SHORE EXCURSIONS

Explore Durban's unique blend of diverse Asian, African and European cultural influences during a tour of this coastal city.

Depart the pier for a scenic drive along the palm tree-lined Victoria Embankment. Pass by highlights such as the Vasco Da Gama Clock, the Dick King Statue, the imposing Durban Club and the Yacht Club, before stopping briefly at Currie Hill for panoramic views and photo opportunities of the city below.

Visit the Durban Botanical Gardens. Upon arrival, you will take a leisurely stroll through the lush gardens, which house a wide variety of local flora and are renowned for their orchid house and rare collection of cycads, a plant dating back to prehistoric times.

Your scenic drive also takes you past the Old Market Square, which is reminiscent of the City Hall in Belfast and serves as Durban's municipal offices. Drive by the Juma Mosque, which is reputedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and famous for its massive golden dome and turrets, stopping for pictures at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Pay a visit to the Victoria Street Market, commonly known as the Indian Market. Browse amongst a splendid array of delicately-fashioned ebony and ivory ornaments, herb and spice stalls, and wooden carvings. Bargains are endless, and time permitting, you’ll have a brief time to shop independently.

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 an enlightening day on a farm in nearby Alevropari, where you will experience country life with the owners. Before reaching Bioporos farm you will stop at the traditional village of Agios Matheos and explore the real Corfiot Village life. Once you arrive at Bioporos, Kriton the elder son of the family will be your host, Although you won’t be doing any real chores, you will share a few fun responsibilities such as feeding the horses and the donkey. You will also have the opportunity to tour the farm, which will give you a greater understanding of Greek rural life. During the course of the day, you will pick ripe tomatoes and cucumbers, sample fresh herbs from the garden and see the farm’s beehives. Spending the day as a farmer will provide you with a genuine look at country life that few visitors ever experience. You will have a cooking demonstration for the family’s lunch from the daughter of the family Afterwards, you will travel though the coastal part of Corfu and drive along the sea on the way back to the port.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Experience Greek country life with the owners of a farm near the village of Alevropari.
• Do fun chores such as feeding the horses, the donkeys and picking ripe vegetables.
• Sample home made fruit dessert with coffee.
• Reconvene with the farm owners at their residence in Alevropari to further discuss rural life.

This sightseeing cruise features guaranteed whale watching! Following a short motorcoach ride to scenic Auke Bay, you’ll board a water jet powered catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. Relax in the warm, comfortable, spacious main cabin, surrounded by large windows as your experienced Captain guides you through the island studded waters of Stephens Passage. Against a majestic backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glaciers, the onboard naturalist will explain the behavior and habitat of wildlife you may encounter, including humpback and killer whales, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles, bears and deer.

The operators of this tour guarantee that you'll see a whale. If not, you’ll receive a $100 cash refund as you disembark the vessel. Don’t anticipate a refund; in the past 10+ years, whales have been sighted on every tour! To fully enjoy the sights and sounds of a close encounter with wildlife, be sure to bring a warm, rainproof jacket to wear on the topside observation deck and don’t forget your camera! Day use binoculars and a souvenir wildlife guide and map are provided, along with complimentary snacks and beverages.

Gain an understanding of how local craftsmen make traditional Greek musical instruments and take in the island’s natural beauty. Pyrgos is known for its 13th-century Venetian castle, the classic Cycladic design of its homes and the panoramic views from its hilltop location. It will be an ideal setting to pause for a cup of coffee and a Greek sweet. Megalochori is equally picturesque, as you will discover while meandering the village’s atmospheric cobbled streets lined with neoclassical houses. The intriguing Museum of Musical Instruments honors the history of the instruments that make Greek music so recognizable. You will learn how classic instruments such as the bouzouki and laouto are handmade and have the chance to play some of them. Afterwards, you will visit the family-owned Gavalas Winery, which has been producing traditional wines such as Katsano and Nykteri since the 19th century. There you will sample wines indicative of Santorini’s terroir and snacks that pair perfectly with them.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Pause for a snack and to revel in the village of Pyrgos’ classic Cycladic setting.
• Discover how some of the most recognizable Greek musical instruments are hand-crafted.
• Sample a selection of traditional wines and local delicacies at a family-owned winery.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Florence & Pisa! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to Piazza della Signoria. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Piazza della Signoria
• Santa Maria de Fiore Cathedral
• Piazza della Repubblica
• Ponte Vecchio
• Piazzale Michelangelo
• The Tower of Pisa

To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture. During the tour, you will stop for some traditional treats and a wine tasting.

