Updated: Aug 2026
Now that I think about it, I spent a lot of time in Canada on boats.
You’re probably wondering what one does on boats besides fishing – but no, I did not fish.
Boat Tours in Canada
Instead, I sailed around Toronto Harbour on a tall ship, went whale watching in Quebec and cruised through the Thousand Islands in Ontario.
Three very different boat experiences. One involved sea shanties and a cannon. One involved three hours of rain, fog and seasickness. And one left me wondering about the practicalities of owning a private island.
Here’s how they went.
The Tall Ship Kajama, Toronto
Have you ever had a ride on a tall ship?
You know, the ones with enormous sails that make you feel like you should be wearing a pirate hat?
I hadn’t, so when I got the chance to sail out of Toronto Harbour on the Tall Ship Kajama, I was game. The Kajama is a three-masted schooner with a sailing history going back to 1930, and she is quite a sight when you see her sitting in Toronto Harbour.
It was a beautiful, sunny day when we sailed out onto Lake Ontario. And this is what I enjoyed most about the experience: it didn’t feel like one of those sightseeing tours where someone points at every building in the distance and gives you a ten-minute history lesson.
You could just… hang out. Sit on deck. Look at the Toronto skyline. Feel the breeze. Watch the city slowly recede. Canadian sailors sang shanties as we headed further out into the water, which made the whole thing considerably more atmospheric. The cruise also had little moments of activity spaced throughout it, so there was a good balance between doing something and simply relaxing. And if you’re lucky, you get to help raise the sails.
Let me tell you: it is considerably harder than it looks. Everyone seemed very excited about the cannon they fired towards the end. I, apparently, have less enthusiasm for cannons.
This 90 minute cruise let’s you admire the Toronto skyline by day without the guide being too touristy and pointing out landmarks, allowing you to just “hang out.” Canadian Sailors sing shanties while getting the boat far out into the water… which was awesome! The few happenings during the tour are spaced out so you get a good balance of excitement and relaxation. If you’re lucky, you get a chance to raise the sails (hard work, by the way!) Everyone seemed excited about the canon they fired at the end. Oh well.
They offer food and drinks aboard the ship, but it is pricey, as one would expect. And unless your goal is to work on your tan, sunscreen and a hat is essential. 90 minutes was probably a bit too long for the entire thing – they could have perhaps cut down the time and subsequently, the ticket price.
Is the Kajama cruise worth doing in 2026?
Good news if you’re planning your own trip: the Kajama is still very much operating, still the same 165-foot, three-masted 1930s schooner, and it’s Toronto’s only daily tall ship cruise, sailing from Queens Quay in downtown Toronto, typically running from the start of May through the end of September. The full experience – sail-raising, sea shanties, cannon fire, fully stocked bar – is unchanged from what I did.
A few practical updates: cruises now run closer to two hours total (including about 30 minutes of boarding time before you actually set sail), and dogs are welcome onboard now, if that’s relevant to your travel plans. It is still a genuinely relaxing, way to see the skyline but pack patience along with the sunscreen and hat.
Whale Watching in Charlevoix, Quebec
I was genuinely excited to watch whales, Moby Dick–style. But sigh.
It was dark, gloomy, rainy, foggy, and overall miserable weather. Full honesty: I don’t remember the exact town or operator we booked this through anymore – somewhere along the St. Lawrence, likely in Quebec’s whale-watching region, but the details of that particular day have faded more than the memory of how disappointing it was.
The boat itself was impressive. There was an open-air deck on top, a semi-enclosed middle deck surrounded by glass, and a completely enclosed lower deck with seats and a canteen. The food was below average.
But at that point, food wasn’t really my biggest concern. I was trying not to feel seasick.
We eagerly watched the whale-positioning monitor as it showed whales swimming below the boat. The guide jabbered away on the microphone, while I concentrated on not losing my lunch.
And we waited. And waited. And waited.
Three hours, guys. Three hours! Finally, we saw the fin of a whale in the distance. It was so far away that there was absolutely no chance of getting a decent photograph. What a waste of CAD 80!
But hey, it isn’t something you do every day.
Would I go whale watching in Charlevoix again?
Whale watching in the Charlevoix/Tadoussac area is still a major attraction. The Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park is home to around 13 species of whales, and the whale-watching season generally runs from May into October. Current operators offer both large-boat and Zodiac excursions.
