zOur New England Cruise in Autumn’s Glory

On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to our deluxe waterfront hotel where A+R guests will be upgraded to Harborview Rooms. The rest of this day is yours to enjoy as you wish. Just outside of the city, the Irving Nature Park offers a variety of trails that wind through salt marshes and coastal forest. Or right here in town, you can explore the colorful craft and food stalls of the Saint John City Market, set in a handsome 1876 landmark building.

After breakfast and check out, the morning is yours to enjoy as you wish. Then meet back at the hotel for our privately chartered transfer to the pier where our elegant ship awaits. Settle in to your outside stateroom before gathering with your fellow passengers for a congenial dinner with free-flowing wines, cocktails and beverages.  Meals B+D

Setting out from the charming port of Bar Harbor, our destination this morning is Acadia National Park. Created from land donated by early 20^th-century visionaries who sought to preserve the region’s inspiring natural beauty, Acadia was the first national park established in the eastern half of the country. Exploring its granite peaks, sheltered coves, rocky coasts and deep forests, our tour will take you from the quiet beauty of Jordan Pond and up Cadillac Mountain for sweeping views of Frenchman’ Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.  Meals B+L+D

You won’t find larger cruise ships docking here in Rockland, but you will find a genuine experience of a small, classic Maine coastal town! In addition to being one of the largest lobster shipping ports in the world, Rockland offers handsome historic architecture and a thriving cultural scene. Setting out with our expert native guide, today’s shore excursion includes the Farnsworth Art Museum with its extensive collection of American art from the 1700’s to the present day. At the Wyeth Center, set in a 19th-century church building, you’ll get to know the works of the artistic Wyeth family. Then explore fascinating stories of maritime history at the Maine Lighthouse Museum, home to the nation’s largest collection of artifacts devoted to lighthouses and the lifesaving services of the United States Coast Guard.  Meals B+L+D

Like Rockland the day before, you won’t find Boothbay Harbor on the itineraries of the larger cruise ships. What you will find is a quintessential New England coastal town – complete with a picturesque harbor filled with yachts and fishing vessels. Stepping ashore, you’ll join our expert local guides who are eager to share Boothbay’s highlights. At the Railway Village, we’ll see antique automobiles on display in a village setting created from historic buildings gathered from across the state; you’ll even ride aboard a model vintage railway coach pulled by a 100-year-old steam locomotive. Then visit the Maine State Aquarium where you’ll find innovative interactive displays that invite hands-on discovery. A guided walk through the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens reveals beautifully designed gardens of native plants along with compelling natural landscapes including nearly a mile of tidal saltwater frontage. Back in town, a 1,000-foot long footbridge connects the east and west sides of the harbor making it easy to explore the many inviting shops, galleries and cafes that cluster around the harbor.  Meals B+L+D

Situated at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is one of New England’s most alluring towns - with beautiful beaches, inviting art galleries, and a unique cultural vibe. It also boasts a rich history as you’ll learn on today’s expertly narrated tour, starting at the Pilgrim’s Monument. Erected more than a century ago to honor the Pilgrims’ landing in 1620 and the signing of the Mayflower Compact aboard the eponymous ship as it anchored off Provincetown Harbor, this monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S. Its hilltop setting also promises spectacular views of Provincetown and the harbor. Before returning to town, we’ll also take a coastal drive along the Cape Cod National Seashore that was set aside by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to protect some of New England’s most spectacular and pristine beaches.  Meals B+L+D

With its timeless fishing villages, historic lighthouses and wealth of picturesque homes, Martha’s Vineyard is an idyllic island retreat that we’ll explore on our expertly guided excursion. On the northeastern shores, Oak Bluffs is a tranquil town best known for its Victorian-era ambiance and more than 300 gingerbread cottages that date to the mid 1800’s. Just across the inlet, Vineyard Haven is famed for its beautiful harbor and lighthouse. And just south of Oak Bluffs, you’ll find Edgartown; here in this once-wealthy whaling port, we’ll discover handsome 18^th and 19^th-century homes built by these sea captains of old!

Continuing to the island’s southern tip, we’ll explore Menemsha, a centuries-old working fishing village that offers a different perspective of life on Martha’s Vineyard – far away from its luxury mansions and seaside estates. Nearby, we’ll also stop by the Aquinnah Cliffs, one of the island’s most picturesque spots.  Meals B+L+D

Thirty miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket has been hailed by National Geographic as “the best island in the world.” Known by long-ago sailors as The Little Grey Lady of the Sea, this atmospheric island was once one of the richest places in the Western Hemisphere, fueled by wealth from the whaling industry; even today, you can see mailboxes made of silver!
 
With spacious luxury coaches, today’s Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing tour allows you to explore the highlights at your own pace. Right in the heart of town, the Whaling Museum is the place to delve more deeply into Nantucket’s seafaring history. On a small promontory at the mouth of the bay, you can visit the historic Brant Point Lighthouse; tracing its heritage to 1746, the current structure dates to 1901 and is still operational today. At the Jethro Coffin House, built in 1686, you can tour the island’s oldest residence still on its original site. Behind the home, you can explore a kitchen garden that faithfully recreates a 17^th-century herb and vegetable garden maintained as it would have been by the Coffin family 300 years ago.
 
Back onboard the mv Victory I this evening, you’ll sit down to a delightful Farewell Dinner featuring five gourmet courses accompanied by free-flowing wine, cocktails and beverages.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast and disembarkation, A+R guests will be met at the pier for their chauffeured transfer to the airport.  Meals B