SHORE EXCURSIONS

Come aboard for a Caribbean sightseeing and snorkel adventure and enjoy a leisurely day at sea. From your ship’s pier, you’ll cruise out into the turquoise waters en route to three distinct reef locations where you’ll have three varied shipside snorkel adventures. Gear up and follow your PADI certified guide through the crystal-clear waters and over colorful coral reef formations as you discover exotic fish and marine life and experience the mysterious underwater world. You’ll be provided with a ship’s captain & crew, tour guide, snorkel gear, snack and water after snorkeling. So, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know this Caribbean island paradise.

OVERVIEW
Experience the Damajagua waterfalls in every way imaginable with a local guide leading the adventure. A leisurely hike through a jungle-like landscape will bring you to the waterfalls, whose source is the Damajagua River, a cool mountain stream. This breathtaking natural wonder contains numerous cascades of varying heights, and you will reach about a dozen of them. You will jump off some of the waterfalls, negotiate other ones by sliding down slick rock chutes and swim in the sparkling pools at the base of all of them. Wooden walkways and steps connect many of the cascades, allowing you access that would be impossible otherwise. The river is known for its beautiful blue hue as it spills out of the mountains and carves its way through the rocky terrain. Steep limestone canyons line much of the Damajagua, making the scenery all the more memorable.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a guide down the Damajagua River as it cascades through the mountainous jungle.
• Jump off and slide down the waterfalls and swim in the cool pools below the cascades.
• Marvel at the secluded pristine setting, which can only be reached on foot.

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

After a brief orientation on how to use the Mirage Eclipse Pedalboard you will pedal out of the confines of the Harvest Caye Lagoon and will navigate along beautiful mangroves in the Placencia Lagoon. Your guide will point out and explain about the local marine life and how crucial it is to protect the local eco-system, while looking for our resident manatees that come to graze on the sea grass that grows in the area. Cruise through the water silently, easily seeing what’s below from this vantage point. These pedalboards are easy to maneuver and require no previous experience. It's wider than a paddleboard and its hull and handlebars are optimized for stability, with steering control at your fingertips.

Your adventure takes you to a hidden underground world the Mayans called Chaak Tun–named for the Mayan god of rain–literally meaning “Chaak’s Rain of Stone.” Explore the mysteries of the cenotes and sacred underground river as you cleanse your heart, mind and spirit while learning of the mythology behind these natural wonders.

Visit two mystical caverns and underground rivers, discovering its amazing formations; stalactites and stalagmites reaching from floor to ceiling while snorkeling and swimming through the crystal-clear, sacred waters that purify and rejuvenate. Before the next experience, you will be greeted and welcomed by a local shaman to the Temazcal. Learn about the importance of this ancient cleansing process and experience it yourself. Savor the time for yourself while you purify your body through a relaxing steam bath with the use of medicinal plants, an ancestral ritual practiced in Mesoamerica employed for cleansing, medicinal, and spiritual purposes.

Afterwards enjoy a Mexican lunch, featuring local favorites and learn about the tequila making process, a trademark of Mexican culture. At the conclusion of this memorable adventure, return to Playa del Carmen to board the ferry that will take you back to the ship's pier.

Get up close and personal with the Dominican countryside, exploring hidden trails and scenic vistas aboard your easy-to-handle ATV. Arrive by open air truck and hop on your ATV (single rider) to discover the beauty and allure of the Dominican landscape, riding rugged roads past quaint villages and deep into the heart of the country.

Experience the hospitality of the Dominican people, learning about the rural Dominican lifestyle by visiting a typical country home. After getting dirty riding through the hills of Puerto Plata, relax on the beach or take a swim in the cooling ocean waters of a secluded cove.

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 wave runner and tear off across the lagoon. 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.

Everybody loves friendly Rays! Enjoy two great ray activities -a personal encounter plus shore-side snorkeling. Then relax and have fun at a private shore club with its resident, friendly critters, and water trampoline. Mere minutes from your ship, you’ll be provided with snorkeling gear and briefed on equipment and the rays. Your guide works with small groups to give you personal attention.

First, you’ll encounter the rays in a shallow area and get to feed them if you like. Then, you'll move to a larger area for snorkeling with a larger school of rays, nurse sharks, and all their colorful fish friends. Finally, you’ll have some beach club leisure time, complete with a snack bar, souvenirs and photos available to complete your experience.

If you are looking for an off-road adventure to experience Bonaire’s hidden sites, this is the tour for you! Your adventure begins the moment you meet your safari guide and board the Big Foot Unimog. Equipped with 4WD, high ground clearance and a full sun shade, this rugged vehicle is the perfect way to explore off road sites. Along the sprawling desert terrain of the east coast, spectacular giant cacti dot the landscape while ocean waves crash and spray the coastline.

