Québec & Atlantic Canada on Silver Shadow

After included VIP airport lounge access to begin your trip in style, board your flight to Québec where, on arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel for a one-night stay.

Stay: Québec hotel

After breakfast, take a few hours to explore the charms of Québec City, from its cobbled streets on the banks of the Saint-Lawrence river to historic architecture like the Château Frontenac and the preserved, UNESCO-listed Old Quarter. Later, head to the port to board Silversea's ultra-luxury Silver Shadow. Check in to your sumptuous suite – complete with its own private veranda and butler – before settling in for a sundowner at the Panorama Lounge alongside wonderful sea views. You’ve then got the choice of eight dining venues, all offering open seating – as well as the S.A.L.T. programme for a sumptuous taste of local cuisine.

Stay: Silver Shadow

After breakfast, your journey begins proper as you cruise along the Saguenay river. This forest-framed fjord flows through three of the country's most beautiful national parks, including the Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay. It's all best explored with Zodiac trips and kayak paddles with naturalist guides, with the chance to spot moose, black bears, wolves, harbour seals, orca, beluga whales and even the world's largest animal – the blue whale. This afternoon, head out on a scenic drive through La Baie, one of the area's charming provinces, making sure to pause at the Fjord Museum to learn more about the area's flora and fauna as well as visiting the area's famed 19th-century Pulp Mill and museum. At each port, there's also the chance to make use of your own private guide to enjoy a more personalised tour. Remember, all tours can be easily organised directly from the ship.

Stay: Silver Shadow

Anchor in to Sept-Iles today and its forest-lined archipelago, perfect for discovering on scenic Zodiac cruises – spotting whales and seals along the way – and on boat trips to the Île du Corossol bird sanctuary, home to thousands of puffins, auks and razorbills. We'd also highly recommend making time to learn about the area's Innu First Nation heritage, as well as heading to the sea farm 'La Ferme Maricole Purmer' for a taste of local blue mussels and scallops. This evening, after relaxing on the pool deck or a luxurious treatment at the Zagara Spa, why not head to the ship's S.A.L.T bar for locally-inspired cocktails and drinks or the S.A.L.T lab, where you can get involved in local workshops and cooking demonstrations?

Stay: Silver Shadow

The beautiful scattering of archipelagos at Havre St Pierre is your next stop today. Filled with diverse wildlife, you'll spot everything from breaching minke wales to sea eagles and puffins. This is also one of the world's best places to spot the world's largest animal – the blue whale – on Zodiac and boat trips. Later, we'd highly recommend a tour of Île Niapiskau, whose limestone cliffs have formed into sea-carved monoliths that are nearly 500 million years old. You'll also have the chance to discover culture, heritage and people of the First Nations with a visit the local Mingan Innu village and craft shop.

Stay: Silver Shadow

Located in the heart of Gros Morne National Park on the western coast of Newfoundland, Woody Point serves up your first taste of Atlantic Canada today, all deep blue fjords, quaint lighthouses and thick pine forests, as well as the barren Tablelands, its rocky landscape thought to have originated in the Earth's mantle. If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of a minke whale or harbour seal, too. Spend a memorable day taking it all in on scenic cliff-top walks and guided drives with an expert Parks Canada guide, as well as taking the time to stroll among Woody Point's characterful lighthouses and 19th-century architecture.

Stay: Silver Shadow

A UNESCO World Heritage site, L’Anse aux Meadows is where you'll drop anchor today to explore this preserved Norse settlement – the only one of its kind in north America. Explore the Viking village's Norse houses, workshop, boat shed and old Norse ship alongside the chance to throw an axe, spin yarn or take a pottery lesson. Later, perhaps head to one of Silver Shadow's lounges for an expert enrichment lecture before a gourmet dinner at the elegant Atlantide grill or tapas bar Silver Note and a thrilling night at the casino.

Stay: Silver Shadow

Newfoundland's tiny capital, St John's, is packed full of charm, from its colourful harbour-side houses to its wild, tree-lined coastline. The surrounding islands are a delight for birdwatchers and geologists alike, home to thousands of Atlantic puffins as well as the Johnson Geo Centre, where you can learn about the area's ancient volcanoes, glaciers and icebergs. Let’s not forget The Battery, the area's most famous fishing village, best taken in from The Lookout at the National Historic Site of Signal Hill. You’ll have the chance to explore with a range of tours, ranging from nature walks along the North Head Trail's rugged coastline with a naturalist guide to sampling an award-winning local craft brewery or two (St John's' George Street is said to have the most bars per person of anywhere in Canada).

Stay: Silver Shadow

Visit the unique French outpost of St Pierre today, an island off the south of Newfoundland. Explore its quaint, cobbled Old Town and colourful wooden architecture with a walking tour, pausing at the waterfront for ultra-scenic coastal views framed by quaint lighthouses. In the afternoon, perhaps visit Ile aux Marins, an island off the main archipelago, via Zodiac, to spot hundreds of puffins clinging to the cliffs as well as exploring the town's charming, tiny museum and church.

Stay: Silver Shadow

It's back to Québec today as you anchor in among the wildlife-filled coast of the Iles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago, lined with iron-rich craggy red rocks and archetypal French Acadian lighthouses. Explore the 55 mile-long stretch, known as Route 199, with walking tours that pause at ancient museums, churches and shipwrecks along the undulating sand dunes before relaxing on the windswept beaches – looking out for a breaching whale or two. Later, head out on Zodiac trips to the surrounding, bird-filled islands and sample fresh lobster, mussels and crab – you could even enjoy a cooking class with a local chef. In keeping with your surroundings, perhaps sample La Dame tonight for dinner, Silversea’s signature French restaurant, to experience the epitome of sommelier-matched fine dining. 

Stay: Silver Shadow

Your penultimate stop sees you anchor in to Gaspé today, known primarily for the world's largest gannet colony and million-year-old rock formations. We'd highly recommend making time to explore at least one of the area's four national parks, particularly Bonaventure-Island-and-Percé-Rock and Forillon National Park, whose geological formations are predicted to be up to 450 million years old, including one of the world’s largest and most spectacular natural arches – the Percé Rock. Forillon National Park is just as impressive, packed with thousands of seabirds on its steep cliffs alongside dolphins, seals and myriad whales species, including blue, humpback, fin and minke.

Stay: Silver Shadow

Make the most of your final day at sea today, perhaps enjoying a bubbling Jacuzzi on the pool deck and an al fresco lunch at Spaccanapoli's, the ship's authentic pizzeria, before enjoying an aperitif in one of the stylish lounges and a final gourmet dinner on board with new-found friends.

Stay: Silver Shadow

After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home, arriving on day 14.