Applaud the splendid natural beauty of Southern Africa's western coast during this dolphin and seal cruise on the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Travel along a littoral road to the historic jetty at Swakopmund and board an open-air boat for a three-hour cruise in the renowned Walvis Bay Lagoon, declared a Wetland of International Importance as it is one of the most significant ecological sites along Southern Africa’s western coast. You’ll learn that the lagoon is well-known for its native bird species and vast array of intra-African and Palaearctic migrants, and find the water is usually very calm yet teeming with avian and marine life. Continue on to Pelican Point, a sand spit separating Walvis Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, where you’ll likely encounter a large Cape fur seal colony, and watch for schools of heavyside and bottlenose dolphins that often swim alongside the boat. Keep a sharp lookout for white-chinned petrels, Wilson’s storm petrels, cape gannets, pelicans and cormorants. During your cruise, you’ll savor a delicious repast of fresh oysters, sparkling wine, soft drinks and a selection of open-faced sandwiches, a perfect accompaniment to your outdoor adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Embark an open-air boat for an in-depth exploration of the famed Walvis Bay Lagoon.
• Survey the lagoon’s protected wetland, known for its plethora of avian species and marine life.
• Thrill to schools of heavyside and bottlenose dolphins trailing beside your boat.
• Search for white-chinned petrels, Wilson’s storm petrels or cape gannets amid a flurry of countless pelicans and cormorants.
• Spy a large colony of Cape fur seals at sandy Pelican Point.

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

Step back in time at the Beamish Open Air Museum, where dozens of original buildings from different time periods have been re-constructed to create a historical town.

Drive inland for approximately one hour to the Beamish Museum, a collection of historical buildings that have been re-assembled in the countryside to create an open-air museum. Beamish reflects two significant points in history: when the region was rural in the 1820s, and when it was thriving at the peak of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1900s.

Upon arriving, you will board a double-decker tram and travel down the main street taking in the fascinating sights. All of the buildings in Beamish are original, brought in from elsewhere, and then re-constructed brick by brick. To add even more atmosphere and authenticity, the townspeople wear period costumes and are employed in different professions of the time.

Spread over 300 acres, an Edwardian town and colliery have been re-created with farms, railways, tramways, a co-op shop, a pub, a printers and a chapel. It is a living museum of the years around 1913 showing the impact of industry on people’s lives and is one of the North East’s most popular and fascinating attractions.

During your free time here, you might visit the stables, the Motor & Cycle Works, and the Sweet Shop, where various confections are still made according to the original recipes. There is a bank with its safes wisely located in the cellar, and a dentist’s office, where you can browse the rather gruesome surgical equipment used to extract teeth. The railway station is another point of interest because it looks just like it did in Edwardian times, right down to the authentic signal box.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive along the Bay of Naples and on to Sorrento, a city of Renaissance palazzi and charming pedestrian lanes. A meandering walk will take you to a woodworking studio, where craftsmen will likely demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, which has long been associated with Sorrento. Free time follows, during which you might browse the museums and boutiques. Ceramic tableware, casual fashions and intarsia jewelry boxes are among the most popular items.

Then, it’s on to Pompeii, a Roman town forever known for the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried it under ash and pumice in 79 A.D. After free time to explore on your own and perhaps watch artisans create cameos, you will tour the ruins. The excavations have unearthed a snapshot of life here nearly 2,000 year ago. 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. It’s an eye-opening look into ancient life, one you will remember long after returning to Naples.

See the very best of Manhattan on this comprehensive full-day tour. Leaving the pier, you will first travel to midtown and Rockefeller Plaza. Home to NBC's Today Show, the Plaza is also the annual location for New York's spectacular Christmas tree and the nostalgic ice-skating rink. Your visit here gives you the opportunity to ascend to the Top of the Rock Observatory and be treated to some fabulous and breathtaking panoramic views of the city from this 70-story high observation platform.

