SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Experience the magic of Hawaii during an oceanside luau in Ko Olina, where island hospitality, cultural traditions and live entertainment come together for a memorable evening. Travel by motorcoach from the Honolulu pier to Ocean's Edge, a beautiful coastal setting where the sunset may provide a striking backdrop. After check-in, enjoy a signature welcome drink and take part in interactive cultural activities before savoring an island-inspired feast featuring authentic Hawaiian flavors. A pre-show hula performance sets the stage for the main production. Enjoy vibrant music, graceful hula, thrilling fire-knife performances and stories celebrating Hawaii's heritage. Developed with guidance from the Hawaiian Council, the entertainment thoughtfully honors and preserves the traditions of the islands. Following the show, reboard your motorcoach for the return to the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor an island-inspired feast featuring authentic Hawaiian flavors.
• Experience vibrant music, hula, fire-knife performances and Polynesian storytelling.
• Participate in interactive cultural activities and hula dancing.
• Enjoy warm island hospitality in an oceanside setting in Ko Olina.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Discover Vancouver at your own pace aboard a convenient hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus. With multiple stops across the city—including Stanley Park, Gastown, Granville Island, and Robson Street. This flexible sightseeing experience lets you explore top attractions, shop, and capture iconic views throughout the day. Commentary in multiple languages enhances your journey as you travel between Vancouver’s vibrant neighborhoods. At the end of your day, Hop-Off at the closest stop to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal and re-board your ship. This flexible tour offers ample opportunity to sightsee, shop and photograph Vancouver’s best spots.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Frequent departures every 20–30 minutes from Canada Place from 9AM – 5PM.
• Recorded onboard commentary in multiple languages including English, Spanish and German
• Access to iconic destinations such as Stanley Park, Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street and Granville Island
• Enhanced experience with onboard Wi-Fi and downloadable self-guided walking tours

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Comfortable walking shoes

OVERVIEW

Hop aboard the vintage White Pass & Yukon Route Railway for an immensely picturesque train ride high into the mountains, following a path blasted out of the rocks in 1898, during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. As soon as the narrow-gauge train begins its ascent, you will understand why the beloved WP&YR is known as “The Scenic Railway of the World.” The train will climb almost 3,000 feet in just 20 miles and present one breathtaking view after another, from thundering Bridal Veil Falls to the rugged peaks at Inspiration Point. You will also pass over the soaring bridge that spans precipitous Dead Horse Gulch, named for pack animals loaded with prospecting gear that fell to the bottom of the gorge. It will be an exhilarating ride on a railway so ingeniously constructed that it is recognized as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a narrow-gauge train on a route used during the Klondike Gold Rush.
• Climb high into the mountains and behold Alaska’s majestic scenery.
• Admire the ingenious engineering behind the railway’s construction.
• Receive a collectible magazine that details the railway’s history.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Join this scenic tour of Vancouver and discover the famous Granville Island Public Market for free time at your leisure. Departing the cruise pier, you’ll head into the heart of downtown, a bustling urban environment surrounded by water and mountains. This tour will pass by the popular Gastown District, home to the antique-style Gastown Steam Clock that whistles to tell the time. You will also pass by Vancouver’s vibrant and historic Chinatown, the second largest in North America, before arriving at Stanley Park. Stanley Park is where the locals come to relax and play and considered one of Canada’s most beautiful national historic sites and home to old growth trees plus a spectacular display of First Nation Totem Poles. You’ll have some free time to discover Stanley Park and take photos of the North Shore Mountain Range rising just outside of the city. Next stop is Granville Island Public Market where you will have free time to find tantalizing food vendors, colorful fruit and vegetable stands plus handcrafted products and the very finest in unique gifts before concluding your tour at the Vancouver International Airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get a good look at Vancouver’s landmarks on a panoramic drive through downtown.
• Wander the winding paths through Stanley Park, a wonderfully serene urban oasis.
• Browse the abundant shops in the Granville Island Public Market.
• Transfer to the Vancouver International Airport in plenty of time for your flight.

