The Canadian Maritimes & Newfoundland
Cruise the eastern Canadian coast exploring historical maritime communities, legendary islands, Viking history and breathtaking sandstone cliffs aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer.
Embark on the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer and sail into Eastern Canada’s breathtaking natural beauty. This trip begins and ends in St. John’s, Canada. Explore Newfoundland’s little known yet astonishing Viking past. Your journey of pure discovery ventures to the legendary islands of Cape Breton, Saint Pierre and the Isles de la Madeleine.
Immerse yourself in the region’s extraordinary history while venturing into the ancient Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows, the only widely accepted site of trans-Atlantic Viking establishment and very early Norse exploration. See WWII harbor defenses and visit the only North American island that remains under French control, an outpost of its era as a colonial superpower.
Cruise in Canada’s eastern waters for sweeping dunes, wind- and wave-carved cliffs and sandstone hills that cover the wild land. Keep an eye out for moose and seabirds—including charming puffins—while relying on National Geographic eagle-eyed naturalists to keep an eye on the horizon for whales. Explore the geology of intriguing red cliffs, mars-like landscape and strange tabletop formations at Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The unparalleled Canada travel guides on this trip offer an engaging, in-depth experience, and the generous ratio of 1 staff member to 10 guests means more choice in activities. This highly specialized group includes an expedition leader, eight naturalists/historians, a National Geographic photographer plus a certified photo instructor, an undersea specialist, a Global Perspectives guest speaker, a wellness specialist and a video chronicler.
Read on for details about this trip, learn more about AdventureSmith’s Canada small ship cruises and Canada adventure travel.
The Canadian Maritimes & Newfoundland Itinerary
This 10-day expedition through the Gulf of St Lawrence and around Newfoundland begins and ends in St. John’s, Newfoundland, visiting fishing villages, history-rich islands (including Red Bay and its Basque whaling station) and stunning red sandstone cliffs.
Arrive in St. John’s, the picturesque capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, and embark the ship.
The first landfall is St. Pierre, France’s oldest remaining overseas territory. Explore this picturesque French fishing enclave to visit a local island and learn the importance of the historic cod fisheries here, and explore the fascinating L’Arche Museum.
Today visit the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg, an 18th-century fort where the British and French fought. Later, visit the village of Baddeck, where Alexander Graham Bell built his summer home, now the centerpiece of a beautiful park and museum. Explore the life of Bell and enjoy a tour of the Bell Museum to view historic artifacts.
A cluster of wispy islands isolated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Îles de la Madeleine are home to miles of dunes, grassy hills and dazzling red sandstone cliffs. Be guided by local experts across this landscape of caves and sea arches, stopping along the way in colorful fishing villages as we learn about Acadian culture.
Today is a day of exploration where the expedition team will look for the best opportunities to focus on the culture, natural history and landscapes of the region.
Graced by cliffs, fjords and a sweeping alpine plateau, Gros Morne National Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its spectacular geology. Go on a variety of walks with the naturalists, along waterfalls, marine inlets and forested trails. Learn about the forces that shaped this land and the ancient serpentine rock that illustrates the phenomenon of plate tectonics.
Today explore Red Bay, the site of a historic Basque whaling station dating back to the 1500s. See original Basque remains and artifacts at this National Historic Site or take a scenic hike to a viewpoint overlooking the small village.
In the World Heritage site of L’Anse aux Meadows, walk among 11th-century Norse ruins and reconstructed sod huts, and learn the saga of the Vikings in North America—nearly 500 years before Columbus arrived.
Wild, rugged, and often accessible only by sea, Newfoundland’s east coast is dotted with tiny fishing villages tucked into coves. Explore these stunning shores and, back aboard, gain expert insights into the island’s people and wildlife.
Sail through The Narrows in the early morning and disembark in St. John’s. Visit the colorful waterfront and historic Signal Hill or The Rooms Museum before transferring to the airport for the flight home.
Included
Ship accommodations; meals as indicated; beer, wine & full bar; excursions; services of Lindblad Expeditions’ Leader, Naturalist staff and expert guides; use of kayaks; entrance fees; all port charges and service taxes; basic WiFi (enhanced and premium packages available for purchase). Gratuities for all departures of National Geographic Explorer, Orion, Endurance, Resolution, Sea Cloud, Jahan and Lord of the Glens.
Exclusions
Immigration fees; air transportation; extensions; meals not indicated; reserve wines & premium spirits; gratuities for all departures of Delfin II, Endeavour II, Islander II, Venture, Quest, Sea Bird and Sea Lion; personal items such as emails, laundry, voyage DVD, etc.; and insurance of any kind.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
120 or more days – 100% of deposit**
119 to 90 days – 50% of total trip cost
89 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
**Advance payments will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation, and which may only be applied towards final payment on any future booking.
Terms & Conditions
This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.
Arrival & Departure
The Canadian Maritimes & Newfoundland cruise begins and ends in St. John’s, Newfoundland (YYT). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Embarkation time on Day 1 may vary based upon arrival of group flights from New York, New York (LGA) via Toronto, Canada (YYZ). Disembarkation is after breakfast on Day 9 of the outlined itinerary; afternoon departure times may vary, depending on group flights to New York, New York via Toronto, Canada. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.
