Quest, New World Exploration ex Dover to Boston – 05 Aug 2021

35 Night Cruise sailing from Dover to Boston onboard Seabourn Quest.

Seabourn Quest is the third iteration of the vessel design that has been called “a game-changer for the luxury segment. True to her Seabourn bloodlines, wherever she sails around the world, Seabourn Quest carries with her a bevy of award-winning dining venues that are comparable to the finest restaurants to be found anywhere. Under the guidance of celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, Seabourn Quest offers a variety of dining options to suit every taste and every mood, with never an extra charge.

Highlights of this cruise:

Dover (London), England, UK
Crossing the English Channel from continental Europe to Great Britain, the first view of England is the milky-white strip of land called the White Cliffs of Dover. As you get closer, the coastline unfolds before you in all its striking beauty. White chalk cliffs with streaks of black flint rise straight from the sea to a height of 350’ (110 m). Numerous archaeological finds reveal people were present in the area during the Stone Age. Yet the first record of Dover is from Romans, who valued its close proximity to the mainland. A mere 21 miles (33 km) separate Dover from the closest point in France. A Roman-built lighthouse in the area is the tallest Roman structure still standing in Britain. The remains of a Roman villa with the only preserved Roman wall mural outside of Italy are another unique survivor from ancient times which make Dover one of a kind.

Cowes, Isle Of Wight, England, UK
The Georgian harbor town of Cowes, situated on the Isle of Wight, has been the home of international yacht racing since 1815. It is famous for Cowes Week, the largest and longest-running sailing regatta on earth. The Isle of Whyte was once a favored retreat of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Osborne House still retains a large collection of their royal possessions, photography and art. A short walk along the seaside Esplanade will lead you to Castle Cowes. Currently the home of the Royal Yacht Squadron, it was built by King Henry VIII in 1547. Its 17 artillery pieces served to protect the Isle of Wight against an invasion from France. The Isle of Wight is known for its Georgian architecture. Majestic Northwood House Estate is an elegant country manor, housing the Cowes Maritime Museum and tranquil Northwood Park. The Sir Max Aitken Museum was constructed during the 18th century and contains his extensive personal collection of maritime artifacts.

Heimaey, Westman Islands, Iceland
Heimaey Island is the largest in the Westman Islands located four miles off the south-west coast of Iceland. One of the most visually impressive islands in Iceland, it is ringed by tall, vertical sea cliffs many hundreds of feet high. Heimaey is also the home to over eight million Atlantic puffins, more nesting puffins than anywhere else on earth. A local story tells that puffin chicks, taking their first flights at night, often become stranded in the village streets, where the local children rescue them and set them free the next day. In January of 1973 the island received the nickname, ‘Pompeii of the North’ when a volcanic eruption and lava flow destroyed half the town. This caused a crisis when the town’s only harbor was nearly blocked by advancing lava. Nowadays it is a lively place with a vibrant culture and over four thousand residents. Archaeological excavations suggest that people lived on Heimaey as early as the 10th Century.

Cruising Prince Christian Sound
The transit of the Prince Christian Sound is one of the highlights of cruising in Greenland. The approximately 60-mile sound cuts between the mainland and an archipelago of islands from east to west, under the southern edge of the massive Greenland Ice Sheet, which covers 80 percent of the island. The sound is narrow, sometimes as little as 1500 feet across, and numerous glaciers reach the sea on its shores, calving icebergs into the sound. High, barren and sharply defined peaks tower on both sides. The only indications of humanity to be seen are the Ikerassasuaq weather station (using the Greenlandic name for the sound) where the ship enters, and the small village of Appilattoq, housing approximately 100 people. Animal life is more abundant, with minke, fin and blue whales seen frequently, as well as ringed and bearded seals that haul out on the floating ice. It is a breathtaking display of natural splendor in the severe, rugged vernacular of rock, ice and sea that is unique to the arctic realm.

Qaqortoq, Greenland
Qaqortoq is the largest city in Southern Greenland with 3,300 inhabitants. The town rises steeply above the natural small-boat harbor with its fish, shrimp and fur processing plants. It was founded in 1775 by the Dano-Norwegian trader Anders Olsen, working on behalf of the General Trading Company. Qaqortoq is best known for its open-air art exhibition. The Stone & Man project, designed to transform the town into an outdoor gallery, had the participation of 18 Nordic artists from Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Greenland. Initially 24 stone sculptures were created using the existing rock faces and boulders in the town. Now there are over 40 sculptures celebrating Greenlandic culture. Other points of interest include Mindebrønden, the oldest fountain in Greenland, the Qaqortoq Museum and The Saviors Lutheran Church. Eighteen kilometers northwest of town are the famous remains of the Viking church of Hvalsey. It represents the last written record of the Greenlandic Norse, who attended a wedding there in A.D. 1408. Hvalsey is the most prominent Norse site in Greenland.

St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada
St John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, is our last port of call. As the ship squeezes through the ‘narrows’ and enters into the inner harbour, the cultural and traditional flavour of the city quickly becomes apparent. The two towers of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist are amongst the tallest buildings on St. John’s skyline. Heritage and culture are an important way of life here and enter into all facets of life. From the height and color of buildings, to a vibrant pub, folk and classical music scene, St. John’s has a style distinct from the rest of Canada. Its steep, hilly terrain is often compared to San Francisco. St. John’s is the oldest settlement in North America, having been discovered by John Cabot in 1497 and appearing on maps as early as 1519. It displays an architecture befitting one of the first British colonial capitals. Seventy-seven percent of the population is of English and Irish origin. Buildings are painted in the same vibrant colors of Greenland albeit, Canadian-style.

