Europe Cruises: Excursions

Your tour adventure takes place on a Rigid Inflatable Boat, so-called RIB. After being briefed on safety instructions, you’ll be suited up with a Personal Floatation Device before you head out of the harbour. Your boat will drive in the coastal waters around Ålesund. Go as far as Runde Birdrock or into the sheltered waters of the inside of Alesund, depending on the weather. Your guide will look out for interesting wildlife, birds or even eagles. You can also get closer to a rock where seals are basking. Finally, after approximately 90 minutes of adventure, you’ll return back to your ship. Note: Participants must be at least 12 years of age and be in good health. This tour is not recommended for guests who suffer from back problems. Participants must be able to swim. Wear flat or rubber sole shoes, expect to get wet. A waiver liability release form will be given to all guests. Lifejackets and goggles will be provided. This tour requires guests to walk approximately 300 meters from the pier to the RIB’s staging area. The route is the guide’s decision, depending on the weather and fitness of the participants. less

Set out for an interesting walking tour which starts alongside the main pier of the traditional fishing harbor. Admire the facade of the 17th century City Hall built by local architect Pierre Puget. Walk around the old quarter of the city of Toulon with its Cathedral Sainte Marie de la Seds, founded in the 5th century. See small shady Provencal squares with their moss-covered fountains. Admire elegant monuments from the eclectic 19th century including the high-flying opera building and the majestic Fountain of Liberty, a tribute to the French Revolution and built over the medieval walls. All the sites are within walking distance. Take some free time to stroll around the streets and the morning market. At the end of the tour, you might follow your guide back to your ship or stay in town and return on your own. Note: Tour participation is limited. There are approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking over relatively flat terrain and 10-20 steps to negotiate. less

Begin your tour with a view of the impressive military fort of San Felipe de Barajas, the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in their colonies. This is an exceptional accomplishment of Spanish military engineering where construction began in 1656 and lasted for 121 years. At the Rafael Nuñez House, a horse carriage ride will take you through the narrow streets of the walled city where you’ll find Colonial houses and squares such as La Merced, Santo Domingo, Custom Square, San Pedro Claver, and the beautiful Baroque door of the Inquisition Palace at Bolivar Square. Visit the dungeons within the walled city ramparts which were built to store provisions for the troops and are now home to a high quality handicrafts market. This market offers a variety of brightly decorated cloths, woodwork and woven bags made by some of the indigenous people of Colombia. Note: Bring comfortable attire, hat and sun block. less

If walking is not your thing, this is an ideal introduction at a leisurely pace into the heart and surrounds of Malaga. The whitewashed villages of Costa del Sol are impressive historical monuments in themselves, and their people still live according to age-old traditions, inherited from their Iberian, Roman and Moorish forefathers. Many of the villages near the coast have become fashionable resorts, while still maintaining their ancient charm, whereas others, lost in the highlands, remain rough and ready olive-farming towns. Sit back and let your guide bring to life both Malaga’s past and present on this panoramic tour of the city and surroundings. Driving past the subtropical gardens of the park to the bullring on the eastern side of the city, the coach will wind its way to the Castle of Gibralfaro, where a short photo stop will be made. You may opt to stretch your legs or remain on the coach. Enjoy the street life of Malaga while sipping on complimentary tea, coffee or a soft drink at the terrace of one of the local cafeterias near the cathedral before your panoramic drive to the pier. less

Take a panoramic tour of Cartagena. Begin with a photo stop of San Felipe de Barajas Fortress, originally built in the 17th century and considered the largest Spanish fort in the New World. Snap pictures of the ancient towering walls and main entrance. Then, drive by the Old City where your guide will point out historical facts about the Inquisition Palace, the Cathedral and its dome churches. Your next stop will be Las Bovedas, built in the late 18th century as dungeons and as a means of storage. Sightsee and shop in the many handcraft boutiques and stores. Continue your journey for a sightseeing tour of the modern residential area of Bocagrande, famous for its wide variety of hotels and restaurants. Here, you'll have the option to stay in the city, visit Pierino Gallo Mall, or return back to the ship on your own. Note: This is a panoramic tour with optional photo stops. Only collapsible/foldable wheelchairs are welcomed. Transportation does not have a lift and cannot accommodate scooters. Participants must be able to negotiate two to three steps up into the transportation. Please visit the Shore Excursion Desk for more details. You have the option to return to the ship either with the tour or on your own. less

Set course on a delightful two-hour coastal cruise to admire breathtaking landscapes, miles of unspoiled beaches and private secluded coves, while sipping unlimited rum, margaritas, tequila, beer and soda. Enjoy the view of impressive developments as you cruise along the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coastline. Cruise by the famed Los Arcos area, where a dramatic natural rock arches starkly out of the sea at the very tip of the longest, most desolate and beautiful peninsula in the world. Cruise by a sea lion colony and the idyllic Lover’s Beach - one of the few beaches in the world that share two seas - before heading back into the marina. Note: Available from September through mid-December and from April through May only. Sightings are frequent, but not guaranteed. less