Quebec City Shore Excursions
Canada · 11 independent tours
Across Canada — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in Canada — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- Cannabis is legal for recreational use (rules vary by province), but it is illegal to take cannabis across the Canadian border without a Health Canada permit — you face arrest.
- Other illegal drugs carry a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possession, use or smuggling.
- Carry a copy of your passport for ID.
Drones
Drones are regulated by Transport Canada. A drone under 250g does not need to be registered but must still follow the basic safety rules; a drone weighing 250g or more must be registered, and you must hold a drone Pilot Certificate and carry it while flying. Keep the drone within sight, away from airports and bystanders, and follow Transport Canada’s height and distance limits.
via Transport Canada — flying your drone safely and legally · 28 Jun 2026
Health hazards
On hiking and camping excursions, take all rubbish (including food) away with you to avoid attracting animals, take particular care in areas where bears have been sighted, and keep a safe distance from all wildlife.
via UK FCDO travel advice — Canada · 24 Jun 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — Canada · checked 24 Jun 2026
Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Quebec City
Ships dock alongside one of several wharves; no tendering is used.
- Ross-Gaudreault Terminal (Cruise Terminal 84, Wharves 21 and 22) — Just steps from the Petit-Champlain district, near Old Québec (Direct access on foot)
- Cruise Terminal 30 (Wharf 30) — A few minutes' walk from Old Québec (Shuttle service provided, as only authorized vehicles may enter during cruise season)
- Wharf 81 (Quai Paquet) — Across the St Lawrence River in Lévis, a separate municipality, not walkable to Old Quebec
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Walk — Recommended way to explore Old Québec, described as like an open-air museum, optionally with a local guide
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: The wharves are spread across different parts of the port, with Wharf 81 across the river in Lévis; a ship's specific berth determines walkability, so passengers must confirm and return to the correct wharf, especially given Wharf 81's separate location.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Quebec City
Getting around
Old Québec is presented as walkable and safe, and the DMO recommends exploring the Old City on foot.
- Walk — Recommended way to explore Old Québec, described as like an open-air museum, optionally with a local guide
Must-see sights
- Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec — Landmark sight in Upper Town
- La Citadelle — Landmark sight in Upper Town
- Château Frontenac — Landmark sight in Upper Town
- Petit-Champlain — One of the oldest shopping streets in North America, in Lower Town, with local-artisan goods
- Breakneck Steps (Escalier Casse-Cou) — Located in Lower Town
Getting back to the pier
Old Québec and central neighbourhoods are walkable, and the local RTC bus network reaches most tourist attractions without needing a car.
- Walk
- Bus — RTC local bus network reaches most tourist attractions
- Bike — Rentals available through city-centre shops
- Taxi
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Eating & shopping in Quebec City
The source names one restaurant inside Cruise Terminal 84, operated by Le Café du Monde.
Areas and specialities as described by the source — not our recommendations; confirm openings and prices locally.
Local know-hows in Quebec City
Money
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- ATMs
- ATMs are available on arrival for topping up cash.
Practicalities
- Language
- French is official; English is widely spoken in tourist areas but not guaranteed everywhere.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in Quebec City
Moderately busy
Quebec City is a mid-sized capital city that absorbs most cruise traffic easily, but its September–October peak includes multiple-ship days that can strain the historic old town.
Peak pattern: Season builds from light July/August calls to a sharp September peak (30+ calls) and sustained heavy October activity (40+ calls), with several dates seeing multiple ships in port simultaneously.
Quieter: July and August are comparatively light, and November tapers to a single call.
- mid-sized historic city, not a tiny village
- multiple-ship days in Sept/Oct
- concentrated historic old town core
- season tapers sharply outside Sept-Oct
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Quebec City — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 6 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 6 Jul 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 6 Jul 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 6 Jul 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically