NOVA SCOTIA | ANNAPOLIS VALLEY | PEGGY’S COVE | BOSTON | NEWPORT | NEW YORK | PHILADELPHIA | BALTIMORE
4 – 13 October 2026 | 9 Nights
3-day Nova Scotia pre-sailing experience + 7 nights aboard PONANT’s L’Austral
SOLO TRAVELLERS | YOUR OWN ROOM | YOUR OWN BALCONY CABIN | TRAVEL INDEPENDENTLY
A SHORT NOTICE OPPORTUNITY FROM TRAVELLERS CLUB
Sometimes a fabulous solo cabin becomes available at just the right price, but you need to be ready to pack your bags and go.
Welcome to Travellers Club Short Notice.
For our first Short Notice opportunity, Travel With Lesley Whyte has brought together much more than simply a cabin aboard a ship. This is a complete 9-night independent travel experience beginning with three days discovering the history, culture, food and wine of Nova Scotia before you step aboard PONANT’s L’Austral for a seven-night voyage down North America’s Atlantic coast.
From the moment you arrive in Halifax, the important arrangements are taken care of. You will be met at Halifax Stanfield International Airport and transferred to The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, where you will have your own room for two nights. Your Nova Scotia experience takes you through the Annapolis Valley and Acadian history, includes local food and wine, Peggy’s Cove and historic Halifax, before your transfer directly to L’Austral.
Then settle into your own balcony cabin and sail from Halifax to Baltimore, visiting Boston, Newport, New York and Philadelphia. At the conclusion of the voyage, your transfer from the ship to your hotel or airport is also included.
Your own hotel room. Your own balcony cabin. Meet and greet service. Touring. Selected meals. Transfers. Cruise. Shore experiences. Wi-Fi. Open bar. All brought together into one experience.
This is independent travel, not a Travel With Lesley Whyte escorted group. There is no Travel With Lesley Whyte tour escort and no organised group you are required to travel with. Travel With Lesley Whyte brings the arrangements together, while you enjoy the freedom of travelling your own way.
AT A GLANCE
- Dates: 4 – 13 October 2026
- Duration: 9 nights
- Pre-sailing: 2 nights at The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, or similar, with a three-day Nova Scotia programme
- Cruise: 7 nights aboard PONANT’s L’Austral
- Route: Halifax, Nova Scotia to Baltimore, Maryland
- Accommodation: Your own hotel room + your own balcony cabin aboard L’Austral
- Travelling style: Independent travel, not an escorted group
- Current solo price: AUD$17,200 per person
- Other cabin categories: Available on request, subject to availability
CURRENT SOLO PRICE – AUD$17,200 PER PERSON
Your AUD$17,200 price brings together the complete 9-night experience with your own accommodation throughout. This includes your own room for two nights at The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, or similar, the three-day Nova Scotia programme, and your own lower-deck balcony cabin aboard L’Austral for the seven-night sailing, together with the included meals, touring and transfers described in this itinerary.
All cabins offered through this Travellers Club opportunity include a private balcony, so even at the entry-level lower-deck price you have your own balcony cabin for the entire voyage.
Would you prefer another deck or cabin category? Other cabin options and pricing are available on request, subject to availability.
WHY THIS VOYAGE?
2026 marks 250 years since the American Declaration of Independence, and this specially themed voyage explores the American experience through much more than its famous historic landmarks. Sailing from Canada down the Atlantic coast of the United States, the programme looks at history, immigration, civil rights, Indigenous heritage, women’s history, culture and food through a diverse and multicultural lens.
Boston and Philadelphia bring you into the story of Colonial America and the Revolution, while New York opens the door to stories of immigration, Indigenous culture and some of the defining events of more recent American history. Newport adds its own fascinating combination of maritime heritage, Black history and Gilded Age grandeur.
The experience continues onboard, with global humanitarians Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King joining the voyage as special guests of honour, while former diplomat Hugh Neighbour provides further context and perspective through a programme of onboard lectures.