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

OVERVIEW

Discover the wonders of Mendenhall Glacier at its visitor center and cruise a purpose-built vessel through waters where humpback whales and other marine creatures are commonly spotted. The glacier is the only one in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, just one of the facts you will learn while browsing the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The glacier is 13 miles long and is part of the massive Juneau Icefield, a remnant of the last ice age. Time permitting, you can stroll the glacier-view path at the center or watch salmon in a nearby stream before driving on to Auke Bay. Here, you will you will embark a catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. Humpback whales are the star attractions in these waters, but you may also spot orcas, sea lions and bald eagles. Throughout the cruise, your onboard naturalist will explain the behavior and habitat of the humpback whale.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Mendenhall Glacier from its enlightening visitor center.
• Cruise a catamaran through waters where humpback whales are commonly seen.
• Watch for other marine animals and bald eagles.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate clothing, gloves and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes. Bring a rainproof jacket.

OVERVIEW

Watch Alaska’s lumberjacks battle British Columbia’s premier woodsmen in an axe-wielding, chainsaw-cutting competition to determine who will claim the title “Bull of the Woods.” You will see the mighty lumberjacks test their prodigious strength and agility in more than a dozen events that include chopping, sawing, speed climbing and log rolling. The entertaining events recognize Alaska’s rich logging history, and these world-class athletes do justice to that proud past. Many of them have competed in these sorts of lumberjack events on ESPN, so you can imagine the level of their skills. The competitors encourage rowdy crowds, so feel free to cheer as loudly as you want for the next Paul Bunyan to be.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch lumberjacks go head-to-head in a fun-filled competition.
• See highly entertaining events like pole climbing and log rolling.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Watch humpback whales and other marine creatures cavorting in the nutrient-rich waters at Point Adolphus, one of Alaska’s premier observation points. During the cruise, a naturalist will describe the diversity of animals that converge here each summer. They come primarily to feed in the waters that are extraordinarily rich in halibut, salmon and plankton. Point Adolphus is noted for having the highest concentration of humpback whales in the Alaskan panhandle, so be on the lookout for these majestic and intelligent creatures. You can expect them to be breaching the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive, and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south. You might also observe frolicking Dall’s porpoises, Stellar sea lions, curious harbor seals and Orca whales. You may also see graceful bald eagles swooping down to grab fish in their talons, and perhaps even bears and deer in the surrounding wooded landscape.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch for humpback whales breaching the water’s surface as they feed.
• Gain a deeper understanding of whales and other marine creatures from the naturalist.
• Look for playful porpoises, sea lions and harbor seals.
• Scan the sky for majestic bald eagles.
• Scour the shoreline for mammals such as bears and deer.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm layered clothing and flat comfortable shoes with non-slip soles.
• Bring waterproof outerwear if you expect to sit on the open-air observation deck.
• Don’t forget binoculars and a camera.

