Board your motor coach and brace yourself as you set out on a South Shore Adventure of Nova Scotia! Visit Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay and discover their colourful houses, museums, art galleries, souvenir shops, cafe’s and restaurants. This tour will demonstrate the beautiful diversity of the South Shore and allows you free time to plot your journey at each location, whether you want to savor the local foods and atmosphere in one of the cafe’s/restaurants, buy souvenirs, or just mosey along viewing the impressive sites and taking pictures, the choice is yours!

At Peggy's Cove, discover why this picturesque seaside village with its stately lighthouse has been an inspiration to artists and writers for generations. It is here that the power and majesty of the Atlantic Ocean truly comes to life along the granite shores of the Cove - worn and shaped through the crashing surf.

Continuing on, you will arrive at another extraordinarily scenic area, Old Town Lunenburg. Established in 1753, it is North America’s best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement. The original layout and appearance has been retained so faithfully that UNESCO designated Lunenburg a World Heritage site. During free time, you can explore the brightly colored Old Town, which is easy to navigate because the streets follow a rectangular grid pattern designed in Britain. You can expect to see 18th-century wooden buildings and perhaps a replica of the Bluenose, Canada’s legendary racing ship that was launched here in 1921. Finally, we will visit Mahone Bay, considered to be one of the most attractive towns in Canada. This small and friendly community is renowned for the view across the Bay of three prominent churches. Take time to explore the many varied and local offerings along lovely Main Street before relaxing on the return drive to the Port of Halifax.

Sail across Pillsbury Sound to the enchanting island of St. John on a catamaran and then snorkel in the turquoise waters just offshore. All that is required of you is to sit back and relax as the catamaran glides along the eastern end of St. Thomas and continues to St. John, the most pristine of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In time, you will arrive at Honeymoon Beach within the Virgin Islands National Park. You will be free to snorkel, stroll along the sugar-white beach and relax as you see fit. You might stretch out on a beach towel, linger in the shade of a coconut palm and swim in the sea with nothing on your mind other than enjoying yourself. On the return cruise to St. Thomas, the champagne will be flowing and an array of cheeses, freshly baked breads and fresh tropical fruits will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sail on a sleek catamaran to neighboring St. John, half of which is a national park.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters off Honeymoon Beach on the island’s western edge.
• Bask in the sun, relax on the beach and delight in the natural beauty.
• Celebrate the adventure with a tropical beverage from the open bar on the return cruise.

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Beach Escape Beach Club in nearby Mahahual. After a brief orientation to help you maximize the experience, you will be free to enjoy the club’s amenities, which are considerable and all offered for your enjoyment. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the sea and gather around the thatched-roof poolside bar, which will be open for unlimited drinks the entire time. One end of the Beach Escape is typically busier and more party-oriented, while the other end by the pier is quieter, allowing you to easily find an ideal spot to make the most of your free time. If you wish to explore offshore, kayaks are available. The beach club is located right on the boardwalk at Fisherman’s Village, a great place for people-watching and dining on your own as there are plenty of restaurants.

Discover the many faces of Salvador da Bahia during your morning excursion. Get a glimpse of the city’s intriguing cultural mix of African and European heritage. During the tour you will get to see the historic part as well as the modern section, even the Bahian subway, a contrast between the new and the old.

From the ship, a short drive will take you to the Farol da Barra for a brief stop. Then proceed directly to Municipal Square, where you can see the Lacerda's Elevator that links the upper and lower city and also take a overview of Baía de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay). From there, we start our walking tour through the Historical Center, arriving at "Terreiro de Jesus Square", to visit two of Salvador's most important churches.

Facing Terreiro de Jesus Square is the Baroque Cathedral. It was formerly the chapel of the largest Jesuit seminary outside Rome. The plain exterior masks one of the most beautiful churches in the city. The stunning interior includes a paneled ceiling of carved and glided wood which gives the church a light airy feel, contrasting sharply to the overwrought Rococo altar and side chapels.

At the end of the recently renovated square stands the Church of São Francisco. The opulent interior features cedar woodcarvings, covered in gold leaf that took 28 years to complete. Also note the beautiful white and blue tiled walls and the spectacular painted ceiling.

