Meet your fellow shipmates in St. John's—Newfoundland's historic, vibrant capital. Picturesque and welcoming, with a world-famous harbor, St. John’s has been continuously fished since 1498, allowing it to boast the designation of North America's oldest European settlement.

You may choose to start your adventure with an optional city tour in the afternoon. Afterwards, rendezvous at the docks and board the Ocean Endeavour. Sailing out of St. John’s has to be experienced to be believed; Signal Hill keeps watch over the world-famous Narrows as you head for open water, passing Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America.

The crew's presentation series kicks into full swing today as your expert resource staff delves into the fascinating history and ecology of Sable Island. While out on deck, keep your eyes peeled for marine mammals and seabirds in the rich Northwest Atlantic.

Spend the next 4 days on Sable Island,a legendary location of hundreds of shipwrecks. The island is home to a population of feral horses, the rare Ipswich sparrow, and seals and seabirds in abundance. Take the opportunity to meet some of the island's handful of human inhabitants and learn about this unique habitat first-hand.

As you explore Sable Island, expect to be dazzled by a natural habitat unlike any you have ever seen. The herds of wild horses for which the island is famous are a true highlight: observe them at their most raw and untamed as they race among the dunes. The sandy shores afford unmatched opportunities for Zodiac cruising, and you may expect to interact with the curious local seal populations.

The historic sites of Sable Island—the old shipwrecks and abandoned settlements—are of particular interest, as the island’s shifting sands hide and reveal different landscapes each day. This ecosystem is in true flux: the vegetation and habitats, as well as the human relics, are at the whim of the ever-changing dunes and you spend your days exploring before the winds rise and hide all evidence of your passage.

At sea today, the ship crosses the Gully, a Marine Protected Area approximately two hundred kilometers off the coast of Nova Scotia and to the east of Sable Island. Here, the sea floor suddenly drops a dizzying two and a half kilometers into a submarine valley. The Gully is one of the most prominent undersea features in eastern Canada and its unique ecology has attracted the interest of many agencies, such as Parks Canada and Environment Canada. This is due to its significant coral communities, its diversity of both shallow- and deep-water fish, and the many whales and dolphins.

The Gully is home to a large population of northern bottlenose whales, and during the crossing you may be fortunate enough to see some individuals near the ship. They make regular trips to the canyon’s depths for food, and are a social, friendly species. Their playful, inquisitive nature manifests itself in their interactions with boats, which, unfortunately, has also made them easy targets for whalers in the past. Like their other deep-water brethren, the bottlenose whales search for food and communicate with their fellows using a complex system of chirps and whistles.

As on your other days at sea, the resource staff is on hand with a wealth of talks and contextualizing presentations. On deck they assist passengers in spotting the myriad seabirds and marine mammals for which this area is famous. 

Explore exotic Saint-Pierre, a last bastion of France’s colonial territories in North America. The island’s 6,500 residents are of various descents including French, Basque, Breton, and Norman.

Saint-Pierre’s architecture reflects its history: an eclectic collection of colors and style aligned on picturesque cobblestone streets and alleys. Take time to tour the city and enjoy some independent exploration in the surrounding area. Take advantage of this day in France to enjoy some wine and cheese, and unwind in a tiny slice of old Europe nestled into the North American coast.

Today, discover one of the oldest cities in North America, a city unlike any other. Cradled in a harbor carved from 500-million-year-old rock and surrounded by hills running down to the ocean, St. John's is the most easterly city in North America. St. John's has been vitally important for centuries to explorers, adventurers, merchants, soldiers, pirates, and all manner of seafarers, who provided the foundation for this thriving modern day city.

After sailing through the Narrows, say your farewells and begin the process of departure. Staff are on hand to assist you with luggage and transportation arrangements.