Europe Cruises: Excursions

Learn about the history of Tunis during your visit to the Bardo Museum and Carthage. Immerse yourself in the sounds, colors and scents of the streets of Medina and stroll the lanes of picturesque Sidi Boud Said. The Bardo is one of the most important museums in North Africa. It offers a wealth of artifacts and mosaics, which take you through the centuries of Phoenician, Roman and Arab history. Its collection of Roman mosaics is considered one of the largest in the world. Shop for souvenirs or just enjoy a stroll through the meandering streets of Medina.

Enjoy a buffet style lunch of Tunisian and international foods at a local restaurant. Let your imagination take you back to Phoenician and Roman times at the site of what once was the great city of Carthage. Visit the remains of this ancient city, which was one of the most powerful in the Western Mediterranean. You’ll stop to view the Roman baths, Punic tombs, sarcophagi, mosaic floors and the remains of an early Christian basilica. Delight at the sight of the colorful white and blue houses lining the cobbled streets of Sidi Bou Said, a picture perfect village. Enjoy some free time here to do some shopping, take some pictures or simply browse at the shops.

Note:This tour is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs or with walking difficulties. There is substantial amount of walking, including Roman roads in Carthage on even, uneven, gravel and stones, 2 flights of stairs at the Bardo Museum, steps and cobblestones in Sidi Bou Said.

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Leaving the harbor of Marseille, your drive will take to Gordes stopping for photostops along the way. The houses of Gordes rise in picturesque tiers above the Imergue valley on the edge of the Vaucluse plateau. The stone buildings built in tight against the base of the cliffs and those perched on the rocks above, including the 12th century castle, are made of a beige stone that glows orange in the morning sun. Enjoy the atmosphere of this charming village and stroll through the small paved, sometimes stepped alleyways lined with gutters defined by two rows of stone with vaulted passageways, arcades of old tall houses and rampart ruins. Continue your exploration of Provence with a short drive to Roussillon, a village that stands on the highest hill between the Coulon valley and the Vaucluse plateau. These striking hills, composed of ochre rock of 16 or 17 different shades featured in the local houses, enhance the beauty of the village and the surrounding countryside. Enjoy lunch on your own and free time at leisure before returning to your awaiting ship in Marseille. Note: Tour involves walking for approximately 3 1/2 hours on uneven ground and cobblestone, with approximately 20 steps at Gordes and Roussillon. Not recommended for guests who are wheelchair confined. Public restrooms are available at both Gordes and Roussillon. less

This two full day tour combination lets you enjoy the best of St. Petersburg: Catherine's Palace, Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Grand Palace and a city tour.

Day 1: Your tour takes you outside of the city to the town of Pushkin (former Tsar's Village) where you’ll visit Catherine’s Palace. Peter the Great presented this estate to his wife Catherine in 1710. It was used as the summer residence of the Royal Family. Its grandiose, white-and-gold facade stretches 978 feet. You'll walk through a series of magnificent rooms, including the famous the Great Hall and the Amber Room. The town of Pushkin is famous for the man it was named after – Alexander Pushkin, the most celebrated poet in the country. Continue to one of the dining venues for lunch, and then drive to the Hermitage Museum, the largest art museum in Russia and the most prestigious museum in the world. The Hermitage Museum occupies the Winter Palace, the winter residence of the Russian Tsars, and four more buildings.

Day 2: Begin with a transfer to Peterhof, the town of palaces, fountains and parks, which was built by Peter the Great to rival Versailles. It lies on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. The Grand Palace is known as the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian Tsars. The layout of the 300-acre park and spectacular fountains was designed by Peter himself. The Grand Cascade consists of three waterfalls, an avenue of 64 fountains and 37 gilded statues. After your visit of the palace interior, continue with a one hour to drive back to the city to enjoy your lunch. The next stop is the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, where you'll enjoy views of the city. Then you'll have a tour of St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, where you'll be surrounded by marble columns and glittering chandeliers. The tour continues along the Neva embankment, and drives along the Nevsky Prospect, towards your ship.

* Price reflected on NCL.com is inclusive of the Pre-Book and Save offer.
Note: This tour is not recommended for persons with walking or climbing difficulties. There are long walking distances through the Gardens of Pushkin and Peterhof Park. Catherine’s Palace and Peterhof Grand Palace is not wheelchair accessible due to the steep staircase and no elevators. There is extensive walking between different parts of the Hermitage. Expect congestion and waiting at attractions. Visit to inside of Peterhof Palace is approximately one hour and interior rooms only, fountains can be seen from a distance. Photo/video is prohibited inside the Grand Peterhof Palace. Tour sequence may vary and depends on the museum’s availability. The Russian government charges a nominal fee to use your camera and video inside various palaces and museums of St. Petersburg. Fees are payable to your guide and correct change is required. Current information will be provided on board as prices are subject to change. Flash photography is prohibited in the Hermitage. less

The Ottomans and Byzantines ruled this city for centuries, and testament to these great empires stand the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, opposite each other in Sultanahmet Square. You’ll visit these two impressive landmarks of Istanbul as well as the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Start with a visit to one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, better known as the Blue Mosque because of the over 21,000 blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. The six minarets and the layout of the domes and semi-domes create a unique exterior. From here, continue to the Hippodrome, to see the remains of what was once the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Visit the St. Sophia Museum, also known as Hagia Sophia, and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as a church for hundreds of years during the Byzantine Empire and was converted to a Mosque when the city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. Here, you’ll find evidence of both. Continue to the great Byzantine Basilica Cistern, located across from Hagia Sophia. You might think that having so many breathtaking sites to visit above ground leaves no need to go under. But you’ll soon discover why this visit is worth every minute. Next stop is the Grand Bazaar. The Bazaar is composed of two sections; the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver, souvenirs, textiles and antiques are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You’ll have a short time to experience the exotic atmosphere of the covered part. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll attend a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets with additional time to shop at the handicraft store while enjoying complimentary refreshments. You’ll also have free time for lunch during the tour and you’ll find many choices around the area (at your own expense). Note: Tour is not available for the Norwegian Spirit August 3rd, 2013 sailing, or for day one of the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Blue Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapı Palace are not included, however may be visited during free time. There is approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013. less