Québec City, QC has been seducing sailors for over four centuries. These days most visiting sailors are cruise passengers, tempted by the old-European feel and “French-ness” of it all. Smart cruisers forget about their ship’s buffet and come ashore hungry—quaint, friendly Québec City and its region are home to some of the continent’s most decadent cuisine.

Of course the city is crammed with history, the gorgeous Citadel, loads of Francophones—and is likely the most exotic-feeling port in North America.

Who’s coming:

• Holland America’s ms Maasdam stops frequently on its run between Montréal, QC, and Boston (USA). German line Hapag-Lloyd stops in. High-end Crystal Cruises, Silversea, ResidenSea’s The World and even Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 sail in.
   
• Several small cruise-ship companies offer regular sailings on the St. Lawrence River from Montréal, including American Canadian Caribbean Line, Groupe CTMA and Great Lakes Cruise Company.
   
• In September and October, ships from Norwegian, Princess, Adventure Canada, Costa and Celebrity visit on their fall foliage sailings.
   

The hot spots:

• Île d'Orléans. If the thought of apple ice cider and locally made duck confit doesn’t make one skip the cruise-ship buffet, nothing will! Île d'Orléans isn’t far from the pier, but it feels like another world. The oldest cheese in North America wows taste buds, as does freshly made strawberry preserves at several roadside stands. A rental car is the way to visit this pastoral and magical island’s unique producers, and lunch should be at La Crêpe Cochonne for that extra-French feeling. 

   

• Where the locals play & eat. While most passengers drop their tourist dollars near the pier, savvy sailors walk or cab to Rue Saint-Jean just west of the city walls to explore shopping and foodie finds. J.A. Moisan Grocery is a must-see for any gourmet, as is Choco-Musée Érico (Erico’s Chocolate Museum). For arguably the best off-ship meal in the city, smart cruisers book ahead for lunch or dinner at Le Clocher Penché (“The Leaning Belfry”) bistro, down the hill in the nearby Saint-Roch neighbourhood.

   

Something different:

• Run off the cruise buffet calories and see the city in a different way. Québec Jogging Tours shows off the magic of this city, and takes runners into areas they couldn’t see any other way.
   

www.bonjour-quebec.com

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Quebec UNESCO Heritage Site

La Rue du Petit Champlain