EXCURSIONS À TERRE

OVERVIEW

Fall under the spell of the island of Faial’s unique natural beauty on a tour that highlights a stunning landscape largely developed from volcanic eruptions. Drive to Espalamaca, a dazzling overlook affording the finest view of enchanting Horta. If the day is clear, you’ll treasure the arresting sight of three other Azorean islands: Pico, São Jorge and Graciosa. Journey past elegant windmills and a landscape ripe with vivid blue hydrangeas to Caldeira, a massive crater left by the now-extinct volcano that created the island of Faial. Behold the mile-wide depression, sumptuously blanketed with indigenous junipers, tree heathers, cedars and ferns. Travel to Capelinhos, where the strikingly barren terrain is rocky and hauntingly lunar-like. See the stately lighthouse, the only building to survive the devastation of a volcanic eruption in the mid-20th century. You’ll pass through verdant Capelo Forest Park and Praia do Norte, a splendid seaside parish shaped by a volcanic eruption in 1672 that’s now a surfing mecca. Marvel at fascinating sights on this journey through the wonders of Faial.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Experience Espalamaca’s exceptional view of charming Horta and beyond.
• See natural wonders created by volcanic activity once prevalent in the Azores.
• Marvel at the mile-wide Caldeira crater, cloaked by gorgeous native trees.
• Observe the jet-black volcanic ash still covering the floor of the Capelinhos lighthouse.
• Delight in Praia do Norte, where massive waves are the result of an incredible underwater ravine.

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

See the icons of Monaco and Monte Carlo and then explore further on your own, admiring the majestic architecture and elegance of these two gems on the French Riviera.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive along the gorgeous French Riviera to Monaco. During the walking tour that follows, you will see highlights such as the monumental Oceanographic Museum, which rises out of a sheer cliff overlooking the sea. Prince Albert I founded the museum in 1910 and its aquarium is among the best in Europe.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is another icon. Prince Rainer III and Grace Kelly were married here in 1956 and both are buried in the church. The cream-colored facade was constructed with Italian granite starting in 1875 and it took more than 10 years to finish the entire cathedral, which is the largest in Monaco. Interior visits may not be possible if activities are taking place in the cathedral.

After free time to explore a bit further, you will continue on to Monte Carlo, driving along a section of road where the annual Monaco Grand Prix race has been held since 1929. You will notice the road is winding with hairpin turns, a signature of this Formula One race.

You will also see the grand Monte Carlo Casino, which opened in 1863. Designed by Charles Garnier, the architect behind the Paris Opera, the casino is an architectural masterpiece that may well be the most recognized building in Monte Carlo. Free time follows, after which you will rejoin your coach and return to Villefranche.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy two revealing perspectives of New York by taking in the considerable sights on the way to South Street Seaport and then by cruising the harbor, where the city’s dramatic skyline really comes into view. During the driving portion of the tour, the commentary will describe neighborhoods such wonderfully creative Greenwich Village and attractions such as the High Line and Little Island. Upon reaching the 18th-century seaport, you will begin a leisurely cruise around the harbor, following a route that affords extraordinary views of landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center. You will also see neighboring New Jersey and Ellis Island. Still, the highlight is passing directly in front of the State of Liberty for an unforgettable view of what may well be New York’s most recognized symbol.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through Greenwich Village and the Financial District, taking in the sights.
• Enjoy a sweeping view of the skyline from a unique harbor perspective.
• Pass directly in front of the Statue of Liberty.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Explore the west coast of Tenerife, a gorgeous landscape of remote villages and banana plantations. Have privilege views over the fertile Orotava valley from the Humbold viewpoint. Over time, sugarcane, grapes and bananas became the dominant crops, and they are still harvested using traditional techniques. Understand how the crops are cultivated visiting an old hacienda where you can learn firsthand how bananas are grown, a tour in an authentic banana plantation where you can see different varieties of bananas and learn the process before sampling the locally grown bananas and banana liqueur. On the way back to pier, visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island and stop at La Garañona Viewpoint, local´s favorite spot to take in the beauty of the sea and surrounding.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of how crops are harvested using traditional methods.
• Learn firsthand how bananas are grown and see different varieties in an authentic plantation.
• Visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island .
• Sample several varieties of bananas and banana liqueur, which attest to the fruit’s diversity.

Take a scenic drive through the countryside to the magnificent city of Florence. Pause in the Piazza del Duomo to admire the exterior of the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade is covered in a mix of pink and green marble.

View the statues in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Lunch is included at a local restaurant, and after the meal you'll have free time to explore on your own or to shop, before your tour continues to the historic town of Pisa. Here, you'll have free time in Miracle Square for a look at the exterior of that famous Leaning Tower. Built in the 12th century, it began to lean soon afterwards, but has now been stabilized.

