Arctic & Alaska

Gulf of St. Lawrence – Wild & Storied

12 Days aboard Ocean Nova. From AUD $13,430$10,073pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details

Overview

Sail into the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where land, sea, and story converge in one of Canada’s most diverse and captivating regions. Beginning in the vibrant harbour of St. John’s, trace coastlines shaped by wind, tide, and time—from the remote fjords of Newfoundland’s south shore to the wind-carved islands of Québec’s lower north shore.

Step into Nitassinan, the Innu homeland on Québec’s North Shore, where language and tradition still flow with the tides. Wander among the limestone giants of Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve and explore Anticosti Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where waterfalls plunge through fossil-rich canyons and deer roam wild forests. Sail beneath the monumental arch of Percé Rock and witness the skies alive with gannets and kittiwakes over Bonaventure Island’s soaring cliffs.

In the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, experience Acadian warmth through music, food, and storytelling. Cross the sea to France’s doorstep in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, where European charm meets Atlantic resilience. Along the way, whales breach, seabirds wheel, and every horizon reveals a new chapter in the region’s living story.

This voyage through the St. Lawrence is both a journey through place and a passage through time—an invitation to discover the wild beauty, rich cultures, and deep histories that have shaped these storied shores.

Save 25%

Book by 28 January 2026

Itinerary Highlights

  • Admire Percé Rock from the sea and watch thousands of seabirds on Bonaventure Island’s soaring cliffs.
  • Experience waterfalls, fossils, and wild beauty on UNESCO-designated Anticosti Island.
  • Immerse yourself in Acadian culture on the wind-shaped Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: St. John's, NL, Canada
  • Day 2: Northeast Coast
  • Day 3: Henley Harbour & Castle Island
  • Day 4 and 5: Nitassinan, QC
  • Day 6: Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
  • Day 7: Anticosti, UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Day 8: Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé
  • Day 9: Îles-de-la-Madeleine
  • Day 10: South Coast, NL
  • Day 11: Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, France
  • Day 12: St. John’s, NL, Canada

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.

Ship Information

For more information on the Ocean Nova (Adventure Canada) please view the ship page.

View Ocean Nova (Adventure Canada)

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: St. John's, NL, Canada

Harbour City at the Edge of the Atlantic

Your journey begins in St. John’s, a vibrant North Atlantic city where history and commerce meet. Set in a vast, amphitheatre-like harbour, the port hums with activity—freighters, cruise ships, offshore vessels, and fishing boats sharing the water below steep hills and colour-splashed neighbourhoods.

As we sail out through the passage known as the Narrows, Signal Hill keeps watch above, and the bright façades of the Battery seem to cling to the cliffs. If we’re lucky, a whale or two may mark the start of our voyage into the open Atlantic.

Dinner included.

Day 2: Northeast Coast

Life Beside the Iceberg Alley

Trace the rugged shoreline shaped by the cold, nutrient-rich Labrador Current, aka Iceberg Alley—a marine lifeline that sustains seabirds, whales, and the communities who have long made their lives here. Along this coast, weathered wharves, brightly painted boats, and enduring, hand-built homes speak to generations of resourcefulness.

Whether from ship or shore, you'll witness a landscape where ocean rhythms govern daily life and where craggy headlands, sweeping skies, and working harbours offer endless fascination for the curious and the camera-ready.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 3: Henley Harbour & Castle Island

Stone Altars and Stories in the Wind

Wander through Henley Harbour, a once-thriving fishing village now gently surrendering to time. Weathered buildings lean away from the wind, and history lingers in the quiet.

Above the harbour, a striking formation of basalt columns known as the Devil’s Table rises like a stone altar. Nearby, Castle Island, with similar basalt columns, rises like a natural fortress, its sheer cliffs formed over half a billion years ago.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4 and 5: Nitassinan, QC

Voices of the Innu Shoreline

Visit Nitassinan, the ancestral homeland of the Innu Nation, along Québec’s lower north shore. In communities such as Unamen Shipu or Natashquan, local hosts welcome us into a living culture shaped by thousands of years of deep connection to land and sea.

