Montreal: St. Lawrence Cruise & Notre-Dame AURA Light Show
Ninety minutes on the St. Lawrence, then light fills a Gothic cathedral
You board a 90-minute guided cruise from Montreal's Old Port with live commentary on the city's history and maritime heritage, then use your included AURA ticket to experience a sound-and-light show projected across Notre-Dame Basilica's Gothic interior. The cruise time slot is fixed; AURA dates are flexible through 2026. Arrive 30 minutes early at the dock to collect your physical ticket.
2h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Cruise and AURA experience in Montreal
- Embark on 1.5-hour guided cruise
- Enjoy city and maritime views
- Learn about Montreal history
- Attend AURA sound and light show
- Experience Notre-Dame Basilica visuals
The Experience
The boat pulls away from the Old Port dock and you're moving into the current, the city center rising behind you—that's when the guide starts talking about Montreal's maritime history, the figures who shaped it, the way the river used to move everything that mattered. You've got ninety minutes on the water, and the commentary comes through in English or French, or if you prefer Italian, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese or Korean, there's an audio guide for that. The St. Lawrence opens up differently from the shore. You see the urban landscape and the heritage sites from an angle most people don't get, and it's not rushed—the cruise is built to let you actually look.
After you dock, you head to Notre-Dame Basilica for the AURA experience. This isn't a guided tour; it's a sound and light show that projects onto the neo-Gothic architecture itself, so the building becomes the canvas. The visual and musical immersion fills the space in a way that's hard to describe until you're standing inside it. AURA tickets are undated and valid through 2026, which means you pick the performance time that works for you—no advance reservation needed, subject to availability. The basilica's schedule is worth checking before you go, so you're not showing up to a sold-out slot.
Logistics: arrive thirty minutes early at the Croisieres AML ticket office on the dock to pick up your physical cruise ticket. The boat runs rain or shine unless weather gets unsafe. Dress warmer than you think you need—the water is cooler than the land. When you arrive, you'll get a voucher for AURA that you can use anytime during the season. Only credit cards work on board for anything you buy; cash isn't accepted.
What’s included
- Admission to the AURA experience.
- 90-minute guided cruise on the St. Lawrence River with live commentary.
- taxes.
- audio guides in eight languages for the cruise.
Operated by Croisieres AML
Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Montreal from the water and experience the basilica's interior without arranging two separate tickets—the combined package covers both, and the flexible AURA dates mean you can visit the light show whenever the schedule suits you during the season.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the cruise commentary available in?
Live commentary is offered in English and French. Audio guides are available in French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.
How long is the St. Lawrence River cruise?
The guided cruise lasts 90 minutes, departing from the Old Port.
Do I need to book the AURA experience in advance?
No. AURA tickets are undated and valid through 2026. You can use them at any time during the season without prior reservation, subject to availability. Check the performance schedule before your visit to confirm showtimes.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my cruise?
Cruises operate rain or shine unless weather conditions pose a safety risk to passengers.
When should I arrive for the cruise?
Arrive 30 minutes before your departure time at the Croisieres AML ticket office on the dock to pick up your physical ticket, which is required for boarding.
Can I use cash to buy things on the cruise?
No. Only credit card payments are accepted on board.
Is the AURA experience guided?
No. AURA is a self-guided sound-and-light show projected onto the basilica's architecture. There is no guide commentary during the experience.
What should I wear for the cruise?
Dress warmer than you would on land. The temperature on the water is cooler than on shore.
Montreal: St. Lawrence Cruise & Notre-Dame AURA Light Show
2h 30m · EN · FR
from CA$ 109 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.0662 reviews