And before any of that begins, you have three days in Nova Scotia exploring Acadian culture, the Annapolis Valley, local food and wine, Peggy’s Cove and Halifax itself.
YOUR VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
This voyage has been specially tailored for English-speaking travellers and combines expert discussions onboard with an included excursion or activity in each port of call and transfers before and after the cruise.
• Engaging onboard discussions with Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King – click here to view in YouTube
• Lectures by former diplomat Hugh Neighbour exploring American history and culture
• A diverse and multicultural exploration of 250 years of the American experience
• Colonial and American Revolution history in Boston and Philadelphia
• A tour celebrating women’s heritage in Boston
• Opportunities to visit Ellis Island and explore the stories of generations of immigrants
• The Tenement Museum and early immigrant neighbourhoods of New York’s Lower East Side
• The September 11 Memorial & Museum
• The National Museum of the American Indian in New York
• Black history experiences in Philadelphia
• The opportunity to discover Pennsylvania’s Amish Country
• Culinary experiences in Boston and Philadelphia
• An included excursion or activity in each port of call, as offered by PONANT
YOUR PRE-SAILING EXPERIENCE: 4 – 6 OCTOBER 2026 | NOVA SCOTIA
Your Travellers Club experience begins before you ever step aboard the ship. This three-day programme provides an introduction to the history and culture of Nova Scotia, one of Canada’s Maritime provinces. You will travel into the fertile Annapolis Valley to discover Acadian culture and sample local food and wine, spend a morning exploring the picturesque coastline around Peggy’s Cove and discover some of Halifax’s most significant historical stories and landmarks.
It is an ideal prelude to your voyage along North America’s Atlantic coast and, importantly for a solo traveller arriving after a long international journey, your airport arrival, accommodation, luggage and transfer to the ship are already organised.
Your two-night stay is at The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, or similar, with your own room throughout. Located in the heart of downtown Halifax, The Sutton Place offers contemporary accommodation with floor-to-ceiling windows, spa-inspired bathrooms and a central location for exploring the city.
YOUR DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1 | 4 OCTOBER
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Arrive at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, where you will be met and transferred, with your luggage, to The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax in the city centre. A local representative will be available at the hospitality desk during the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions.
The remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax after your journey or explore some of the sights within walking distance of your hotel. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail reception before enjoying the remainder of your evening independently. Dinner is at your own expense.
DAY 2 | 5 OCTOBER
HALIFAX | ANNAPOLIS VALLEY
Following breakfast, join your guide and travel into the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia’s fertile heartland of orchards, vineyards and Acadian history. Visit Grand-Pré National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the memory and legacy of the Acadian people, before continuing to the Look-Off for panoramic views across the valley.
At Hall’s Harbour, discover the extraordinary tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, where at low tide fishing boats can rest on the ocean floor. Your exploration concludes at Bent Ridge Winery with lunch featuring local specialties, followed by a winery tour and tasting.
Return to Halifax later in the day, with the remainder of your afternoon and evening at leisure. Dinner is independent.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 3 | 6 OCTOBER
HALIFAX | PEGGY’S COVE | EMBARK L’AUSTRAL
After breakfast and checking out of your hotel, travel along the scenic Lighthouse Route beside St. Margaret’s Bay to Peggy’s Cove. This historic working fishing community, set amongst ancient granite rocks overlooking the Atlantic, is home to Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, one of Canada’s most recognisable maritime landmarks.
Returning to Halifax, your guide introduces some of the defining stories of the city, including the catastrophic Halifax Explosion of 1917 and Halifax’s role in the recovery operation following the sinking of the Titanic.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant on the Halifax waterfront before visiting Pier 21, home to the Canadian Museum of Immigration. Nearly one million newcomers entered Canada through this historic facility between 1928 and 1971, and today its exhibitions tell the stories of those who arrived here to begin new lives.
