From Québec to the Big Apple: nature & remarkable cities

Enhance your cruise with a carefully designed programme.

Spend five days exploring the Laurentian region, its wide-open spaces and its rich history. Round off this nature-focused experience with a three-day stay in Montreal, to discover the largest French-speaking city on the American continent.

Day 1 – Montreal

You will be greeted at the airport of Montreal by our local representative and transferred to the hotel Four Seasons Montreal 5*.

Check-in available from 3 PM.

Day and dinner at leisure.

Day 2 – Montreal

After breakfast, start your day by visiting one of Montreal’s most emblematic neighbourhoods, the Golden Square Mile. In the early 20th century, the Golden Square Mile was home to some of the biggest fortunes in Canada. Wealthy merchants, industrialists and notables chose this green part of the city as the location for their great Victorian-style mansions, some of which are still standing today. Now a bustling neighbourhood combining luxury, gastronomy and art, it is part of the everyday life of Montreal residents.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Next, you will wander through Old Montreal and visit the dazzling Notre-Dame Basilica, Canada’s first basilica in the Neo-Gothic style.

The rest of the day will be at leisure.

Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Day 3 – Montreal/Mont Tremblant

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

You will then set off for the magnificent Laurentian region, located to the north of Montreal. After an hour on the road, you will make a first stop at a local cider works. The cider tradition in the Montreal region dates back to the early 19th century. Today it represents a mix of French influence, through the use of special apple varieties and fermentation techniques, and British influence, since in that part of the world cider is considered to be a refreshing beverage. Your host will walk you through the orchard and explain the different methods for growing and ripening the apples. As your visit continues you will have the opportunity to taste local products, including ice cider, a local speciality with a high sugar content.

You will get back on the road for 30 minutes and head to a local sugar shack for a typical culinary experience. After visiting the grounds, you will sit down to a lunch featuring rich, local flavours, served in a homely atmosphere.

After lunch, you will be transferred to Mont Tremblant after a 1h30 drive.

Check-in at your hotel Quintessence Mont Tremblant 5*.

Dinner at leisure. 

Day 4 – Mont Tremblant

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will start your day by visiting the small village of Mont-Tremblant on foot. In winter, Mont-Tremblant is a ski resort that is popular with the locals and the village attracts skiers to the local restaurants, cafés and shops. In summer, the village turns into a peaceful haven where nature lovers can unwind. You will head for the heights by taking a gondola to the top of Mont-Tremblant.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

After a 30-minute transfer aboard your bus, you will arrive at the Treetop Walk (Sentier des Cimes). There, you will be met by a French-speaking naturalist guide who will accompany you on your walk up this 40-metre tall panoramic tower with a maximum incline of 6%, built right in the middle of the Laurentian forest. Your naturalist guide will tell you about the local flora and fauna that make this region so rich. Once at the top, enjoy a cocktail as you admire the uninterrupted 360-degree view of the forest. 

Walk back to your hotel.

Dinner will be served at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 5 – Mont Tremblant/Montreal

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

There will be a 45-minute transfer to the Laurentian forest, where you will meet a Canadian trapper who has taken up residence there. You will have the chance to converse with him about his way of life, his environment, his connection with nature and with the indigenous tribes. He will take you into the surrounding forest where you will encounter bison he gets to see every day. He will then take you to the river where you can experience trout fishing by hand if you wish.

Back at the cabin, you will have the opportunity to taste these freshly-caught trout, cooked simply over a wood fire, and continue your conversation with your host.

After lunch, you will be transferred to the port of Montreal for boarding. 

Your hotels :

The 5* Four Seasons Hotel Montreal is ideally located in the city centre. This hotel with a chic and modern décor is an institution in Montreal’s lively Golden Square Mile neighbourhood. It boasts a restaurant serving refined and local dishes, a wine and cocktail bar, and a Guerlain spa. All the Carré Doré rooms feature a floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the city and are located on the upper floors of the hotel.

The 5* luxury boutique hotel Hôtel Quintessence sits on the edge of Lake Tremblant. It is a tranquil establishment conducive to relaxation. All suites face the lake and feature a private balcony. Boasting a surface area of 65 square metres (700 sq. ft.), the suites also feature a king bed, a living area with fireplace, plus a bathroom with a rain shower and a spa tub.

Superior category rooms may also be requested, based on availability. Extra charges will apply. Please contact your travel agent for more details.

Your programme includes :

·        2-nights accommodation in Deluxe Golden Square room at the Four Season Montreal 5* (or similar), local standards, including breakfast.

·        2-nights accommodation in Suite at the Quintessence Mont Tremblant 5* (or similar), local standards, including breakfast.

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverage package during meals (mineral water + 1 glass of wine or 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea), except for the lunch on day 4 as alcohol won’t be available.

·        Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

·        Services of a local English-speaking guide.

·        Hospitality desk at the hotel, the day of your arrival and departure.

Your programme does not include :

·        Dinners on day 1 and day 3.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Visa if necessary.

·        Early check-in at the hotel.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note :

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        The official time of check-out is noon.

·        If you wish to stay in your room after the official check-out time, you can request it at the hotel (subject to availability).