Activities
Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the ship’s crew can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include walking, hiking, kayaking, inflatable boat/skiff excursions, photography, wildlife observation, town exploration, museum visits and morning yoga and stretching.
Room Configuration
In addition to listed Solo cabin rates, select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. If you would like to share accommodations with another guest of the same gender, we will be happy to try to accommodate you in select cabin categories. This program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found. Contact AdventureSmith for further details and availability.
Families & Children
See the Deals section of this trip for any applicable child discounts. There is no special kids programming on this itinerary.
Travel Insurance
Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.
Itinerary Notes
Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.
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The National Geographic Explorer is a polar expedition vessel that holds 148 guests in 81 outside cabins. Her design and equipment is the result of almost 200 years of collective expedition experience. She is equipped with an ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment for polar expeditions and is perfectly maneuverable for polar passages while providing exceptional comfort. She carries kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac landing crafts. And an undersea specialist operates a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and sophisticated video equipment, extending access to the underwater world.
National Geographic Explorer - In Detail:
Our Review
Common Areas & Amenities
Activities Aboard
Dining & Cuisine
Cabins & Suites & Deck Plan
National Geographic Explorer Review
AdventureSmith Explorations’ National Geographic Explorer review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our experts have sailed aboard the National Geographic Explorer firsthand in Antarctica. Please read our National Geographic Explorer review below then contact our small cruise ship experts to compare the National Geographic Explorer with other Antarctica ships and polar expedition ships and yachts.
The National Geographic Explorer is one of the finest expedition ships in the world operating Antarctica cruises, Antarctica air cruise itineraries, Greenland cruises, Patagonia cruises, Arctic cruises, Iceland cruises, small ship cruises in Northern Europe and Canada small ship cruises. She is equipped for true expeditions to the farthest reaches of our planet in safety and comfort. At 148 guests and 356 feet, she is larger than many other expeditions ships but her size adds stability and endurance for longer voyages. She is still small enough to access remote locations favored by small ship expeditions.
Choose the National Geographic Explorer if you are an active and inquisitive traveler seeking one of the finest ships combined with the best onboard experts from National Geographic. The expert guides and equipment on board this next-generation ship provide the finest intellectual and educational experience of any expedition cruise. If you are seeking an upscale expedition ship, with top guides synonymous with Nat Geo cruises, the National Geographic Explorer is the right expedition ship for you.
Common Areas & Amenities Aboard Nat Geo Explorer
Guests aboard the Explorer enjoy a Bistro Bar; forward-located Chart Room; restaurant; Global Gallery featuring practical items, regional handicrafts and art; library; lounge with full-service bar and state-of-the-art facilities for films, slideshows and presentations; mud room with lockers for expedition gear; and an observation lounge. An "Open Bridge" provides guests an opportunity to meet Explorer's officers and captain and learn about navigation.
A full-time doctor, Internet cafe and laundry are also available. The vessel is staffed by two Wellness Specialists and features a glass-enclosed Fitness Center, outdoor stretching area, two LEXSpa treatment rooms and Swedish sauna, perfect for quick warm-ups after polar plunges or as a relaxing way to end the day. The fitness center with its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and 180-degree vista offers a “million-dollar view” along with exercise bikes, elliptical machines and treadmills, free weights, yoga mats and exercise balls. From early-morning yoga or stretching on deck or in the lounge to massages and face, hand or body treatments inspired by the location, the onboard wellness specialists help guests achieve a more relaxed and revitalized state of being, great for days spent at sea.
Nat Geo Explorer also offers internet access (one device at a time) via three tiers: time-limited complimentary "basic" internet, for app messaging, email and simple social media; time-limited "enhanced" internet, adding general web browsing and video conferencing capabilities; and "premium" internet, for unlimited access to all features under the "enhanced" plan. Please note: WiFi is satellite based and may be compromised by inclement weather or remote locations.
Activities Aboard National Geographic Explorer
National Geographic Explorer carries a full fleet of 15 Zodiac landing crafts, allowing guides to get the entire expedition community off ship and engaged in activities quickly, comfortably and safely. Widely regarded as the most robust watercraft available, these Zodiacs can push through pack ice and run up on sandy shores. Also on board are 36 two-person AIRE inflatable kayaks, a fleet large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity. Specifically chosen because of their inherent stability and suitability for polar waters, AIREs are virtually untippable. Consequently, prior kayaking experience is not necessary; many guests aboard National Geographic Explorer have had their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch.
Unique in-ship Zodiac boarding stations, designed by VP-Marine Operations Captain Leif Skog, allow guests to step into Zodiacs and kayaks safely—and dry—from a secure platform inside the ship rather than a ladder dangling outside. With two possible embarkation gates, the Explorer unloads her guests into Zodiacs more quickly, meaning you’ll have more time ashore and less time waiting. Adjacent these boarding stations is the mudroom and lockers for guests, where expedition gear can be stored separate from cabins. On warm-weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling, a mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit are provided for the duration of the expedition. On select cold-weather itineraries, cross-country ski gear may be available.