After some leisure time along the waterfront, your luggage and transfer arrangements are taken care of as you make your way to L’Austral. Settle into your own balcony cabin and begin the next chapter of your journey.
Included meals: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 4 | 7 OCTOBER
AT SEA
Sail along the Nova Scotia coastline and across the Gulf of Maine towards Boston. Today gives you time to settle into life aboard L’Austral, explore the ship and enjoy the programme of onboard lectures and discussions.
DAY 5 | 8 OCTOBER
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Discover one of America’s most historically significant cities through the experience that interests you most. Options may include following Boston’s Freedom Trail and exploring sites associated with Colonial America and the Revolution, discovering the contribution of women to Boston’s history, sampling the flavours of the North End, or exploring Cambridge, Harvard Yard and Copley Square.
DAY 6 | 9 OCTOBER
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
Discover Newport’s fascinating combination of American history, maritime heritage and Gilded Age grandeur. Explore its famous mansions and Cliff Walk, discover its sailing heritage or delve into the city’s Black history.
DAY 7 | 10 OCTOBER
NEW YORK CITY
Sail into New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty before spending a full day discovering the city through the lens that most interests you. Trace generations of immigrant stories at Ellis Island, visit the Tenement Museum and historic immigrant neighbourhoods of the Lower East Side, explore the National Museum of the American Indian or pay tribute at the September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The programme also provides opportunities to explore architecture, Indigenous heritage and LGBTQ+ history, offering different perspectives on the communities and events that form part of the wider American story.
DAY 8 | 11 OCTOBER
AT SEA
Enjoy a day aboard L’Austral with time to relax and continue the voyage’s programme of lectures and discussions. With Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Hugh Neighbour contributing to the onboard programme, the time at sea forms an important part of this particular voyage.
DAY 9 | 12 OCTOBER
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Explore the city at the heart of America’s revolutionary story and discover sites associated with the Colonial Period and American Revolution. Depending on your chosen experience, you may explore Philadelphia’s Black history, discover the city through its food and culinary traditions, or travel into Lancaster County to experience Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.
DAY 10 | 13 OCTOBER
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND | DISEMBARKATION
Arrive in Baltimore, where your voyage concludes. Your transfer from the ship to your hotel or airport is included, depending on your onward travel arrangements.
YOUR SHIP | L’AUSTRAL
L’Austral combines the atmosphere of a smaller luxury ship with elegant French styling and a more intimate onboard environment. After exploring each destination by day, return to the comfort of the ship for dining, drinks, entertainment, lectures and time to relax.
For a solo traveller, one of the greatest luxuries is knowing that your Deck 3 cabin is entirely your own. There is no stranger cabin matching and no requirement to share simply because you are travelling alone.
The advertised AUD$17,200 price includes your own lower-deck balcony cabin, and all cabin categories offered through this Travellers Club experience feature a private balcony.
WHAT’S INCLUDED ONBOARD L’AUSTRAL
Once you step aboard L’Austral, much of your holiday is already taken care of. Your seven-night voyage includes your own balcony cabin for sole occupancy, all meals onboard from embarkation through to disembarkation, an open bar with a selection of wines, champagnes, spirits, beers, cocktails, soft drinks and other beverages, unlimited Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service.
You can also enjoy the ship’s facilities, evening entertainment and onboard programmes, together with lectures and discussions from the voyage’s special guests and experts. A choice of included shore excursion or activity is offered in each port of call as part of the PONANT programme.
With your accommodation, dining, Wi-Fi, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and shore experiences taken care of, unpack, settle into your own balcony cabin and enjoy the voyage.
