Charlottetown, capital of Prince Edward Island, sits on a gentle harbor where 19th-century architecture and an easygoing island pace define the waterfront. Named for Queen Charlotte, the city hosted the 1864 conference that set the course toward Canadian confederation, and its historic core, with Province House at its center, remains within walking distance of the pier. Long before European settlement, the Mi'kmaq inhabited this land for thousands of years, a heritage still honored across the island.
The city is best known as the home of author Lucy Maud Montgomery, whose beloved novel Anne of Green Gables drew inspiration from the island's rolling farmland and red-clay coastline. Visitors wander tree-lined streets of colorful storefronts, browse local galleries, and sample the region's celebrated seafood, particularly Prince Edward Island oysters and mussels pulled fresh from surrounding waters.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Charlottetown.
Tour Green Gables Heritage Place
Visit the farmhouse and rolling fields in nearby Cavendish that inspired Anne of Green Gables, with trails through the Haunted Wood; roughly a 30-minute drive from the pier, so plan for a half-day.
Explore Province House
Step into the restored chamber where delegates debated Canadian confederation in 1864, just a short walk from the waterfront in the heart of Charlottetown's historic core.
Sample Fresh Oysters Dockside
Pull up a stool at a waterfront raw bar or market stall for PEI oysters and mussels harvested from the surrounding bays, an easy way to taste the island within steps of the ship.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Click a cruise line to see its Charlottetown sailings and Pavlus pricing.
