Montreal Cruise Port Guide

The Island of Montreal was first (Place of the Beaver) was situated at the base of Mont Royal. French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived here in 1535 while on an expedition searching for a northwest route to Asia. The first settlement was established by the soldiers of Paul de Chomedy, who had been ordered by France to "bring about the glory of God and the salvation of the Indians." Attempts to follow these instructions resulted in bloody conflicts with the Iroquois until a treaty in 1701 guaranteed that the settlement was to be the main embarkation point for the fur and lumber trade.

When Quebec City fell to the British in 1759, Montreal briefly served as the capital of New France until it, too, was forced to surrender to the British.

A flood of Irish and Scottish immigrants soon made Montreal North America's With the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, Montreal emerged as the new nation's premier port, railroad nexus, banking center and main industrial producer.

Today, Montreal is a cosmopolitan city. Its skyline of glass and concrete rises above churches and monuments in a medley of European styles as complex as Montreal's social blend. Two-thirds of the city's population are of French extraction, the other third a cosmopolitan mix of Europeans, Chinese, Italians, Greeks, South Americans and West Indians. The center of cultural life is found in the restored Old Town, or Vieux-Montreal, where six museums are devoted to history, religion and the arts. Classical music concerts are staged all year long at the Notre Dame Basilica, which possesses one of the finest organs in North America. There is no lack of shopping opportunities; several Frormous malls offer a wide range of stores and boutiques.

Weatherproof shopping began in 1962 beneath the 42-story cruciform towers of Place Ville-Marie. Here an underground city offers residents and visitors 19 miles of well-lit passages filled with boutiques and eateries, away from the hardships of the Canadian winter. Food is a passion with Montrealers; this is evident in the city's 4,500 restaurants representing more than 75 ethnic Please note: Guests in transit to the following cruise may check with the Tour Office on board for sightseeing options. Guests on Silversea's Post-Cruise program may check with the Silversea Hospitality Desk at the hotel for sightseeing, dining and shopping information during their stay in