Europe Cruises: Excursions

This touring option allows you complete freedom to maximize your time and explore the places that interest you most. 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 order 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 the religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed in churches. The level of exertion on this tour is completely up to you. Prices are per vehicle and not per person, so only one person in the party needs to book this tour. less

Begin your visit to this beautiful city on two continents with a drive through the coastal road of Dolmabahce. View the magnificent gate of famous Dolmabahce Palace as you cross to the Asian side of Istanbul via the Bosphorus Bridge. After a short orientation drive on the Asian side, a short stop gives you a great photo opportunity. Continue to the Old City in the European side where you’ll find the Hippodrome, a reminder of what was the center of Byzantium’s political scene. Take in the breathtaking views of the Blue Mosque with its unique exterior defined by its six minarets, domes and semi-domes. You’ll admire its interior, covered with beautifully hand painted blue tiles which give the mosque its most popular name. Hundreds of windows let the natural light come through, creating a luminous effect. 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 find 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. Note: The Asian-side orientation drive is subject to traffic conditions and in case of extreme congestion or road closures can be replaced with a scenic drive by the Old City walls. 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. less

This experience allows for an intimate glimpse inside one of the most important aspects that defines Costa Rica as the strongest nation in all of Central America. Coffee cultivation has been the primary source of income for many Costa Rican families since the turn of the 19th century. You’ll visit a 670-acre cooperative farm owned by more than 2,300 farmers of who 60% are women. Each member contributes almost 10 acres of land to the coop. The coffee that they cultivate and produce is sold directly to one of the largest coffee companies in the world, Starbucks. This coffee is also purchased by Rainforest Alliance, an organization that focuses on the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development. You’ll experience first-hand the coffee roasting process and have the chance to sample the flavorful brewing. Also see how the coffee beans, also known as cherries, are picked, sorted, peeled, fermented and sun-dried. Learn many interesting facts that will change your appreciation for this highly consumed beverage. Feel free to browse the selection of hand-made souvenirs before heading to the town of Sarchi. A photo-stop will be made at the largest oxcart monument ever built and stop at the factory that made it; see the ancient water wheel that propels most of the machinery they use to cut and saw the wood. Note: Minimum amount of walking over even surface and some steps. For wheelchair restricted customers, advance notice is required. Motorized scooters cannot be handled, only foldable wheelchairs. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and bring a camera and a light jacket. less

Explore some of the treasures that the one-day visitor to Istanbul usually misses, and do this in the company of a small group. Visit Suleymaniye Mosque, an important historical symbol for the Turks. It represents the best of the arts with the most powerful of political strength. The mosque is a huge complex built above the Golden Horn during the peak of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of its construction, it boasted the highest dome when measured from sea level, even though from its base it is smaller than Hagia Sophia’s. After years of careful restorations, the mosque was re-opened to visitors in 2010, although some restoration work is still going on in the courtyards. The acoustics are among some of the most distinctive features of the structure that was built not only as a place of worship, but also as a charitable organization. Its interior decorations are of simple design and subtle elegance, giving it a feeling of light and openness. Suleyman the Magnificent rests in the complex’s garden. Next stop is the Chora Museum, located just by the ancient city walls. Built between 1077 and 1081 by Maria Dukaina, the mother-in-law of Emperor Alexius Comnenus, it has had many restorations and refurbishments during its long history. The church was converted into a Mosque in the 1500s by the Ottomans. The mosaics and frescoes that adorn its ceilings and walls date from the early 14th century and depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, serving as beautiful examples of the Byzantine Renaissance. Before returning to the pier, you’ll stop at Pierre Loti, a popular café overlooking the Golden Horn, for a tea break. The café is known for its beautiful views and was named after a French writer and sailor who used to spend time there, contemplating the city he loved so much and inspired his first book Aziyade. A stop will be made at the spice market, where you'll see and smell the exotic products of mystical Istanbul. Note: Not available on Norwegian Spirit sailings of April 17th, September 20th or October 2nd 2013 sailings and on day one of the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. This tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate. Please 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 places of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Suleymaniye Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines 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 including the Festival Period of Ramadan. less

Designed for maximum adventure, this excursion takes place in a pristine, unspoiled forest where scenic beauty and rich ecological habitats create a true tropical paradise. The scenery and incredibly varied flora and fauna you’ll encounter while hiking through the sub-tropical forest makes this the adventure experience of a lifetime. Your adventure begins with a speed boat ride across the bay to a secluded beach, then an off-road adventure to the heart of the tropical forest. From the base camp at 2,000 feet, take a short mule ride to the peeks of the tropical hills where you’ll start a series of fantastic zip-lines that take you soaring 250 feet above the ground over the jungle foliage. The adventure continues as you splash through streams, rappel through waterfalls into natural river pools and negotiate the jungle bridges that bring you back to the base camp for a deserved rest, some snacks, and a chance to see photos of your wild adventure. Note: Participants must be at least 10 years of age and weigh no more than 250 lbs. Not for guests with physical disabilities. This tour is physically demanding so you must have strength in your arms to climb a ladder and the ability to walk up steps or hills for 15 minutes. Wear hiking/tennis shoes and shorts, bring mosquito repellent and a change of clothes as you’ll get wet on the tour. Cameras can not be taken on the tour for safety reasons but a professional photographer will accompany the group. Light snacks and bottled water included. There will be some time for pictures and souvenirs. less