Past and present thrive side by side in Seattle, and you'll see it all on this tour of the best that Seattle has to offer. Circle the Seattle Center campus on your way to the Space Needle, where you'll soar to the top by elevator for an unforgettable vista of the Emerald City. From here, you'll head over through newly renovated Belltown to the Pike Place Market, the West Coast's largest and oldest open-air farmers market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to browse the hundreds of curio shops and local artisan stalls. Don't forget to check out the 'Flying Fish', one of the more famous vendors at the Market. Then you will be treated to a scenic drive through the city to view Seattle's sports stadiums, and then discover the historic flavor of Pioneer Square, Seattle's birthplace dating back to 1852. Pass the International District and tour through the downtown core and shopping district en route to the airport.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an enlightening driving tour of downtown Kodiak and the attractions in the immediate countryside, leaving you with a greater appreciation for life on an Alaskan island. On the drive out of town, you will pass the once-thriving salmon canneries along Cannery Row, a Russian Orthodox church and seminary, and the Kodiak History Museum, which is housed in Alaska’s oldest building. Constructed in 1808, it has been deemed a National Historical Landmark. For a glimpse at the natural beauty on the outskirts of Kodiak, you will pass lovely Mission Beach before pausing for photos at Mill Bay Beach. One of Kodiak’s oldest roadways will take you back to town, where you will see the high watermark from the 1964 tsunami that a 9.2-magnitude earthquake caused. The water crested 35 feet above the low tide mark. You will also pause for photos at the scenic viewpoint that is overlooked by a World War II pillbox.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Set off on a short but revealing driving tour in and around Kodiak.
• See fascinating historical attractions such Alaska’s oldest building.
• Revel in the beauty of the wilderness that serves as Kodiak’s natural backdrop.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise the pristine waters off Sitka in search of marine life such as sea otters while listening to a naturalist elaborate on the most intriguing characteristics of the species. You may settle into a comfortable seat in the boat’s main cabin or remain topside on the observation deck. Either way, you will enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sea. As you scan the waters for marine life, the naturalist will describe how humpback whales feed here in the summer and how animals such as sea otters now thrive. The animals were nearly extinct due to aggressive fur hunting in the early 1800s, and their comeback is a wonderful success story. Other creatures commonly spotted include sea lions, porpoise, harbor seals and a huge variety of seabirds. Puffins are particularly easy to identify because of their bright orange beaks.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Scan the waters off Sitka for marine life such as whales and sea otters.
• Look along the shore for brown bears and skyward for bald eagles.
• Listen to the naturalist describe the animals’ unusual habits and habitats.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress warmly in layered, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with non-skid soles.

Discover Tokyo and two of its traditional sights that coexist in stark contrast with tall futuristic skyscrapers and bustling city streets.

A 1-hour drive takes you to the center of Tokyo, a modern city where the 21st century coexists with the spirit of ancient Japan. Along the way, you’ll see many of the city’s landmarks.

Enjoy a visit to Hama Rikyu Garden, an Edo Period Japanese garden surrounded by the Shiodome district’s futuristic skyscrapers; a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts. The garden was originally built as a feudal lord's Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period, but later served as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public in its current form. Hama Rikyu Gardens offer something beautiful at any season, as you’ll find golden foliage during the fall, plum blossoms in late winter and cherry blossoms in spring.

A scenic drive through the city takes you to the Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and massive stone walls, also in the center of Tokyo. The palace is built on the former site of Edo Castle. It is the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family and is surrounded by a large park area. Although the Palace is not open to the public, from Kokyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, you can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is nicknamed the Eyeglass Bridge for its looks and is one of the most recognized bridges in Japan. You’ll have some free time in the square to explore a bit and take some memorable pictures.

After enjoying the sites in Tokyo, your coach will bring you to Narita International Airport for your flight back home.

OVERVIEW

Delight your senses with a meandering walk through an enormous flower park and then by sampling confectionery at a store designed to replicate an early 17th-century castle. As you walk the winding paths of Tottori Flower Park, you may enter the futuristic-looking Flower Dome, an enormous transparent hemisphere that maintains temperatures ideal for tropical plants. The other gardens are also arranged by themes such as herbal and water plants, lilies and formal European-style arrangements. Flower Hill is particularly noteworthy as its slope is blanketed in brilliant flowers that draw the eye towards Mt. Daisen. A different view of the mountain will be presented from the observation deck atop Kotobuki Castle, your next stop. The castle was designed as a replica of one that once stood nearby, but with a huge difference – Kotobuki wasn’t built for defense but rather to house a confectionary shop. While browsing, feel free to sample the candies and other delights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through Tottori Flower Park, where something is always in bloom.
• Easily find your favorite types of plants as they are arranged by themes.
• See Mt. Daisen from the Tottori Flower Park and from atop nearby Kotobuki Castle.
• Be amused that Kotobuki looks like a castle but is really a shop for sweets.

HELPFUL HINTS

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