EXCURSIONS À TERRE

OVERVIEW

Mix with the locals on a walking overview tour of the largest and liveliest town in the West Fjords. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and arcing into its namesake fjord on a curving spit of land, it’s tempting to envision Isafjordur as a remote and unworldly outpost. But on this survey of town, you’ll soon discover that there’s a surprisingly cosmopolitan vibe afoot here, blending seamlessly with an undeniable frontier character. The old town still has blocks lined with some of Iceland’s oldest wood-and-tin houses, built by the early fishing merchants who found prosperity here in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it’s also home to a thriving arts and emerging culture scene. Though isolated, Isafjordur is the kind of place that independent and eccentric thinkers have always been drawn to. Your knowledgeable guide will relate some of that history and lead the way as you soak up the town’s relaxed ambiance and most interesting sights. One of those will surely be the Maritime Museum out at the tip of the spit. Set up inside one of the town’s oldest and best-preserved houses, the exhibits include an excellent collection of maritime artifacts – as well as a sizable accordion collection.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an escorted walk through a town with one foot squarely in the past and another in the current culture.
• See some of the Iceland’s oldest and most lovingly preserved tin-roofed wooden houses.
• Learn about this remote city’s intriguing history and unexpected worldliness.
• Tour a Maritime Museum in an 18th-century house where the historic fishing artifacts and accordion collections mingle.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing including a water/wind proof jacket.
• Comfortable, flat walking shoes with a non-slip sole are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Watch a fascinating woodworking demonstration in Sorrento and wander through the ruins of Pompeii, which reveal ancient life in a surprisingly candid way. The craftsmen will demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, which has long been associated with Sorrento. During free time that follows you might browse the boutiques and dine on your own. If you stop for lunch, be sure try a glass of chilled Limoncello, a sweet lemon-flavored liquor that has been produced locally for more than a century. You will then head to Pompeii, a Roman town forever known for the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried it under ash and pumice in 79 AD. After watching artisans hand-carve classic cameos, you will meander through the excavated ruins. The buildings are largely intact, frescoes adorn the villas and everyday objects are scattered about, just as they were when the volcano erupted. Expect to see ancient baths, temples and residences with intricate mosaic floors.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch woodworkers demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, a specialty in Sorrento.
• Browse Sorrento’s museums and boutiques or dine on your own during free time.
• See the artistry behind the making of traditional cameos in Pompeii.
• Walk through the ruins of Pompeii for an eye-opening look into ancient life.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

The ultimate island escape is our Lagoon 2 Bedroom Family Suite At Silver Cove, ideal for multiples - families or a group of friends to spend a day and relax together in a modern oasis that comfortably house up to 16 guests.

Each Villa offers A/C, in villa TV with complimentary on-demand movies, full private restroom, a retractable glass wall providing unobstructed views and access to the private beach. Located within the Silver Cove, a private area featuring secluded, pristine beaches: upgraded buffet and posh Mandara Spa.

Each 2 Bedroom Villa features two private suites, larger common dining room table, with complimentary dining in the Silver Cove Buffet or beverage service for guests who wish to enjoy refreshments in the privacy of their villa. Reserve a villa and you’ll have everything you need to enjoy a great day on the Cay.

