EXCURSIONS TERRESTRES

Follow the curator of the legendary Mariinsky Theatre on a private behind-the-scenes tour and then linger over a cup of tea with a ballerina as she shares stories of her life as a dancer. The neoclassical theatre can trace its history back to 1783. It is masterfully designed and surprisingly large, as it has been renovated repeatedly and added onto over the centuries. The curator will lead you into areas that are typically off limits to the general public. Depending on the day, your insider’s tour could reveal the inner workings of the stage, the grandeur of the royal box and the costume storage rooms. You may also hear intriguing details about the lives of the most famous dancers and singers that have performed there. Afterwards, you will meet a ballerina in a nearby restaurant. She will openly share her personal life story, and you are welcome to ask questions about her experiences on and off the stage.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Mariinsky Theatre with the curator.
• Learn the inner workings of the theatre and details about the lives of its famous dancers.
• Meet a ballerina for a cup of tea and to hear about her experiences on and off the stage.

Learn to paint your own version of Matryoshka nesting dolls in a hands-on class and then enjoy a traditional Russian tea party with ice cream at a downtown café. The wooden dolls have been wildly popular since 1900, when they won the bronze medal in the World Exposition in Paris. A set of these iconic Russian souvenirs typically contains seven dolls of decreasing size, each one identically painted and nesting inside another. Each folk-art doll depicts a young peasant woman bundled up, her head covered with a babushka. Matryoshka means “little matron,” and the dolls are said to represent motherhood and family. An art expert will offer guidance as you paint your own set of dolls in the hands-on class. Feel free to paint your dolls to look traditional or take a more creative approach. When finished painting your Matryoshka nesting dolls, the set will be your souvenir to take home.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Paint a set of Matryoshka nesting dolls however your see fit and take them home.
• Discover how these iconic Russian dolls first became popular and what they represent.
• Toast your creativity by indulging in a traditional tea party with ice cream.

Snorkel the azure waters 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 with complimentary rum or fruit punch while listening to Caribbean rhythmic vibes.

This tour gives a great overview of Bilbao and includes a visit to the architecturally stunning Guggenheim Museum, located in the area of Abadoibarra.

Starting off from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic drive through Bilbao as you make your way towards the Guggenheim Museum. En route, your guide will introduce you to this Basque city as you pass through the older industrial district. You will next pass the new palace of Congresses and the Plaza Elptica, where the old Carlton Hotel and the old Hacienda Floral are located. From here, you will cross the Deusto Bridge to reach the Guggenheim Museum.

The Guggenheim building is truly a work of art in itself, designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The Museum's collection focuses on postwar works and the inaugural exhibition places a strong emphasis on the art of the past four decades, including major examples of Pop Art, Minimalism, Arte Povera, Conceptual Art and the respective developments of each successive generation. Featured artists include Carl Andre, Joseph Beuys, Gilbert and George, Yves Klein, Roy Lichtenstein, Agnes Martin, Mario Merz, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, Claes Oldenburg and Andy Warhol. The exhibition also highlights contemporary Basque and Spanish art, including the work of Cristina Iglesias, Susana Solano and Francesc Torres. After the guided visit of the museum, you will take a short tour of Bilbao.

Following an approximately 2 1/2 hour visit at the Guggenheim Museum, you will rejoin your coach and continue back into the heart of Bilbao. This charming city is both modern and dynamic while at the same time, quite traditional with its 700 years of history adding to the ambiance. Leaving your coach behind, you'll enjoy a guided walk around the Old Quarter, the most popular area of the city. Here, you will see the Teatro Arriaga, el Arenal, the old stevedoring port and today one of the favorite promenades of the citizens of Bilbao, the San Nicholas Church, the Cathedral of Santiago along with its cloister, and Plaza Nueva. After approximately 1 hour, your coach will transfer you back to the pier where your tour concluded.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Dubrovnik! 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 the Rivera Viewpoint. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • The Rivera Viewpoint
• The Stradun
• Assumption Cathedral
• Jesuit Staircase
• Pile Gate

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 experience a Sweet Prošek wine tasting.

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 Santorini! 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 the Prophet Elias monastery. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • The Prophet Elias monastery
• Aroma Avlis
• The Blue Domes Churches of Oia
• Church Bells in Fira

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Corfu! 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 a Koumquat Distillery where you will have the chance to taste a variety of wines and ouzo.

Afterwards, your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Paleokastritsa
• Bellavista Viewpoint
• Makrades Villages
• St. Spyridon Church & Royal Palace

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Naples! 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 Sorrento. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Sorrento Viewpoint
• Lift to Water Viewpoint
• Villa Communale
• Piazza Tasso
• Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola
• Castle Nuovo

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 get to taste traditional Neapolitan pizza and local beer.

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.

Enjoy a glass of sherry while learning to make authentic tapas at the Bodega Casa del Marques, a 19th-century palace built for a wine merchant. The elegant residence is decorated with period furnishings that lend it an ambiance so authentic that it feels as if you were transported to another time. While there, you will learn to make tapas, some traditional and others topped with surprisingly inventive ingredients. These small-plate snacks reflect the local cuisine and are typically served with a glass of sherry, especially in Jerez, which has been producing the fortified wine for more than 175 years. The exact tapas that you will prepare will depend on which ingredients are freshest and most flavorful. They might include fried fish, meatballs or something a bit more unusual such as stewed ox tail. Be sure to add favorite ingredients, as you will dine on the tapas afterwards.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Participate in a hands-on culinary class at a 19th-century palace built for a wine merchant.
• Learn to prepare authentic, small-plate tapas with traditional and unusual ingredients.
• Dine on the finished tapas and enjoy a glass of sherry as an accompaniment.

Experience Mayan history and a jungle retreat with an open bar & buffet lunch. Your tour begins when your bilingual guide meets you at the end of the pier and escorts you to your air conditioned transfer vehicle waiting on site. Listen to your guide and learn about the interesting local area and culture from onboard commentary as you pass through the fishing village. Continue this tour inland to visit “The Place of the Red Corn”, Chacchoben, learn about the fascinating Mayan culture during the journey from our knowledgeable guides.

Enjoy a guided tour of this unique archaeological site set in beautiful surroundings still partially covered by the rain forest. Climb to the top of the “Gran Basamento” taking you above the tree line and visit two sacred temples. Before leaving, you will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs from shops on site. Your journey continues to a buffet lunch waiting for you at our Blue Lagoon Restaurant, the most beautiful lagoon with fresh water, located 20 minutes away from Chacchoben Mayan ruins. After your meal, sunbathe on a sun lounger, take a swim and enjoy all complimentary drinks including your favorite cocktails. Feeling fully relaxed, well fed and in good spirits your transfer awaits to return you to the ship.