Big city, small cruise ships? Consider a cruise to Montreal.

Montreal is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec.
The city offers a relatively scenic cruising experience.
The port welcomed just over 51,000 cruise passengers in 2023.

Recently, I strolled past patches of purple flowers on a wooden walkway at the Port of Montreal. The green roof of Promenade d’Iberville, featuring western red cedar decking and more than 24,000 aromatic and flowering plants, was built above the city’s main cruise terminal.

The result was less industrial infrastructure – as in many ports – and a more charming urban park.

Montreal may be the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec, but it offers a relatively scenic cruising experience. The bridges between Montreal and Quebec block ships with an air draft – the distance between the waterline and the highest point of a ship – more than 49 meters (or approximately 161 feet) from docking in its facilities in Old Montreal.

The ships that visit are generally smaller (although the city can accommodate those whose air draft does not exceed 50 meters east of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge).

“We are positioning Montreal as a niche port for luxury ships,” Yves Gilson, associate director of cruises at the Port of Montreal, told USA TODAY during a visit in May. Here’s what you need to know about crossings into and out of the city.

Cruise inventory tends to be high-end

Montreal typically hosts ships carrying 2,000 passengers or fewer from a number of high-end cruise lines, which tend to operate smaller capacity ships. These include Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Viking, Ponant and more. Although not a luxury brand, one of the city’s “major clients” is Holland America Line, which will send its 1,432-guest Volendam ship there this season.

The port welcomed just over 51,000 cruise passengers in 2023. On the other hand, its northeastern neighbor, Quebec, welcomed 154,000 passengers.. Despite its smaller population, large ships from operators like Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line will visit Quebec City this season (along with smaller ships).

Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel, added that ocean cruise ships aren’t the only ones that stop in Montreal. “There are also river cruises that can go in and out of there,” he said.

Gilson noted that the city “could absorb” traffic from larger ships without the bridges. “But on the other hand, the experience for the customer is wonderful because you know it won’t be overcrowded with thousands of tourists,” he said.

You can touch the ground while walking

The main cruise terminal is close to many of the city’s popular attractions. Old Montreal’s neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and Place d’Armes are less than 10 minutes’ walk away, and many restaurants, shops and museums are also nearby.

I had a prosciutto sandwich at Italian grocery store Dispensa; I ate on a bench outside; I grabbed a coffee at Cafecito and was able to walk to the main terminal in about 15 minutes, admiring views of the water and architectural landmarks like Habitat 67.

There are also plenty of bike rental and metro stations nearby, as well as waiting taxis (the port works with the Véco Taxi software platform, which prioritizes electric vehicles).

Gilson said more and more lines are offering overnight stays in Montreal, giving customers more time to explore.

When is the best time for a cruise in Montreal?

Montreal’s cruise season begins in May and ends in October, reaching its peak during the last two months of this period. Feldman said the fall foliage is a special draw for passengers.

Montreal is often featured on Canada and New England itineraries alongside ports such as Boston, Massachusetts and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The port’s cruise calendar can be consulted by clicking here.

Crossings generally last between 10 and 14 days. “Distances between ports in this region can be significant and shipping in areas like the St. Lawrence River and around the Gulf of Maine takes time,” he said. Passengers on these crossings are looking for a “more immersive experience”.

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“Longer itineraries allow for more time in each port and often include scenic cruise days,” he added.

Cruise ships have historically avoided the region when cold weather sets in, but that could soon change: Ponant’s icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot will offer crossings of the St. Lawrence in winter 2025. Although the ship will not visit Montreal because of its size – although it will stop in Quebec – Gilson hopes this will mark a change.

“And eventually, we believe that all cruise lines will enter the St. Lawrence during the winter,” he said. “So it will be a year-round cruise destination.”

The journalist for this article had access to this event thanks to Tourisme Montréal. USA TODAY retains editorial control of content.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].