Europe Cruises: Excursions

This two day tour is designed to offer you an all-embracing experience to get to know the city of Istanbul. You’ll begin with an orientation drive which reveals Istanbul's connections between Europe and Asia. Continue to traveling over the Golden Horn toward the Old City. Your tour includes a visit to the ancient Hippodrome followed by the Blue Mosque, renowned for its architectural harmony, proportion, elegance, and its six minarets. Visit the St. Sophia Museum, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Built originally as a cathedral, it later became a mosque and then finally a museum. Next, head to Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex and once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. There you’ll have the opportunity to admire many of its great treasures. You’ll also visit the Underground Cistern, the largest and most magnificent covered cistern in Istanbul. In addition you’ll visit, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, known as the Turkish Islamic Museum of Arts, located on the west side of Hippodrome, exhibits a variety of items that include antique kilims, manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy, carved and inlaid wood, ironworks, stone sculptures, stained glass and folk art as well as the Ethnological collection, which is devoted mainly to the nomads of Anatolia. The Museum also hosts the most valuable ancient Turkish carpets belonging to the original Usak and Selcuk Carpet collections. Enjoy a boat ride on the Bosphorus, along the shoreline of this narrow waterway and indulge the views of the Dolmabahce Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace and the few remaining towers of the Anadolu Hisar, where you’ll see the city’s connection to the Black Sea. Finally, it is time for a stop at one of the most colorful sites in the ancient city; the Grand Bazaar. The Bazaar is composed of two sections: the covered traditional part and the modern open section. The covered section is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades are segregated into different sections. You’ll have a chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. Here, you’ll see a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A traditional Turkish lunch is included on your second day. Note: Tour is only available for Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Tour order is dependent on traffic conditions, but all sites will be visited during the two days. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the Mosque. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapi Palace are not included in the program and can be visited independently during free time. Some sections of Topkapi Palace may be temporarily under renovation and closed to the public. Water is included during lunch; however, soft drinks and/or alcoholic beverages are available at an additional cost. Please expect differences in tour duration due to traffic conditions. less

Depart the pier for a short walk across to the train station to board your exclusively chartered train for an approximate 3 to 3 ½ hour journey to Berlin. While relaxing and watching the countryside, you’ll be served a light breakfast snack. Upon arrival in Berlin you'll be welcomed by your local tour guide. During your panoramic tour of colorful Berlin you'll stop at a remnant of the Berlin Wall and the famous former border crossing "Check-Point-Charlie". Continue to the Brandenburg Gate, which symbolizes the German and European reunification. You'll pass the Reichstag government building and the newly erected Holocaust Memorial. Drive along the Kurfurstendamm, Berlin's version of the Champs Elysees and bypass the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church before you circle the Gendarmenmarkt, home to the German Dom and the French Dom. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before the drive to Potsdam. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of this capital of the Brandenburg State, with its baroque city center and numerous palaces. Next you'll visit the centerpiece of Potsdam and summer residence of Frederick the Great, the Palace of Sanssouci. Depart this UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and continue to Cecilienhof Palace, built in 1916 in the style of an English country house. This was the site of the Allied Potsdamer Conference when the borders of Europe were redrawn after World War II. A historical conference attended by Churchill, Truman and Stalin was held here to discuss the future of Germany. You'll cross the Glienicke Bridge, where spies were swapped between the American and the Soviet sectors during the Cold War. Then proceed back to the train station in Berlin for your return to Warnemunde. Note: All palaces will be visited from the outside only. The order of sights may vary. less

The Hermitage Museum ranks among the most prestigious museums in the world, containing about three million objects of unparalleled importance. The route takes you through the State Rooms of the Winter Palace, the collection of Western European art featuring Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian and others, Dutch and Flemish Art collections, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck, and the French Impressionists Collection. You’ll see the collection of Spanish art (second only to Madrid’s Prado), and the collection of French art, which is the largest outside France, displaying works by Degas, Renoir, Monet, Cezzanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Matisse.

From the Hermitage, your coach proceeds to drive towards one of the main landmarks of St. Petersburg – the Church on Spilled Blood. This exquisitely decorated cathedral was built on the spot were Tsar Alexander II had been fatally wounded by a member of the People’s Will revolutionary terrorist organization on March I, 1881. Combining the artistic styles of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the cathedral is a kaleidoscope of decorative elements, with an extensive collection of mosaics that cover over 8,400 square yards, and five domes that are covered with more than 1,000 square yards of jeweler’s enamel.

