Pacific Coastal Cruises: Excursions

Take an approximately 45-minute boat tour along the very tip of the longest, most desolate and perhaps the most beautiful peninsula in the world. Explore pristine beaches, towering rock formations and the famed Los Arcos, a dramatic natural rock monument that arches starkly out of the sea. A complimentary beverage will be served on board while you listen to an enlightening narration by J.M. Cousteau about the underwater life, the colorful history of Baja California and its fragile ecology. You’ll soon see that Cabo San Lucas lays claim to miles of unspoiled beaches, little coves and impressive hotels. less

Enjoy a leisurely paced walking tour of Cabo San Lucas. Explore a part of Cabo that many never see, such as the famous Cabo Wabo and the incredible buys at the local flea market for starters. After a brief walk from the pier with your tour guide, your first stop is a very folkloric street where your warm up for shopping will take place. Then it’s off to the church of San Lucas - a small catholic church built in 1730 by Spanish missionaries. Across the street is the main park in town where you’ll enjoy a popsicle and walk to the town square to learn about the culturally rich background of Cabo. View real whale skeletons set up on display and visit the local Cabo San Lucas museum. Follow your guide down a scenic side street on your way to a popular Mexican restaurant to enjoy a complimentary, non-alcoholic beverage and after a brief stop there continue past the legendary Cabo Wabo Cantina owned by the 1980s rock star Sammy Hagar of the famed rock band Van Halen. Move on to the local market and try your bargaining skills, from hammocks to clothes, trinkets to leather goods, talavera pottery and much, much more…you’ll find all the souvenirs you need at the flea market. You’ll have free time to shop before heading back to the pier with your guide. less

Enjoy all that San Francisco has to offer including sightseeing, museums, shopping, and restaurants as this narrated tour allows you to hop-on or hop-off throughout the day at 20 of the city’s most popular sites. Half of the buses feature live commentary by an English speaking guide, the other half offer an audio tour in 10 different languages. Frequency of the buses is every 10 minutes in the summer and every 20 minutes in the winter.

Highlights include Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Little Italy, Embarcadero and Union Square. The Civic Center includes the architectural masterpieces of City Hall, Asian Art Museum, Central Library, Symphony Hall and the Opera House. Enjoy Alamo Square with its Victorian row houses and Haight-Ashbury, once the epicenter of the 1960’s hippy culture. Your stop at Golden Gate Park includes the California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, De Young Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Crossing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge return to the city center via Presidio Park, with stops at the Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street, Union Square North, Chinatown, and Steuart Street. The tour ends at the ship’s pier.

Take a scenic boat ride in front of some of the fabulous and amazing bays of Huatulco. Relax on the white-sand beach of Maguey Bay. Here, you'll enjoy some refreshments or visit one of the local restaurants for seafood dishes at an additional cost. You can choose to snorkel, swim or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is everything you need for a fabulous day with friends or family. Note. This tour is just a transfer to the beach. Beach chair is included. Snorkel gear and watersports activities are optional and available for rent. Wear your swimsuit, sunscreen and bring a t-shirt for snorkeling (optional). Bring cash for food and extra activities. less

Located in the west part of Costa Rica’s Central Valley is the scenic town of Sarchi. It is considered the home of Costa Rica’s best craftsmanship. Here, more than a century ago, primitive local artists began painting and decorating their traditional oxcarts in intricate and colorful designs. These powerful vehicles, hauled by teams of oxen, soon became the primary means of transportation throughout the nation. You’ll see how the hand-painted Costa Rican oxcart art has evolved into a brilliantly executed form of native artistic expression. You can also find an immense variety of local wood products, ranging from elaborated hand-made furniture to hand-carved doors. Leather goods and all kinds of souvenirs will be available for purchase. Lastly, make a brief stop at the little town of Grecia, famous for its historical metal church, Cathedral de la Mercedes. The church is painted in a deep dark red color and has a gothic style; its metal pieces were imported from Belgium in the 1890’s. Note: Wear light clothing, walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. less