Europe Cruises: Excursions

This tour gives you a guided introduction to the highlights of Florence and more free time for shopping and exploring this magnificent city at your leisure. Before entering Florence, you’ll stop at a leather factory where you’ll see artisans at work as well as have the opportunity to do some shopping. Your walking tour starts at the Piazza del Duomo, home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Continue on to the Piazza della Signoria and see the outside of Dante’s home. In the square, view a copy of Michelangelo’s David (not the original) and the Loggia dei Lanzi, along with other sculptures. Next, visit Santa Croce Square, where your guide will explain, from the outside, the details of what is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Italy. You’ll have approximately 3 1/2 hours to explore, shop and enjoy lunch on your own. The pick-up point and time will be provided by the tour escort. Note: There will be only one departure from Florence. Please return to the meeting point at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Guests who are planning to visit religious sites during free time or on tour, please dress appropriately; no bare shoulders or shorts are allowed. Your guide will join you in Florence, however you will have an escort with you throughout the day. The level of exertion during free time is completely up to you. less

Spend the day exploring the many treasures the village of Orvieto unveils at every turn. During your scenic drive to Orvieto in Umbria, you’ll pass by several small villages scattered over the hills boasting Medieval castles and churches. Upon arrival in Orvieto, you’ll take the cable car to reach the center. Orvieto goes back to the 9th century B.C. and the Etruscan civilization. Perched on a plateau atop huge cliffs, this town boasts of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. Its construction started in 1263 under the pontificate of Urbano IV who wanted to consecrate the so-called ‘miracle of the blood’. But your attention is immediately drawn by the wonderful Gothic facade of this cathedral. Inside, some chapels are structured with cross vaults, some of which are embellished by very important frescos painted by Fra Giovanni and by Luca Signorelli. In the transept you can admire a Pity from the 16th century. After the cathedral’s visit, your guide will lead you on a walking tour through the narrow streets of this beautiful city and point out other things of interest that you could do during your leisure time. You’ll then have about 2 1/2 hours of free time to further explore Orvieto. During your free time, you might want to visit the Underground Passages, the Museum of Archeology, or St. Patrick's well, built in the early 16th Century by Pope Clement VII, an architectural marvel. If exploring is not your thing, you might opt to relax in the Piazza del Duomo over lunch, an ice cream or a glass of the famous local wine with some cheese and salami. What about doing some shopping? Orvieto is famous for its ceramics, glass, leather and olive wood work, in addition to the many local goods produced in the area, such as olive oil or the famous wine, Orvieto Classico. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll surely have a wonderful day. Note: You’ll need to navigate through cobblestone streets, uneven and inclined terrain on this tour with approximately 1 1/2 to 2 miles of walking and approximately 15 to 20 steps to negotiate at the Duomo. AVAILABLE FOR ALL NORWEGIAN SPIRIT SAILINGS AND ON BARCELONA TO BARCELONA NORWEGIAN EPIC SAILINGS ONLY. 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

A fabled resort for pleasure seekers even in ancient Rome, Capri has earned a legendary reputation as the 'island of love.' A speedy ride across the Bay of Naples takes you to the Marina Grande Harbour on Capri. Here, a minibus will take you to Anacapri where you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenic views. Visit Villa San Michele, and then have some free time before you continue to the town of Capri for lunch. Following lunch, enjoy a stroll to the piazzetta, along old cobblestone streets and to the Augustus Gardens. From here, you’ll enjoy stunning panoramic views and have time to look around on your own before taking the minibus down for the return ride to Naples. Note: The tour will not operate for Norwegian Jade winter sailings. During summer months expect extreme heat and overcrowded venues. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. less

This exclusive tour gives you the opportunity to travel in a small group to see the magnificent city of Istanbul. Start your day with a visit to Topkapi Palace. The palace was built with a series of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers, sleeping quarters and courtyards - nothing that resembled a typical European palace. The treasury section houses an invaluable collection of objects made of or richly decorated with gold, silver, precious stones, pearls and diamonds. Strictly closed to outsiders, it became the subject of many stories over the centuries. It is up to the imagination of the visitor to recreate the colorful and lively old days in the now empty rooms. Visit Hagia Sophia, a true artistic and architectural treasure; the intricate mosaics that cover its walls and ceilings are of immeasurable historic value. The St Sophia Museum dates back to the 6th century and is the only Byzantine structure that still stands in excellent state of preservation.

You’ll stop at the Grand Bazaar, for an opportunity to experience its unique and lively atmosphere. The bazaar is not just a tourist attraction, locals shop here every day too. Thousands of stalls fill its lanes with everyday household items as well as souvenirs, antiques, jewelry and much more; the colors and aromas are a true delight for the eyes and senses. You’ll also visit the open section of the Grand Bazaar, offering a different modern view. Here you’ll find the best stores offering reliable shopping and you can get anything from ceramics, leather, jewelry, handmade carpets and much more. You’ll attend a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets with additional time to shop while enjoying complimentary refreshments.

Note: This tour is conducted in small groups, requires a minimum number of participants to operate and is only available on Norwegian Spirit sailings. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia is not included. 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. There are approximately 2 1/2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps. 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 from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013. less

Explore Istanbul with this tour, designed for wheelchair confined guests and their companion with a specially designed van. Your tour will begin with a drive to the Asian Side of Istanbul, through the coastal road of Dolmabahce viewing the gate of this famous palace and cross to the Asian Side, via Bosphorus Bridge. After a short orientation tour on the Asian side, you will have a short stop where you will have the best photo opportunity of town. Tour will continue to St. Sophia Museum, originating in 326 under Constantine the Great, became Hagia Sophia and was rebuilt on a larger scale during the reign of Emperor Justinian. His intention was that the new building should surpass in splendor all others in antiquity. St. Sophia Museum was formerly known as the Church of Hagia Sophia (Divine Wisdom). In 1934 Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, had Hagia Sophia converted into a museum. Today, the museum is the most important Byzantine Monument in Istanbul, famous for its immense dome and beautiful frescoes and mosaics. The Grand Bazaar is one of the most colorful sites of Istanbul; this Bazaar is composed of two sections namely the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is a whole quarter on its own, surrounded by a wall and entered through eleven gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver; varieties of souvenirs, textile, antiques, and home textile are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You will have the chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for. You will also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and reliable shopping to your disposal. At this point you will have another period of time for shopping and a presentation about unique Turkish carpets and Turkish arts & products. Note: Walking during the free time is at the guests' discretion. The covered portion of the Grand Bazaar is not open on Sundays. The Asian side panoramic trip is subject to the heavy traffic conditions on weekdays and might be replaced with the panoramic drive by the Old City walls. The Gallery section of the Museum of St. Sophia is not included in the program. This tour is designed for full time wheelchair confined guests and their companion only. The vehicle used on this excursion is adapted with an access ramp (or lift where available) to accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs. Guests interested in this tour must present themselves to the Shore Excursions Desk on board the vessel to review availability and departure times. Guests wishing to utilize a wheelchair on this excursion must provide the Shore Excursions desk with the total dimensions (height, length and width) and weight of the electric scooter or wheelchair at the time of booking. Use of a motorized scooter is not guaranteed on this excursion. Please note that this information is subject to change and availability is not guaranteed. less