Europe Cruises: Excursions

Depart the pier and take a short walk across to the train station to board your exclusively chartered standard train for an approximate 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey from Warnemunde to Berlin. While relaxing and watching the German countryside pass by, you’ll be served a light breakfast snack. Upon arrival at one of Berlin’s train stations, your local Berlin tour guide will welcome and assist you to board your coach. Depart on an exciting tour of Berlin, covering the top 10 highlights of this bustling city. Photo stops will be made at the East Side Gallery, a 3/4 mile long section of the Berlin wall, Checkpoint Charlie and at the Bebelplatz where below the ground level lies the Empty Library. You’ll pass by the Potsdamer Platz, formerly a no man's land between East and West where the first gap in the Berlin Wall was made in 1989, and which is today a pristine block of futuristic glass-and-steel skyscrapers. A few blocks away from here, at the Holocaust Memorial, you’ll have another opportunity for a photo stop before making your way over to the famous Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag government building. Enjoy a traditional German pub style lunch before continuing your tour. Next, there's an an outside visit to the Charlottenburg Palace, the oldest surviving Prussian palace, and then drive into the former western part of Berlin, along the Kurfuerstendamm, where you’ll pass by the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church and the largest department store on the continent of Europe, the KaDeWe. Continue passing Berlin’s main train station with more than 80 shops that are all open seven days a week. Also, see the Victory column commemorating the Prussian victories. Depending on the order of the tour and timing, you’ll have the opportunity to either spend some time at leisure at the Kurfuerstendamm, Friedrichstrasse or Berlin’s Main Train Station (or similar), before transferring to the station for your return journey back to Warnemunde. Note: The order of the sights may vary. less

Visit the site of the First Olympic Games and learn about its glorious history, marvel at the treasures housed at the Olympia Archaeological Museum, and experience the real taste of Greece when you sample olive oils and wines produced at Agriturismo Magna Grecia. Approximately 25 miles east of Katakolon is the site of Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. Even though the temples and monuments have disappeared and only the ruins are left, you cannot help but to envision the grandeur of the Temple of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The site was a sanctuary even before the stadium was built and the games took place. The Temple of Hera, the Prytaneion and the Philippeion were also monuments standing in the sacred grove. The famous Stadium, the largest of its day, is entered through a long, tunnel-like passage constructed in Roman times. Today, you can stand at the starting line and imagine the roar of the spectators seated in the marble benches as the athletes took their marks on the starting line. Your tour continues to the Olympia Archaeological Museum. Here you’ll find the Head of Hera and the superb statue of Hermes of Praxiteles, among many other magnificent pieces found in the area. Admire the sculpted ornaments from the Temple of Zeus and many other priceless pieces. Reboard your coach and drive through picturesque villages and unspoiled scenery to Magna Grecia Farm lying in the heart of a traditional agricultural region. You’ll be welcomed with local drinks and homemade snacks. Make sure you try the ouzo, a local liqueur that tastes like licorice. Visit the olive grove and learn the history of the olive tree and the tasty, peppery fruit produced here. You’ll see the vineyards and encounter farm animals as well. Immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of this estate and in the delicious flavors of Greek cuisine by sampling a variety of mezes (appetizer dishes) accompanied by local wine. Flirt with Greek culture as you watch a short demonstration of Syrtaki dance, and maybe try a few steps yourself. Opah! Note: There is approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking on even ground, dirt and gravel. less

Romantic charm and beautiful scenery will make your visit to Dubrovnik memorable. After a photo stop to take in the magnificent view of Dubrovnik from a vantage point by the road, drive through the picturesque villages of the fertile Konavle Valley to a restaurant located in an old mill next to the cascading waters of the Ljuta River. Here, your gracious host will offer you a light snack of local specialties such as smoked ham, cheese, homemade bread and a glass of local wine. Continue to the seaside resort of Cavtat. You’ll have free time to enjoy the quiet little town, a favorite destination for sailors and yacht enthusiasts. Then drive back to the charming Dubrovnik Old Town for an orientation tour with your guide, followed by free time to explore on your own. Note: This tour is not suitable for passengers who have difficulties walking due to the uneven cobblestone streets. There is approximately 1 1/4 miles of walking. Tour may be operated in reverse order. When tendering in to Dubrovnik Old Town tour duration will be shorter. less

Las Caletas was once the private home of the famous film director John Huston, who considered it one of the most beautiful places in the world. Today, Las Caletas is an exclusive tropical beach hideaway where you can enjoy an extraordinary day of sun, fun, and adventure. This lovely beach was named by Trip Advisor as one of the top 4 secluded beaches in the World for 2012. Only accessible by sea, this well-secluded nature preserve stands out against a steep, jungle-clad backdrop of tropical forest in an isolated cove on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. As you cruise towards this tropical paradise aboard a first-class catamaran, you'll enjoy the most fantastic coastal scenery that Puerto Vallarta has to offer. Once arriving at Las Caletas, you can choose between pure relaxation or gentle exploration in the unspoiled natural setting of this tropical beach hideaway. If relaxing is on your personal agenda, you can kick-back on the beach, relax in the shade on a comfortable hammock, or indulge in a therapeutic body massage or facial at the hilltop Spa (additional charge). As you relax and unwind, the gentle lapping of the surf on the private golden beach beckons you to take a closer look at the calm, clear waters of this isolated cove. Throughout the day, bilingual eco-guides offer snorkeling and kayaking tours giving everyone a chance to explore in a fun and relaxed way. On land, you can take a Paella cooking lesson, discover the prolific flora and bird life on a free guided nature walk through the jungle, orchid gardens and interactive parrot center. For the youngest explorers (4-11) there is the kid’s adventure camp with zip lines, a climbing wall, animal encounters and an exciting donkey ride. Note: Tour includes moderate walking on uneven surfaces and numerous steps. Please wear your swimsuit underneath comfortable clothing and bring sunscreen, a hat and a towel. less

Depart the pier and take a short walk across to the train station to board your exclusively chartered standard train for an approximate 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey from Warnemunde to Berlin. While relaxing and watching the German countryside pass by, you’ll be served a light breakfast snack. Upon arrival at one of Berlin’s train stations, your local Berlin tour guide will welcome and assist you to board your coach. Your panoramic tour of Berlin will include passing by Bebel Platz, where below the ground level lies the Empty Library; remnants of the Berlin Wall; the famous former border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie; the Brandenburg Gate, which more than any other monument symbolizes the German and European reunification; the Reichstag government building; Berlin’s Protestant cathedral with its Neo-Baroque interior and massive dome; Haeckesche Hoefe, a building complex built by Jewish idealists in 1906-07 with elegant ceramic facades, and which today symbolizes Berlin’s new center having miraculously survived two wars; and the New Synagogue, Berlin’s most prominent Jewish landmark. Stop at the Holocaust Memorial, the ‘Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe’, which is a central place for remembrance to the murdered victims and a place of warning. After lunch at a traditional German pub-style restaurant, start the second part of your tour heading for the infinitely more somber and one of the most chilling destinations, the former Nazi Concentration Camp at Sachsenhausen, a memorial just north of Berlin. About 6,000 Jews were forcibly brought here after Kristallnacht alone, and it was here that some of the first experiments in organized mass murder were made. The scale of the terror remembered here can be very disturbing, however, simply by visiting here you can help change the future; as Winston Churchill put it, "the further backward you can look, the further forward you are likely to see." Return to the Berlin train station for your journey to Warnemunde. Note: The museums, archive and library are closed on Mondays, but the open-air exhibition “Murder and Massmurder in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp”, “The Station Z” as well as the information center remain open. The order of the sights may vary. less