Eau Canada Part 2

Photo by St. Lawrence Cruise Lines

Mar 13, 2025

One day you find something you never thought about keeps popping up everywhere. Cruising Canada is certainly a thing for non-boaters too. I hadn’t considered that; in my thinking cruising means Caribbean or Greek Islands but stateroom-cruising in Canada is very popular too. Larger passenger loaded boats cruise the Trent, Rideau, Thousand Islands and St Lawrence all summer long.

Last issue we discussed that this was the summer to do your cruising in Canada. The Saturday after that last issue I was breezing through the travel section of the newspaper. Suddenly it’s all “Travel in Canada!”  I guess I had never noticed that there are small cruise ships that explore the lakes and rivers that you and I frequent. Yes, tourists on cruise boats in the waters we take so for granted. 

They have, of course, been operating for years. Take a look at the Kawartha Voyageur going up the Trent or the Rideau. Enjoy the dramatic scenery of the M/V Canadian Empress as she navigates from Kingston to Quebec City.  The photos are stunning. The costs for passengers are also quite impressive.    There are charter boats too – Le Boat is a familiar operator  with a fleet of drive your own cruisers, is hugely popular with both domestic and European boaters who want to do the driving themselves on Canadian waterways.  Everyone is learning what we already know – the best boating anywhere is right here.

As we considered last issue, taking your vacation in Canada on our world class rivers and lakes is something we can do right here at home. Head your boat someplace new. Or someplace you’ve been before but take for granted. Non-boaters are buying their way to enjoy the Canadian waterways that we have right in front of us each summer. Perhaps we have missed the boat.

Please send your ideas for exploring home waters – places you’ve been, recommend or are planning to go – to eau_canada@kerrwil.com and next issue we will start a series to celebrate our readers’ appreciation of Canadian waters.

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