DETAILS
Join us for an exceptional 8-day voyage from Halifax to Baltimore in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Explore historic ports along the Eastern Seaboard that illuminate the evolution of the American story. This special journey will feature Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, renowned civil rights leaders and global humanitarians. We are also honored to welcome Study Leader Tom Mayes, General Counsel of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Their perspectives on leadership, equality, preservation, and national identity will add meaningful depth throughout the journey.
- Pricing from
- $5,800
- Trip Type
- Closer to Home, Group Travel Tour
- Departure Dates
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Oct 6, 2026 - Oct 13, 2026
First introduced in 2011, L’Austral is the very embodiment of PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ generation of intimately sized ships. The exterior and interior lines, all understatement and refinement, make this a yacht of a rare and innovative kind. The wellness area offers a spa with massage and beauty treatments, as well as a fitness area and steam room. Plus, with just 132 staterooms and suites, each with a sea view, guests will enjoy the subtle combination of luxury, intimacy, and well-being.
OPTIONAL PRE- AND POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS
Enhance your journey with curated extension programs designed to deepen your experience.
Extensions – Halifax
We will be offering optional pre-voyage programs in Halifax, Nova Scotia (two nights) and at the iconic Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland (four nights). Additional details, including pricing and inclusions, will be provided by our Guest Services Specialist.
Extension – Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
Expand your exploration of the nation’s history from the Revolution, through two and a half centuries of diverse communities shaping the country’s narrative, to the present-day political landscape with our optional Baltimore & Washington, D.C. post-voyage program (two nights). Additional details, including pricing and inclusions, will be provided by our Guest Services Specialist.
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Thompson M. Mayes
As Chief Legal Officer, he oversees the National Trust’s legal defense fund, which advocates for the protection of significant places and defends and strengthens historic preservation laws throughout the United States; the historic preservation easements program, which protects over 135 historic places throughout the country; and the full range of corporate law matters for the National Trust, including specialized areas of historic site management and museum law.
Tom has written and spoken widely on preservation law, the underlying purposes of historic preservation, and the future of preservation. For many years, he taught historic preservation law at the University of Maryland. A lifelong preservationist, Tom serves as a member of his local historic preservation commission in Shepherdstown, WV. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Rome Prize in Historic Preservation in 2013, Tom is the author of Why Old Places Matter (Rowman and Littlefield, 2018).
TERMS & CONDITIONS | NATIONAL TRUST TOURS | AU061026 | HALIFAX • BALTIMORE | OCTOBER 6-13, 2026
Compagnie du PONANT, PONANT Group USA, LLC, and PONANT USA, LLC are hereinafter collectively referred to as “PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP” or “PONANT” is the tour Operator/Organizer of this cruise and
has invited members of the National Trust Tours (Sponsor) to participate. Please carefully read this information as payment of a deposit represents your acceptance of the following Terms & Conditions, which constitute
the sole, legally enforceable agreements between the passenger and PONANT GROUP and the tour’s sponsoring organization. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: To secure a booking, the guest is required to pay a 25% deposit of the tour fare. Final payment is due by July 8, 2026, or 90 days prior to departure. Checks and credit cards are accepted.
CANCELLATION, MODIFICATION PENALTIES & REFUNDS:
All cancellations or modifications must be in writing. Any and all guests not reporting for departure or prevented from reporting for departure or waiving for any reason whatsoever the benefit of services included in the program cannot claim any refund. PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP shall not be required to refund any monies to any guests who must leave the cruise prematurely for any reason, nor shall PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP be held responsible for any costs, fees, damages or causes of action which result from the transportation expenses incurred by guest’s early departure. For any deposited or fully paid booking, cancellation penalties will be assessed as noted below. These cancellation penalties are applicable on all services booked with PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP.
• From confirmation of booking date up to July 7, 2026, (91 days prior to departure): 10% of deposit to be kept by PONANT
• From July 8, 2026, (90 days prior to departure): 100% of full fare to be kept by PONANT
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA | EMBARK
Arrive at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), where you will be met by your driver and transferred to the pier to embark your ship, L’Austral. (D)
We recommend arriving in Halifax the night before embarkation. An optional à la carte hotel package and optional pre-voyage extension in Halifax are available for your convenience and can be reserved through Guest Services. -
day 2
AT SEA
Spend a relaxing day at sea enjoying the many comforts aboard L’Austral. Attend enriching lectures and briefings, take advantage of the ship’s elegant amenities, or simply unwind on deck as you sail the open ocean. Indulge in a treatment at the spa, stay active in the fitness center, or relax in your luxurious stateroom or suite. (B,L,D)
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day 3
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Known as “America’s Walking City,” Boston is the cradle of American independence and one of the country’s most walkable destinations. Walk the Freedom Trail to explore Boston’s central role in the nation’s founding, stroll through elegant Beacon Hill and Quincy Market, or cross the Charles River to Harvard Yard before visiting Copley Square and the Boston Public Library, the first free municipal library in the United States. (B,L,D)
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day 4
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
Continue to Newport, Rhode Island, a storied seaside retreat of America’s Gilded Age elite. Choose to tour magnificent Vanderbilt mansions such as The Breakers, or stroll the dramatic Cliff Walk with sweeping ocean views, or sail Narragansett Bay aboard a classic vessel, celebrating Newport’s legacy as the world capital of sailing and a window into America’s opulent past. (B,L,D)
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day 5
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Sail into New York Harbor, greeted by the Statue of Liberty standing as a beacon of hope. Spend a full day exploring the many layers of America’s largest city: walk the Brooklyn Bridge, wander Central Park, explore DUMBO’s art-filled streets, reflect at the 9/11 Memorial, or trace immigrant stories at Ellis Island or the Tenement Museum. (B,L,D)
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day 6
AT SEA
Another day at sea offers time to relax and enjoy the many comforts aboard L’Austral. (B,L,D)
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day 7
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Known as the “Birthplace of America,” Philadelphia offers a rich variety of excursions. Choose to travel to the Amish Country of Lancaster County for a visit to working farms and the Amish Village Museum. Or stay in the city and select from three distinct tours:an in-depth exploration of the American Revolution and the nation’s founding at the Museum of the American Revolution, Elfreth’s Alley, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell; a guided experience focused on the history and legacy of the Philadelphia Black Metropolis; or a culinary walking tour sampling local favorites, including the iconic Philly cheesesteak. (B, L, D)
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day 8
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND | DISEMBARK
After breakfast on board, disembark and transfer to Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) for flights homeward.
Optional Post-Voyage Extension in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. available for your convenience and can be reserved through Guest Services. (B)
Everything you need to know about the tour
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Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan
Since 1973, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services has served travelers just like you, to help protect their travel plans