SHORE EXCURSIONS

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.

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!

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.

Depart the Port of Miami by air-conditioned coach with a knowledgeable guide and drive for approximately one hour to enter Everglades National Park. This world renowned eco-system covers about 5,000 square miles and is home to most of Florida's alligators, snakes, black bear, wild pigs, over two hundred species of birds including herons, egrets, white ibis, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, ospreys, hawks, vultures, eagles and more, plus the endangered and nocturnal Florida Panther - less than 100 remaining in the wild.

Board your airboat for a thirty minute exhilarating ride over this 'river of grass' and hopefully come face to face with a number of these different creatures. Enjoy the Alligator Show and take home a complimentary photo next to a baby alligator. Afterwards enjoy the various crocodilian exhibits, visit the souvenir shop or perhaps try out the alligator nuggets in the snack bar. On the drive to the airport learn about the Miccosukee and the extremely wealthy Seminoles, the two Florida tribes of Native American Indians.

Enjoy the thrill of sailing through the turquoise Caribbean Sea on the Castaway Girl, a catamaran that will take you to Shipwreck Cove for snorkeling. The catamaran is fast, stable and extraordinarily comfortable with spacious sunbathing decks and a large cockpit for those who prefer a bit of shade. You can expect an exhilarating cruise all the way to Shipwreck Cove, which is located on Buck Island. Once Castaway Girl anchors, you will be free to snorkel the surrounding coral reefs. Besides observing an array of tropical fish, you may spot the wreck of a ship that lies in just 25 feet of water. As you will see, these waters are absolutely teeming with marine life. After snorkeling, the bar will open, the Caribbean music will be turned up and the onboard party will begin in earnest.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sail the catamaran Castaway Girl to Buck Island while admiring the gorgeous scenery.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters at Shipwreck Cove.
• See a shipwreck that lies just 25 feet below the surface of the water.
• Enjoy an open bar and Caribbean music on the return cruise.

OVERVIEW
Relax and unwind on Pearl Island, an idyllic tropical setting with plenty of amenities to ensure that your time is well spent. A short ferry ride across the harbor will bring you to the slender, meticulously maintained private island, where you will enjoy about four hours of free time to do as you please. You might start by climbing the lighthouse for the ultimate view of the island and the azure seas that surround it. Not far away, you will find two beaches that are ideal for basking in the sun and swimming just off shore. If you’d prefer to stretch out on a lounge chair, you are welcome to settle into one beneath a towering palm. Later in the day, you can indulge in an authentic Bahamian lunch that includes barbecued chicken, fish fingers and local side dishes such as pigeon peas and rice. Then round out your day by kayaking or heading to sea on a stand-up paddleboard.

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 paddle a kayak along the 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.

OVERVIEW

Paddle a kayak through the mangrove-lined waterways in Lucayan National Park and then relax on a wonderfully secluded stretch of sand nearby. While kayaking, you will likely pass under tree canopies that shelter an array of wildlife, birds in particular. The sounds that you hear will be almost entirely those of nature, making the experience all the more serene and enjoyable. On occasion, the guide may describe the environmental benefits of mangroves, such as how they filter impurities from the water. Gold Rock Beach is also a spectacularly natural setting as it rims the national park and is protected from development. You will find it immensely relaxing and the water brilliant blue. Back in Freeport, you will browse the Garden of the Groves, a botanical garden that supports a huge variety of indigenous flora and fauna. After meandering the winding paths, you might stop at the café and dine on your own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak through the mangrove-lined waterways in Lucayan National Park, a natural oasis.
• Relax on secluded Gold Rock Beach, a lengthy undeveloped stretch of pristine sand.
• Stroll along the winding paths in the Garden of the Groves botanical wonderland.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Spend a full and delightful day exploring two medieval villages on craggy hills overlooking the sea, each setting with its own personality.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic drive south to Taormina, an ancient city that rises almost perpendicularly from the sea. It’s a beautiful setting with an alluring medieval character, as you will discover while strolling its narrow, cobblestone streets.

Among the highlights are the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja and the ruins of a 2nd-century Greek theater. It sits on a seaside hilltop with a view of Mount Etna that is so inspiring that it can detract from the entertainers that still perform there in the summer.

After visiting, you will enjoy free time to explore on your own, taking in the views from the fragrant public garden or shopping along boutique-lined Corso Umberto. The most popular merchandise includes designer fashions, jewelry and colorful ceramic pine cones, a Sicilian symbol of hospitality.

A bit farther inland and above Taormina, you will find the village of Castelmola, which arguably boasts even better views. Although first fortified in the 9th century, Castelmola was repeatedly attacked and the ruins of the castle that remain are from the 16th century.

Like Taormina, Castelmola is wonderfully atmospheric with cobblestone streets and lovely squares flanked by small shops. Still, it’s the breathtaking views that will linger long in your memory. Before returning to the pier, you will enjoy a traditional Sicilian lunch and perhaps a glass of almond-flavored wine, the local specialty.