The Pelourinho District is one of the oldest areas in town; you will stroll throughout its narrow cobbled streets lined with old buildings which now house art galleries, jewelry and souvenir shops. The “Largo do Pelourinho” is a colonial square and pillory, where slaves and prisoners were punished in full view of the approving gentry.

Back to coach, we will pass by the Dique do Tororó, where we can see the the "Orixás Sculptures", by the bahian artist Tati Moreno, to reach the Barra district where is located the "Farol da Barra" (Lighthouse) at the fortress of San Antonio, built to protect the Portugueses colonists from Dutch invaders; we will stop only for historical information, no disembark.

Driving by coastline passing by the most beautiful beaches of Salvador to reach the Restaurant Rincão Gaúcho. Stop for lunch.

Following lunch, your drive will take you via the modern part of the city and stop will be made at the Mercado Modelo to disembark those who are interested in browsing through stalls displaying an extensive selection of traditional Bahian handicrafts.

The return to the pier will be on foot as you please.

Snorkel the azure waters adjacent to the of Belize's Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living barrier reef. This is a shallow water entry, well suited for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. Depart from the Harvest Caye Marina on one of our comfortable snorkel vessels for the short scenic ride to a beautiful site along the reef. This location is teeming with multitudes of colorful reef fish, co-habiting among the beautiful hard and soft coral formations, intermingled with sponges, sea fans, and delicate sea anemones.

Possible sightings of spotted eagle rays and schools of larger fish are quite common, large starfish, queen conchs, and sea cucumbers also call this patch of the reef home. After snorkeling, re-board your boat and enjoy the return trip while listening to Caribbean rhythmic vibes. After returning to the pier, as you step off the boat, you can pick up your complimentary rum punch.

Come experience the world famous, magnificent ruins of the walled city of Tulum, the only Mayan city built right on the blue Caribbean Sea! After a 45-minute ferry to Playa del Carmen, your guide will lead you to an air-conditioned motor coach for a scenic and informative one-hour drive to Tulum.

Once there, your guide will escort you through the ruins giving a complete narration along the way. See the restored temples and some of the mysterious hieroglyphic writings still visible today. Visit the temple of the frescos, famous for the detailed carved figures and original paints. And perched on the edge of the Caribbean and rising high above all of the other ruins is “El Castillo” with its breathtaking view of the aqua-colored water below.

This wonderful full-day excursion gives a true insight into the different spectrums of Mauritian scenery to be found.

Leaving the pier, you will travel from the center of Curepipe along a tarred road that leads gently up to and round the rim of Trou-aux-cerfs, an extinct volcanic crater, whose floor is now heavily wooded. Making a photo-stop here, you will be treated to a magnificent view over the entire island and its towering mountain ranges.

Your drive continues from here to Grand-Bassin (Ganga Talao), a sacred lake and pilgrimage place for the Hindu where you will have a guided visit. In this idyllic location there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities and many Hindu pilgrims make the walk in bare feet from their homes to the lake. Hindu legend is that the lake is filled with the waters of the holy Ganges of India, making this a very significant place for all Hindus.

From here, you will next make your way through the forest reserve of Plaine-Champagne, with a stop at a viewpoint that looks out over the spectacular Black River Gorges. Further down the winding road, you will reach a local restaurant with a breathtaking view over the coastline for lunch.

Traveling along through thick Chinese Guava groves, your route next takes you to discover the magnificent Chamarel waterfall which emerges from the moors on the way down to view the unique seven-colored earths of Chamarel. These unusual mounds of undulating land that stretch in contrasting rainbow colored layers of earth are believed to be the result of weathering and volcanic origin.

Your journey back takes you down a winding road that unveils the West coast - the Morne Mountain where you will have a final photo stop, and Benitiers Island. Before reaching the pier in Port Luis, your route will pass the fishing villages and the famous salt pans of Black River.

Gain a greater understanding of Northern Ireland and its culture by following a foodie guide through Belfast, pausing every so often to sample classic dishes and delicacies.

After departing from the pier, you will soon reach the heart of Belfast, where you will commence a walking tour, accompanied by a local food enthusiast. The exact locations to be visited will be determined the day of the excursion, but they will definitely be establishments that best represent the cuisine of Northern Ireland. These will be the markets, restaurants and cafés that the locals frequent, rather than those typically found in guide books.

