Panama Canal Cruises: Excursions

Begin your tour with a 40-minute scenic boat ride through historic Nassau Harbor to Blue Lagoon Island. Upon arrival you’ll be given a fun and interactive orientation covering the natural history of sea lions, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and wildlife guidelines. This educational and entertaining encounter is your chance to experience sea lions live and close-up like never before. You’ll have the opportunity to kiss, hug, feed and play with these affectionate and humorous marine mammals. Your sea lion interaction will take place from specially designed, waist-deep submerged platforms in a calm, private island lagoon with ten or less guests in your program. While at the facility, you’ll also have the opportunity to speak with one of the many animal care staff about the care of marine mammals. It will be a unique adventure you’ll never forget! Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age and 48 inches or taller. Guests ages 8 to 12 must be accompanied by a responsible paying adult with a ticket for this encounter. Not advised for pregnant women. Guests must be able to go up and down steps to access the platform. This tour is not able to accommodate handicapped guests. No cameras or videos will be allowed on the sea lion encounter platform. A professional on-site photo and video staff will capture your sea lion interaction and have your memorable souvenirs at an additional cost. An approximately 10 to 15-minute walk is required to board transportation for all Nassau tours. less

Relax during your short drive to the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls where you’ll climb 600 feet of cool refreshing water as it cascades over natural limestone terraces. Guides are provided to assist you when ascending the rushing waters as they plunge directly into the pristine Caribbean Sea. After this invigorating experience you’re transported to Dolphin Cove where you are met by friendly hostesses and given a complimentary fruit drink. This unique cove surrounded by lush tropical jungle is home to our beautiful family of bottlenose dolphins, exotic birds, snakes and iguanas. There you can enjoy watching the dolphins at play in their natural habitat, the Caribbean Sea. Visit Little Port Royal, a replica of Jamaica's most famous pirate 'haunt' and witness pirates roaming through town. Browse through the largest gift shops of any attraction in Jamaica, stocked with the widest range of dolphin souvenirs, and visit our jewelry store and craft market for locally hand crafted items. Listen to the rhythms of the Caribbean music and sample the world-famous Blue Mountain Coffee and liquors at our very own 'Starbucaneers'. Have your hair braided and watch our local fashion show. Learn about our Jamaican culture and enjoy the amenities. At the conclusion of your tour you’ll have the option of being dropped-off at a local shopping plaza for shopping time at your leisure and then make your own way back to your ship. Note: Shuttle buses are available at 10-minute intervals to return you to your ship. You will not interact with dolphins on this 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 and enjoy the underwater world of the Sea of Cortez without getting wet! Travel through the sea inside a semi-submersible - a unique 60-foot long, 33 passenger watercraft featuring seats that sit below the water level with glass panels for viewing the rich marine life of Cabo San Lucas. Loaded with great photo opportunities, this is a great family oriented tour. You’ll start with your guide giving you a historic and informational briefing about Baja and your tour. Just minutes after departure from the pier, step down into the semi-sub and encounter the underwater wonders said to be part of one of the most fertile bodies of water in the world which host over 800 species of fish from small tropicals to whale sharks. This air-conditioned vessel is built according to U.S. Coast Guard’s requirements and regulations to ensure passenger safety, comfort and security. Totally surrounded by glass paneled windows, each seat has a fabulous view and comes equipped with a fish identification card to help you identify all the unknown creatures awaiting you. Your guide will provide you an educational as well as entertaining trip into a world normally seen through the eyes of fish. The vessel never leaves the surface as you motor along sitting safe and sound eight feet below. Just on the other side of your glass window you’ll come face to face with the underwater creatures around Pelican Rock - the #1 dive spot in Cabo. Your turnaround point is Land’s End, the last tip of rock, the last bit of land in Baja California. This is where the waters of the Sea of Cortez meet those of the Pacific Ocean. Go up to the surface for great photos of the arch and the sea lion colony. The sub will take you back to the pier with your memories and camera filled with the underwater wonders of Cabo! Note: Children under the age of 4 are free of charge but must remain seated on parents lap. This tour is not recommended for those passengers with claustrophobia or those prone to seasickness. The semi-sub is equipped with a restroom as well as outdoor seating for those needing fresh air en route. Guests must be able to negotiate several steps down into the vessel. less