Enjoy the amazing scenery of Teide National Park and ride a cable car up Mount Teide, the world’s third highest volcano and a sacred site for Tenerife’s aboriginal people.

After departing from the pier, you will drive inland along an immensely picturesque, circuitous route and on into Teide National Park. The largest of the Canary Island national parks, Teide features a colossal stratovolcano that contains Mount Teide, the highest peak on Spanish soil. Its stunning geological formations are so important to understanding how volcanic islands are created that the park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The now dormant volcano last erupted in 1798. It also erupted in 1492, supposedly as Christopher Columbus was sailing past on his voyage of discovery. Your approach to Mount Teide will be through a volcanic crater 30 miles in circumference.

The closer you come to Mount Teide, the more surreal and lunar the landscape will appear. The terrain is a jumble of bizarre natural rock formations, petrified lava rivers and endemic vegetation. One of the most spectacular plants is the red bugloss, a species with 6-foot, cone-shaped stems covered in pinkish-purple blossoms.

More phenomenal sights await you while ascending Mount Teide via cable car. From this unique perspective, you will enjoy sweeping views of the volcanic landscape and the ancient crater rimmed with red, brown and yellow walls. Upon reaching the summit, you may explore further during free time before retracing your route back to the pier in Tenerife.

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.

Don’t miss a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular ‘City of Lights’, from two perspectives. After an approximately three-hour drive from Le Havre, you’ll arrive in Paris to discover the most important sights.

Your guide will point out Place de l’Etoile, its Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue at the end of which the Place de la Concorde offers to all visitors, its legendary obelisk. Continue to the Rive Gauche where the most impressive monuments of Paris are located. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, a glass-covered sightseeing riverboat awaits you for a scenic cruise on the Seine River. Enjoy a different perspective of this monumental city from the water while having lunch. See the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and much more. During your lunch cruise, you’ll not only discover the quays and the monuments of this enchanting city, but also the districts where the nobility and the Bourgeoisie live. Afterwards, before driving back to Le Havre, you’ll enjoy some free time in the city near the Trocadero.

Discover the cultural heritage and natural beauty of Gran Canaria and its colorful towns. Discover the cultural heritage and natural beauty of Gran Canaria and its colorful towns. Drive to one of the most important agricultural centers, Arucas, known as the banana capital of the island. Here you’ll visit a Banana Plantation and learn everything about this important and typical crop of Canary Island. You will also have the chance to taste one together with some local specialities! Next you will visit Jardin de la Marquesa. It originated as a small garden surrounding the summer residence of the marquis of Arucas and expanded to the lush gardens you’ll find today. This botanical garden has hundreds of species of tropical and subtropical flora. Flower lined lanes and ponds enhance the beauty of this place, where you may also encounter wandering peacocks. Taste a banana liquor at the Gardens, before rejoining the bus and head to the picturesque village of Teror, where colonial buildings grace the town's boulevard. Enjoy a walking tour and some free time before the drive back to pier.

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.

OVERVIEW

View the absolute icons of New York from a water perspective while cruising the Hudson River and up close while driving through the heart of Manhattan. The Big Apple’s skyline will look especially dramatic from the boat as you will see One World Trade Center – the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere – looming in the background. Once you pass Lower Manhattan, you will cruise past Ellis Island and on to the Statue of Liberty, where the boat will pause long enough for you to take close-up photos of this inspiring beacon of freedom and hope. The bus will follow a route that also presents one landmark after another, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park, the urban oasis that famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted co-designed in 1858. You will hear insightful commentary throughout the tour and all the way to the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the Hudson River for an unforgettable water perspective of Manhattan.
• Snap photos while the boat stops as close as possible to the Statue of Liberty.
• See countless landmarks while riding through Manhattan.
• Pass Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park.
• Head to either JFK or LaGuardia airport in plenty of time for your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Discover the charms of several villages in western Malta, where you will observe artisans practicing age-old crafts and get a genuine feel for daily life. Antoine tan-Newl is one of the island’s few weavers that still uses traditional techniques and watching him create items such as handmade rugs, blankets and bags on a wooden loom is a fascinating experience. He may even invite you to try your hand at weaving. In the nearby village of Żebbuġ, you will see the locals playing bocci, a traditional sport that is closely related to the French game of petanque and Italian bocce. You will be welcome to join the game or just sit back and enjoy locally sourced snacks that may include stuffed green olives, an area specialty. You will also stop in the village of Santa Venera for an introduction to traditional Maltese musical instruments such as simple whistles made from wheat stems and reeds.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of traditional life by visiting a number of quintessential villages.
• Watch artisans practice traditional crafts such as weaving and making musical instruments.
• See locals playing bocci and join in a game, if you like.
• Snack on a platter of Maltese delicacies in one of the villages.