You may well start at St. George’s Market, the oldest covered market on the entire island of Ireland. While browsing the stalls and soaking up the atmosphere, you will sample delicacies that are distinctly Irish. You may be offered a chunk of fried eel or a bite of Belfast bap, a hearty sandwich typically loaded with Irish bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese.

Continuing on to other foodie locales, you might try a few spoonfuls of colcannon, a mixture of mashed potatoes, cabbage, cream and butter. Of course, potatoes appear in all sorts of classic dishes such as Irish stew, Ulster fry and boxty, a tasty potato pancake.

Other Irish staples that you may sample include fluffy soda bread and wheaten farls. The latter is a griddle cake that is served in quarters known as farls.

Hop on our classic-like trolley bus for an enjoyable and fun way to visit the highlights of downtown Cozumel and have some spare time for strolling and shopping by the main square.

After meeting your guide at the pier, you will board your trolley and enjoy the sightseeing as well as the entertaining narrative about Cozumel's fascinating history. Visit key points of the city such as the Church of the Cross. It was built in 2018 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first mass celebrated on the island – and in Mexico.

Stretch the legs and explore the shops by the main square. Find goods from all over; from cheerful crafts to sophisticated brand clothing, jewelry, and perfumes.

Don't miss the opportunity to take some selfies by the colorful Cozumel add or the gigantic Mexican flag before it is time to go back to the ship after a memorable outing.

Experience Barcelona’s diverse architectural heritage. You’ll become well acquainted with Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona’s celebrity architect – his unmistakable style with its organic shapes, twisted iron sculptures and colored tiles is hard to miss. Begun in 1883, it remains unfinished to this day. Enjoy an inside visit at his towering masterpiece, la Sagrada Family (The Holy Family). Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, with a mosaic façade and undulating roof. You´ll wander through the “Poble Espanyol”, an open-air architectural museum, which was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. It consists of 117 full-scale buildings, which are replicas of the most characteristic buildings from all over Spain. It also contains restaurants, artisan workshops and shops offering quality souvenirs. There will be free time in the Old Quarter to explore, shop or have lunch on your own while strolling its narrow streets and handsome squares, lined with medieval buildings contemporary shops, bohemian artist workshops and cool bars and restaurants.

Enjoy a fun cruise along St. Lucia’s coastline to experience the magnificent Pitons. As your catamaran sails out of Castries harbor, you’ll cruise along the west coast, passing the picturesque peninsulas of Vigie and La Toc. Sit out on deck to enjoy the sun and beautiful views – there’s also a cockpit onboard for those that may prefer shade. Take in the lush vegetation of the coastline and the small villages of Anse la Raye and Canaries. Continue to Soufriere Bay where you’ll see the Petit and Gros Pitons rising majestically 2,600 feet out of the sea. Enjoy great photo opportunities, capturing this wonder of nature as the catamaran circles the bay.

Continue your cruise along the coast to the scenic bay of Anse Cochon where an assortment of dry snacks will be served along with refreshing beverages before taking a relaxing swim in the lovely waters of the Caribbean Sea. Cruise to the idyllic Marigot Bay, one of the island’s most beautiful bays, famous for many battles between the English and the French. Enjoy Caribbean music as you cruise back to the pier.

Become immersed in Helsinki’s ground-breaking, eco-friendly architecture as a prelude to hiking through a national park. While driving through the lively capital, you will pass a collection of notable landmarks such as the Parliament House, National Museum and Finlandia Hall, a masterpiece that acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto designed. Still, few buildings are as striking as the Helsinki Central Library. Known as the Oodi, which means “ode,” in Finnish, the library offers much more than books. For instance, there are meeting spaces, music studios, restaurants and 3-D printers, all available to the general public. As you tour the Oodi, the guide will point its unusual aspects and describe the building’s energy efficiencies. You will understand why Finns are so passionate about preserving their natural resources when you see Nuuksio National Park. A wonderland of green forests, serene lakes and rugged crags, it makes an ideal setting for your hike and snack around the campfire.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See Helsinki’s architectural landmarks on a panoramic drive around the capital .
• Tour the extraordinary Oodi library while the guide describes its energy efficiencies.
• Share the reverence that Finns have for nature on a leisurely hike through a national park .

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.