The 2002 fall foliage season isn't even here yet, but Princess Cruises is asking you to start booking for the 2003 season--the sheer popularity of these New England and Canadian sailings help them sell out quickly, underscoring the need to plan well ahead. The seven-day voyages begin as low as $1,095.
The Golden Princess takes passengers on four voyages between September 20 and October 11, 2003, past some of the East Coast's most colorful arboreal displays. Departing New York on Saturdays, you sail to Halifax in Nova Scotia, then to St. John in New Brunswick, where you cruise the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's highest tides. After the Canadian interlude, you cross to Bar Harbor in Maine, then visit Boston and Newport, Rhode Island.
The Regal Princess, new this year, will run a 10-day cruise. After leaving New York, passengers will visit Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St. John, Halifax and Quebec, cruising on Canada's scenic Saguenay River as well as having an overnight in Montreal. There will be five sailings on this itinerary, departing between September 4 and October 14, 2003. Prices start at $1,545 for this schedule.
There are optional pre- and post-cruise land tours in conjunction with these sailings. Passengers on the Golden Princess can add on an ?Historic America? tour, with stops in Mt. Vernon, Jamestown, and Washington, D.C. to visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln and Vietnam memorials and other D.C. highlights, followed by a two-night stay in Williamsburg. After visiting Richmond and Monticello, passengers will spend the night in Charlottesville, then travel to Gettysburg via the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park to enjoy an overnight stay in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, capital of Amish country.
Regal Princess passengers can choose a Maple Explorer tour, featuring two nights in Toronto (with a day at Niagara Falls), and two nights in Ottawa.
You can book through your local travel agent, or get brochures by calling 800/PRINCESS. Their Web site is www.princess.com.