Cruising from Canada: departure ports, documents and paying in Canadian dollars

Can you take a cruise from Canada?

Yes. Canada's main cruise departure ports are Vancouver, for Alaska cruises from roughly May to September, and Quebec City and Montreal, for Canada and New England cruises that mostly run in late summer and fall. There are no regular winter sailings from Canadian ports, so for Caribbean sun most Canadians fly to Florida or drive to a US port.

Sailing from home has real advantages: no flight or a short domestic one, no border crossing before you board, and, on some lines, the option to pay in Canadian dollars. Even so, your cruise will almost always visit the United States, so you need the right documents and should plan to spend US dollars on board.

Cruising from Vancouver: Alaska and beyond

Vancouver's Canada Place terminal, right on the downtown waterfront, is one of the main gateways to Alaska. Ships sail roughly from May to September, offering seven-night round trips through the Inside Passage to ports such as Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and one-way Gulf of Alaska cruises to or from Seward or Whittier, near Anchorage, which add glacier scenery like Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord.

Those one-way sailings exist partly because of US law. The Passenger Vessel Services Act stops foreign-flagged ships from carrying passengers one-way between two US ports without a distant foreign stop, so Vancouver is the natural southern end of a one-way Alaska cruise. It's also why round trips from Seattle stop in Victoria, British Columbia.

In spring and fall, Vancouver also sees repositioning cruises along the Pacific coast and, occasionally, longer voyages to Hawaii or across the Pacific. If you're flying home from a one-way cruise ending near Anchorage, you'll need a passport.

Cruising from Quebec City and Montreal

Quebec City and Montreal are departure and arrival ports for Canada and New England cruises. Most sail in September and October, when fall color peaks, though some run through the summer. Many are one-way voyages between Quebec City or Montreal and Boston or New York, typically lasting seven to twelve nights, so you'll need to arrange travel at the other end.

Typical stops include the Saguenay Fjord, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, Halifax and Sydney in Nova Scotia, and Bar Harbor in Maine. Sailing down the St. Lawrence River with Quebec City's old town on the bluff above is one of the most scenic departures in North America.

A handful of small-ship and expedition lines also run Great Lakes voyages, some starting or ending in Toronto or Thunder Bay, and expedition lines sail Canada's Arctic in late summer from embarkation points in the north.

Sailing from US ports: Florida, Seattle and the Northeast

For Caribbean and Bahamas cruises, Canadians typically fly to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral or Tampa, all well served by flights from major Canadian cities, especially in winter. Fly in at least a day early: winter storms at home can delay or cancel flights, and the ship won't wait.

Many Canadians save by driving across the border. British Columbians can reach Seattle's cruise terminals in a few hours for Alaska sailings, and people in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes can drive to New York, Cape Liberty in New Jersey, or Boston for Bermuda, Canada and New England, and Caribbean cruises.

• Cross-border airports such as Bellingham (BLI) near Vancouver, Buffalo (BUF) near Toronto, and Plattsburgh (PBG) and Burlington (BTV) near Montreal often have cheaper flights to Florida.
• Budget for US parking at the cruise port or a park-and-cruise hotel package.
• Allow extra time at the land border, especially on summer and holiday weekends.

What documents do Canadians need for a cruise?

A valid Canadian passport is the simplest and safest choice for every cruise. It's required to fly home from a foreign port if you miss the ship or have an emergency, and it's essential for one-way cruises that end in the US, Europe or elsewhere. Check that it's valid well beyond your return date, since some countries require extra validity.

For entering the US by land or sea, Canadian citizens can also use a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's license (EDL) from provinces that issue them, and children under 16 can usually use a birth certificate. Cruise lines set their own document rules on top of government requirements, though, so check your line's policy before relying on anything other than a passport.

• Permanent residents of Canada need their national passport and PR card, and may need a US visa or ESTA depending on citizenship.
• If a child is traveling with only one parent or with other adults, carry a signed consent letter; the Government of Canada recommends one.
• Book your cruise in the exact name shown on your passport.

Paying for a cruise in Canadian dollars

Most cruise lines price their sailings in US dollars, but some major lines let Canadian residents see prices and pay in Canadian dollars through their Canadian websites. That protects you from currency swings between booking and final payment. When you have a choice, compare the Canadian-dollar fare with the US-dollar fare converted at your card's rate, including any foreign transaction fee.

On board, almost every ship sailing from North America runs in US dollars. Your onboard account, daily gratuities, drinks, specialty dining, excursions and onboard credit are all in US dollars, and they're charged to the card you register at check-in.

• Many Canadian credit cards add a foreign transaction fee, commonly around 2.5%, on US-dollar charges; a card with no foreign transaction fee or a US-dollar card avoids it.
• If the ship or a port vendor offers to bill you in Canadian dollars, compare its exchange rate with your card's; the conversion offered at the till is often less favorable.
• Carry some US cash for tips ashore and taxis; Canadian dollars are accepted in Canadian ports but rarely in Alaska or the Caribbean.
• Prepaying gratuities and packages before you sail can lock in the price, though usually still in US dollars.

Travel insurance and health coverage for Canadians

Provincial health plans cover little or nothing for care outside Canada, including on a ship, and treatment in the ship's medical center or a US hospital can be very expensive. Out-of-country medical insurance with evacuation coverage is essential for every cruise, even one that starts in Vancouver or Quebec City.

Check whether coverage through your credit card or workplace plan applies to cruises, how many days it covers and whether it includes pre-existing conditions. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage is worth considering too, especially for trips booked far ahead or that rely on winter flights.

Coming home: Canadian customs after a cruise

When you return to Canada, you declare what you bought abroad to the Canada Border Services Agency. Your duty-free personal exemption depends on how long you've been away, with a larger allowance after 48 hours than after 24 hours, and specific limits on alcohol and tobacco. Most week-long cruises qualify for the higher allowance.

Keep receipts for purchases made on board and in port, and check the CBSA website for current exemption amounts and rules before you travel. Remember that duty-free shopping on the ship still counts toward your personal exemption when you get home.

Frequently asked questions