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Founded in 1608, Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and the cradle of French Canadian civilization. With its historic ramparts, churches and Old Town, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in North America. Originally inhabited by First Nations peoples and known as Stadacona, the city is a magnificent living-history lesson with a remarkable mix of 17th century architecture, heritage, art, and culture, Quebec means ‘narrow passage’ in Algonquin, and it is here that the St. Lawrence narrows and is dominated by the steep cliffs of Cape Diamond, 333’ (102 m) above. Crowned by The Citadel, an imposing bastioned fortress, the heights of Quebec have defined the city since its founding. Elegant Château Frontenac towers above The Lower Town, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Discover the elegant beauty of Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec and the natural beauty of Montmorency Falls. Battlefields Park and The Plains of Abraham tell the story of one of the most pivotal battles in history.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The City of Montreal is a striking union of old-world charm and new-world attitude. Its name refers to the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city, Mount Royal. The site has been occupied for 4,000 years and was originally home to First Nations people and known as Hochelaga. It began its current life in 1611 as a fur trading post established by the ‘Father of New France’, Samuel de Champlain. With over 4,000,000 inhabitants, today it is the world’s second largest French-speaking city, after Paris. Named a UNESCO City of Design in 2006, this island gem on the magnificent St. Lawrence River seduces visitors with a harmonious pairing of the historic and the new. Old Montreal’s 17th century architecture and cobbled streets showcase a proud and diverse French Canadian culture. Discover Place Jacques Cartier Montreal City Hall, Bonsecours Market, Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, and the Montreal Science Centre. A highlight is Notre-Dame Basilica with its striking twin towers built in the Gothic Revivalist-style and a splendidly ornate interior.

Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
The city of Saguenay is situated on the beautiful Saguenay River 78 miles (126 km) upriver from its confluence with the mighty St. Lawrence. This is an area of countless natural wonders. The surrounding countryside is a combination of ageless coniferous forests, tranquil lakes and deep river-valleys. What gives the area its unique appearance is its geology. The Saguenay Graben is a great glaciated rift valley, the result of forces deep within the Canadian Shield some 200,000,000 years ago. Inhabited for thousands of years by the First Nations people, the Saguenay region during the early French colonial period was an integral part of the fur trade. Saguenay Fjord National Park with its steep rock walls and verdant forests is reminiscent of Norway. Natural history is showcased everywhere, whether it be the underwater exhibits of Musee du Fjord or the serene forest and riverside walks at Parc de la Riviere du Moulin.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
A city firmly dedicated to nostalgia, PEI’s capital is full of period buildings recalling a past that strongly informs the present. The City Hall is a National Historic Site of Canada, and the city proudly proclaims its history as the Birthplace of Confederation. Wander the well-maintained waterfront and the atmospheric downtown streets, or cross the island’s pastoral fields to Summerside or the red rock North Cape.

Bar Harbor, Maine, US
As the state of Maine stands apart from the rest of New England, so does Mount Desert Island stand apart from the rest of Maine. When French explorer Samuel de Champlain first dropped anchor here in 1604 he was so impressed by the outline of its towering peaks that he named it “the island of wilderness mountains” – Isle des Monts Deserts. Locals call it the place where the mountains meet the sea. Pink granite mountains give way to pristine freshwater lakes on one side and the mighty Atlantic on the other. Mount Desert’s largest town, Bar Harbor, existed for decades as a small local resort and farming community. By the turn of the century, Bar Harbor had gained a reputation as a playground for the rich. In 1916, some of the more conservation-minded residents got together and purchased some 33,000 acres of land and donated it to the government as Acadia National Park, the only national park in the New England states.

Provincetown, MA, USA
P-Town, as the locals call it, is tucked into the curlicue of Long Point, the curving extreme end of Cape Cod. The point is dotted with lighthouses, and the town is a venerable haven for artists and craftspeople who sell their wares seasonally in its many shops and galleries. This was the actual first landfall of the ship Mayflower, where the English Puritan pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact before repairing to the site of Plymouth across the bay. The towering Pilgrim Monument was built in the early years of the 20th century. It was a famous fishing and whaling harbor, and still is, although whales are now pursued just for the thrill of seeing them. Much of the peninsula is actually protected wilderness as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Visit the Race Point Lighthouse, peruse the cozy Provincetown Museum and stroll the compact Historic District, or travel a short way to Race Point or Herring Cove beaches.

Boston, Massachusetts, US
Abundant with history, Boston is a pure delight for any visitor. Independent explorers can trace the past 200 years of American history by walking the “Freedom Trail.” Winding its way past old brick buildings, glazed high-rises, green parks and the famous Charles River, the path enables followers to discover some of Boston’s historic events. The fiercely independent early citizens who resisted British rule and taxation without representation carved their story in the minds of all Americans. This pride is ever present today as Bostonians tout their many institutional and cultural treasures, such as Harvard and MIT, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, as well as such refined diversions as Symphony Hall and the Museum of Fine Arts.