Depart the pier and take a short walk across to the train station to board your exclusively chartered standard train for an approximate 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey from Warnemunde to Berlin. While relaxing and watching the German countryside pass by, you’ll be served a light breakfast snack. Upon arrival at one of Berlin’s train stations, your local Berlin tour guide will welcome and assist you to board your coach. Your sightseeing tour begins with an overview of some of the major highlights of Berlin. You’ll pass by remnants of the Berlin Wall, Alexanderplatz Square, Checkpoint Charlie, the Red City Hall, Unter den Linden Boulevard, Gendarmenmarkt Square, Potsdam Square, the Victory Column, Bellevue Palace, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag government building and Bebelplatz with the Empty Library memorial. After passing these world-famous landmarks and attractions, you’ll have the opportunity to spend approximately 3 hours on your own to visit a museum, do some shopping or return to some of the sights for closer inspection. After your time at leisure, you’ll meet your escort at a central point and return by coach to the train station, where you board your private train for the return journey to Warnemunde. Note: Lunch is not included on this tour. The order of the sights may vary. less

In the morning your tour takes you outside of the city to the historical town of Pushkin. The drive will take you to the Egyptian Gates, the entrance to the Tsar’s Village in Pushkin. Catherine’s Palace in the Tsar’s Village ranks as one of the masterpieces of world art. Peter the Great presented the estate to his wife Catherine in 1710 and the architect Braunstein built a small palace here. From this time until the time of the last Russian Tsar, Pushkin was used as the summer residence of the Royal Family. In 1756, Bartelomeo Rastrelli expanded the palace in Baroque style. Its grandiose, white and gold facade stretches 978 feet. During World War II, the palace was damaged severely, but since then it has been restored and stands now in its original glory. The palace tour takes you through the series of magnificent rooms, including the famous Picture Gallery, the Great Hall and the world famous Amber Room.

The parks of the estate add to the splendor of the palace, and several of them are embellished with a number of charming pavilions. The town of Pushkin is famous not only for its remarkable palace and parks, but the man it was named after – Alexander Pushkin, the most celebrated poet in the country and a resident of this town at the beginning of the 19th century. The lyceum, where he studied, is connected to the palace by an arch. After the tour you’ll continue to one of the dining venues for lunch after which, you’ll drive back to the city for a tour of 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.

p>Take a short drive to the city center while your guide introduces you to the history of St. Petersburg. You’ll stop on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island for an opportunity to take in the views of the Neva River, the Rostral Columns, the Winter Palace and other buildings of the Hermitage Museum, as well as St. Peter and Paul Fortress, situated right across the river. The tour continues with a drive along the Neva River embankments, passing St. Peter and Paul Fortress. The tour will then take you to St. Isaac’s Cathedral for another photo opportunity and a tour of this remarkable building, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and capable of accommodating 10,000 worshipers. The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated with different kinds of marble, malachite and other semiprecious stones. After, you’ll proceed to a dining venue for lunch.

In the afternoon your tour takes you outside of the city to the historical town of Pushkin. The drive will take you to the Egyptian Gates, the entrance to the Tsar’s Village. Catherine’s Palace in the Tsar’s Village ranks as one of the masterpieces of world art. From the time the palace was built until the time of the last Russian Tsar, Pushkin was used as the summer residence of the Royal Family. In 1756, Bartelomeo Rastrelli expanded Catherine’s Palace in Baroque style. The palace tour takes you through a series of magnificent rooms, including the famous Picture Gallery and, of course, the Great Hall. The parks of the estate add to the splendor of the palace, and several of them are embellished with a number of charming pavilions. The town of Pushkin is famous not only for its remarkable palace and parks, but the man it was named after. Since 1937, it has been named after Alexander Pushkin, the most celebrated poet in the country and a resident of this town at the beginning of the 19th century. The lyceum where he studied is connected to the palace by an arch.

After an orientation drive through Messina, you’ll head towards the slopes of Mt. Etna through the scenic countryside. See the impressive views from the vantage point of Cratere Silvestri. Here, you begin your ascent, first by cable car and continuing in 4 x 4 vans. With the assistance of Alpine guides, you’ll walk to see the last lava flow. Lunch will be at a local restaurant on the volcano. Note: This tour not recommended for guests with back, heart or respiratory problems as this tour reaches approximately 9,500 feet above sea level. There is an uphill walk of about 3, 300 feet. It can be windy and chilly at high altitudes, so a warm jacket or windbreaker is recommended. less

Although quick paced with a substantial amount of walking and climbing, your day will be extremely rewarding. See the highlights of Florence, including Michelangelo’s David and climb to the top of Pisa’s famous leaning tower. You’ll arrive at Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy the wonderful panorama of Florence from this unique terrace. In the historical center of Florence you will begin your walking tour. Visit the Galleria Dell'Accademia, where you’ll see Michelangelo’s masterpiece: the original statue of David. Visit Piazza del Duomo, the religious center of Florence in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Piazza della Signoria and walk to the Ponte Vecchio for a photo opportunity. You’ll have free time for lunch on your own and shopping. Meet back at your bus and head to Pisa where you'll join your guide for a climb up the 294 steps of the world-famous Leaning Tower. In Miracle Square you will view the Cathedral and Baptistery from the outside and enjoy some free time for photo opportunities or shopping. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age to climb the Tower. No bags are allowed for the Tower visit for security reasons. Even though the tower has reopened to the public, Italian authorities have strict limitations on the amount of persons allowed in per hour/day. The walking distance between the Field of Miracles in Pisa, and the bus parking area is approximately 15 minutes each way. Please note that on public holidays, most major stores will be closed; however, most leather and souvenir shops will be open. Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. The walking tour in Florence will cover approximately 3 miles. Due to the intensity of this tour, we do not recommend this excursion for guests with walking difficulties. The Galleria Dell’Accademia is closed on Mondays; this tour will not be available for guests on the Norwegian Spirit May 11th, 2013 and September 20th, 2013 sailings. less