Visit several of Old Town’s most iconic sites, which gained even greater fame after serving as locations for the fictional capital King’s Landing in “Game of Thrones.”

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the oldest section of Dubrovnik, a revered UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fans of the TV series “Game of Thrones,” which is based on George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy novels, will recognize this part of Dubrovnik as King’s Landing, the fictional capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

Your first stop will be imposing Lovrijenac Fortress, located just outside the medieval walls that encircle Old Town. Known as Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar, the 11th-century fortress perches atop a craggy rock overlooking the sea, which represented Blackwater Bay in the books.

Continuing on, you will enter Old Town and make your way to the defensive walls to the south. After climbing the steps, you will walk along the stone battlements, which afford extraordinary views of the sea and the inner city. These walls appeared in numerous scenes in “Game of Thrones”; they were particularly prominent in the Battle of Blackwater Bay.

Later, you will enjoy free time within Old Town, where you may explore other sites that you may recognize from the series. For instance, the Jesuit Staircase was where Cersei Lannister began her Walk of Shame in Season Five, and many of the show’s market scenes were filmed along St. Dominic Street. Following free time, you will return to the pier.

Visit Corfu’s most epic spots to snap your selfie while enjoying a local tasting and learning about its history and culture! Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Corfu! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site. Selfie experts will be sharing some tips for you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination. Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to Kanoni and Mouse Island. After your selfie tour you will have designated selfie stops at Garitsa Bay, Royal Palace, St. Spyridon Church, Liston Square, Narrow streets (Kantounia). Our last stop will be in a Kumquat Distillery where you will have the chance to taste the typical, Kumquat ouzo and have a traditional nougats tasting. Selfie. To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture.

Stroll through colonial Luderitz and admire the spectacular architecture built during the town’s heyday at the beginning of the 20th century, when diamonds were discovered nearby.

After walking from the pier, you will soon be immersed in the German ambiance of bayside Luderitz. Although Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias landed here in 1488, the area remained unsettled until German tobacco merchant Adolf Luderitz purchased much of the surrounding land nearly 400 years later. The sleepy port soon became an important supply post for Germany’s colonization of southwest Africa, and Luderitz grew accordingly, especially after diamonds were discovered in the nearby Namib Desert.

As you approach Luderitz’s prominent Diamond Hill, you will see Goerke Haus, one of the most extravagant mansions built during the boom at the start of the 20th century. Renovated and full of period furnishings, the estate was built for diamond entrepreneur Hans Goerke in an Art Nouveau style with German and African themes.

Felsenkirche is another outstanding Diamond Hill landmark. The Evangelical Lutheran church was built in 1912 with private donations from German citizens and is renowned for the stained-glass panel above its altar, which Emperor Wilhelm II donated.

Finally, there is Luderitz Museum, where you will learn more about Germany’s colonization efforts, the diamond industry and Namibia’s flora and fauna. Interesting artifacts include whalebones, photos of the indigenous people and colonial mining equipment. After visiting, you may follow the guide back to the pier or return later on your own.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Barcelona! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour begins with a scenic drive to the Sagrada Familia Park. You will have designated selfie stops at:

• La Sagrada Familia
• Paseo de Gracia – Gaudi´s Houses
• Old Quarter Most Spectacular Corners
• Las Ramblas
• Christopher Columbus Statue

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Mykonos! Selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to the Beach of St. John. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • The Beach of St. John
• Little Venice
• Beach of Kalafatis
• Ano mera
• A Mykonian farm
• Mykonian Old Town

To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture. During your visit to the Mykonian farm, you’ll be able to enjoy some local wine traditional treats.

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.