SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Take the helm of a mini boat and cruise around San Juan Bay, an experience that will offer a unique water perspective of the capital city and its landmarks. After a briefing to ensure that you are comfortable as captain, you will motor across the bay in a 13-foot rigid inflatable powerboat designed to hold two people. You will follow the guide past the modern high-rises that line the waterfront Condado District and continue on towards the Historic District. Stops will be made along the way to hear commentary and behold highlights such as the Governor’s Mansion, Castillo San Cristóbal – the largest Spanish-built fort in the New World – and San Felipe del Morro, a fortress completed in 1790, despite being started about 250 years earlier. You will return via an eco-friendly water channel lined with mangroves, where you may spot iguanas in the intertwined tree branches and a variety of colorful birds.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Captain a 13-foot rigid inflatable mini-boat and motor through San Juan Bay.
• Enjoy a unique view of San Juan while admiring its modern and historical highlights.
• Behold landmarks ranging from Spanish-built forts to luxury high-rises.
• Look for wildlife such as iguanas and tropical birds along the waterfront.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Discover the magic of a dolphin connection. Learn how to communicate one-on-one with these awe-inspiring marine animals in a way that’s sure to open your mind and warm your heart. Starting with a 40-minute swim, an exciting belly ride! Snorkel with tropical fish in a natural aquarium, and venture into the ocean for water activities. Enjoy the Premier lounge area overlooking the dolphins and the turquoise water of the Caribbean Ocean, while being pampered by your personal host. Enjoy a delectable 4-course lunch with all-inclusive beverages.

Your exclusive program places you in direct contact with the dolphins, giving you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear them communicate via sonar and feel their heartbeat at your fingertips.

Your experience begins with a refreshing natural drink as your Seaguard guide welcomes you. Each of our Seaguards is a highly trained expert on issues relating to dolphins and the oceans. After a brief orientation where you will receive your towel & locker key for its use during your stay at the facility, follow your Seaguard to embark on an ocean voyage and explore the depths of the sea alongside a dolphin friend.

Your Seaguards will then guide you to the dolphin habitat as your 40-minute swim begins in the deeper waters of our lagoons. The trainer will give you insight into how dolphins communicate and behave.

Next you will communicate with the dolphins in their own personalized way. Put on your dark-lens goggles and float face-up in the water. With your ears submerged, you’ll be able to hear first-hand how the dolphins talk underwater via sonar… an experience you won’t find above the surface! Afterwards, you can deepen your bond by placing your hand over the dolphin’s heart to feel its heartbeat, giving you an even more profound understanding of how humans and animals are so closely connected.

Then hold on tight for the famous belly ride! You and the dolphin will get to complete your connection near the end of the experience, when you’ll get face-to-face for an unforgettable dolphin kiss, as the dolphin says goodbye. Finally, the dolphin will dive down to a treasure chest at the bottom of the lagoon and bring you a special gift: a dolphin fin charm made out of recycled materials.

After lunch, where you’ll have the chance to see all of your candid photos on a tablet, spend the rest of your free time indulging in the rest of the amenities. Access to the Exclusive Lounge with a private infinity pool plus included four course lunch and drinks, a swim in the snorkeling aquarium with tropical fish and other surprising sea creatures, and activities like paddle boarding and kayaking on the Caribbean Sea.

You’ll journey to the ancient place of Mayan pilgrimage known today as Chacchoben, also known as "The Place of Red Corn". At the pier, you’ll be greeted by a bilingual guide who will direct you to an air-conditioned bus. Onboard the bus your guide will brief you on the interesting history and unique attributes of this sacred Mayan site. Upon arrival at Chacchoben you’ll be surrounded by jungle. Your guide will escort you through the ruins, giving you a complete explanation of the sacred temples and other structures seen there.

See original red paint on the stucco walls of one of the pyramids and the temple where a mural was found showing the astronomical positions of the planet Venus. You’ll have time to climb the Gran Basamento taking you above tree level. Here archaeologists found ceremonial offerings dating to around 1000 B.C. Your guide will also explain about the wildlife and medicinal plants that are used by the modern-day descendants of the ancient Mayan people.

OVERVIEW

Experience two exhilarating rides at the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park as a warm-up to visiting the natural wonder Dunn’s River Falls. Covered by rainforest, Mystic Mountain rises 700 feet above the sea and the views on the way up are extraordinary. You will ascend on the Sky Explorer, an open-air chair-lift much like the ones used at ski resorts. The higher you ascend, the more thrilling the ride and the more spectacular the views. At the summit, you will hop in a bobsled patterned after the one that Jamaica’s Olympic team rode in the 1988 Winter Olympics. The big difference is that this bobsled follows a twisting track through the dense rainforest. As an alternative to these manmade thrills, you will enjoy an easy but exhilarating climb up gently cascading Dunn’s River Falls, perhaps Jamaica’s most iconic attraction. Pause any time you like to relax in the terraced pools and soak up the tropical scenery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the forested slopes of Mystic Mountain.
• Tear through the rainforest on a bobsled track with countless twists and turns.
• Climb gently tumbling Dunn’s River Falls and enjoy a refreshing dip along the way.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch of traditional Jamaican dishes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Zip through Placencia Lagoon on a wave runner leaving a rooster tail in your wake and the mainland in your rear view mirror. After watching a short orientation video that will help maximize the experience, you will hop aboard a two-person wave runner and tear off across the lagoon. You can drive the personal watercraft or be the passenger. It’s up to you. Either way, the ride will be exhilarating from start to finish. To ensure that you see all the sights, a guide will lead the way with the wave runners following more or less caravan-style. The numerous mangrove-rimmed islands that you will spot scattered about are well-protected, as their ecologically important trees filter impurities from the water and stabilize the shoreline. The lagoon’s water is typically smooth enough so you can easily carve your way across the surface without encountering any wakes other than your own.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tear across the typically smooth waters of Placencia Lagoon in a two-person wave runner.
• Drive the wave runner or be the passenger, if you prefer.
• Enjoy an exhilarating ride and gorgeous natural scenery in every direction.

