North America Cruise - from Montreal - 129332

Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada - a lively metropolis with an 80% French-speaking population. Visitors can take a guided tour of the attractive Olympic Park, the home to the Olympic Games in 1976. The area around the Rue Crescent is famous for its many jazz cafés and restaurants. Sights include: the "Place des Arts", where the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and several theatres are located; the historic harbour area "Vieux Montreal"; the former residence of the French governor "Place Jacques Cartier"; Chateau Ramzay; the oldest church in the city "Notre Dame de Bonsecour".

The capital of the French-speaking province of the same name enchants visitors with its French charm, which has shaped the city's image. Its landmark, the famous Hotel Chateau Frontenac, opened in 1892 as a luxury hotel with around 500 rooms, overlooks old stone houses, winding streets and a well-preserved city wall dating from the 19th. A stroll around the hotel's terrace provides a breathtaking view of the St. Laurence river and the well-preseved old town. The citadel, huge fortifications built around the city in a star shape, features tourist attractions in the form of the daily changing of the guard in summer and a military museum. Sights include: wax works, the Musée du Fort, the Anglican cathedral, the old harbour and the Musée de la Civilisation.

The region of Saguenay lies in Québec by the huge Saint Lawrence River. It stretches across a fascinating glaciated landscape. Beluga and blue whales can often be seen at the mouth of the river. Further upstream, in the Parc du Saguenay, jagged cliffs loom up to 400 metres high around Baie Éternité. The source of the Saguenay River, the Lac Saint-Jean, is an almost perfectly round lake left behind at the end of the Ice Age and covering an area of 900 km2. It is a popular sailing area and holiday destination with beautiful beaches. The Saguenay region is also famous for its blueberries, which ripen in the woods in summer and which are the reason the locals are called "Bleuets".

Halifax is not only the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia but also has one of the largest ports in the world. The city not far from Montreal is known for its many galleries and museums; it also hosts a great many cultural and musical events. Behind the harbour lies the picturesque coastal landscape. There are several historic buildings that house small shops, restaurants and the Museum of Natural History, which has an exhibition about the Titanic. Other sights include: "Citadel Hill", the parliament, "Spring Garden Road Region", the public gardens and Point Pleasant Park.

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.