Europe Cruises: Excursions

Visit two monumental cities rich in history and walk their elegant streets. In San Cristobal de la Laguna you’ll find buildings of enormous historical value thanks to the fact that it was the first capital of the Canary Islands, where the first military, ecclesiastical and civil institutions were located. Many homes and other magnificent structures were built with the wealth obtained by the island's growing trade with the New World. Your guide will accompany you on a walking tour through the old town, explaining the most interesting facts about it. In 1999, the city was titled World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continuing to the north, arrive to the village of La Orotava surrounded by the banana plantations of the valley which bear the same name. Mount Teide provides the stunning background for this town that distinguishes itself by its magnificent and monumental architectonic structures and its characteristic well-shaded Canarian patios, squares and ancestral houses. The old historic center – declared monument of artistic national interest – invites you for a walking tour. The Concepcion Parish church is also a national monument. La Casa de los Balcones "The House of the Balconies" is a jewel of the island's traditional architecture. Note: Tour involves approximately 3.5 to 4 miles of walking; steep cobblestone streets at La Orotava. less

Enjoy the fun and adventure of Corfu’s countryside while traveling over stony trails through the olive groves. You’ll catch glimpses of the sparkling Ionian Sea and beautiful green hills and take a look at the traditional way of life led by many of the local people. After picking up your 4 x 4 vehicle at the pier, your guide will lead you up the main coastal road to the northeast of the island. You’ll then take small country roads to quaint villages, stopping at one of the prettiest traditional and oldest villages of the island to take in the views. Then take an uphill narrow winding road (with 27 zigzag turns) to the Sokraki where you’ll stop once more to admire one of the most fantastic panoramic views. Following a dusty road, you’ll arrive at Troumbetta. You’ll also pass through other picturesque sites and stop at Bella Vista to take in some more spectacular views and enjoy some refreshments and Greek snacks. You’ll find it difficult to decide which village is the prettiest as all will leave you with incredible pictures and memories. At the end of the tour you’ll visit a traditional Koum Kouat distillery. The Koum Kouat citrus fruit, a variety which only grows in Corfu, is made into one of the island's most famous products - a liqueur with the same name, plus fruit-preserved sweets. You’ll be able to view a small exhibition of antique distillery equipment, sample the produce and of course purchase local liquors. Note: Vehicles are all manual transmission and self-driven. Driver must be experienced with manual transmission and be able to start the vehicle on an incline or off road situation. There is no narration while driving; your leader/guide will give explanations at the different stops. A local guide will lead the caravan. If you would like a personal driver for the vehicle, please visit the Shore Excursion Desk onboard to make arrangements at an additional cost. Four persons can be accommodated per vehicle, but we recommend two passengers per vehicle as the back seats are not comfortable for some adults. Drivers must be at least 21 years old and must provide a valid driver’s license. Even though this tour has limited participation, a minimum number of participants is required to operate. Not recommended for guests with neck, back or hip problems as well as physical limitations. Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months; we recommend that you drink a lot of water, use suitable sun protection and dress in layers. less

'Beautiful Izmir' is the third largest city and the second largest port of Turkey. Built in the 3rd century B.C., it shared with Troy the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia. You’ll see the Konak Mosque, Ataturk Monument, Passport Pier, Alsancak Train Station, Kemeralti shopping area, Izmir Fair and more. You’ll visit Agora, the ancient market place and the Archaeological Museum which has a good collection of antiquities, of which the statues of Poseidon and Demeter are fine examples. You’ll make a stop for a shopping opportunity at a carpet and handicraft center and refreshments before returning to your ship. Note: The market and Agora are explored on foot; this tour includes walking on cobblestone streets in the market and approximately 0.6 miles at Agora. During summer months, expect crowded venues and long lines as well as temperatures that can reach extreme highs. We recommend that you drink a lot of water, use suitable sun protection and dress in layers. Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. less

This evening you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a special performance of a well-known ballet (Giselle or Swan Lake), in one of the city’s theater venues. Dance is a huge part of the Russian’s nature. Dancing comes as natural to Russians, as singing comes natural to Italians. St. Petersburg has long been regarded as one of the world’s most famous ballet centers. For two centuries Russia has maintained its superiority in ballet, an art that was brought from Europe at the beginning of the 18th century. There was a period of adapting to this strange manner of dancing, which was initially shared with only a small segment of the population. After a long time of creating Russian ballet schools and theaters, with the help of Italian and French choreographers, coaches, artists, composers, dancers and ballerinas, the triumph of the Russian ballet was born at the beginning of the 20th century. After the show, your coach will be waiting to return you to your ship. *Price reflected on NCL.com is inclusive of the Pre-Book and Save offer. Note: Theater is not wheelchair accessible; there are stairs and no elevator. Photo and video recording is not allowed during the performance. Seating assignments are selected at random and are not based upon your time of booking. less

Discover the highlights of this fascinating city in the company of a small group. In this exclusive tour, you’ll experience the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Turkish food… all musts when you visit Istanbul. 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 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 center of Byzantine Constantinople’s political and sporting life. Walk and visit Hagia Sophia, now the St. Sophia Museum, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, considered as the most important Byzantine monument in the world. Also visit Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex, once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, hugging the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. You’ll admire many of the treasures housed here. Another stop is the Grand Bazaar. The covered part 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 such as carpets, jewelry, leather, silver, souvenirs, antiques and textiles are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You’ll have the 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 of the Grand Bazaar with many modern stores and reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll have a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets with time to shop. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A lunch of typical Turkish specialties is yours to enjoy during the tour. Note: This tour is not available for Norwegian Spirit's August 3, 2013 sailing. Tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate. 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 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. There is approximately 2 miles 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. 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 9, 2013 through August 7, 2013 including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8, 2013 to August 10, 2013. less

Drive through the center of Oslo passing the Akerskus Fortress, new Opera House, Parliament Building, the main street ‘Karl Johan’, Royal Palace, and the Nobel Institute, en route to Vigeland Sculpture Park. This Park was created and completed by one man, Gustav Vigeland. Centrally placed in the park is a 55 foot high monolith featuring 121 stone figures of men, women, and children in their struggle for life. There are more than 150 sculptures, all symbolizing the different stages in the life of mankind. Your guide will explain the different sculptures and monuments.

Continue to the Bygdoy Peninsula for a visit to the Open Air Folk Museum. Among the 150 wooden buildings constituting the museum, is one of Norway’s unique Stave churches, dating back to around the year 1200. Your last stop will be a visit to the Kon Tiki Museum which contains the balsa wood raft used by Thor Heyerdahl on his crossing of the Pacific Ocean in 1947. The museum also contains the reed boat RA II and exhibits brought back from his incredible voyages.

Note: Order of sights may vary.