Eats, Cruises & Leaves

"For those people living outside the New England region, the opportunity to board one of these amazing ships and see the dynamic colors is a pretty romantic notion that strikes at the hearts of many people," said Dale. "The popularity is a combination of fall foliage catching on and having more product out there in the marketplace.

Indeed, fall fans looking for new and luxurious ways to see the autumn up close have more options than ever before, cruises that combine upscale shopping, historic scenery and athletic activities in a first-class setting.

To meet the rising demand, luxe liner Crystal Cruises, winner of Conde Nast Traveler magazine's "best cruise ship" award, now offers five foliage cruises. This year, the cruise line added a seven-day voyage from New York to Montreal and recently beefed up tour itineraries with all new adventures. (Next year, the liner will add a sixth cruise, a two-week "Path of the Vikings" tour that goes from London to New York, with stops in Iceland and Greenland.)

"We have more than 50 short excursions in these cruises, which include everything from visiting the mansions in Newport, to stopping by the botanical gardens in Montreal, or seeing the picturesque historical town of Bar Harbor," said Mimi Weisband, spokeswoman for Crystal Cruises. "We have lobster bakes and more active things, too, like kayaking and hiking."

Because of the wide array of options -- especially now that Crystal Cruises offers more sporting-related jaunts -- there's something for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level or interest. Consider the number of different offerings during the two-day Quebec City stop on the liner's 11-day "Autumn Tapestry Cruise," which travels one way from New York City to Montreal and starts at $3,155 per person for a deluxe stateroom.

While in Quebec City, Crystal Cruises has eight different activities planned for shore leave. For the epicurious there's a four-course French meal at the famous Chateau Frontenac or a tour of Orleans to sample the island's fine pates, ciders and taffies. The active can hike through the Ste Anne Canyon and traverse the 181-foot-high McNicoll Bridge or take the two-and-a-half hour walking tour of Old Quebec. And for the classic tourist, there are motorcoach tours of Quebec City, along with the area's many waterfalls and cascades, with loads of shopping stops along the way. There's even a helicopter tour of the city for people who can't get enough excitement.

How the Foliage Falls Autumn Cruises Orbitz and other third-party travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity offers a number of foliage cruises online. Here's a look at some of the more moderately priced, but act now -- some cruises are already sold out.
Cruise Line	Route	# of Nights	Date	Interior Cabin	Exterior Cabin
Royal Caribbean	N.J. to Canada	5	Oct. 17	$499	$599
Carnival Cruise Line	N.Y. to Canada	7	Oct. 2	649	749
Princess Cruise Line	N.Y. to Canada	7	Oct. 24	599	698
Jewel of the Seas	Boston to Canada	10	Oct. 18	1,199	1,449
Norwegian Cruise Line	Baltimore to Canada	11	Sept. 24	849	sold out
Source: Orbitz