Transatlantic Cruises: Excursions

Start your morning with a visit to Pompeii. Here, a flourishing civilization, buried for 1,700 years under 20 feet of ash and pumice, was recovered so perfectly preserved that you can see how the 20,000 residents lived and loved, worked and played, ate and drank. En route, you’ll visit a cameo factory nearby to see how the famous jewelry is made and then have some time to browse the store. Visit the cliff-top town of Sorrento, a village with splendid views of the sea and the colorful marina below. Enjoy some free time to explore the flower-filled main street and the Corso Italia, lined with boutiques. Then it’s on to the hills above Sorrento, where a family-owned farm produces homemade products. Tour the farm and its old wine cantina, learn how they produce olive oil and homemade mozzarella, and during lunch get a chance to sample the local fare surrounded by a lemon and olive grove. Note: During summer months expect extreme heat, crowded venues and long lines. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. This tour includes extensive walking during the visit of Pompeii’s excavations and approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking. For all Norwegian Epic calls and Tuesday calls on Norwegian Spirit, lunch at the farmhouse will be after 2:30 pm. less

You'll begin this tour by visiting Ålesund’s attractive setting, built on three islands with the spectacular Sunnmøre Alps in the background. Pass by Borgundfjord, with charming suburbs and well-kept gardens. Head over to the municipality of Stordal, famous for its furniture factories, a very important export item in this region. Reach the fertile valley of Valldal, where strawberry cultivation is very common; ascend the valley to Trollstigen, reaching 850 meters above sea level. Start the descent down the Trolls' Path’ with its daring hairpin bends. Down in the valley, make a photo stop to take in the lovely waterfall called Stigfossen Waterfall cascading down the mountainside. Next, detour up to Trollveggen; here, you’ll find the Troll Wall with the highest perpendicular rock face in Europe. Alpinists from all parts of the world come visit this 1000 meter tall wall to try out the various routes to the top. Then, pass by Romsdalsfjord with its many small villages known for woodcarving and rose painting as well as ship- and boat- building. Before returning to your ship, cross over the Ørskog mountain plateau, a popular skiing area for the people in Ålesund. Note: Complimentary lunch will be provided. Tour may operate in reverse order. less

Visit Stockholm’s oldest and coziest quarters, the Old Town of Gamla Stan. Witness the historic elegance of the exterior of the dominating Royal Palace, and travel through the narrow, twisting alleys and cobblestone streets. You’ll also see Stortorget and the Great Square, the hub of the Old Town, dominated by the old Stock Exchange, today housing the Nobel Museum and the Swedish Academy. Rejoin your coach and continue through the city center and on to the Nordic Hotel in the heart of the city, where the world’s first permanent ice bar is located. The interior is kept at -5° Centigrade all year round. The whole interior, including glasses, is made of pure, clear ice from the Torne River in Northern Sweden. A complimentary drink in an ice glass will be served and the staff will tell you more about the bar and its construction. After tasty drinks you’ll drive to Djurgarden, a favorite getaway spot for Stockholm residents. In the Vasa Museum, you’ll see the Swedish warship ‘Vasa’, once considered the pride of Sweden’s navy. The present museum is built around the restored 17th century warship, which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628. Its salvage in 1961, with more than 12,000 objects on board, is one of the most important events in marine archaeology. Note: You’ll spend approximately 25 minutes in the ice bar. Depending on the licensing laws, non-alcoholic drinks will be served if the bar is unable to offer vodka. Tour sequence may vary in order to avoid congestion at the venues. There are cobblestone streets in the Old Town. You’ll have some free time for lunch on your own in the Old Town or City Centre. less