OVERVIEW

Travel from Isafjordur to the Jökulfirdir Fjord by boat to visit a remote village deserted by all its residents over 60 years ago. The only way to get to Hesteyri is from the water; it’s about a 70-minute ride. The tiny settlement never did have any roads leading to it, and no electricity or telephone links. What it did have – and still does – is an outstandingly picturesque setting amidst steep snow-dusted mountains and quiet, secluded coves. Notwithstanding the natural beauty, in the 1940s the 80 inhabitants decided they’d had enough, and by 1952 the last of them had moved away. Many of their structures still stand, little changed from how they were then. And since the village has been an ecologically protected area for decades, the native flora and fauna have had a field day. Hikers here often encounter Arctic foxes, seals, and birds of many types. You’ll stroll around the eerily empty village with your guide, enjoying traditional Icelandic refreshments at a house where the doctor used to live. Don’t miss this chance for what will certainly be an excursion unlike any other you take this voyage. It can get quite chilly out at sea, especially since the boat is only partially covered—so be sure to dress warmly for maximum comfort during your adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel about 70 minutes by boat from Isafjordur to a tiny village along the Jökulfirdir Fjord. No one’s home there.
• Enjoy an eerie tour of an entire settlement that was abandoned by its residents in 1952.
• Learn the unusual history of this place from your guide and share traditional Icelandic refreshments at the house where the village doctor once lived.
• Be on the lookout for foxes, seals, and sea birds; this has been a wild protected reserve for many years.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing including a water/wind proof jacket. It can be colder out on sea and the boat is only partially covered.
• Comfortable, flat walking shoes with a non-slip sole are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed on how the eruption of the Kilauea volcano dramatically changed the landscape of the Big Island and pause along the way to sample iconic Hawaiian products. Rainbow Falls will serve as an introduction to the island’s natural beauty, which is even more spectacular at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. There, you will enjoy a close-up view of how the volcanic eruption expanded the Halemaumau pit crater with a billion cubic yards of lava. As you walk across the now hardened lava field, you will notice new greenery that will eventually become rainforest. The island’s fertile volcanic soil is ideal for growing products such as macadamia nuts. You will be offered tastings of them – perhaps honey-roasted or dipped in chocolate – at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm. A Hawaiian-style lunch follows at Volcano Gardens Arts. Confections and coffee are available at Big Island Candies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold Rainbow Falls, which is named for the rainbows that often form in its mist.
• See how a volcanic eruption changed the terrain in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• Walk across a hardened lava field from the eruption, where plants are now growing.
• Enjoy a lunch of traditional Hawaiian cuisine and sample iconic Hawaiian products.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Capture the beauty of three coastal towns so inspiring and photogenic that your friends and family will wish they had been there too once you share the experience. You will enjoy a guided introductory tour of the ports. Either way, you will find this trio of destinations absolutely magnificent. While gathering memories in Sorrento – the gateway to the Amalfi Coast – you might meander about the central square Piazza Tasso and pause for a glass of chilled Limoncello, the city’s renowned lemon-flavored liqueur. Positano offers stunning views from most everywhere as it clings to the side of a cliff so steep that it is more vertical than horizontal. Every picture you take is sure to be breathtaking and the same holds true for Amalfi. The medieval bronze doors of its 13th-century cathedral are particularly memorable as they were the first of their kind in Italy.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit three of Italy’s most visually stunning ports – Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi.
• Snap photos so captivating that your friends and family will wish they had been there too.
• Enjoy introductory tours of the ports.
• Return home with indelible memories, stories and impressions from each destination.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Drive a Jeep through the jungle – or ride along as a passenger if you prefer – to an ecological park that offers all sorts of adventurous activities. You will pass through a tropical landscape that will only get lusher and more pristine as you approach to Punta Sur Eco Park. There, you can browse the ruins of a small Mayan temple and gaze down on crocodiles swimming in a lagoon from a lookout tower. An even more sweeping view awaits you from atop the Celarain lighthouse, which you can reach by climbing its 133 steps. At nearby Explora Beach, you will be free to enjoy the waterfront setting however you please. While you are welcome to do nothing more ambitious than basking in the sun, the sea is typically so inviting the allure of a refreshing swim is hard to resist. Snorkeling gear is available if you wish to observe the abundant wonders underwater.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel to seaside Punta Sur Eco Park in an open-air Jeep.
• Watch saltwater crocodiles swimming about a natural lagoon at the park.
• Take in the panorama of Cozumel’s southern shore from atop the Celarain lighthouse.
• Relax on the park’s beautiful beach and snorkel the crystal-clear waters if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Taste a selection of wines made from indigenous Mallorcan grapes at a family-owned vineyard and browse a downtown market full of local products that you may sample. As you will discover while touring the winery,Blanca Terra Cellar is dedicated to recovering native grape varieties that disappeared following the phylloxera scourge that destroyed countless vineyards in the 19th century. During brunch and a tasting in the cellar, you can expect to sample a selection of wines that reflect the terroir. Fresh-baked bread and extra virgin olive oil made from the estate’s olives will be served to complement the wines. Back in Palma, You will then head for Kamaleonico Restaurant to taste an array of Mallorcan foods and indigenous wines and liqueurs.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a traditional Mallorcan wine tasting at the Blanca Terra Cellar.
• Sample a variety of Mallorcan foods and wines at the restaurant Kamaleonico Restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW
Explore the beautiful tropical countryside in an open-air safari-style vehicle, pausing on occasion to experience local life. Although sugarcane is the most widely grown crop in the Dominican Republic, coffee and cocoa are equally important. While visiting one of the characteristic farms near the country’s north shore, you will see how coffee and cocoa flourish in the rich soil and are then processed on site. Samples may be available so you can taste their distinct qualities. As you drive deeper into the countryside, the guide will describe the history of the area, point out natural wonders and elaborate on the culture. Back in Puerto Plata, you will enjoy free time at Malecon Beach, at cosita rica. Depending on the day and time, the beach could be somewhat empty or full of locals enjoying the pristine setting. Either way, you will get an authentic glimpse into the lifestyle. A traditional Dominican lunch will follow.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See how coffee and cocoa are grown and processed at a farm in the countryside.
• Enjoy a panoramic drive through the country, often off-road in a safari-style vehicle.
• Learn about the local lifestyle and experience it firsthand by relaxing at the beach.

