A panoramic view of a small Canadian town with blue and gray houses, leafy trees and a large church with tall steeples on the right, set against sprawling fields, low buildings and distant rolling hills beneath a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Sydney, Canada

Cruises to Sydney, Canada

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Things to do in Sydney

Sydney is your gateway to Cape Breton’s Celtic roots, coastal scenery and warm maritime culture. Step off the ship and you’re immediately surrounded by live music, local flavors and Canadian hospitality that feels both lively and laid-back.

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  • Close-up view of assorted tartan fabrics in red, green, blue, purple and beige patterns, arranged in rows with pleats and buckled straps visible on several kilts.

    Browse local boutiques and craft stalls inside the pavilion for handmade pottery, woolens and gifts inspired by Cape Breton’s Gaelic heritage.

  • A massive outdoor fiddle sculpture with an attached bow rising several stories high, set along a waterfront walkway with benches, railings and a modern building nearby under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

    Snap a photo beside the World’s Largest Fiddle, the towering 54-foot steel landmark greeting guests at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

  • Close-up of a plate of fish and chips showing two pieces of breaded fried fish topped with chopped parsley, thick-cut fries, tartar sauce and lemon slices on white parchment paper.

    Walk into downtown Sydney for hearty seafood dishes, cozy pubs and friendly spots serving classic fish and chips.

  • Three dancers in colorful tartan kilts and matching knee-high socks performing a traditional Celtic dance outdoors, with their skirts flaring as they move and a seated crowd watching in the background.

    Catch a live Celtic performance on the waterfront, where fiddlers and dancers keep centuries-old musical traditions alive.

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Shore excursions to explore in Sydney

Cape Breton’s landscapes and culture shine brightest on shore excursions. Whether you’re drawn to Scottish heritage, maritime views or hands-on museums, these tours make it easy to experience Sydney’s most storied places.

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  • An old coastal defense site featuring a grey naval gun mount with three barrels on the left and a worn wooden tower building flying a Canadian flag on the right, all set on a grassy hill beside the ocean under a clear blue sky.

    Easy Sydney Highlights & Coastal Drive

    Take a relaxed introduction to Sydney as you follow a scenic coastal route lined with historic homes, 18th-century landmarks and views across the harbor. Stops include the Whitney Pier Historical Museum, where more than fifty cultural groups shaped the community, and Fort Petrie, a World War II observation post with sweeping waterfront vistas. You’ll finish with enough time at the cruise terminal for shopping.

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  • Close-up of a group of drummers wearing dark tartan kilts and vests, focused on a bright blue snare drum as several hands hold drumsticks poised to play.

    Celtic Heritage: Sounds of Cape Breton

    Experience Cape Breton’s musical heartbeat with a performance that showcases the island’s distinct Gaelic traditions. After meeting beneath the iconic giant fiddle, settle in for live fiddle tunes, step dancing and storytelling that reflect the region’s deep Scottish roots. You’ll also have time to explore the Marine Terminal’s shops and enjoy local treats like traditional oatcakes.

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  • Scenic view of Seal Island Bridge spanning a wide blue channel, surrounded by dense forests in peak fall colors of red, orange and yellow, with rolling hills fading into the distance.

    Best of Cape Breton: Bell Museum, Baddeck & Bras d'Or Lake

    Travel through rolling highlands and cross the Seal Island Bridge on your way to Baddeck, a charming lakeside village tied to Alexander Graham Bell. Explore the Bell Museum’s extensive collection of inventions, then stroll through town for lake views and boutique shopping. The route back delivers more panoramas of Bras d’Or Lake and the forested hills surrounding it.

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  • Historic stone buildings and tall chimneys of Fortress Louisbourg set behind grassy embankments and fortified walls, with a central steeple rising into a clear blue sky.

    Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

    Step into the year 1744 at Fortress Louisbourg, where costumed guides, reconstructed streets and waterfront workshops recreate life in an 18th-century French town. Explore homes, fortifications and blacksmith forges before wandering the grounds at your own pace. The drive to and from Sydney reveals rolling green hills and glimpses of the Mira River along the way.

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  • A curving wooden boardwalk with turquoise trim leads across a rocky, grassy ridge overlooking forested mountains and a calm ocean under a cloudy sky.

    Road Trip Along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton

    Follow one of Canada’s most celebrated routes as you wind along rugged coastline, forested mountains and sweeping viewpoints overlooking St. Ann’s Bay. This scenic drive includes photo stops at highland lookoffs and time in Ingonish, where you can relax over lunch near the national park. Keep your camera ready — whales often appear offshore in summer.

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  • Urban street scene featuring shops with painted facades, parked cars, hanging flower baskets and numerous overhead power lines under a partly cloudy sky.

    Spirited Sydney - A Historic Walking Tour

    Join a costumed guide for a walk through Sydney’s oldest neighborhoods, where folklore and ghost stories blend with real local history. Visit heritage homes, hidden lanes and atmospheric sites tied to legends that have circulated for generations. It’s a playful, engaging way to learn about the city’s past while exploring on foot.

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Explore itineraries with cruises to Sydney

Cruise itineraries that call on Sydney open the door to some of Cape Breton’s most memorable landscapes and cultural experiences. Many routes along Canada & New England include this port, giving guests a mix of coastal charm and historic sites in a single voyage. You’ll find Sydney featured on World cruises and across a wide range of Canada cruises, making it easy to pair this stop with ports like Halifax, Charlottetown and Québec City for a journey rich in scenery and maritime heritage.

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10-Day Classic Canada & New England

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14-Day Canada & Colonial America

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27-Day British Isles & Northern European Passage

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Discover Sydney on your next cruise

ydney delivers a relaxed coastal atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming. Streets lined with heritage buildings lead into a compact downtown where cafés, galleries and museums sit close to the waterfront. Spend your visit sampling local flavors, exploring its long maritime history or taking in views of the harbor before sailing onward to the next stop on your journey.

Cruises to Sydney
Elevated view of a small Canadian town featuring tall church steeples surrounded by dense green trees, with houses, roads and rolling wooded hills stretching into the distance under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Take in sweeping views as towering steeples rise above a quiet Canadian town wrapped in lush summer greens.

Vertical view of the Cabot Trail running along steep cliffs above the ocean, surrounded by dense fall foliage in orange, yellow and red tones under an overcast sky.

Cruise the Cabot Trail as fall colors ignite Cape Breton’s rugged coast.

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A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

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Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

Discover our ships

Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to Sydney FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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  • Cruise Plus hotel packages

    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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