Enjoy a very scenic and relaxing excursion, experiencing Italy's most famous coastline by motor launch, with minimal walking involved, and time within the beautiful village of Sorrento. After an approximate one-hour drive by coach, you will arrive to the town of Salerno, located at the very end of the Amalfi Coast. There you'll board a private motor launch and enjoy a 45-minute cruise, viewing the Dolomitic cliffs, which at many points, tower perpendicularly out of the sea and have been sculpted by nature into fantastic shapes. Amalfi is situated at the mouth of a deep gorge along the coast. Learn how this was a major shipping port during the Middle Ages and it was also an independent maritime state. Enjoy a narrated walk around the town center of Amalfi, with your guide, who will explain the history and architecture of the Cathedral of St. Andrew as you marvel at the exterior architecture, a mix of Moorish and early Gothic design. Its main treasures are the 11th-century bronze doors from Constantinople. Enjoy some free time on your own in Amalfi, for maybe shopping or relaxation, before cruising back to Salerno where your coach will be waiting to drive you to Sorrento. With its luxuriant vegetation and sun-drenched climate, Sorrento became a favorite resort of wealthy Romans. Experience this cliff-top setting, with an imposing Duomo, distinctive for its 13th-century cloister, and a charming, flower-filled town, all there for you to explore. Enjoy lunch with wine in a local restaurant in Sorrento before returning back to your ship. Note: Tour is not available for winter sailings. Guests must be able to walk approximately 500 yards over even surfaces with 5 - 10 steps. There are several steps to access the lunch venue. Comfortable walking shoes, hat, and sunscreen are highly recommended. Walking during the free time is at the guests' discretion. The drive between Naples and Salerno is approximately 45 minutes and from Sorrento to Naples is approximately 1 1/2 hours. Guests wishing to enter the Cathedral of St. Andrew on their own must ascend approximately 60 or more very steep steps. The order of the tour may be reversed. The motor launch has both inside and outside seating. In case of bad weather conditions and/or rough seas, the cruise to Amalfi will be cancelled and an orientation drive of the Amalfi Coast will be made instead. Due to traffic restrictions of the Sorrento center a short walk from the motorcoach drop off point to the main center and vice versa will be required. During summer months expect extreme heat, crowded venues and long lines. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. less

After a scenic drive, you’ll arrive in Pompeii where you’ll visit the Roman resort buried by volcanic ash. Your tour will take you to the city’s baths, villas and theaters. See the well-preserved frescoes and mosaic-inlaid floors. Plaster casts mark the positions of the fallen who were swiftly overcome by the ashes. After lunch, if time permits, you’ll visit a cameo factory to see how the jewelry is made. Continue along the mountain road, which takes you to one of the picturesque villages of this famous area to explore its quaint streets. Continue along the coast, and take in stunning views at every turn of the winding road. When the Amalfi road closes to traffic (during holidays), this part of the tour is done by motor boat. The views from the water are simply spectacular. In case of inclement weather and rough seas, the cruise to Amalfi will be substituted by a visit to Sorrento. Note: During summer months expect extreme heat, crowded venues and long lines. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. less

Take a journey into the Sierra Madre Mountains of Chiapas and discover the world’s finest coffees at Argovia Plantation and Estate. Founded in 1880, it is one the oldest coffee producers in the region and modern day ecological example to its contemporaries. Travel by air-conditioned van for approximately 90 minutes through the lush forests and breathtaking scenery of the Sierra Madre to the Argovia Plantation and Estate. Explore the beautiful buildings and spectacular landscapes that make up this one-of-a-kind plantation. Visit the coffee production plant and explore the grounds. Your professional guides will provide in-depth information about the history of the area, the people of Chiapas and the intense work put into creating the perfect cup of coffee. Argovia has diversified its output and also specializes in growing over 125 different ornamental flowers. Here, you’ll tour the flower plantation as well and see these extraordinary specimens of nature’s gifts. Then, relax on the estate and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of freshly prepared Mexican dishes like mole, tortilla soup, tamales, fried bananas, fruit salad, guacamole and regional deserts. Finish it all off with the freshest cup of coffee you’ve ever had. Note: Guests should wear a hat and comfortable shoes. Bring eco-friendly sunscreen and bug repellent. Most areas are not wheelchair accessible. less