Pacific Coastal Cruises: Excursions

Board your Zodiac, skippered by an experienced eco-guide. After a brief safety lecture and orientation, take an exhilarating ride to Land’s End, past Lover’s Beach, the sea lion colony and the famous arch. Your first snorkel site will be at Chileno Cove, approximately 20 minutes along the coast. After re-boarding your Zodiac, you’ll head over to Santa Maria Cove for your second snorkeling. The transparent waters at both coves team with colorful fish, including Moorish idols, puffers and Cortez angelfish. You’ll spend approximately 45 minutes at each site. After your snorkel experience, your Zodiac transports you back to the tender pier. Enjoy the incredible view heading back into the harbor with a view of your ship, Land's End and the coastline of Cabo. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and weigh no more than 250 lbs. The snorkeling sites may be altered due to weather and water conditions. This tour is not for pregnant women or guests with knee, neck, back or heart problems, as the ride can be rough. A signed waiver is required. Snorkeling is from the boat and guests must climb small aluminum ladder to get back into boat. Wear your swim suit and bring a towel. Sunglasses and sun protection are suggested. All snorkel equipment, safety vest, instruction, supervision and bottled water/soft drinks are included. Wetsuits are not included. less

Cruise by Cabo’s famed Lovers Beach, past the sea lion colony and the towering rock formations of Land’s End, then set sail for Chileno Bay, cruising along Cabo’s Gold Coast. The bay features a large reef, which is home to many species of fish. Snorkel among the tropical fish in the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. The adventurous can swim from the boat to the beach in search of treasures buried in the sand. On the return voyage, an assortment of finger foods and drinks will be served. Relax as the sails are hoisted and enjoy the beauty of Los Cabos. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and weigh no more than 240 lbs. Not for guests with heart conditions, respiratory problems or pregnant women. Instructions are available upon request and equipment is provided. A signed waiver is required. less

For the snorkeling enthusiast, this tour combines two of the best areas in the emerald waters of Huatulco. From the pier area it is a 10-minute sail to La Entrega Beach, while a site briefing is given. There you’ll enjoy 45 minutes of snorkeling in the calm, translucent waters of the area and be amazed at the variety of marine life seen on the coral reef. Next is a 20-minute trip to Cacaluta Bay, which some locals call King's Beach because it was the favorite of King Juan Carlos I of Spain on his 1993 visit to Huatulco. Along the way, you’ll pass by the spectacular blowhole and Organo and Maguey Bays. Snorkel another 45 minutes from the boat in the passage between the island and beach, an outstanding pristine place with white coral and rocks. Note: Participants must be at least 16 years of age and in good physical condition. Wear your swimsuit and bring a towel and sunscreen. You’ll be required to sign a waiver release form in order to participate. Some light current might be present. Participants should be able to get in and out of the boat by ladder. Depending on weather, water clarity and sea conditions, the above itinerary may vary and/or the stop at Cacaluta could be changed to an alternate site. All dives will be from the boat with no beach snorkeling. There are no showers on the boat. less