YOUR COMPLETE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES
• Meet and greet on arrival at Halifax Stanfield International Airport
• Airport-to-hotel transfer and luggage handling
• Two nights at The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, or similar, in your own room
• Welcome cocktail reception
• Breakfast and lunch on Days 2 and 3
• Guided Nova Scotia sightseeing programme
• Annapolis Valley and Grand-Pré National Historic Site
• Hall’s Harbour and the Bay of Fundy
• Bent Ridge Winery lunch, tour and tasting
• Peggy’s Cove and the Lighthouse Route
• Guided Halifax historical sightseeing
• Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
• Local English-speaking guide
• Gratuities for Nova Scotia drivers and local guides
• Hotel-to-ship transfer and luggage handling
• Seven nights aboard L’Austral
• Your own private balcony cabin for sole occupancy
• All meals onboard
• Open bar onboard, including a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Unlimited Wi-Fi onboard
• 24-hour room service
• Onboard entertainment, lectures and programmes
• A choice of included shore excursion or activity in each port of call, as offered by PONANT
• Cruise-related transfers
• Transfer from the ship to your hotel or airport at the conclusion of the voyage, depending on your onward arrangements
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International airfares are not included in the advertised price, although Travel With Lesley Whyte can arrange these for you. Travel insurance, dinners during the Nova Scotia pre-sailing programme, personal purchases and expenses, services or meals not specifically stated as included, and additional accommodation or arrangements before or after the advertised experience are also excluded unless confirmed as part of your individual booking.
Airport transfers outside the scheduled Nova Scotia programme arrival date are not included.
FROM HOME TO HALIFAX AND BACK AGAIN
Travel With Lesley Whyte can arrange the international travel required to get you to Halifax and home again. For travellers from Australia, New Zealand or beyond, we can discuss suitable international flights and any additional accommodation required around your journey.
If you would like to arrive earlier in Canada or extend your travels in the United States after disembarking in Baltimore, we can also help build those arrangements around the core Travellers Club experience.
The idea is simple: one conversation with Travel With Lesley Whyte can help bring your entire journey together.
TRAVELLERS CLUB | TRAVEL INDEPENDENTLY
Travellers Club is different from our traditional Travel With Lesley Whyte escorted tours. There is no Travel With Lesley Whyte host or tour escort travelling with you, no organised Travel With Lesley Whyte group and no expectation that you travel or socialise with other Travellers Club guests who may happen to book the same voyage.
You are travelling independently, and that is the whole idea. Your own journey, your own hotel room, your own balcony cabin and your own holiday, with Travel With Lesley Whyte helping you put the experience together.
SHORT NOTICE MEANS SHORT NOTICE
Your experience begins in Halifax on 4 October 2026, so this really is a pack-your-bags-and-go opportunity.
Short Notice opportunities are based on availability at the time Travel With Lesley Whyte identifies them. Cabin categories, solo availability, hotel accommodation and international airfares can change or sell out quickly, so all pricing and arrangements will be reconfirmed when you enquire.
If this experience has your name written all over it, we recommend getting in touch quickly.
ABOUT TRAVELLERS CLUB – SOLO, BUT NEVER LIMITED BY TRAVELLING SOLO
Travellers Club by Travel With Lesley Whyte has been created for people who love travelling independently but are tired of finding a wonderful cruise or voyage only to discover how much more expensive it can become when travelling alone.
We search for opportunities across a range of ships, cruise lines and destinations where solo travellers can enjoy their own cabin, then look at what can be added around the sailing to create a more complete journey.
Some Travellers Club experiences will be released well in advance, giving you plenty of time to plan. Others, like this one, are Short Notice opportunities where a particularly attractive solo cabin becomes available and you may have only weeks or a few months to pack your suitcase and go.
There is no Travellers Club group to join and no requirement to wait until somebody else wants to travel with you. There is simply a great travel opportunity, your own accommodation and somewhere rather fabulous to go next.
ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS SHORT NOTICE EXPERIENCE
AUD$17,200 per person; your own room at The Sutton Place Hotel Halifax, or similar + your own lower-deck balcony cabin aboard L’Austral.
Contact us at lesley@travelwithlesleywhyte.com to check current availability. Other cabin categories and pricing are available on request, subject to availability.
As this is a Short Notice opportunity, all accommodation, cabin categories, pricing, special offers and associated arrangements are subject to availability at the time of booking.