In recent years, many families planning a vacation through Eastern Canada and New England have opted for cruising on a luxury liner instead of a driving trip. Lounging around a ship such as Holland America Line’s ms Maasdam sure beats being stuck in a car where someone has to keep their eyes on the road while another is trying to make sense of a map. The captain of the cruise ship will ensure you get from port to port and, best of all, you and your family don’t have to fight over directions.

Holland America Line offers a number of cruises throughout New England, a popular one being the Maasdam’s seven-day cruises that alternate departures between Boston and Montreal. From mid-May to late-September of 2008 the company will be offering 14 such seven-day cruises with ports-of-call that include Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, both in Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City in the province of Quebec.

A "Signature of Excellence" Ship

With a capacity of 1,258 passengers in 629 staterooms ranging from standard cabins to luxury penthouse verandah suites, the Maasdam is one of the more “intimate” ships in the HAL fleet. She was dedicated in December of 1993 by actress June Allyson and a dozen years later went into dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas to become the 12th HAL ship to receive the "Signature of Excellence" upgrades. Features include all new cabin amenities such as pillow-top Mariner’s Dream Beds, flat screen TVs, DVD players and deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, magnifying make-up mirrors with halo lighting, hair dryers, massage shower heads and a complimentary fruit basket – just in case you need to snack between the multitudes of meals offered during your cruise.

Club HAL is the fully supervised club catering to kids from ages 3 to 12 with age-appropriate activities. Little ones can enjoy art or play on a fun slide, while older siblings play in a separate area featuring arcade games, Internet access, Sony Playstations and so much more. Teens 13 to 17 have their own hangout space called The Loft.

Some of the other onboard upgrades include The Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine, where guest chefs will show passengers tricks from their trade, Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times, and the Greenhouse Spa and Salon – an exceptional spa offering a full range of services. The recent renovation includes the addition of a thermal suite, hydro-pool, and a large fitness facility.

Exploring Northern Ports-of-Call

In addition to the wonderful activities onboard, Maasdam offers a wide variety of port tours and excursions when off the ship, or you can explore on your own. HAL will gladly book hotel and tours for you pre- or post cruise in Boston and Montreal. In order to explore the port you leave from, plan to arrive a day early.

A great view of Boston can be seen from the Prudential Skywalk Observatory, and once you’ve seen the city from above, you can catch a Boston Duck Tour at the base of the Prudential Center. It is a fully narrated land and water tour in an authentic WWII amphibious vehicle that takes you on the Charles River. After being on the water, you may want to learn what comes out of the sea with a visit to The New England Aquarium and a stop at the Simons IMAX Theatre. A short walk from there is Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market Building, a great place to pick up souvenirs.

Bar Harbor is quaint coastal town of Maine known for nearby Acadia National Park. Cars are not allowed in the park, so plan to bike, hike, or take a carriage tour. You can even go by horseback.

Halifax is the capital city of the province of Nova Scotia and an historic city tour featuring the Province House and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. There are tours of Halifax that also include a drive to the picturesque fishing town of Peggy’s Cove, which is one of Canada’s most photographed sights.

Sydney is known for its miners and its music – internationally known Celtic songstress Rita MacNeil lives about a block from where the Maasdam docks. Tours include a trip to the Cape Breton Miners Museum and a seven-hour jaunt on the scenic Cabot Trail.

Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island. Once on land in PEI, you can’t but help notice the soil is a rich red, as rich as the history itself. Fans of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables books can visit Cavendish where you can actually walk through the homestead of this beloved fictional character. You leave believing the little red head girl really must have lived.

When the ship docks in Quebec City, it is like stepping back in time, into the first French city in North America; the old part of the city is rich with historic buildings, chic boutiques and cafes on every corner. Quebec City is a great place to brush up on your high school French.

To book a Holland America Line Maasdam cruise to Eastern Canada and New England contact your travel agent, call 877/932-4259 or visit: www.hollandamerica.com.

Other Canada & New England Cruise Options

Keep in mind that most cruise companies only offer this itinerary in the spring, summer and fall seasons, then move ships to Alaska or the Caribbean in summer. The home ports of Norfolk, Virginia; Newark, New Jersey; New York and Boston have the greatest selection of sailings.

Carnival (888/CARNIVAL) has shorter four or five-day Canada/New England cruises with stops at Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada; Portland in Maine; and Boston, Massachusetts. This year, the cruise line is offering 13 departures on two ships, Triumph and Victory.

Celebrity Cruises (800/760-0654) has longer 12 and 13-night cruises leaving from Bayonne, New Jersey and stopping at four ports in Canada.

Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021) is offering an 11-day itinerary on the Crystal Symphony from Boston to Montreal with stops at Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Cunard's (800/7-CUNARD) four-day "Labor Day Getaway" goes straight from New York City to Saint John, New Brunswick and back, but it also has a longer seven-day "Splendours of Autumn" cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line (866/234-7350) has a total of 22 Canada/New England excursions this fall. Its seven-day trips depart from either Boston or Philedelphia while its 10-day trips depart from New York. Ports include Saint John, New Brunswick; the Bay of Fundy; and Halifax and Sydney in Nova Scotia.

Princess Cruises (800/PRINCESS) offers 10 to 14-day cruises between New York City, Quebec and Ft. Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean's (866/562-7625) New England cruises stop at the same ports as the Holland America Line and Carnival, but its nine-day Atlantic Canada & Quebec Cruise has an extra port call at Saguenay River, Quebec. Royal Caribbean also has ports of departure at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey and Norfolk, Virginia.

by Patty Lee