Some travellers have had very different experiences than mine. Many report seeing humpbacks, fin whales, minke whales, belugas and seals – sometimes even in fog and rain. So perhaps I was simply unlucky.
One piece of advice i’ll offer – Dress warmly.
Even on a hot day, it can get surprisingly cold and windy once you’re out on the St. Lawrence. Layers, a hat and something windproof are a very good idea.
Would I do it again? Probably. But I would check the weather, prepare for seasickness and, most importantly, remember that whale watching is wildlife watching.
You can book a boat. You cannot book a whale.
P.S. Speaking of wildlife, here’s the lowdown on my first lion safari in Gir National Park, Gujarat!
The Thousand Islands, Ontario
The next day, we set off to explore the Thousand Islands by boat. The weather was clear, sunny, and bordering on hot — we were fairly sure those whales must have been out frolicking in all their glory the moment we weren’t there to see it.
The Thousand Islands aren’t actually 1,000 islands. There are 1,864 islands in the archipelago, scattered along the St. Lawrence River between Canada and the United States.
Some are tiny enough for only a couple of trees. Others have enormous homes and mansions built on them. And cruising between them is a rather fascinating glimpse into a world where apparently having a waterfront home isn’t enough. You need your own island.
Does the Thousand Islands cruise get boring?
I’ll be honest. After a while, the islands do start to blur.
Island. Trees. House. Another island. More trees. Another enormous house. Repeat.
But the scenery is undeniably beautiful, and the cruise gives you a perspective of the area that you simply don’t get from land.
And then there was the highlight: Boldt Castle.
Boldt Castle and the Thousand Islands
Boldt Castle is on Heart Island, and the story behind it is almost as dramatic as the castle itself.
George Boldt, the proprietor of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, commissioned the castle as a grand summer home for his wife, Louise. Construction began in 1900, but after Louise died suddenly in 1904, the project was abandoned.
Today, Boldt Castle is one of the best-known sights in the Thousand Islands. And here’s something you would absolutely want to know before booking a cruise today: Heart Island is in the United States.
That means there is a difference between taking a cruise that passes Boldt Castle and taking one that actually stops at Boldt Castle. If you get off the boat on Heart Island, you are entering the United States and need the appropriate travel documents. If you simply want to see the castle from the water, there are cruises that pass it without requiring you to go ashore.
Life on a private island
The islands were pretty neat. But I couldn’t stop wondering about the practicalities. What if someone has a cappuccino craving? Or needs to borrow something from the neighbour? Or runs out of milk?
Pretty inconvenient to start up the speedboat several times a day.
I suppose private-island living isn’t for everyone.
Three things you’d like to know before taking these boat trips
1. Don’t underestimate the sun
Being on the water can feel deceptively cool, but you’re still exposed to the sun. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are worth carrying.
2. Bring layers
Especially for whale watching. The weather on land and the weather out on the water can feel like two completely different things. Recent whale-watching reviews continue to emphasise how cold and windy it can get, even during summer.
3. Decide whether you actually want a long cruise
I clearly have a thing about cruise lengths. My 90-minute Kajama cruise felt a little long to me. Three hours of whale watching felt very long when the whales refused to cooperate. And the Thousand Islands can apparently go on for five hours if you include a Boldt Castle stop. So before booking, ask yourself: Do I want to spend several hours on a boat, or do I simply want to see the attraction?
There are shorter options for both the Thousand Islands and whale watching today, which makes the choice considerably easier than it was when I did these trips.
So, are boat tours in Canada worth it?
Yes. That’s because being on the water gives you a completely different perspective of Canada. You see Toronto from Lake Ontario rather than from its streets. You experience the St. Lawrence River surrounded by islands instead of looking at it from shore. And you get to venture into one of the world’s great whale-watching areas and hope that a giant mammal decides to make an appearance.
Sometimes you get sea shanties. Sometimes you get a cannon. Sometimes you get rain, fog and seasickness. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get a whale.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Except perhaps with a cappuccino. On a private island. Preferably delivered by speedboat. 🙂
Oh, speaking of boats! Have you ever been on a houseboat in Kerala or kayaking though the backwaters in Goa?