Drifting along with autumn’s fiery hues

When autumn arrives, leaf-peepers often head to New England and Canada to find the brilliant reds, golds and yellows of birch, maple and oak, and if you are sailing on a fall foliage cruise from New York or Boston to Canada, chances are good you’ll find colorful photo-ops.

There’s more to a fall foliage cruise than leaves. You might wander through the old streets of Boston, visit the mansions of Newport, R.I., see whales and other wildlife, explore old Montreal and Quebec City and feast on clams or fresh lobster in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Sixteen ships, carrying from 49 to 2,758 passengers, will sail New England and Canadian waters from August into October this year. Here are a few. Prices are per person, double occupancy, based on brochure prices; discounts are likely.

Among the smallest ships are American Canadian Caribbean Cruise Line’s Grand Mariner (100 passengers), Niagara Prince (84 passengers) and Grand Caribe (100 passengers).

The Mariner and the Prince have planned 12-day Erie Canal itineraries in September and October between Warren, R.I., and Quebec City. The ships will sail on Narragansett Bay, Long Island Sound, New York Harbor and the Hudson River and will call at West Point, Kingston, Troy, Oswego and Clayton in New York, and Montreal and Pointe-au-Pic, Canada. Rates range from $2,455 to $2,985. The Grand Caribe will make five-day round-trip voyages from Warren, with stops in Cuttyhunk, Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., and Block Island and Newport, R.I. Rates are $1,195 to $1,455. Call American Canadian Caribbean Cruise Line, (800) 556-7450, www.accl-smallships.com.

American Cruise Lines has two well-appointed 49-passenger ships that will offer two seven-night itineraries in New England this month and next: New England Islands cruises will depart New London, Conn., and will call at Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, New Bedford and Fall River, Mass., and Newport. The Maine Coast and Harbors cruise will leave from Bangor, Maine, and will call at Bar Harbor, Rockland, Bath, Camden, Belfast and Bucksport, Maine. Rates are $2,520 to $3,990. For information (800) 814-6880, www.americancruiselines.com.

The 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory will sail from New York on four- and five-day round-trip cruises to Halifax and St. John’s in Canada now through Sept. 1, when it will make seven-day round-trip voyages from New York, calling at Boston and Portland, Maine, and Sydney and Halifax in Canada. Rates for the short cruises are $949 to $2,039; seven-day sailings are $1,749 to $3,199. Call (800) CARNIVAL (227-6482), www.carnival.com.

Clipper Cruises’ 100-passenger Nantucket Clipper has four round-trip sailings planned along the Hudson River in September and October. The ship will leave New York and call at Kingston, Troy and West Point. Rates are $2,070 to $3,620. For information call (800) 325-0010, www.clippercruise.com.

Crystal Cruises adds witchcraft and Newport mansions to its fall colors itinerary on three cruises aboard the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony. The ship will sail from New York to Montreal in September and call at Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax and Quebec City. Rates are $5,805 to $17,320. For information (800) 820-6663, www.crystalcruises.com.

In September and October, Holland America Line will send the 1,316-passenger Rotterdam on four 10-day cruises from New York to Montreal, with calls at Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island, Canada, with two days in Quebec City. Rates are $4,259 to $17,479. The 794-passenger Prinsendam has two 10-day voyages scheduled between Boston and Montreal in October. The ship will call at Bar Harbor, Halifax, St. John’s and Prince Edward Island, with two days in Quebec City. It also will visit to St. Pierre and Miquelon, French islands off the coast of Nova Scotia. Rates are $5,048 to $29,039. Call (877) SAIL HAL (724-5425), www.hollandamerica.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 1,748-passenger Norwegian Dream will set sail out of Boston on 10-day round-trip voyages in September and October. The ship will call at Sydney, Corner Brook, Quebec City and Halifax, Canada, and Bar Harbor. Rates are $1,799 to $5,099. For information, call (800) 327-7030, www.ncl.com.

Princess Cruises will deploy two ships to New England and Canada in September and October. The 1,590-passenger Regal Princess will offer 10-day cruises from New York to Montreal, with stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St. John’s, Halifax and Quebec City. Rates are $1,545 to $6,470. At the same time, the 2,600-passenger Golden Princess will leave on four seven-day round-trip cruises. Stops are planned in Halifax, St. John’s, Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. Rates are $1,690 to $5,570. Call (800) PRINCESS (774-6237), www.princess.com.

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’ 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator has eight- and 10-day cruises planned between New York and Montreal, with calls at Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City. The eight-day itinerary will drop Newport and Prince Edward Island. Rates are $2,995 to $11,595. Call for information, (866) 213-1272, www.rssc.com.

Royal Caribbean International will send the 1,950-passenger Grandeur of the Seas on seven- and 10-night round-trip cruises out of Boston. The ship will stop at Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, St. John’s and Portland. The 10-night sailing will add Quebec City and will cruise the Saguenay River in Quebec Province, Canada. Rates are $2,880 to $26,100. The 2,800-passenger Serenade of the Seas will make four- and five-night round-trip voyages August through October. The ship will depart New York and call at St. John’s and Halifax. Rates are $1,200 to $9,240. For information (800) 327-6700, www.rccl.com.

The Yachts of Seabourn will send its 208-passenger Seabourn Pride on four seven-day cruises between New York and Quebec City, with stops at Bar Harbor and at Lunenburg and Sydney, Canada. Boston and Newport will replace calls at Lunenburg and Sydney on the southbound cruise. Rates are $6,175 to $12,349. Call (800) 929-9391, www.seabourn.com.

Harry Basch travels as a guest of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.