When you ask AI for an illustration of “Canada”, and it gives you a hybrid of the Toronto and Vancouver skylines in front of the Rocky Mountains, it probably means AI is as confused about Canada as the rest of us.
It’s right next door, but you probably don’t think about it much… until lately. It seems that Canada is hot. It is the fastest growing destination for American tourists, and visits in 2024 are up 168% over 2023.
Many of you know that Bob was born in Canada, and has lived in both countries, so I asked him for some tidbits of trivia that might not generally be well known by Americans:
- MOST Canadians don’t speak English (or French) at home. Those are the two largest minorities, but less than 50% of Canadians speak English as their first language.
- Less than half the residents of both Toronto and Vancouver are of European descent. Vancouver is predominantly Asian, and Toronto has people from all over the world.
- There are 7 time zones, and it’s the world’s 2nd largest country by area (Russia’s first). It has the world’s longest coastline, and shares the world’s longest border with the US.
- It has the world’s 2nd largest French speaking population (mostly in Quebec).
- It’s a member of seemingly every international order: The Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, La Francophonie, APEC, the G7, NATO (to name a few).
The Regions, and How to Visit:
- The Pacific. Vancouver is a busy cruise ship port, and most people stay in Vancouver pre or post cruise, to enjoy the city, or maybe to visit Whistler, Victoria or Seattle.
- The Rockies. Calgary is the gateway to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and the Icefields Parkway. The 600 miles between Vancouver and Calgary is full of mountains, volcanoes, wineries, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife. It’s incredibly scenic!
- Toronto & Niagara Falls. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and the cultural, culinary, and entertainment options reflect that diversity. Niagara Falls is about 90 minutes away, and attracts more than 12 million people every year.
- Quebec. This is Canada’s largest Province (about 2.5 times larger than Texas), and is a “Country of its own inside Canada”. It is certainly different than other parts of Canada, and not only because of the predominance of French. Montreal is the big city there, and has lots to offer, but Quebec City is truly unique. Pre/Post cruise is a must in Quebec City.
- Atlantic Canada. These are the Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. These are common port stops for cruise ships, and offer charming townships, spectacular scenery, and friendly people.
- Newfoundland. This is like an entirely different country in many respects, and has only been part of Canada since 1949. If you go there, make sure you visit Gander Airport, where there is a 9/11 tribute to this small town that landed so many planes that day.
- The Far North. There are cruises between Alaska and the Atlantic every summer that travel the Northwest Passage, and call in at the remote villages in the Arctic. This truly is the last frontier on the planet, and is like doing a safari by boat.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Here are some different ways to experience Canada.
GREAT LAKES with VIKING for 8-days between Toronto and Milwaukee
- Visit Toronto, traverse the locks of the Welland Canal, Niagara Falls, Point Pelee NP, Detroit, Alpena (MI), Mackinac Island, Milwaukee
- See our ship tour video: https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo?si=rH0SyHkn1CqhAJc0
- Departures April through September from $5995 for a Nordic Balcony
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER LUXURY RAIL JOURNEY
The rugged geography between Vancouver and Calgary is some of the most scenic in the world, and there’s no better way to see it all than from a train:
Round-trip VANCOUVER for 9-nights
- Visit Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper.
- Departures in April from $4961.
Vancouver to Calgary (or reverse) for 8-nights
- Visit Vancouver (2-nights), Kamloops, Lake Louise (2-nights), Banff (2-nights), Calgary.
- Departures in May from $4472. July/August from $4824
LAND CRUISES WITH TAUCK
MARITIMES: Round-trip from Halifax for 11-days
- Visit the famous lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, see Lunenburg (a UNESCO site), witness the 38 foot tides at the Bay of Fundy, visit Saint John, do a Lobster Cruise on Shediac Bay, enjoy Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island, see the site of Anne of Green Gables, travel Cape Breton Island, and stop in at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site (this Scottish-born Canadian invented a lot more than just the telephone!)
- Departures June through September from $5790
Manitoba Polar Bear Adventure for 6-days round-trip from Winnipeg
- Go Polar Bear Spotting on their annual migration, do a dog-sled ride, see the Beluga Whales. Includes flights from Winnipeg to the remote village of Churchill on Hudson’s Bay.
- Departures in October/November from $8690
CANADA / NEW ENGLAND with PRINCESS
We have a Private Sale with Princess that will get you 10% their best price for suites (not just on Canadian itineraries!). Here are two examples:
Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale departing October 19, 2025 for 14-days
- Visit Quebec City, Saguenay, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Boston, Newport, New York (overnight), Norfolk, Fort Lauderdale.
- Suites from $3569
- Optional 5-night pre-cruise including Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Boston to Quebec City departing October 9, 2025 for 10-days
- Visit Boston, Portland, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Saguenay, Quebec City (overnight)
- Suites from $3039
In Case You Missed It:
Eclipse Cruises. The next solar eclipse is in August 2026. Cruise ships can get you to into the path of totality:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/what-are-you-doing-for-the-next-eclipse/
Travel Trivia. Here’s some fun tidbits about travel:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-trivia/
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive. This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
Latest YOUTUBE Post: TAHITI
We were in Tahiti with WINDSTAR earlier this year. Here’s a link to our Video Blog:https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
