Europe Cruises: Excursions

Enjoy some swashbuckling fun, snorkeling, beach time and water sport. Join your friendly Captain and 'his pirates' aboard the pirate ship 'Marigalante' for a relaxing, fun day of adventure. Following a delicious Mexican buffet-style breakfast and entertainment onboard, you’ll stop at Majahuitas beach. Here, you can take a banana boat ride, kayak, snorkel, ride boogie boards, play volleyball or just relax and soak up the sun. Kids will enjoy the treasure hunt along with the buried pirate treasure chest. Board the pirate vessel for a delicious lunch and a fabulous pirate show with exhibitions of swordsmanship and acrobatics, all in a festive atmosphere. Watch the pirates walk the plank and jump into the ocean in front of your eyes! There are also contests and prizes to win. Relax as you enjoy the scenic coastal views along the way back to the pier. less

After a short sightseeing tour of Messina’s Piazza Duomo, you’ll continue to Savoca, a village where scenic beauty and historical-artistic heritage make it one of the most attractive, although less-known places in the area. At the entrance to the village you’ll make a short stop at ‘Bar Vitelli’, which houses a collection of local artisans’ tools and photographs taken when Francis Ford Coppola shot some scenes for the movie 'The Godfather'. You’ll visit the Cappuccini Church and see 37 mummified bodies of friars and noble people who lived there in the 18th and 19th centuries. Then start a slow walk along the village’s main street which climbs up the hill, featuring several churches dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Along your walk you’ll also see ruins of a Norman castle and magnificent views. Continue to Forza d’Agro, a charming little village overlooking the Arab-Norman Castle of Capo Sant'Alessio, and the coastline towards Messina. In 1990, Al Pacino and Sophia Coppola came here when they filmed some scenes for the movie '[The Godfather III'. From the main square, you’ll walk up a lane that leads to the Gothic-Catalan portal in front of the Church of San Agostino and you’ll also see the Baroque Mother Church before driving back to the pier. Note: Tour contains approximately 1 mile of walking including uphill roads and steps to negotiate. less

Enjoy a panoramic drive along the picturesque Slovenian hilly coast. Just a glimpse away from the sea, the landscape changes and captures the eye with its preserved natural beauty. Enjoy the scenery over the town of Izola and its coastline. Your guide will introduce you to the history of the region. In Piran you’ll have time to stop for a photo of the appealing Venetian architecture. Enjoy a scenic drive to Portoroz a lovely seaside resort.

Visit a traditional Istrian village where you’ll meet the locals and experience their traditions and heritage that is so well preserved today. During free time you’ll have a chance to taste traditional food that follow family recipes and sample wine produced right from their own vineyards. This traditional farmer’s market offers panoramic views over vineyards, orchards and hills. Enjoy this Slovenian peaceful village, its heritage, flavors and countryside before returning back to your ship.

Note: We recommend that you dress in layers, wear comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and drink a lot of water. Guests must be able to walk over various surfaces and steps. Tour order may vary. Participants for the wine tasting portion of this tour must be at least 18 years of age. less

Enjoy a very scenic and relaxing excursion, experiencing Italy's most famous coastline by motor launch, with minimal walking involved, and time within the beautiful village of Sorrento. After an approximate one-hour drive by coach, you will arrive to the town of Salerno, located at the very end of the Amalfi Coast. There you'll board a private motor launch and enjoy a 45-minute cruise, viewing the Dolomitic cliffs, which at many points, tower perpendicularly out of the sea and have been sculpted by nature into fantastic shapes. Amalfi is situated at the mouth of a deep gorge along the coast. Learn how this was a major shipping port during the Middle Ages and it was also an independent maritime state. Enjoy a narrated walk around the town center of Amalfi, with your guide, who will explain the history and architecture of the Cathedral of St. Andrew as you marvel at the exterior architecture, a mix of Moorish and early Gothic design. Its main treasures are the 11th-century bronze doors from Constantinople. Enjoy some free time on your own in Amalfi, for maybe shopping or relaxation, before cruising back to Salerno where your coach will be waiting to drive you to Sorrento. With its luxuriant vegetation and sun-drenched climate, Sorrento became a favorite resort of wealthy Romans. Experience this cliff-top setting, with an imposing Duomo, distinctive for its 13th-century cloister, and a charming, flower-filled town, all there for you to explore. Enjoy lunch with wine in a local restaurant in Sorrento before returning back to your ship. Note: Tour is not available for winter sailings. Guests must be able to walk approximately 500 yards over even surfaces with 5 - 10 steps. There are several steps to access the lunch venue. Comfortable walking shoes, hat, and sunscreen are highly recommended. Walking during the free time is at the guests' discretion. The drive between Naples and Salerno is approximately 45 minutes and from Sorrento to Naples is approximately 1 1/2 hours. Guests wishing to enter the Cathedral of St. Andrew on their own must ascend approximately 60 or more very steep steps. The order of the tour may be reversed. The motor launch has both inside and outside seating. In case of bad weather conditions and/or rough seas, the cruise to Amalfi will be cancelled and an orientation drive of the Amalfi Coast will be made instead. Due to traffic restrictions of the Sorrento center a short walk from the motorcoach drop off point to the main center and vice versa will be required. During summer months expect extreme heat, crowded venues and long lines. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. less

Enjoy a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs of Glyfada, Kavouri, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, and Lagonissi. Arrive at Cape Sounion where you’ll visit the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, standing some 200 feet above the sea at the edge of a cliff. It is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 (of the original 34) columns of the Doric Order that are still standing belong to the temple built here during the Golden Age of Perikles' Athens, over the relics of an older one. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same who built the Theseion in Athens. Following your visit, refreshments will be served at one of the most luxurious resort hotels in Vouliagmeni. Note: There is approximately 1/4 mile of walking on sloping and uneven ground on this tour. less