Looking for a small ship cruise to the Saguenay fjord, I found Pearl Seas online! Luxury cruising in well-appointed cabins (more like hotel rooms!) and ample larger spaces for observation, dining, and just relaxing. When the seas were a bit turbulent, the captain chose to alter our course and even avoid one port, giving us a longer time in Gaspe. We were impressed with the stability of the ship even in choppy waters. The service was near to perfect, the food of good quality, and the shore excursions interesting. Books found in the library on board enhanced our knowledge of each port and served to whet our appetites for the excursions ashore.

For those of us who love local color, the Saguenay community production "Fabuleuse" was both entertaining and historical. Employing local talent for entertainment on board (including a French Canadian Scotsman from Pictou, NS), and a knowledgeable geologist to set the scene for the natural beauty which we encountered made the whole experience most satisfying for us "life-long learners". Visiting the Anne of Green Gables National Park in Prince Edward Island was a highlight for this LE Montgomery fan of the 50s...well-chosen on a windy day! Meeting the volunteer greeters in East Port Maine was typical of the local interest in the cruising population, and so proud of their community that it was contagious!

From the smooth and relaxed embarkation, we expected all to go smoothly (except maybe the wind and seas), but debarkation proved to be less so, probably because we were one of 3 couples who had arranged for a rental car, so we left amidst the confusion of the grocery delivery for the next cruise, and the setting up of the reception area in the cruise terminal for the next cruise patrons, but nary a cup of coffee or bottle of water for us! We were no longer their concern! Read more