Celebrating America's 250th: An Exploration of History and Culture

Cruise overview

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world-class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. This 7-night voyage along the Eastern Seaboard, from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Baltimore, Maryland, is designed to commemorate this milestone with carefully curated activities both aboard ship and ashore. These experiences will highlight the nation’s history from the colonial and revolutionary periods, through the Civil War, and into the present day, always recognizing the contributions of the diverse peoples who have shaped it. To add profound depth and resonance to this program, two very special Guests of Honor will accompany our voyage to provide talks and invaluable insights aboard: Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, renowned civil rights leaders and global humanitarians. We’ll also be joined by another thematic expert to further enhance your journey with lectures and discussions onboard.

Leaving Halifax, your first day is spent sailing along the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia and across the Gulf of Maine to dock in historic Boston Harbor early the following morning.  While in Boston, you will have a choice of several walking tours: one that celebrates Boston’s central role in colonial and revolutionary times by visiting the historic sites along its famous Freedom Trail; one that traces the contributions and stories of women throughout Boston’s history, another that explores Brahmin Beacon Hill and upscale Quincy Market; and one that takes you across the Charles River to Cambridge and Harvard Yard before returning to Boston for a tour of historic Copley Square, including the Boston Public Library, the first free municipal library in the United States.

Call next in Newport, Rhode Island, once a favorite summer resort for the railroad and industrial tycoons of the Gilded Age. Tour the opulent ‘cottages’ of Vanderbilts and Carnegies and enjoy a stroll along the stunningly beautiful Cliff Walk. Or, celebrate Newport’s storied history as the ‘world capital of sailing’ and home of the America’s Cup on a cruise around Narragansett Bay aboard an 80-foot sailing schooner. Alternatively, set off on an African American History tour and trace the rich Black history of Newport, dating back to the city’s founding, through the Gilded Age, to present day.

Sail into New York Harbor and past the emblematic Statue of Liberty. During your full day in the city, you may choose to discover one of its most celebrated landmarks on a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge followed by a visit to the newly fashionable neighborhood of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a waterfront community of trendy boutiques, bookstores, and art galleries. Or you may want to pay tribute to the memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, on a tour of the area where the World Trade Center stood, including St. Paul’s Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the solemn September 11 Memorial & Museum. Alternatively, trace your heritage with a visit to Ellis Island or a stop at the Tenement Museum and a walk through the early immigrant neighborhoods of the city’s Lower East Side. You may also wish to learn about the city’s Indigenous history on a walk through Indigenous Central Park and a visit to the National Museum of the American Indian. Or, set out on a Pride tour, tracing LGBTQ history in the city from the Stonewall Uprising through the modern-day LGBTQ Pride Movement.

After a day at sea, from Philadelphia, travel west to the Amish Country of Lancaster County, where you will see farms being worked with horsepower, visit the Amish Village Museum, and perhaps shop for some Amish crafts. Alternatively, stay in the city of brotherly love and enjoy one of three tours—a walk focused on the Revolutionary Period, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall; an exploration of Philly’s food scene; or a visit to the Philadelphia Black Metropolis to learn about this section of the city and its role in the struggle for civil rights.

Your voyage ends in Baltimore where you will transfer to the airport for flights homeward.