HIGHLIGHTS • Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Pedal along 12 miles of unspoiled beauty, exploring Bonaire's wildlife and lush landscape, as well as its first settlement. Your tour begins as you board your transportation for a short drive to the starting location outside town. Here, you'll be equipped with a mountain/tour bike and helmet and receive a briefing. Your professional naturalist guide will escort you north on Bonaire's most scenic paved roads, stopping to chat about Bonaire's flora, fauna, and natural history.

Along the way, you'll witness the blush of the pink flamingos reflected off Goto Lake. Next on your itinerary is Dos Pos, (Two Wells), a drinking well for animals, where you'll stop for complimentary water or soft drinks. After 2.5 hours of cycling, your tour concludes in Rincon with a relaxing drive back to the pier.

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.

Sail a magnificent Siamese junk to the unblemished oasis Klein Bonaire, an uninhabited island known for its pristine beach and exceptional snorkeling. Cruise directly from the pier in a Zodiac boat, or a walk to the next pier, and within minutes you’ll arrive at the Samur, an authentic Siamese junk. Modeled after the well-known junks that sail throughout Asia, this 56-foot sailing vessel was hand-built in Thailand with beautiful wood-carved details.

After boarding the Samur and settling in, you’ll set off for the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire, which lies due west of Kralendijk, well within sight. As the red sails catch the wind and you cruise the surrounding sea, you may feel that you have been transported back in time where sailing ships ruled the seas. En route, the captain will elaborate on the history of the Siamese Sailing Junk and what you will find at the reef located just off-shore from the island.

Upon arriving at Klein Bonaire, you’ll tender to the beach, where you’ll have time to snorkel directly off the beach, or head for nearby Ebo’s reef. The waters in both sites are typically calm and offer a spectacular array of marine life. You may see parrotfish, angelfish, sea horses and sea turtles, all gracefully swimming about undisturbed by your presence.

The beach at Klein Bonaire is just as impressive, as the island is completely undeveloped and the crystal-clear waters are protected as part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. Feel free to relax in whatever way you please. There’s no set schedule or need to rush. After approximately 1-hour, you will re-board the Samur and on the return trip, enjoy tropical fruits and rum punch.

OVERVIEW
Spend hours luxuriating at Emotions by Hodelpa Playa Dorada, an exclusive waterfront resort with seemingly endless amenities. The all-inclusive day pass will give you access to the entire property, allowing you to focus on the attractions that you find most appealing. You might bask in the sun on a beachside lounger, relax in the shade of a coconut palm, stroll along the gently sloping shoreline and take a refreshing swim in the Caribbean. If you prefer swimming pools to the sea, there are three at the resort and Jacuzzis. You might also enjoy the pool bar and beach bar, two popular venues that are always full of life. The day pass includes a hearty buffet lunch featuring international dishes as well. You will have plenty of time to enjoy this contemporary resort, shopping if you please and simply wandering about without a care in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Luxuriate for hours on end at the beachfront resort Emotions by Hodelpa Playa Dorada.
• Relax as you please, whether swimming in the sea, basking in the sun or strolling the shore.
• Enjoy a buffet lunch of international dishes that are sure to please.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit and towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a 90-minute drive along the island’s gorgeous western coastline offering views of the hilly ranchland and postcard-like vistas of mountains, ocean, and quaint fishing villages. Hike along a nature trail that will present spectacular views of the island’s signature Pitons and then take a dip in the cool waters at the base of a waterfall. This adventure is all about the great outdoors and panoramic views, starting with the sights from atop Morne Fortune. From this former military outpost, you will gaze out over Castries and the turquoise seas beyond.

The scenery will be even more memorable as you follow the Tet Paul Nature Trail. It will present close-up views of St. Lucia’s most iconic natural attraction—the Pitons, twin volcanic spires that soar high above the sea. They are so spectacular, along with the flora and fauna that thrive around their bases, that UNESCO deemed the surrounding area a World Heritage site. Following the hike, you can swim in the refreshing pool at the bottom of the Toraille waterfall and then dine on Creole cuisine at the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant.

Experience a fantastic adventure created for those that love the outdoors. This excursion offers a bike ride through the jungle, a dip into a Mayan Cenote "water hole", the chance to try standup paddle boarding and beach time with lunch. You’ll depart from the pier aboard the Jaguar truck a custom-designed vehicle outfitted with all the equipment needed to make your experience an amazing one.

Enjoy a 15 minute scenic drive to your first stop where you’ll mount a bicycle and ride through the jungle. Arrive at the Mayan Cenote "water hole" and cool off in the water. Hop on the Jaguar truck and travel to your next destination a beautiful white sand beach where your guides will set up a camp for you. Here you can try standup paddle boarding, enjoy a boogie board ride, take a swim or just relax on the beach. A lunch will be offered at the beach before heading back to your ship after a fun-filled day of adventure.