Boston Cruises: Cruise Ship’s Best Kept Secret

Boston Cruises are a great way to start or end a vacation. You know Boston, of course. The Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Boston Tea Party, Old Ironsides. You could explore the city forever. But why not explore as a prelude to a cruise vacation?

Yes, a cruise. Boston has been one of America’s major ports since before we were America. Holland America sails on the Maasdam from Boston. Norwegian Cruise Lines sails on Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Dream. Royal Caribbean offers the Jewel of the Seas. Your choices of cruise lines, ships, and itineraries are varied enough that everyone can find some rest and relaxation.

The Maasdam is one of Holland America’s smallest ships and the smallest of the ships leaving Boston. She put into service in 1993, she displaces 55,000 tons and can carry approximately 1200 passengers. Being an older ship, the cabins on this cruise ship are slightly larger than those on newer ships. The Maasdam sets sail from Boston on a 7-day loop through Newport, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Bar Harbor, Maine; and returning to Boston.

This is a beautiful cruise to take in the fall, when the New England landscape lights up in legendary colors. Bring warmer clothes and enjoy a drink on the terrace while watching the beautiful scenery go by.

Another cruise the Maasdam sails on is the 7-night Canada and New England Discovery, which visits Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; cruise the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec; it then visits Quebec City and finally docks in Montreal. If you long to spend more time aboard the ship, it also has a 17-day “Viking Voyage” departing from Boston and visiting Sydney, Nova Scotia; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Qaqortoq, Greenland; Isafjord, Akureyri and Seydisfjiordur, Iceland; Lerwick, Scotland; Stavanger and Oslo, Norway; and finally docking in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Another small ship (like cruise ships) is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Majesty. She was built in 1992 and completely renovated in 1999. Norwegian Majesty has stretched to 680 feet and now displaces nearly 41,000 tons. She sails back and forth from Boston to Bermuda and back. In 2008, Norwegian’s Dream will take over this route and the 7-day Canada and New England route will be offered.

In September and October, Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas sails for 7 days on its Canada and New England cruises. Ella this is a round trip cruise from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard; Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. There is also a shorter 5-night cruise that removes St. John, New Brunswick from the cruise.

Jewel of the Seas is 962 feet long and displaces more than 90,000 tons. It offers a sports court and climbing wall, solarium, gym, casino, day spa and dedicated youth facilities. There’s something on board for everyone, no matter your mood.

Consider sailing Royal Caribbean from Boston to warmer climes with their 10-night Caribbean cruise. Leave the cool weather of Boston and head to Puerto Rico, St Thomas, St Maarten and Aruba. The ship docks at the end of the voyage in Miami, Florida.

Boston cruises are not particularly well known. But this best-kept secret can offer you value few other cruisers will find.