The Cozy Canadian Cruise That’s a Hidden Gem for Fall Foliage Views

Meghann Foye

Sun, October 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM UTC

6 min read

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam offers an intimate and cozy cruise experience with analog activities, standout spaces like the Crow’s Nest cafe lounge, and a mature yet cool decor.
The Quebec-to-Boston itinerary on Zuiderdam includes stops at charming ports like Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, and Portland, offering a blend of coastal scenery, historic streets, and unique excursions like visiting the homes that inspired Anne of Green Gables author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Zuiderdam provides diverse dining options, including local seafood, specialty restaurants like Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto, and cocktail packages for sampling the ship’s many lounges, along with spacious cabins designed to maximize views of the Canadian coastline.

Forget battling traffic backups on crowded leaf-peeping highways—the quietest way to watch fall unfold across the Canadian Maritimesis from the deck of a ship. On Holland America Line's Zuiderdam, a 2,000-passenger vessel sailing from Quebecto Boston, the atmosphere is pleasingly low-fi: puzzles and board games in the lounges, lattes in the Crow's Nest as leaves in all colors line the rivers and a roof-deck hot tub tucked beneath a retractible glass dome for soaking while the coastline drifts past. Cruising the St. Lawrence Rivertakes you past lighthouses, islands and perhaps even whales. Add in stops at stunning ports like Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifaxand Portlandand the journey feels like an unhurried autumn escape. Here's everything you'll discover on this 7-day Canadian cruise.

Life Onboard Zuiderdam: Lo-Fi Luxury

With just under 2,000 passengers and 11 decks, Holland America's Zuiderdam is intimate compared to mega-ships. The main action largely happens on Deck 9 (Lido Deck), where you'll find the indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, spa and buffet, while on Deck 2 and 3, the central atrium area is a honeycomb of lounges, restaurants, theaters and shops.

Onboard activities are pretty analog—puzzles, trivia and watercolors—rather than high-energy (except for its signature pool-deck Orange Party.) The atmosphere is cozy, with standout spaces like the top-floor Crow's Nest café lounge, where you can sip a latte and watch fiery foliage through floor-to-ceiling windows. While the ship is fairly mature (it launched in 2001), recent updates to decor enhance its original brass fixtures, paneled wood and standout art pieces on every floor, giving it a distinctly cool and seasoned The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou vibe.

The small ship feeling extends to the ship's staff and crew. "Zuiderdam is very unique as it has been the ship of the World Cruise for the last few years, thus the teams know each other and the repeat guests inside and out," explains Cruise Director Kimberly Wells. "We enjoy and take care of each other like no other ship I've ever been on. That 'we are family' feeling was the driving force of our newly retired Hotel General Manager Henk along with Captains Frank and Friso and is one that cannot be imitated."

Ports That Bring Fall to Life

This Quebec-to-Boston itinerary offers guests front-row seats to foliage season as you call on Charlottetown, Cape Breton Island (Sydney), Halifax and Portland, Maine. Each stop is a blend of coastal scenery and historic streets, from Charlottetown's charming downtown to the lighthouses outside Halifax, Celtic music in Sydney and Portland's artsy, foodie energy.

One of the standout excursions includes a trip to both homes that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series. Stops at the farms where she lived—one now a learning center—reveal an intimate portrait of the writer and the gorgeous Prince Edward Islandlandscapes that inspired her romantic heroine.

In Portland, a two-hour food crawl surveys both classic New England seafood haunts for lobster rolls and chowder and up-and-coming foodie stops. You'll learn about Maine's sustainable lobstering efforts, Portland's history as a popular port town and the many James Beard Award-nominated retaurants (like Even Tideand Fore StreetRestaurant) dotting the streets. The tour ends with a near perfect chocolate chip cookie from Standard Baking Co.

Restaurants, Bars and Culinary Surprises

For a ship of its size, Zuiderdam has a diverse dining lineup, and there are plenty of chances to try local, seasonal seafood from Canada and New England too.

Casual bites are plentiful at the Lido Marketand Dive-In, while the Dining Roomdelivers white-tablecloth classics with wake views each evening. Specialty options include Canalettofor Italian, Pinnacle Grillby acclaimed chef David Burkefor steak and seafood (don't miss his famous clothesline candied bacon) and elevated Asian flavors like lobster tail pad thai at Iron Chef Morimoto's pop-up. "If our guests have an opportunity to be on board when there is a Morimoto At Sea experience, they definitely should not miss it," says Wells.

Cocktail packages make it easy to sample the ship's many lounges, from piano bars to hidden nooks—my favorite was a lively afternoon cocktail-making class at Ocean Bar. Desserts were also highlight, with crowds typically lining up at snack time for delicate cakes and canapes from the dessert bar. There was even a 9 p.m. "chocolate parade" one night, where little delicasies were passed out appetizer-style to guests for a fun surprise.

Rooms and Views at Sea

Cabins on Zuiderdam are designed to take advantage of the sea and scenery: ocean-view, balcony rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows to score you prime views of the Canadian coastline in every season and watching the cliffs, lighthouses and harbors roll by is its own form of entertainment.

At at average of about 300 square feet, the Verandah rooms feel large and uncrowded. With queen-size beds with pillow-top mattresses, three full closets for unpacking and bathrooms with full-size tubs, toilet spaces and sink areas, there's no bumping into each other in these cabins. The only noticeable thing missing were coffee makers and fridges, but the round-the-clock free room service more than makes up for it.

Can't-Miss Onboard Experiences

If you book a tour on the Zuiderdam, don't miss these optional—but entertaining—activities.

Cocktail Mixology Class: This fun, social class will train you on "Quebec75s."
Afternoon Tea: a Holland America signature with scones and finger sandwiches.
Celtic Thunder Show: a lively crowd-pleaser, perfectly suited for the Maritimes setting.
Seafood Boil Dinner: don't forget your bib for this lobster and shellfish feast.
Canada Brunch: local flavors brought on board while you cruise the St. Lawrence.

And per Wells, you should also take advantage of crew-hosted events: "The Orange Party, The Lido Fair and Jose's (our Lead Entertainment Host) Movie Trivia-it's off the charts!"

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.