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.

Hop in your jeep and drive through the rugged terrain of Mykonos to the old lighthouse. Continue your drive to the Fragma and to Agios Ioannis where you can see the island of Delos from a distance. Following the road to Kalo Livadi, you’ll admire the great view of rugged rocks to the left and right. Arriving at Kalafatis Beach, you’ll be given free time to swim in the crystalline waters of the Aegean; umbrellas, sun beds and water sport facilities are available on the beach at your own expense. As you explore the hidden corners of Mykonos Island you’ll pass by Monastiri before arriving at Ano Mera Village. Here you’ll enjoy some snacks and refreshments at the peaceful square of the village before taking the road back to your ship. Note: The vehicles are 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. If you would like a personal driver for the vehicle, please visit the Shore Excursion Desk on board to make arrangements for an additional cost. Drivers must be at least 21 years old and must provide a valid driver’s license. Four persons can be accommodated per vehicle, but we recommend two persons per vehicle, as the back seats are not comfortable for some adults. 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. If you plan to swim at the beach, please remember to wear your swimsuit, and bring a towel and sun protection. No changing facilities or showers are available. Swimming will only be possible from June through September. 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. In case weather is not permitting, the beach stop will be replaced with free time in Mykonos town at the end of the tour. This tour is only available from June through August. less

The coastline east of Malaga is not as well known to tourists as the other side, but towns such as La Cala, Rincon de la Victoria and Torre del Mar, are popular for Spaniards. Along this subtropical coast grow sugar cane, avocado and custard trees. Some 35 miles from Malaga is Nerja, which counts many retired Britons among its residents. The historic center, which begins in the Balcony of Europe, dates from around 1487. Its 9th century castle is today a perfect view point above the sea. To the side of the balcony, you’ll find the 17th century Savior Church, constructed in Baroque-Mudejar style and the 16th century Our Lady of Sorrows Hermitage with its paintings by the master Alonso Cano. In the old quarter of town, typical small shops offer local handicrafts and local products such as sweet wine, olive oil, honey and tropical fruits. After a walk through the city, you’ll continue to the famous Caves of Nerja. Millions of years old, these breathtaking beautiful caves, should not be missed. Your surroundings get more fascinating as you descend deeper into the bowels of the earth. In its interior you’ll gaze in awe the largest stalagmites columns in the world, 161 feet high and 59 feet in diameter. Their capricious rocky formations can be compared to Modernist cathedrals, and their eight rooms include the Room of the Cataclysm, as well as the Room of the Cascade. Every year in August the Festivals of Music and Dance take place here. Note: This tour includes approximately 1 1/4-mile (2,000 meters) of walking and there are approximately 400 easy steps to be negotiated; they are perfectly safe, but not suitable for guests with walking difficulties. 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

Huatulco is known for its picturesque bays and sun-drenched Oaxacan coastline. Embark in a comfortable motorized catamaran-style vessel for a relaxing cruise from the harbor to Tangolunda Bay. View the area's natural beauty and surrounding resorts before passing by unusual rock formations at Organo Bay. Here, a stop will be made for swimming, relaxing time and some refreshments. Your cruise will continue to the tranquil Maguey and Chahue Bay's; then, proceed to Santa Cruz Bay, with its beautiful beaches and see the impressive blowhole located nearby. Your guide will provide informative commentary throughout your bay cruise. Note: Participants must be in good health. Swimming is recommended for guests of 250 Lbs. or less. Wear comfortable walking shoes and light cotton clothing. Bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and a camera. To swim, we recommend to wear swimsuit under clothing and to bring a towel from your ship. less

Driving from the port to the center of the island, arrive to Monumento al Campesino; situated one next to the other, the house museum and peasant monument were built to immortalize the hard work of Lanzarote’s peasant community whose efforts materialized in La Geria, a unique production of agricultural goods from a dry and arid land. The peasant monument known as the Monument to Fertility was designed by Cesar Manrique with water tanks from old fishing boats elevated onto a rock platform. The strength of this work is found in the mixing of local and traditional architectural elements such as bright white color and round lines with the modern use of recycled materials assembled as a “meccano”. The sculpture placed in the geographic center of Lanzarote has the effect of a lookout and, from its approximately 50 feet (15 meters) of height of superposed boat tankers, becomes a water metaphor; the water element has become a symbol of the peasant’s hard life. The house museum contains an extraordinary collection of utensils and instruments used by the peasant community throughout history to work, transport and store products, or simply to live. After a short drive through the dramatic wine landscape of La Geria, you’ll arrive at Bodegas La Geria for a tour of the wine cellar and a taste of the local wine. La Geria wine cellar is one of the most important in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands. It is located in the heart of Lanzarote’s main wine producing area. Built at the end of the 19th century by the Rijo family, it experienced crucial technological improvements after the takeover in 1993 by its current owners, allowing the production of high quality wines. Next, you’ll visit El Grifo Wine Museum, housed in ancient bodegas dating back to 1775 and built on top of the solidified lava from a volcanic eruption. A true example of local architecture, the cellar is marked by the simplicity of its construction materials: extraordinary thick walls made of volcanic stones and plaster combined with ceilings supported by long wooden beams, mainly coming from derelict ships. The exemplary ethnographic collection dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries gives the visitor an opportunity to observe the evolution of wine making equipment. Cesar Manrique´s monument to the mythological griffin placed on the road indicates access to the museum. During the visit at El Grifo, you’ll taste three different local wines with the assistance of a professional sommelier. Note: You must be at least 18 years of age in order to participate in the wine tasting. less