Hold on for a safe but exhilarating river-running experience! Begin with a scenic tour up the Mendenhall Valley. On the shores of Mendenhall Lake, receive protective raingear and life jackets and board your raft. Each holds up to twelve, and is rowed by an experienced guide. Or, if you’re looking for a hands-on experience, join a paddle-raft team. Glide across the iceberg studded lake, marveling at the 150-foot-high, 1.5-mile-wide glacier face and set course downstream. The six-mile route combines meandering stretches with Class II and III whitewater. The rapids are perfectly safe, just exciting enough for beginners and appropriate for all ages. A treat for experienced rafters, too! Encounter river features such as Moon Flats and Pin Ball Alley. Where the river levels out, soak in the views of the riverbank, lush forests and 7,000-foot mountains above the valley floor. Learn about the natural history of the river. Be on the lookout for bald eagles, black bears, otters, seals and salmon during spawning season. At the haul-out, celebrate with an Alaskan-style snack. You can purchase a cup of “Martha’s Mendenhall Madness” to toast your adventure or an action photo of yourself as a lasting memento of a trip you’ll never forget. Note: Participants must weigh at least 40 lbs. Float duration is approximately two hours. Outerwear is provided at the site. During the float trip, there is a short portion which goes through Class Two rapids. Please note this is not a white water experience. Each raft carries eight to twelve people and is rowed by an experienced guide. This tour operates under a special use permit issued by the U.S. Forest Service. For more details about these tours please visit: http://www.bestofalaskatours.com/NCL/
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Juneau is a spectacular place of diverse, natural habitats from valley glaciers, to temperate forests and natural fjords. This exploratory journey introduces you to this pristine wilderness in an intimate setting with a Certified Naturalist Guide as your leader. Whale sightings are guaranteed on this small group outing combining a marine exploration with a gentle hike at the Mendenhall Glacier on a rain forest trail. Your trip begins with your guide sharing stories and perspectives as you travel out to the Mendenhall Glacier. A short hike takes you along a wooded path once completely covered by the massive glacier. Spend an hour exploring amid forested moraines and sweeping glacial landscapes—even track the glacier's recession over the past 100 years. This small corner of the Tongass National Forest is home to beavers, eagles, salmon, porcupines and black bears. Following a short drive, you’ll climb aboard an exploration vessel specifically designed for up-close wildlife viewing. The customized covered watercraft puts you eye-to-eye with the denizens that thrive in these protected waters. Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, porpoises, seals and sea birds are commonly seen. Keep a camera handy as you travel from place to place or drift quietly to capture the behaviors and antics of these notable marine residents. The small group size of this tour ensures a personal and interactive atmosphere making the most of this authentic Alaska experience. Note: Participants must be able to walk on their own for over an hour covering a distance up to a mile. Infants must be carried in an infant backpack. We recommend you dress in layers and wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Walking distance is approximately 1.5 miles on an improved level trail. This tour operates in all weather conditions. Liability waiver required to be signed in the presence of the tour operator. Whale sightings are guaranteed or you’ll receive $100 cash back as you disembark the whale-watching vessel. All tour participants on this excursion are eligible to enter to win cash prizes in the tour operator's Capture Juneau Photo Contest. For more details please visit: http://ncl.stepintoalaska.com/ less

Board your transportation for a scenic drive to Coral World Ocean Park, one of the top attractions in St. Thomas. Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to the Undersea Observatory Tower for an educational briefing about sea lions. Then join the sea lions at their enclosure for the opportunity to get up close and personal with these intelligent yet comical creatures both on land and in the water. Touch, pet and play games with the sea lions as they demonstrate their amazing agility. Practice some of the hand signals used by the trainers. At the end of the encounter, your playful hosts give a hug, a big wet kiss and pose for photos. There will be time to tour the Coral World exhibits including sharks, turtles and stingrays. On the return, you may choose to return to the ship or be dropped off downtown to browse and shop. You are then responsible for your return to the ship. Note: Participants must be at least 8 years of age, weigh a minimum of 50 lbs. and be able to climb up a ladder and swim in a life jacket. Women who are pregnant may not participate. Wearing a life jacket is required. No observers are allowed in the sea lion swim area. Each child under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult. Guests are required to wear a life jacket and sign a release form. Due to the amount of interaction with sea lion trainers, participants must speak and understand English. Guest must know how to tread water and be comfortable in the water. less