After this exhilarating experience, re-board your motor coach and travel to the Financial District. You will be visiting St Paul Chapel & The 9/11 Memorial. St. Paul's Chapel, where President George Washington paused to pray after his inauguration. Presently St. Paul's contains exhibits and memorabilia relating to the 9/11 attacks. You will then walk to the 9/11 Memorial, which consists of 2 massive pools set within the original footprints of the Twin Towers with 30-foot waterfalls cascading down their sides. Take some time to reflect and pay your respects to those that lost their lives there and view New York’s tallest building, One World Trade.

Your tour next makes its way to Grand Central Terminal, both a transportation hub and destination in itself for visitors to New York City. The charming beaux-arts building has undergone restoration to bring it back to its former glory. Here, you can enjoy some free time to explore and purchase some luncheon. You will be afforded approximately 75 minutes of free time here to shop and have lunch on your own before re-joining your coach.

Following your break for lunch, enjoy a scenic drive past Central Park, along Fifth Avenue and through Times Square before making your way to Herald Square. This neighborhood remains predominately a shopping district and you will get a chance to pass by the landmark facade of Macy's, the world's largest department store which is famous not just for shopping, but for its parades as well. Other areas you will see today are Madison Square Garden, the world famous arena that hosts sporting events and entertainment shows; Greenwich Village and SoHo, the fashionable area nicknamed for its "South of Houston Street" location; Chinatown; the financial district and Wall Street. Inside visit of St. Paul Chapel is not included.

Filled with the sights and sounds of a day spent discovering New York, your coach will drop you back at the pier where your ship awaits.

Experience life in the days of the Klondike Gold Rush through activities that defined Alaska in the late 1890s. Upon arriving in Dredge Town, a replica of typical gold rush community, you will watch a sled dog demonstration and interact with puppies that will eventually pull sleds for the famed Iditarod annual competition. You will also learn to pan gold and extract gold nuggets from a stream with a water sluice much like those that the prospectors used. You can then bring your pay dirt to the assayer’s office to determine its value. The gold will be yours to keep. An enlightening tour of the 60 Mile Dredge, one of the last remaining authentic gold dredges in the world, adds even more depth to your understanding of the mania that fueled the Klondike Gold Rush. Finish with a hearty barbecue lunch complete with a dessert of s’mores over a campfire or enjoy an amazing soda float (weather dependent), amazing performances, and laughter with our costumed characters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a musher’s camp and watch sled dogs demonstrate their strength and stamina.
• Interact with the sled dogs and puppies.
• Pan for gold nuggets like the prospectors did in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898.
• Enjoy a barbecue lunch and make s’mores over a campfire.
• Tour Dredge Town for a deeper understanding of life during the gold rush.

OVERVIEW

Your journey begins with a narrated tour of downtown Juneau and the city's highlights as you make your way to Mendenhall Valley. The first stop is at the Brotherhood Bridge. Here is where you will be able to take in the amazing views of the Mendenhall Valley. The bridge was and is of great historic and symbolic importance, representing a bridging of the gap between Native and Non-Native people and overcoming racial tensions. The bridge features 10 bronze medallions with the ANB crest and imagery, sculpted by Roy Peratrovich Jr. In honor of the ANB’s 50th anniversary. The crew on the medallions depicts the two great Tlingit moieties, Eagle and Raven. The ANB is the solid rock on which these moieties rest. Afterward your drive takes you to Juneau's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery and Visitor Center. There you will learn the value of ocean ranching to Juneau's commercial and sport fishing industries and the hatchery's role in keeping the area salmon population at sustainable levels.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

At the White Pass & Yukon Route Depot, board a vintage railcar for a ride up the White Pass Summit. View at the incredible scenery as your train ascends dramatic mountains and your guide shares colorful stories and the history of the gold rush. Marvel at the waterfalls, tunnels and historic sites you pass on your journey to the summit of the White Pass and beyond. In Fraser, disembark the train and board a motorcoach for a dramatic journey past the Tormented Valley and Pitchfork Falls en route to Skagway. Your Driver-Guide will regale with a colorful account of the history of Klondike Gold Rush. Taking views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls and glaciers may be captured during the many photo stops. Stop at Alaska 360 where you will learn the art of gold panning and practice your technique in warm-water troughs. Gold is guaranteed in every pan! Haul your treasure into the Gold Shack and have it weighed. Then, browse a collection of gold nugget jewelry and discover unique, souvenirs in the gift shop. Finally returning to your ship with your loot and newly acquired "gold fever."

