shop designer boutiques and race marlin and sharks by speedboat. Then slow your pace to uncover rare and endangered species at the Everglades National Park outdoor oasis. You’ll find the Miami dream is real – and it’s not just Cuban heels that will give you a spring in your step. |