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

Enjoy the ultimate poolside retreat in a spacious Grand Cabana designed for up to 12 guests. Perfect for larger groups, these shaded havens include comfortable seating, small refrigerator with ice and water, bar service and convenient access to the Great Life Lagoon’s swim-up bars, splash zone, and entertainment.

OVERVIEW

Kayak the serene waters of the fjord that fronts Ísafjörður, a natural setting enhanced by the many seabirds that flock here to raise their young during the summer. After a briefing on how to get the most out of the experience, you will ease into a sleek kayak and paddle off into the clear, calm waters of the fjord. Ísafjörður sits in a spectacularly scenic setting, so there will be plenty to see as you paddle between the majestic mountains that rise abruptly from both sides of the fjord. Because of the steep backdrop, almost all the buildings are at the water’s edge. Although Ísafjörður is the largest town on the Westfjords peninsula, its population is only a few thousand, and the town has remained remarkably quaint and well worth a photo. You can also expect to see quite a bit of wildlife while kayaking, especially seals and seabirds that may include oystercatchers and arctic terns.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak through the glass-smooth waters of the fjord that fronts Ísafjörður.
• Take in the magnificent scenery that surrounds the steep-walled fjord.
• Watch for wildlife such as seals and seabirds, which are often abundant.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Your exciting day begins with a scenic narrated drive along the beautiful Hamakua coastline from the cruise ship pier to the rain forest at Botanical World Adventures.

Take an incredible journey by bike through an area of the Hamakua Coast once dominated by Hawai`i’s sugar industry. This adventurous tour makes its way through a segment of the Old Mamalahoa Highway where you are surrounded by green rolling pastures and lush botanical scenery. This once well traveled road takes us back in time as we make our way through old plantation villages, cross over bridges from the early 1900’s and become mesmerized by the abundance of greenery. View beautiful streams and waterfalls originating from the slopes of Mauna Kea as you cross over each bridge.

This ride engages all of our senses with the smells and sounds of the rainforest, the sights of the brightly colored tropical flowers, and the tastes of paradise. Within the botanical gardens you are surrounded with an entourage of foliage from all over the world, as there are fruits in the trees above you, orchids blossoming beside you, and a carpet of grass below you. Before you know it, you are on a treasure hunt to find all the seasonal jewels and gems this amazing botanical garden has to offer. The guides will then transport you by van to their private waterfall on the property for one last amazing photo opportunity!

The experience continues as you journey back to the pier with a stop at Low Store, a family owned treasure since 1925 where you can purchase tropical smoothies and Hawaiian shaved ice. Then continue on the incredible scenic route of Onomea Bay to make a final stop at Big Island Candies, famous for their handmade macadamia nut shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate!