Canada In Autumn with Crystal Cruises

The rich autumnal colors were on full display in every Northeastern port, but the beauty of the landscapes were dwarfed only by the gorgeous decor and next-level luxury found aboard the Crystal Symphony on this fall-foliage October itinerary.

Crystal Cruises' luxurious Crystal Symphony took us from Montreal to New York City on the Autumn Tapestry itinerary. The ship, which can accomodate 848 passengers, was completely renovated and updated in 2018; the lighter colors presented an airy and elegant mood without feeling stuffy.

Prior to embarkation day, we spent a night in Montreal at Loews Hotel Vogue, which is a small hotel with an understated style. Breakfast was included as part of the Signature amenities. The location was very urban: we had access to many restaurants, shops, entertainment options, and an art museum all within walking distance. If you choose Montreal as your embarkation point, spending an extra day or two exploring the city would most certainly be worthwhile.

As always, Crystal Cruises delivered fantastic service, comfortable cabins and fantastic food. The dining venues were wonderful—varied and delicious with beautiful presentations and healthy options, too. I think Prego, the Italian restaurant, was my favorite, but the other specialty restaurants (serving Japanese, Brazilian, and Chinese cuisine) were all excellent as well. All drinks were included in all venues all the time. In addition to phenomenal dining, we enjoyed the the riveting lectures and Broadway-style shows.

This ocean cruise highlighted the captivating fall colors, interesting ports with varied history and culture, flawless architecture, and welcoming people in every location we visited. The English-speaking locations including Quebec City, Quebec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island made using U.S. currency easy at port.

In Charlottetown, we booked a lighthouse and wine tour. There are over 60 lighthouses positioned around Prince Edward Island, and about half of them are still used to aid navigation. Another highlight of the vacation was the tour of Newport and The Breakers, the 70-room mansion constructed by the Vanderbilt family. I highly recommended both tours. They offered the opportunity to see some popular sights and unique local treasures.

I’ve sailed with Crystal before and I’m pleased to say they continue to meet high standards for service. Everyone on staff was friendly and anxious to serve. No matter what we wanted or needed, the answer was always “yes.”