·        This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

·        This programme involves outdoor walking. We recommend dressing accordingly by wearing comfortable walking shoes and clothing.

·        The Treetop Walk is 2.7 km (1.7 miles) long in total, with a maximum incline of no more than six degrees.

·        For the lunch with the trapper on Day 5, it is important to inform your travel agent of any food allergies to ensure that a suitable meal is available. Cheese fondue is possible as an alternative to the trout.

Contact of your hotels :

Four Season Montréal
1440 Rue de la Montagne
Montréal, QC, Canada, H3G 1Z5
Telephone : +514 8432500

Quintessence Mont Tremblant
3004 chemin de la Chapelle
Mot Tremblant, QC J8E 1E1
Telephone : +819 425 3400

Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

 

 

 

 

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 - Montreal

Meet and greet at the airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

Transfer to your hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth 5* and check-in your room.

Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 - Montreal

Breakfast and check-out.

Start the day with a drive through the Golden Square Mile, a downtown neighborhood in constant effervescence where luxury, art and gastronomy are a daily part of its inhabitants’ thrilling lifestyle. Upon arrival on the Mont-Royal, depart for a 15-minutes walk until we reach the Kondiaronk belvedere where you will pause and enjoy the panoramic view of the city.

Next, head to an authentic sugar shack located about an hour’s drive from Montréal. In Quebec, when winter comes to an end, it announces sugaring-off time. Boiling maple sap to transform it into syrup is a typically French-Canadian tradition. The hosts recreated the rural setting of the last century, the perfect surrounding to taste and learn about the sugar-making and its history.

Enjoy lunch at the shack.

After lunch, return to Montréal for a visit of the majestic Notre-Dame Basilica, the first Gothic Revival church in Canada. From there, continue your exploration of Old Montreal’s rich architectural and historical legacy with a short walking tour before transferring to the ship for boarding.

Your hotel:

Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Montreal 5* is

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes:

·        1-night accommodation in Deluxe Golden Square room at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Montreal 5* (or similar), including breakfast.

·        Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverage package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 glass of wine and 1 coffee or tea).

·        The services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

·        Dinner on Day 1.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        The local currency is the Canadian dollar. International credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, and you can withdraw money from banks and currency exchange offices.

Contact of your hotel:

Fairmont Queen Elizabeth 5*

900 Boul. René-Lévesque O, Montréal, QC H3B 4A5, Canada

Téléphone : +1 514-861-3511

Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Enhance your cruise and enjoy one more night in America by discovering New York and learning about the history of one of the most vibrant and fascinating city of the world.

Day 1 - New York

After disembarkation procedures have been completed, you will depart the port of New York by coach to reach the city centre.

First, you will learn more about Alexander Hamilton and the Founding Fathers. Explore the legacy left in Manhattan by Hamilton, a figure in American history who was born in the West Indies and made his reputation during the revolutionary war and became one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. He was highly supported a strong federal government and played a key role in ratifying the US. Constitution. As the first secretary of the United States Treasury, he built a strong financial foundation against the opposition from Thomas Jefferson. Visit out of the beaten sites that filled with historical significance such as Fraunces Tavern, a historic bar and restaurant labeled as National Landmark building that once served as a watering hole for many of the Founding Fathers.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

Continue with the visit on theme of the Gilded Age. Learl all about America’s greatest businessmen that forged America such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, or Andrew Carnegie. Learn about how they built their wealth and dominance and visit a selection of Gilded Age mansion located on the 5th avenue, also called the “Millionaire’s Row”.

You will then be taken to the Empire State Building, one of the world's most famous skyscrapers. You will admire the sunset and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, it has been a symbol of New York since it was completed in 1931.

The Empire State Building was initially proposed in 1929 by John Jakob Raskob, a prominent financier and businessman. He initially planned to build a 60-story skyscraper, which would be the tallest building in the world at the time. He hired the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon to design the building, and construction began in 1930. The building was completed in just one year and one month, an incredibly quick construction time for such a large and impressive structure. Beautiful inside and out, the Empire State Building is an architectural marvel beloved across the world.  

Check-in at your hotel Sofitel New York 4*.

Dinner will be at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 - New York

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

Day and meals at leisure.

You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in of the PONANT selected flight, or any other flight (please make sure to previously communicate your flight schedule to your travel agent).

Your hotel :

Sofitel New York 4* is perfectly situated in midtown Manhattan, just off 5th Avenue’s luxury shops, the beautiful Bryant Park, Broadway theaters, stunning Rockefeller Center and energetic Times Square area. Often called ‘a quiet oasis’, the hotel provides a magnifique respite with all the wonderful energy of the city just outside the doors. There are 398 spacious luxury rooms, and each presents a sophisticated European ambiance with rich décor, including custom maple or rosewood three-paneled, full-wall headboards with a recessed art niche.

Your programme includes :

·        1 night in Superior King Bed room at the Sofitel New York 4* (or similar), breakfast included.

·        Lunch with beverage package (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer or 1 glass of wine + 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.

·        Services of local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include :

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Dinner of day 1.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note :

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        Both walking tours are about 1.5km long.

·        This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

In the event of schedule changes of PONANT’s selected flight, your programme will be adapted to ensure the most seamless and enriching experience.