St. John's, Newfoundland

Enjoy the sights as you travel out of St John’s along a scenic coastal route to Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. Built in 1834, Cape Spear Lighthouse is Newfoundland’s oldest surviving coastal light. Here you can absorb the dramatic setting of the continent’s edge, while exploring the tunnels and fortifications that protected the gateway to the New World during the wars of the 20th century. You will have some free time at Cape Spear to enjoy the captivating seascapes, take photos and visit the lighthouse.

Following the same route, you’ll travel back to St John’s for a panoramic sightseeing tour through the city. You’ll find that St John’s is a delightful blend of colourful, wooden houses and stone churches, mixed with modern structures.

Located at the headland of St John’s Harbour, Signal Hill is home to the Cabot Tower, built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage of discovery. From here, you’ll have a great panoramic view of the city, harbour and surrounding sea.

A short stop will be made in the downtown shopping area of St John’s to give you the opportunity to browse for souvenirs from Newfoundland and Labrador.

St John's is the capital of Newfoundland, Canada's youngest province and Britain's oldest overseas colony. For hundreds of years it has played host to explorers and conquerors, marauding pirates and merchant adventurers.

Your tour starts at historic Signal Hill where the Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, received the first wireless transatlantic signal in 1901. Enjoy the magnificent panoramic view out over the city and rugged coastline while viewing the continent's most easterly point in the distance.

Heading through the New World's first downtown, you’ll see numerous historic buildings including Government House, 2 National Historic churches and the colourful Victorian wooden houses that provide St John’s with its unique character. Enjoy a brief stops at the birthplace of the British Empire, Commissariat House and Government House, built the same year as the White House but at a higher cost.

Your next stop is at the Newfoundland Museum, The Rooms, St John’s newest attraction which showcases the natural history of Newfoundland and its native peoples. View one of the finest giant squid exhibits and learn more about this fabled sea monster. A brief stop will be made downtown for some shopping before returning to the ship.

The Memorial University Botanical Garden is the only botanical garden east of Montreal. Its 110 acres of cultivated and natural habitat features an extensive rock garden, alpine house, heritage garden, bogs and more. Learn about medicinal plants, ancient aphrodisiacs and secrets of the boreal forest as you stroll through the flower gardens. Alternatively, you may like to hike along one of the trails within the nature reserve or relax by Oxen Pond.

You’ll conclude your garden visit at the field centre, where you can see the exhibits and enjoy tea, which includes a Newfoundland wild berry treat – a delightful experience.

En route to and from the Botanical Garden you’ll drive through downtown St John’s, featuring historic buildings that were once a part of the British garrison.

The story of Newfoundland’s ancient volcanoes, recent glaciers, visiting icebergs and rocks from the centre of the earth is told at the GeoCentre – a world-class geological museum and interpretation centre. Your guide will take you through the museum and point out the many interesting and interactive exhibits. You’ll spend about an hour at the GeoCentre, where you can also enjoy the Titanic Exhibition - a ‘must-see’ for historical cruising enthusiasts.

A stop will be made at Signal Hill for you to enjoy and photograph the panoramic views of the rugged coastline and picturesque harbour. A special feature is the small geological fault and the erratic boulders deposited by glaciers 15,000 years ago. You’ll see the 17th century battlefields and learn the fascinating history of this Hill.

Across from Fort Amherst you’ll see the chasm which is known as ‘Devil’s Crack’. Throughout your tour you’ll learn about the ages of the earth while enjoying spectacular scenery.

For 500 years the streets and lookouts of old St John's have played host to the world's explorers, pirates and princes. You’re invited to join their ghosts and raise a glass on some of the oldest streets in North America. Learn about the continent's first taverns, churches and lookouts.

Sample Cabot Tower Rum as you view historic Cabot Tower, which sits high atop the New World's first city. Go underground and participate in a port wine tasting tradition that goes back to 1679. You’ll also have chance to taste local craft ales in historic Quidi Vidi while viewing the rugged Atlantic seascape and listening to local tales of pirates, treasure and marauding polar bears. Learn about screech, iceberg vodka and wines made from the wild berries of Newfoundland and Labrador.