Learn to handle a kayak from an expert then put your new skills to use with an unforgettable seaborne adventure. Glide through the waters native-style, get up-close looks at wildlife and enjoy ever changing views of the Mendenhall Glacier. Start with a narrated tour through a historic part of Juneau on your way to North Douglas Island. Don protective raingear, boots and lifejackets, and learn the paddling techniques you’ll need to handle your kayak. Then join a friend or new traveling companion in your two-person craft and you’re off to explore! Against a backdrop of forested slopes, nearby peaks and the spectacular Mendenhall, you’re on course for an informative and memorable tour of Fritz Cove. In small groups of six kayaks, you’re able to stealthily approach wildlife. Bald eagles and their nests, herons, shorebirds and waterfowl are all common sights. Porpoises and even humpback whales occasionally surface for air. If you’re lucky, you might see a humpback’s enormous tail fluke. You’ll also visit the Mendenhall Wetlands, a protected habitat teeming with more than 140 species of birds, nearly a dozen different mammals and an abundance of marine life. Along the way, your guide will satisfy your curiosity about local flora and fauna, and explain the history behind landmarks such as Smuggler’s Cove. Note: Participants must weigh between 40 and 260 lbs. and be in good physical condition. Paddling duration is approximately 1 1/2 hours. For more details about these tours please visit http://www.bestofalaskatours.com/NCL/
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Estimated at over 5 million years old, the Green Grotto Caves is the first historic cave worldwide to receive the Green Globe 21 certification, a global affiliation working with travel and tourism companies and communities to develop and maintain good environmental practices. The caves are characterized by coastal limestone and feature a series of interconnected passageways and chambers, light holes, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as two lakes. Their most striking features are rock formations and the small 'grotto' lake at the innermost cavern. Take a 3/4-mile guided stroll through a maze of exquisite dripstone formations and learn about the sensitive eco-system found within and around the caves. See limestone formations that have been christened after the individuals they resemble, including Abraham Lincoln, Freddie Krueger and the cartoon character, Scooby Doo among others. Your guide will demonstrate the cave’s musical stones and be sure to toss a coin in the wishing well before your departure. A refreshing beverage is provided at the end of the tour. On the return drive to Ocho Rios, you’ll visit Dunn’s River Falls. Climb the spectacular 600-foot waterfall at Dunn’s River Falls and then shop for souvenirs in the center of town before returning to your ship. Note: Participants must be at least 4 years of age and be at least 3 feet tall to climb the falls. This is a walking tour and visitors will be guided through areas that are paved, with uneven surfaces, gravel and rocks. Visitors need to be sure footed and must be able to bend to negotiate small access ways. Slippery when wet caution signs are posted through the caves as a reminder to visitors. There are 62 steps throughout the tour. All visitors are fitted with a sanitary helmet liner and hard helmet and offered a spray of mosquito repellent prior to the start of the tour. The Dunn’s River Falls are the highlight of Jamaica and tend to be very congested. All guests participating in a tour that visits the falls should wear foot protection that can get wet. River socks are available for rent at the falls. The rocks at the falls are slippery. Climbing the falls is optional and at your own risk. Participants who do not wish to climb the falls may enjoy the small beach at the base. The walk to the beach is on a slope with many stairs, therefore participants should be in reasonably good health. less

Explore Baja California's desert aboard a rugged Jeep® Wrangler. Your destination is La Candelaria, a small oasis village in the middle of the desert. Once your vehicle is assigned, you’ll set out across the desert caravan-style, following your local guide. Along the drive you’ll be shown some of the local flora and fauna that is found all over the Baja. There are several working ranches along the way, where you’ll see herds of cows and goats roaming the roads. Keep your camera ready as there are many photo opportunities. Driving will be shared among the four guests in the Jeep®. At La Candelaria, you’ll be served a delicious snack and a soft drink or bottled water at the local boarding school, which is home to approximately 75 students during the school week. You’ll also visit a local artist specializing in pottery. As the works are in high demand, there are not always samples available for viewing. Back in the convoy, continue your exploration down one of Baja's largest river washes until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. At the beach, you’ll have some free time to comb the beach for shells or just relax and watch the waves crashing on the shore. Your return trip to the pier will be along Baja's famed Highway 1. Note: Participants must be at least 5 years of age to snorkel. Drivers must be at least 25 and present a valid driver's license. All vehicles have manual transmission and a maximum capacity of four passengers per vehicle. Due to the nature of this tour, pregnant women or guests with any known medical condition or history of illness, including heart condition, knee pain or injury, spinal and or neck pain or injury or any recent injuries should not participate. Guests must be able to walk approximately 750 yards over uneven dirt surfaces to do the walking portion of this tour. Guests with mobility problems can rest at the boarding school while the rest of the group participates on the walking portion of the tour. less