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 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

Enjoy the charms of the streets, squares and hidden corners of Valencia. Sample its signature dish and the symbol of Spanish cuisine around the world ¬– Paella. There is nothing more relaxing than a boat trip on the Albufera Lake, a natural habitat of great ecological interest with a rich variety of wildlife. Explore the city of Valencia, with sights of the City of Arts and Sciences, a panoramic drive and a stroll through the old quarter to visit some of the most important historic buildings. Few cities like Valencia are able to blend so many architectural styles including Medieval, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Gothic along with ancient ruins and the most modern avant-garde buildings this well. See the New Valencia, where The City of Arts & Sciences is a leisure center designed for the diffusion of science and culture. Its unique buildings will impress you.

Walk to la Plaza de la Reina in the historical center and discover its more relevant monuments and buildings. Admire the Cathedral with the Miguelete Tower and its many different architectural styles and works of art - La Lonja declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO and the Central Market’s modernist building. Enjoy a traditional Paella lunch and a glass of wine while taking in the views of the beach as the locals do. Learn about another surprising area of Valencia, the Albufera Nature Park. It features the largest lake in Spain and one of the most important wetland areas in the Iberian Peninsula. The lake is home to rare species of wading birds and a variety of wildlife. Its waters have been worked by fishermen and rice growers supplying ingredients and inspiration for the region’s delicious cuisine.

Note: There is approximately 4 hours of walking over mostly even terrain, cobblestones, compacted dirt/sand and a few steps. As tour visits religious sites, please dress appropriately. No bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. less

In the shadow of the mighty Sierra Nevada lays Granada, a peculiar blend of Arab and European culture with a wealth of extraordinary monuments. Take in the views, as you travel north over the Malaga mountains and through the picturesque countryside. Visit the Alhambra, palace of the sultans and one of the finest examples of Moorish art in Spain. Six centuries of Moorish rule left an indelible mark on Spanish culture and architecture, especially in the south in Andalusia, where this palatial complex is one of the world’s great architectural wonders. The Alhambra has been damaged and restored over the centuries, but it’s not difficult to picture the place as it was, in all its glory 600 years ago. From floor to ceiling, every inch seems to be covered with some kind of pattern: geometric, floral or Arabic script. The ceilings drip with stucco stalactites and each room seems more richly decorated than the previous one, walls of wood filigree frame courtyards and fountains. Rose-colored walls stand in sharp contrast to the turquoise and black Pool of Myrtles and the garden is scented with jasmine and rose. Continue to the small summer palace along an avenue of stately cypress trees and venture into the Generalife Gardens, with trimmed flowerbeds and box hedges, myrtle bushes and above all, fountains. The view from the gardens is splendid. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the city making a photo stop at the Albaycin district. You’ll have free time to explore or to have lunch on your own. Note: This tour includes approximately 2 miles (3 km) of walking on flat and uneven terrain with some steps. The Alhambra is not wheelchair accessible. This tour is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties. less

In the morning your tour takes you outside of the city to the historical town of Pushkin. The drive will take you to the Egyptian Gates, the entrance to the Tsar’s Village in Pushkin. Catherine’s Palace in the Tsar’s Village ranks as one of the masterpieces of world art. Peter the Great presented the estate to his wife Catherine in 1710 and the architect Braunstein built a small palace here. From this time until the time of the last Russian Tsar, Pushkin was used as the summer residence of the Royal Family. In 1756, Bartelomeo Rastrelli expanded the palace in Baroque style. Its grandiose, white and gold facade stretches 978 feet. During World War II, the palace was damaged severely, but since then it has been restored and stands now in its original glory.

The palace tour takes you through the series of magnificent rooms, including the famous Picture Gallery, the Great Hall and the world-famous Amber Room. The parks of the estate add to the splendor of the palace, and several of them are embellished with a number of charming pavilions. The town of Pushkin is famous not only for its remarkable palace and parks, but the man it was named after – Alexander Pushkin, the most celebrated poet in the country and a resident of this town at the beginning of the 19th century. The lyceum, where he studied, is connected to the palace by an arch. After the tour you’ll continue to one of the dining venues for lunch after which, you’ll drive back to the city for a tour of the Hermitage Museum, the largest art museum in Russia and the most prestigious museum in the world. The Hermitage Museum occupies the Winter Palace, the winter residence of the Russian Tsars, and four more buildings.

* Price reflected on NCL.com is inclusive of the Pre-Book and Save offer.
Note: This tour is not recommended for persons with walking or climbing difficulties. There are long walking distances through the gardens of Pushkin. Catherine’s Palace is not wheelchair accessible due to the steep staircase and no elevators. There is extensive walking between different parts of the Hermitage. Expect congestion and waiting at attractions. The Russian government charges a nominal fee to use your camera and video inside various palaces and museums of St. Petersburg. Fees are payable to your guide and exact change is required. Flash photography is prohibited in the Hermitage. less

This one-day visit gives you a sampling of the city's treasures, including a visit to the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce, and an up-close look at the statue of David, magnificently carved by Michelangelo. As you approach Florence, you'll stop at the Piazza Michelangelo for an overview of the city's tiled roofs, steeples and domes. All the main attractions in Florence are centrally located and perfect for a walking tour. First, you'll visit the Galleria Dell'Accademia where you can see Michelangelo's famous Statue of David, and best of all, you’ll have a reserved time for entering so you won't have to stand in long lines! You'll visit Piazza del Duomo, the religious center of Florence in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Continue on to the Piazza della Signoria, the Basilica of Santa Croce and then walk to the Ponte Vecchio for a photo opportunity. After lunch, some free time for shopping is allowed before returning to Livorno. Note: Your guide will join you in Florence, however you’ll have an escort with you throughout the day. Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. The walking tour in Florence will cover approximately 2 miles. Most museums are closed on holidays. The Galleria Dell’Accademia is closed on Mondays; this tour will not be available for guests on the Norwegian Spirit May 11th, 2013 and September 20th, 2013 sailings. less