Where else in the world can you tour the launch areas of a working space flight facility, have the opportunity to meet a real astronaut and stand inches away from the largest rocket ever built? Only at Kennedy Space Center! Located just minutes from Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of mankind's most fascinating and remarkable achievements - the space program where history was, and still is, made every day. On your tour into KSC, you'll have the chance to see the Apollo/Saturn V Center which offers an inspirational and exhilarating look into mankind's quest for the moon.

There's a lot of activities offered at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, including reliving the historic launch of Apollo 8 at the Firing Room Theater; also, being able to marvel at a monstrous 363-foot Saturn V moon rocket. Pick and choose wisely since you won’t have time to see everything. Your options include seeing an IMAX® movie, the interactive Astronaut Encounter program or the Shuttle Launch Experience. Finally, your chance to be an astronaut!

OVERVIEW
Escape to a nearby private island and enjoy the amenities on land and just off shore by snorkeling. The ferry will bring you to Pearl Island, where you can relax however you see fit. For starters, you might climb the lighthouse, as the views from the observation deck are superb. If you prefer to simply relax in the sun, there are two beaches, so you will have plenty of room to stretch out on a blanket or on a lounge chair in the shade of a towering palm. The water surrounding Pearl Island is so beautiful that you can’t help but take a refreshing swim in the sea. The water is also crystal-clear, making it ideal for snorkeling. All sorts of marine life, ranging from colorful fish to graceful sea turtles have been spotted along the coral reef that lies just 50 feet off shore. Having worked up an appetite, you can then indulge in a traditional Bahamian lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ride the ferry the Pearl Island, the closest private island to Nassau.
• While away the hours doing whatever you please.
• Climb the lighthouse, bask in the sun and snorkel the coral reef just 50 feet off shore.
• Savor a hearty Bahamian BBQ lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring sunscreen and a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Cruise to Blue Lagoon Island on a sleek double-decker ferry for an up-close encounter with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at an American Humane-certified facility. Upon arriving at the island, which is also known as Salt Cay, you will first learn about the characteristics and behavior of dolphins, such as how they communicate and use echolocation to hunt prey. Once in the water, you will stand on a waist-deep submerged platform that allows easy access to these highly intelligent marine mammals. A trainer will be on hand to recommend the best ways to interact with and touch the dolphins. You can expect an unforgettable experience as dolphins are naturally curious and social. During the two hours or so of beach time that follows, you might settle into a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim, and snorkel in the turquoise sea. There are also shops in the Bahamian village nearby.

Take an approximately 45 minute cruise along the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. Open safari buses take you on an approximately 15 minute drive through Spanish Town to The Baths for a self-guided tour, where you can swim in the unique atmosphere of mammoth boulders, palms, and sea caves. Travel along the trails and boulders to discover hidden caves and sea pools.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an extraordinarily scenic and circuituous drive through the countryside and around the northern edge of Passamaquoddy Bay. Upon reaching the town of Saint Andrews at the tip of a peninsula, you will board a Zodiac boat and zip off toward the Bay of Fundy.

Over the next few hours, you will watch for the abundant marine life that come here to feed. Although a dozen or so species of whales are found here during the summer, the most commonly sightly whales include humpbacks, minkes and finbacks.

Humpbacks have huge appetites and are named for the way they arch their backs out of the water before diving to feed. You may also spot them spy-hopping with their snouts and eyes vertically out of the water and slapping their fins on the water’s surface.

Minke whales are much smaller, ranging between 15 to 25 feet, and are easy to identify by the white strip across each flipper. Finback whales are the second largest of all whales and are generally solitary and have a distinct dorsal fin. The crew will help you identify the whales, elaborate on their behavior and answer questions.

Following this magnificent adventure, you will enjoy free time in Saint Andrews to shop and perhaps enjoy lunch on your own.