Gananoque ON (Ontario Canada)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Canada and USA Rivers
Local Time
2026-11-14 23:35
37°F 3°C
Mod. breeze6.3 m/s
40 °F / 5 °C 32 °F / -0 °C
Gananoque ON (port locode CAGAN) is a St Lawrence River cruise port and town in Ontario Canada (Leeds and Grenville) with population around 6,000.
During summer, the town's population grow significantly due to the arriving tourists visiting the Mille-Iles archipelago (Thousand Islands National Park that groups 1864 isles).
As a cruise port, Gananoque was first included in the schedule of American Queen Voyages-AQV's ship Ocean Navigator.
The next table shows AQV's 10-night/11-day "Montreal to Detroit CruiseTour" itinerary. The voyage in 2023 is priced from ~USD 5000 per person (with double occupancy) and inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel stay in Montreal (embarkation port). The sailing features scenic cruising through Montreal and an overnight port stay in Quebec City.
| Date / Time | Port |
|---|---|
| DAYs1-2-3 (overnight hotel and embarkation) | Departing from Montreal, Quebec |
| DAYs4-5 (overnight) | Quebec City |
| DAY6 | Cornwall, Ontario |
| DAY7 | Gananoque, Ontario |
| DAY8 | Toronto, Ontario (Niagara Falls) |
| DAY9 | Port Colborne, Ontario (Niagara Falls) |
| DAY10 | Cleveland, Ohio USA (Lake Erie) |
| DAY11 | Arriving in Detroit, Michigan |
Gananoque is directly linked to Canada's transportation network via three major routes - King's Highway 401 (interconnecting Windsor, London, Kitchener, Cambridge, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Kingston, Cornwall), the Canadian National Railway (Canada's largest railway spanning between both oceans - Atlantic and Pacific/from Nova Scotia to British Columbia), and the St Lawrence Seaway (navigable for large/oceangoing ships waterway spanning the Atlantic to the Great Lakes). The Thousand Islands International Bridge (1938-opened, over Saint Lawrence River) carries highway I-81 and connects New York (USA) with Ontario (Canada).
Gananoque Airport (approx 5 mi / 8 km from downtown) is one of Ontario's three airports that serve the Thousand Islands - together with Kingston's Norman Rogers Airport and Elizabethtown-Kitley's Brockville Airport.
The settlement was founded in the late-18th-century (1789, during the American War of Independence/1775-83) by Colonel Joel Stone (1749-1833, United Empire Loyalist).
As the gateway to the Thousand Islands, Gananoque offers seasonally (between May and October) scenic boat cruises through the archipelago, including to Boldt Castle (on Heart Island NY, approx 20 mi / 30 km to the east). Also attracting both American and Canadian tourists are Gananoque's landmarks Thousand Islands Playhouse (1982-opened summer theatre), The 1000 Islands History Museum (themed on the town's and archipelago's history and ecology), and Shorelines Thousand Islands Casino (2002-opened, owned by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation).
Easy independently once ashore. Gananoque’s waterfront museums, sandy river beach and downtown are close enough to explore on foot. A one-hour sightseeing boat trip can fit a short call if your ship’s transfer leaves enough time on land.
Getting Ashore in Gananoque
Some cruise calls use an offshore transfer. On a previous Ocean Navigator call, passengers boarded a local sightseeing boat at anchor, toured the islands and then went ashore in Gananoque. Confirm your landing point, whether island sightseeing is included in the transfer, and where to board for the return.
From the City Cruises waterfront at 280 Main Street, the museums and Joel Stone Park are a few minutes away on foot. Allow about 10–15 minutes to walk to King Street downtown. A shuttle, taxi or bus is unnecessary for these stops if you land at the Main Street waterfront.
Best Ways to Spend Your Time
Waterfront Museums and Joel Stone Beach
Allow 1–2 hours for the 1000 Islands History Museum, the neighboring Thousand Islands Boat Museum and a stop at Joel Stone Park. The history museum covers life along the river, while the seasonal boat museum focuses on local boats and boatbuilding. The park has river views and a small sandy beach for a warm-weather stop. Check museum opening days and local beach advisories before swimming.
Thousand Islands Sightseeing Boat Trip
The seasonal one-hour trip from 280 Main Street visits nearby island groups and returns to the same dock. Allow about 1½ hours for the trip and check-in, plus time to reach your ship’s return pickup. The three-hour sailing passes Boldt Castle without landing and fits a longer call. Check that your ticket departs from Gananoque, since the operator also sails from Ivy Lea, which requires a road transfer.
Boldt Castle on a Long Call
The Gananoque boat trip that lands at Boldt Castle takes about five hours before check-in and return time to your ship. Heart Island is in the United States, so bring the travel documents required for U.S. entry and allow for border processing. If your ship offers a castle excursion, it is preferable when the timing is tight. On a short call, stick to the nearby islands or the town waterfront.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Waterfront and Downtown
Easy. Start at the City Cruises entrance at 280 Main Street. Allow roughly 2 km (1.2 mi) round trip, 30–40 minutes of walking and 1½–2 hours with stops. The waterfront is mostly flat, with a gentle climb toward King Street.
- Joel Stone Park. Start with the beach and views across the St. Lawrence River.
- 1000 Islands History Museum. Stop at 125 Water Street for exhibits on the river and island communities.
- Thousand Islands Boat Museum. Visit the neighboring waterfront exhibits when open.
- Horticultural Park. Follow Main Street uphill to the junction with King and Mill streets for a view of the former railway bridge.
- Town Hall and Visitor Centre. Follow King Street East to the park around Town Hall. Retrace your route via Main Street to the waterfront, then follow your ship’s directions to the return pickup.
Returning to the Ship
Plan around the ship’s all-aboard time or last return boat. Leave at least 30 minutes beyond your expected walk back, with extra time for transfer queues or an independently booked boat trip. If time ashore is shortened, the museums and beach are the easiest stops to fit around the return schedule.