Over two days, you’ll hear the cadence of Innu‑aimun, listen to stories passed down through generations, and engage in moments of respectful exchange—whether through food, craft, language, or laughter.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 6: Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

Limestone Giants and Island Wilds

Sail into a dreamscape of stone and sea. Along this Gulf coast, wind and water have sculpted limestone into monoliths—towering figures that rise from the Gulf like natural cathedrals. This is Canada’s largest concentration of erosion-carved limestone monoliths—but it’s also a place where geology, ecology, and imagination meet.

Among a maze of islands and islets, puffins, razorbills, and terns nest on grassy ledges. Spring awakens the meadows with wildflowers, while seals stretch out on sun-warmed rocks. Every curve of the coastline invites wonder.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 7: Anticosti, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Fossils, Falls, and a Chocolate Baron's Dream

Welcome to Anticosti—Québec’s wild island in the Gulf and a newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, fossil-rich cliffs and deep canyons tell a story 450 million years in the making. White-tailed deer wander through boreal forest, and Arctic-alpine plants cling to windswept rock.

You’ll hike to Vauréal Falls, where spring melt sends water crashing into a sheer-walled canyon, and explore the community of Port-Menier—founded by French chocolate magnate Henri Menier and still home to islanders proud to call this place their own. In spring, Anticosti is untamed and alive: a landscape shaped by time, rich with life, and layered with human stories.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 8: Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé

Gateway Rocks and Gannet Skies

Sail into one of Québec’s most iconic coastal scenes. Rocher Percé—its massive stone arch rising from the sea—greets us like a gateway to the wild. Get rare views of this geological wonder from the sea. Nearby, Bonaventure Island comes alive each spring with the calls and wingbeats of over 100,000 northern gannets, one of the largest and most accessible colonies in the world.

Watch for kittiwakes, murres, and other seabirds beating their way to or from the feeding grounds or nesting along the ledges. This is a place where geology, biodiversity, and Acadian spirit meet—endless inspiration for photographers and nature lovers.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 9: Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Acadian Spirit and Island Bounty

Where red sandstone cliffs meet wide beaches and salt-tinged air, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine reveal a bold expression of Acadian identity. Though part of Québec, these islands are geographically closer to the Maritimes—and feel entirely their own.

Spend the day exploring vibrant fishing villages, lively studios, and cafés where Acadian voices prevail. Meet some of the 12,000 residents who call this windswept archipelago home and taste the island’s bounty: fresh-caught lobster, local cheeses, smoked delicacies, and small-batch wines and beers.

The Magdalen Islands are rich in culture, cuisine, and character—and always ready with a warm welcome.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 10: South Coast, NL

Wild Shores and Deep Fjords

Along Newfoundland’s rugged south coast, the landscape invites exploration at every turn. We’ll navigate a coastline carved with hidden bays, narrow fjords, and steep headlands—each offering a new window into the island’s geological story.

Depending on conditions, we’ll land by Zodiac to hike, beachcomb, or simply stand and take it all in. Wildflowers may brighten the barrens and wildlife appears when least expected. This is the kind of day that rewards flexibility and curiosity—where the journey is shaped by wind, sea, and a spirit of discovery.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 11: Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, France

Europe by the Rock

Just off Newfoundland’s coast, step ashore into a world of cobblestone streets, brightly painted houses, and unmistakably French charm. Saint-Pierre is a living remnant of France in North America—complete with gendarmes, boulangeries, cafés, and markets that hum with island life.

Explore the town’s unique blend of European elegance and Atlantic resilience. Taste fresh pastries, sip local wine, browse French goods, and hear the stories that shaped this overseas community—from maritime traditions to rum-running intrigue. It’s a small island with a big cultural presence—familiar, and yet delightfully foreign.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 12: St. John’s, NL, Canada

Homeward Through the Narrows

This morning, we sail back through the Narrows into the wide embrace of St. John’s harbour. The colourful houses of the Battery welcome us home, and Signal Hill stands watch, just as it did at our departure.

As we disembark, we’ll say farewell to shipmates and expedition team members who have shared stories, sightings, and unforgettable moments along the way. The journey ends—but the experience, and the connections made, will travel with you long after the lines are tied.