Expertly driven through narrow dirt and mud trails, your safari guide will show you watering holes, flamingos wadding through mangroves, goats and donkeys grazing in the countryside, offering you several great photo opportunities! Tranquil shallow waters await you at Sorobon Beach, as well as a refreshing drink. You can also choose to remain longer and spend some time relaxing at the beach, or return directly to the ship. Bring a camera and bring the whole family, they’ll love it!

You'll kayak to a beach in the southern part of the Bonaire Marine Park - an exquisite snorkeling location with breathtaking coral and colorful fish. This day of sun and fun starts as you meet your guide at the pier for the short walk to a lovely beach, for your kayaking eco-adventure. First, you’ll take a moment for a safety briefing and paddling instructions for your two person kayak. Your stable, sit-on-top kayak is equipped with a comfortable backrest seat, life vests, a waterproof bag for your personal belongings and, of course, paddles. You’ll enjoy Bonaire’s Caribbean shore as you kayak over shallow water, filled with colorful sea life.

Keep an eye out for pelicans and turtles! Two guides will accompany you all the way. The bay is always protected from the elements. Your destination is a beach in the southern part of the Bonaire Marine Park - an exquisite snorkeling location, excellent for all skill levels. Bonaire has a long history of marine preservation and is world renowned for its snorkeling. Pull your kayak right onto the sandy beach, and moments later you’ll be slipping into the warm water with your snorkel gear and enjoying the breathtaking coral and the many colorful tropical reef fish. All of your snorkel equipment is provided, but if you have brought an underwater camera, this would be a great time to use it! Afterwards, relax on the beach and refresh yourself with some provided bottled water before kayaking back along the scenic route to the pier.

Zip through the turquoise seas off Charlotte Amalie in a powerful catamaran that will take you to one of the island’s premier spots for snorkeling. The one-level Powercat offers plenty of cushioned seats in the shade and sun so you can easily find a spot to your liking. Either way, the views will be wonderfully picturesque on the way to Buck Island. A different sort of tropical scenery awaits you beneath the water’s surface, as you will discover while snorkeling the island’s Turtle Cove. You might spot French angelfish, brilliantly colored damselfish and bright-blue tangs. Hawksbills and green turtles are prevalent and watching them gracefully swim by is a showstopper. Next it is off to Honeymoon Beach, on Water Island another idyllic setting that is great for swimming and beachcombing with its easy access.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Snorkel along the reefs of an island that is teeming with marine life.
• Observe an abundance of tropical fish and maybe even sea turtles.
• Enjoy the tropical views as you zip from island to island in a Powercat.

Experience a ride on a St. Thomas Cycleboat — a truly unique adult experience. It’s a boat, a bike and a bar, all in one! Join the fun as we drink, pedal and party to the picturesque Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. This excursion encourages you to let loose and enjoy the vacation you deserve. The Cycleboat holds only 16 guests, so escape the crowds and receive personalized service.

The fun begins as soon as you set sail! Start with a tropical rum punch served out of your new souvenir cup and let the music take you away as your favorite party tunes play in the background. Grab one of our 10 cycle stations around our central bar for a social experience that you’ll never forget. You can also relax as you're seated around, at the front of the boat and enjoy the exquisite coastal views. The bars seats are equipped with interactive cycle stations that help paddle the boat along the calm, protected waters. But don’t worry, we have a motor on board and other guests to take turns and assist you, and even completely take over when the dancing or limbo contest breaks out! Once the tour arrives at beautiful Honeymoon beach, you will have time to walk along the white sand beach, swim in the crystal-clear waters or purchase lunch at the beachside restaurants. You can also choose to find a shady palm tree and relax to the fullest. On your way back, the fun continues as you party along the route to the Havensight Pier with more drinks and dancing.

OVERVIEW
Race through the tree canopy on a series of exhilarating zip lines and then cool off in the Damajagua River as it cascades through the dense jungle terrain. The five ziplines more or less follow the river and offer a wonderfully unique perspective of the tropical landscape, as they span platforms high above the ground. To reach some of the ziplines, you will need to walk across swaying suspension bridges, which definitely add to the excitement. Afterwards, you will follow the guide along a section of the river with a dozen cascades. You will jump off some of the waterfalls into the deep pools below, while other waterfalls are more easily negotiated by sliding down natural waterslides carved in the rocks. You will also have time to swim in the cool, remarkably blue water between the cascades. Over time, the Damajagua has carved steep canyons into the terrain, so you can expect the scenery to be magnificent.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Fly high above the jungle floor on five ziplines and walk across two suspension bridges.
• Follow a guide down the Damajagua River as it cascades through the mountainous jungle.
• Jump off and slide down the waterfalls and swim in the cool pools below the cascades.

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