Bahamas & Florida Cruises: Excursions

Your tour begins upon an air-conditioned sightseeing bus with a knowledgeable driver guide who will regale you with details and anecdotes about the sights you encounter. Drive through the heart of downtown known as Rawson Square. Here you’ll see the House of Parlaiment, Supreme Court, Public Library and other historical buildings central to the life of The Bahamas and its people. Your next stop is Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Center, a peaceful retreat, to enjoy over four acres of lush tropical gardens and over 200 birds, reptiles and mammals. The Ardastra Gardens is home to a collection of endangered land animals and features the Bahamas National Bird, the beautiful and exotic Caribbean Flamingo.

You’ll participate in the “Flamingo Experience”, a unique show of the glory and antics of these incredible creatures together with an excellent narration of their story. You’ll also hand-feed the colourful and playful South Pacific Lory Parrots and have numerous photographic opportunities with “Toby” the Cockatoo, “Jackie” the Snake and “Freddy” the Peacock. While walking the Gardens, friendly and informed staff will answer questions while two-legged feathered friends will freely entertain. Enjoy a cool beverage from the Parrot Pit Stop and browse through our eclectic gift shop, Toby's Treasures. Your transport from the time of pick-up until drop-off at Ardastra is fully narrated, giving you an inside look at Bahamian culture.

Note: There is some walking involved; a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended. Please advise the Shore Excursion team should you have any walking difficulties prior to purchasing this tour. less

Have a fun time at Atlantis. Wade into the waters of one of the world’s newest and largest dolphin habitats where you will touch, hug, and even kiss your new dolphin friends. Watch as they show off their playful side through some of their favorite behaviors. This intimate interaction begins with an orientation and includes 30-minutes in the water. Let the dolphins of Atlantis welcome you to join in the fun. Wet suits, personal lockers, beach towels, and non-alcoholic refreshments are provided. You’ll receive an Atlantis map, which will allow you to take a self-guided tour at your leisure of the Ruins Lagoon, a recreation of the sunken streets of mythical Atlantis and the Dig, a replica of an archaeological excavation site. Enjoy complimentary soft drinks while sunbathing at Dolphin’s Cay private beach. Note: Bring your swimsuit. Participants must be at least 2 years of age. For children under 10 years of age, a parent or appointed guardian must participate in the program. Wetsuits are mandatory. Children must be able to comprehend and follow instructions. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a considerable amount of walking once at the resort. This tour has access to Dolphin Cay private beach to sunbathe and watch the dolphins only; however swimming is not allowed. For the safety of everyone, observers must remain on the beach and are not permitted to enter the water. Dolphin Observer tickets are sold onboard only. This tour is non-refundable. The transportation for this tour is by bus, approximately 25-minutes each way depending on traffic conditions. Guests participating on an Atlantis Shore Excursion must arrive at the place and time stated on the Shore Excursion ticket. Atlantis tour tickets will not be honored at the resort. There is a considerable amount of walking on this tour (approximately 0.4 miles). Duration of tour may vary. To ensure availability, dolphin excursions must be booked no later than 24 hours prior to the port call. Last minute sales will not be available. Prices may vary by sail date. For infant bookings please contact us at 1-866-625-1167 for instructions. less

Learn the history of Port Canaveral. From the pier, head over to the Air Force Space & Missile History Center to learn about where the spirit of space exploration began. The History Center features exhibits highlighting every launch complex on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Next, stop at The Canaveral locks, built in 1965. This is the largest navigation lock in Florida that connects Port Canaveral with the Banana River. For the past 30 years, this lock has been used after every shuttle launch to transport the shuttle booster rockets, which fell into the ocean after liftoff, back to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Lock is a magnet for fish and birds and on any given day you will see: Brown Pelican, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Wood Stork. Manatees and dolphins may often be spotted. Your last stop will be a visit to a fish house and working dock, where thousands of pounds of seafood are caught each year. Here, is where one of Florida’s most known species got its start; the Rock shrimp. Finally, you’ll end your tour with a taste and sampling of Canaveral Shrimp. Note: Wear comfortable shoes. A light sweater or jacket is recommended. less

Explore New Providence Island on a 4 x 4 vehicle. You’ll be given an orientation of your shared 4WD vehicle. There are four guests to each vehicle, perfect for you and your friends. Take turns driving and navigating through traffic or one person can do all the driving. Listen to your lead guide’s narration though your onboard walkie-talkie while you drive into the island’s interior. Pass through the typical countryside; here you’ll see the island in your own unique style. See one of the old Colonial forts and other historical and architectural buildings. Your guide will also point out homes of the famous and infamous that lived on the island. Then, visit a local beach to relax or swim before caravanning through the countryside back to the staging area. You’ll then walk back at your leisure through town back to the pier. Note: Drivers must be at least 25 years of age and provide a valid driver’s license. This is a self-driven tour with a guide. Children under 8 years of age must use a child seat which must be pre-reserved in advance; visit our Shore Excursion Desk onboard for more details. Bring a towel and sunscreen. You may experience traffic and some delays. Itinerary is subject to change and is decided by your lead guide. less

Explore the wildlife on this easy guided and narrated tour. Cruise on your pontoon boat to see herds of manatees, flocks of birds, and playful dolphin on their journey through the Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands. The Thousand Islands are a flood tide delta deposit, formed in the past by a breach in the barrier island by a strong storm surge. This natural occurrence created a maze of narrow trails and canals through the natural mangrove islands and hidden hammocks. The spectacular canals through the Thousand Islands provide shelter to manatee, dolphin and a variety of coastal birds. You’ll observe reddish egret, wood stork, brown and white pelican, bald eagle, nesting osprey, great blue herons, and many more. The Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands are a part of the Indian River Lagoon estuary also located on the Banana River. Enjoy a soft drink before heading back to your ship. Note: This tour requires no walking. The pontoon boat has a surround-sound and speaker system. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. This tour returns to the pier and will not be available for guests disembarking or with a back to back sailing. less