Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Chicago
Rail/Sail Adventure tour members from the West and Midwest will meet in Chicago Union Station this evening. At 8:30 p.m. we’ll board the eastbound Lake Shore Limited. Departure is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Relax in your comfortable coach seat with leg rest. Roomettes and Bedrooms are available for an additional cost.
Eastern and Mid-Atlantic tour members will travel independently to Syracuse, New York. They will spend the night at a local hotel. Arrangements will be made by America by Rail.
Day 2: En Route / Montréal
Midwestern members will arrive in Syracuse this morning where a deluxe motorcoach will meet them prior to picking up the east group at the hotel. The combined group will then transfer to Montréal. Upon arrival we’ll check in to the luxurious Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, which sits at the center of Montréal’s vibrant cultural and commercial district.
Montréal is the world’s second-largest French-speaking city. But, most people you encounter speak English. This evening you are free to explore, dine, shop, etc. Should weather be inclement, Montréal is probably the most weatherproof metropolis in the world. The ever-expanding underground city soars upward, downward, and sideways around our hotel and beyond. You’ll have access underground to more than a thousand boutiques, major department stores, and more than 125 restaurants and bars, movie theaters, art galleries, and more.
Meal(s): B*
Day 3: Montréal / Quebec City
This morning we’ll depart on a sightseeing tour of this world class city including Notre Dame de Montréal (the most magnificent of French-Canadian churches), Old Montréal, the French Quarter, McGill University and a view of this great city from an observation point atop Mount Royale.
This afternoon we’ll transfer by deluxe motorcoach to Quebec City. Founded in 1608, Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. The tour includes the Old Quebec section, the fortifications, Battlefields Park, Place Royale, and the Basilica.
Late this afternoon we’ll board the Norwegian Dawn, our beautiful home for the next seven days. This ship is a jewel on the high seas, filled with innovative features and luxurious amenities. Swim in one of the sparkling pools, shop the Galleria boutique or get a massage in the El Dorado Spa. Dine in one of the dining rooms or specialty restaurants. Sailaway is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
Meal(s): D
Day 4: Cruising
Ahh, now this is relaxation. Do as little or as much as you care to. Melt your cares away with a hot-stone massage at Norwegian’s El Dorado Spa. Shop in the extensive Galleria Shops for duty-free liquor, designer clothing and gifts. Head to the internet cafe’ or library. Tee up at the driving range. There is a jogging track and fitness center for those looking to work off some of the fantastic cuisine. Catch up on your favorite team at the Sports Bar. Grab a latté at the Java Café. Try your luck at the Dawn Club Casino featuring a variety of table games, slots (including nickle slots for the not-so-high roller), video poker, etc. Other daily activities include bingo, craft-making, art auctions, pool games, trivia contests, wine and cocktail tasting; and that traditional cruise favorite, shuffleboard! Of course, you can always just cuddle up with a good book as the pristine waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence drift by.
The evening entertainment is stellar. Don’t miss the colorful production shows and Broadway-style reviews and the venerable Second City® comedy troupe.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 5: Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Located on the western side of the island, Corner Brook has been visited by many, beginning with the Maritime Archaic Indians 3,500 years ago. Since that time Eskimos, Portuguese, Basques and Captain James Cook have frequented the area. Today, Corner Brook is a modern city nestled among scenic hills near the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Outdoor enthusiasts find wildlife is plentiful, including herds of caribou, and moose and rivers teeming with trout and spawning salmon. Seals and whales are found offshore. Three craft outlets in town offer hand-embroidered parkas, whalebone and ivory carvings, and sealskin leather goods.
Specific optional excursions are pending.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 6: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia means New Scotland, and the sound of bagpipes is not uncommon here. Early Scottish settlers felt the land resembled home. The most popular excursion is a trip to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park, an amazing re-creation of a 1744 French fortress. Bird watchers will want to venture out to Bird Islands to spot the Atlantic puffin and bald eagle. The sinuous Cabot Trail along the coast offers one of the most dramatic drives in North America. The Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck is another popular attraction.
Specific optional excursions are pending.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 7: Halifax, Nova Scotia
As your ship comes into port, a bagpiper will welcome you to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. The “City of Trees” offers the warmth and charm of a small town along with all the excitement you would expect from a great city. For ocean scenery at its best, nothing rivals Nova Scotia’s south shore. Here you’ll find craggy coastlines, fabled Peggy’s Cove, and the striking German village of Lunenburg, so meticulously restored it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Halifax the ramparts of the Citadel and a museum commemorating the Titanic await your inspection.
Today’s optional shore excursions may include: Historic Halifax City Tour, Famous Peggy’s Cove Fishing Village, Historical Pubs and Seaside Ceilidh, British Double Decker Bus Tour, Lobsters and Lighthouses, Nova Scotia Drift Fishing Adventure, and Tall Ship Sailing Experience.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 8: Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick
Recently designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Bay of Fundy is one of the top natural destinations in Canada. Its coast has been uniquely sculpted by the famous Fundy tides, the highest tides in the world. Saint John’s history is as spectacular as its nature; the downtown historic district is must-see. One of the most scenic areas is the Market Square and Waterfront which has been beautifully restored to the ornate Victorian style stone and brick buildings of the 19th century. There is a beautiful walking path known as Harbour Passage which goes from the Waterfront to the Reversing Falls Rapids.
Today’s optional shore excursions may include: Bay of Fundy Whale and Wildlife Cruise, Hopewell Rocks Tidal Discovery Tour, Moosehead Beer Tasting, Fundy Panoramic Coastal Tour and Murals of Sussex and Covered Bridges.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 9: Bar Harbor, Maine
USA TODAY lists Acadia among the “10 great places to peep at the peak foliage.” Once the exclusive summer resort of America’s fabulously wealthy, today Bar Harbor is an artists’ enclave and gateway to the rich natural beauty of Acadia National Park, much of which was donated by the Rockefeller family. Beaches, forests and granite cliffs make up some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. You can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park, attend an authentic New England lobster bake or just explore the numerous shops, museums and art galleries .
Today’s optional shore excursions may include: Acadia Carriage Ride & Cadillac Mountain, Whale Watching Cruise, The Best of Bar Harbor, The Cranberry Islands and Cadillac Mountain, and Acadia National Park & Lobster Bake.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 10: Boston / En Route
Upon disembarking from the Norwegian Dawn, we’ll transfer to Boston’s South Station. Midwest travelers will depart at 11:55 a.m. on the Lake Shore Limited. You’ll enjoy the same accommodations you enjoyed on the eastbound trip. Lunch and dinner are included on the train.
Eastern and Mid-Atlantic travelers will board trains for home destinations.
Meal(s): B, L* & D*
Day 11: En Route to Chicago
Midwesterners will arrive into Chicago at 9:45 a.m. on the Lake Shore Limited. They’ll continue on to home destinations throughout the morning and afternoon.
Meal(s): B*
*Midwest tour members only.