Additional tools for exploration aboard National Geographic Explorer include:
Underwater Camera
An undersea specialist will dive almost every day of Explorer’s expeditions, even in Antarctica or the Arctic, with almost 200 pounds of gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colorful nudibranchs, plant-like crinoids and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrive in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment.
Remotely Operated Vehicle
Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any scuba diver, the ROV allows guests to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. By sharing videos of potentially new species with scientists, such as a large worm an onboard specialist captured in the Weddell Sea, each expedition actively contributes to science and may fundamentally change how the ocean is viewed.
Video Microscope
Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding images of a krill’s body, at 80x magnification, fills the plasma screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of an otherwise unobservable creature.
Crow’s Nest Camera
Perched high atop the vessel on the ship’s mast, this camera provides a continual view on the outside world that can be seen on in-room cabin TVs. From zooming in on a distant polar bear to simply watching the bow crush through ice flows, each guest gets a unique perspective of their surroundings. The extra height from the camera also aids the captain by allowing him to peer at ice conditions farther ahead.
Hydrophones
These underwater microphones are deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real-time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback.
Dining Aboard National Geographic Explorer
Meals are served in the ship's elegant dining room and the adjacent, more intimate Bistro Bar. Seating is open, allowing you to choose where to dine, and table sizes range from 2 to 12. The style is relaxed and casual—there’s never a need to dress up, and there will be opportunities to chat with the onboard naturalists and guest speakers over a meal. Each evening, a ship’s officer, National Geographic staff or a naturalist hosts small tables in the chart room.
All food prepared aboard National Geographic Explorer is sourced locally whenever possible from sustainable providers, with special attention to all seafood being sustainably caught or raised. Breakfast is usually served buffet-style in the dining room and consists of a selection of fruit, eggs to order, cereal, yogurts, cheese and cold meats, plus specially prepared daily dishes, fresh coffee and tea. An early-riser continental breakfast is served in the bistro as well, and many guests choose to take their coffee and morning pastries to the bridge or out on deck. Lunch is also served buffet-style in the dining room and Bistro Bar, with salads and both hot and cold buffet choices available. Most days a light-lunch option is held in the observation lounge at the very top of the ship. When weather conditions permit, the light-lunch is held outdoors on the aft sundeck, offering a stunning backdrop. Depending on the day’s activities, an afternoon tea with cookies, or occasionally, cakes and pastries, is served buffet-style in the Bistro Bar. Dinners are served in the dining room and bistro and feature plated service.
Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard National Geographic Explorer
Soothingly decorated in quiet earth tones, National Geographic Explorer’s 81 spacious cabins each offer a large desk, ample drawer space, signature feather duvets, crisp cotton sheets and generously sized bathrooms with roomy glass-walled shower stalls, hair dryers, bathrobes and botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel and lotion, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Most cabins offer a comfortable armchair for reading, as well as individual reading lamps above the bed.
Cabins also feature individual climate control for heating and air-conditioning; National Geographic Atlas; plenty of drawers, hooks and under-bed storage space for luggage; public address system; and a flat-panel TV with several channels for movies, National Geographic documentaries, lounge lectures and presentations, views from the Crow’s Nest camera and displays of the electronic chart system with the ship’s current position. Ethernet jacks are available for in-cabin Internet access and there are both 110-volt and 220-volt outlets. Cabin doors lock, but it’s recommended to leave jewelry and other valuables at home. The Explorer is not equipped with safety deposit boxes.
Current Deals on This Trip
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Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary
The National Geographic Explorer is a state-of-the-art expedition ship. She is fully stabilized, enabling her to navigate polar passages while providing comfort.
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Additional Travel Options After Your Cruise
In conjunction with this cruise, the following pre- & post-cruise options are available for a seamless land-and-sea group travel experience with National Geographic guides and fellow passengers. Contact AdventureSmith Explorations for pricing.
St. John’s Pre-Extension is a 2-day pre-cruise exploration of St. John’s, blending small-town charm with a contemporary edge. This capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is brimming with character, history and culture—from Jellybean Row, the moniker for the brightly colored houses that cover the hillsides, to Signal Hill where Guglielmo Marconi made communications history by receiving the first ever transatlantic wireless signal. Explore the Rooms Museum, Cape Spear and other noteworthy sites on guided tours, and enjoy some time on your own to savor the local culinary traditions.
Fogo Island Inn Post-Extension is a 5-day post-cruise exploration of the National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World and Condé Nast Traveler’s 2016 Gold List winner, Fogo Island Inn. This stunning inn is located off the coast of Newfoundland at the furthest eastern reach of Canada. Experience the unique accommodations and its soulful surroundings over the course of several days—savor superb meals featuring local ingredients, call in on the island’s artist-in-residence program, take in the untamed wilderness on a berry-picking excursion (over twenty types of berries flourish here) and get acquainted with the infectious hospitality of this remote outport community. Contact AdventureSmith Explorations for pricing.
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