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.

Breakfast included.

Next Departure Date: 24 Jun 2027
DatesCabinFromAdditional
24 Jun 2027 - 05 Jul 2027 AUD$10073ppExpand to view prices - Includes specials!
TripleAUD $13430pp AUD$10073ppSave 25%
Bunk Bed TwinAUD $16555pp AUD$12417ppSave 25%
Upper Deck TwinAUD $18430pp AUD$13823ppSave 25%
Bridge Deck TwinAUD $19680pp AUD$14760ppSave 25%
Superior TwinAUD $21242pp AUD$15932ppSave 25%
SingleAUD $28117pp AUD$21088ppSave 25%

**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply

Cabin Details

Triple

• Window
• Two lower and one upper berth
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Two wardrobes
• Approximately 159 square feet

Triple
Triple
Bunk Bed Twin

• Window
• Bunk bed twin
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Wardrobe
• Approximately 86–122 square feet

Bunk Bed Twin
Bunk Bed Twin
Upper Deck Twin

• Window
• Two lower berths or matrimonial bed
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Wardrobe
• Approximately 106–140 square feet

Upper Deck Twin
Upper Deck Twin
Bridge Deck Twin

• Window
• Two lower berths
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Wardrobe
• Approximately 104–112 square feet

Bridge Deck Twin
Bridge Deck Twin
Superior Twin

• Window
• Two lower berths
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Two wardrobes
• Approximately 145–156 square feet

Superior Twin
Superior Twin
Single

• Window
• One lower berth
• Bathroom with a shower
• Hair dryer, bathrobe, towels, body wash, and hair care products
• Desk with a chair
• Heater under desk
• Air ventilation
• Electrical outlets: 220V/50Hz (European)
• Cupboard
• Wardrobe
• Approximately 86–114 square feet

Single
Single

Ocean Nova Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Capacity: 75 passengers
  • Crew: 32
  • Registry: Bahamas
  • Type of vessel: Passenger cruise ship
  • Ice Class: 1B
  • Polar Code Category: C
  • Year built: 1992, Orskov Christensens Staalskibs, Denmark
  • Length: 73 metres (249.5 ft.)
  • Breadth: 11 metres (36 feet)
  • Draft: 3.51 metres (11.5 feet)
  • Main Engines: 1 x MAN B&W Alpha: 6L28/32A (1470 kW)
  • Auxiliary Engines: 2 x Scania DI12 45 M (206 kW)
  • Propellers: 1 x AB Alcometaller Controllable Pitch Propeller
  • Maneuvering Speed: 5 knots
  • Economical Service Speed: 10 knots
  • Full Speed: 13 knots
  • Thruster (fwd): 1 x Brunvoll Controllable Pitch Thruster (154 kW)
  • Thruster (aft): 1 x Brunvoll Controllable Pitch Thruster (167 kW)
  • Electricity: 380 / 220 V @ 50 Hz
  • Total Capacity: 134 Persons
  • Lifeboats: 2
  • Life Rafts: 4

What's included?

  • Passage aboard the Ocean Nova
  • Applicable taxes and credit card fees
  • Complimentary expedition jacket
  • Special access permits, entry, and park fees
  • Expert expedition team
  • Guided activities
  • Sightseeing and community visits
  • All Zodiac excursions
  • Port fees
  • Pre-departure materials
  • Educational program
  • Interactive workshops
  • Evening entertainment
  • All shipboard meals
  • Wi-Fi access (basic service included)

What's not?

  • Commercial and charter flights
  • Program enhancements/optional excursions
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
  • Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
  • Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
  • Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
  • Premium internet access available at an additional cost

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Arctic

Viking history, Inuit villages and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the wonders you’ll discover in the Arctic. You’ll be amazed by the natural beauty that surrounds you. Search for Polar Bears while cruising through breathtaking fjords or around the nature lovers dream, Spitsbergen.

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

Gulf of St. Lawrence – Wild & Storied

12 Days aboard Ocean Nova. From AUD $13,430$10,073pp.