DESTINATION:
Cruise port |
Queen Mary 2 docked in Quebec City
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The cruise season in Quebec runs from May into October. Although the summer weather is quite nice in Quebec, the vast majority of the calls take place in September and October during Fall foliage cruises.
Cruise ships dock in Le Vieux Port, (the old port) in the Lower Town. There is a modern terminal building but if there are a number of ships in port, some of the ships will just pull along side. There is a park-like promenade along the river and people come down to watch the ships depart, especially the better known ships. The cruise terminal is within a short distance of the majority of the city's attractions. |
Above Star Pride arriving in Quebec.
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GETTING AROUND Historic Quebec is a compact area and most cruise passengers who set out to explore it do so on foot. Indeed, the attractions of the lower town like the Musee de Civilisation are just down the street from the cruise terminal.
The only wrinkle is getting from the Lower Town to the Upper Town. While the Château Frontenac is not far horizontally from the cruise terminal, it is at a different altitude. To overcome this obstacle, some passengers walk along the rather steep and twisty street to the top of the hill (above left). However, most choose to take the short ride on the funicular ,which takes them to the Dufferin Terrace. Once in the Upper Town, there are horse-drawn carriages at the Place d'Armes. Of course, Quebec also has automobile taxis. 
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There are shops sprinkled throughout the Old City. The Quartier de Petit Champlain in the Lower Town, however,
is one of the oldest commercial districts in North America its restored buildings have been transformed into a pedestrian shopping area (right). It includes art galleries, clothing stores, souvenir shops and cafés as well as stores specializing in Canadian and Native American products. Outside of the Old City, Quebec is a modern town and has the type of stores that one would expect to find in North American cities. The currency in Quebec is the Canadian dollar. Many shops will accept American dollars. Major credit cards are widely accepted. |
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Cruise destination travel guide - - Canada - - Quebec City - - Cruise port