This exclusive tour is an opportunity to travel in a small group by minibus to see the magnificent ruins of Ephesus which is one of the best preserved Greek/Roman cities in Asia Minor. You’ll experience other historical and natural values around it such as at your first stop, the House of Virgin Mary. This was declared a place of pilgrimage in 1892, and has since been visited by many Christian pilgrims. From here you’ll continue to Ephesus, one of the most interesting and extensive ancient cities in the world. Built in the 3rd century B.C., this is the center of attraction in the Aegean Region. The remains from the Roman period are a grand amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastic Baths, the Odeon, the Lower Agora, and the State Agora. The tour will end with a stop at a local handicraft center designed as a typical Turkish village to see how the famous Turkish carpets are made before driving to Izmir. Note: This tour is similar to IZM_01 Ephesus & the Virgin Mary tour but is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of passengers to operate. Expect crowded venues and long lines. Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months; we recommend that you drink a lot of water and use suitable sun protection. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven and cobblestone surfaces with inclines and steps. less

This touring option allows you complete freedom to maximize your time and explore the places that really interest you. Discover in comfort and at your own pace with the convenience of a private vehicle, driver/English speaking guide other languages available on request)at your disposal. You set your pace and itinerary, just tell us where you want to go!

Note:Entrance, parking fees and meals are not included in this tour, to allow you complete freedom of choice. Bring local currency, as credit cards may not be accepted everywhere. Extra hours available at an additional cost. Guests who are planning to visit religious sites should dress appropriately, no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed in churches. Prices are per vehicle and not per person, so only one person in the party needs to book this tour.

This exclusive tour is an opportunity to travel in a small group to witness the magnificence of Bosphorus Strait, relax and replenish energies in a Turkish bath, and delight your taste buds with specialties of Turkish cuisine. Embark on a deluxe boat to cruise on the Bosphorus. During your exclusive cruise, you’ll enjoy the mixture of past and present sights including unforgettable castles, towering minarets, and world-famous modern luxury hotels. Next, continue to one of Istanbul’s leading Turkish baths for a one-of-a-kind experience. Upon arrival, an attendant greets you and gives you directions. You’ll first go to the changing cabins to change into your traditional cotton wrap before entering the steam area. Lockers are provided for your belongings. Please note that the Turkish bath is segregated, with separate sections for men and women. Lay down on the hot marble platform, and after a brief period of relaxation in the steam room an attendant (who might be male or female) will give you a vigorous scrub to exfoliate your skin, together with a bubble wash. Make sure to allow time for a leisurely bath; after this experience, you’ll leave refreshed and renewed. Stop at the Grand Bazaar with its two distinctively different sections. The covered part, surrounded by a wall, can be entered through several gates where you’ll anything imaginable in its thousands of stalls. You’ll have the chance to explore its exotic atmosphere for a brief period of time before continuing to the open and modern section which offers the best and most reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll take part in a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A typical Turkish lunch will also be served during the tour; an essential experience on your visit to Istanbul. Note: This tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate and is only available on Norwegian Spirit sailings. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Your Turkish bath experience includes the traditional package: bath, rubbing & bubble bath. There are separate sections for men and women, therefore couples do not stay together. A wrap/cloth is provided for cover, but you can wear a bathing suit under. There is approximately 1/2 mile of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. Your Turkish lunch includes water, a soft drink, glass of beer, or wine and tea or coffee. Internal authentic side visit of Grand Bazaar is not included. less

On this exclusive tour, you’ll see some of the most beautiful sights of Norway. Drive past the Bryggen and the Hanseatic quarters before heading to the village of Voss. Here, you’ll board a train that will take you through beautiful agricultural areas before continuing the journey towards the mountain areas. At Myrdal station, you’ll change trains and board the Flåm Line that takes you down the mountain to the tiny village of Flåm. Flåm is situated by the Sognefjord – the King of the Fjords; the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. After a short break in Flåm, you’ll board your coach and drive to Gudvangen. The first part of the drive will be through the recently built tunnels and at the other side of the mountain lies the village of Gudvangen – the Bay of Gods. From here, the road takes you up the narrow Nærøydalen - translated as 'The Narrow Valley'. After maneuvering the many hairpin bends of the Stalheim Canyon, you’ll reach Stalheim Hotel where a fantastic view of the Nærøy Valley and a delicious lunch await. After lunch, the tour continues along Opheim Lake and further on to Tvinde Waterfalls, where a stop will be made. We drive through Voss village and via Dale back to Bergen. Note: This tour may operate in reverse order. less