Canadian Cruise Guide

Cruises are often misunderstood as an expensive and complicated travel option in Canadian trip planning; however, when factoring in accommodation, some meals, intercity transportation and luggage handling, certain routes may actually be easier to budget than independent travel.

Common Canadian cruise departure and port-of-call ports include Vancouver, Victoria, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Prince Edward Island and some Newfoundland ports. The West Coast most frequently discussed are Alaska cruises departing from Vancouver or Seattle, while the East Coast is often planned alongside Atlantic Canada, New England fall foliage or repositioning sailings.

Tickets typically include accommodation and some meals, but daily automatic gratuities, beverages, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, port fees, insurance and foreign currency transaction fees may be additional. When comparing prices, don't just look at the lowest listed ticket on the homepage; compare the total cost per person per day and cancellation terms.

Some cruise lines may offer Canadian resident and CAD promotions during specific periods, markets or sailings; actual terms should be confirmed with the current official offer. This guide compiles pricing, costs, routes and pitfalls from a Canadian traveller's perspective.