View the landmarks of Hiroshima, some commemorating the atomic bomb blast here in 1945 and others reflecting the city’s celebration of peace. At the poignant Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, you will behold the ruins of some of the few concrete buildings left after the atomic bomb was dropped. One of them, the Atomic Bomb Dome, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and has become a symbol of Hiroshima. You will also browse the Peace Memorial Museum whose exhibits show Hiroshima before and after the bombing and personal artifacts from the victims that humanize the devastating event. The museum encourages visitors to make a vow for universal peace. While the mood there is somber, serenity is the overarching theme at Shukkei-en Garden. Besides being a wonderful respite from the hubbub of the city, the garden is a visual delight, as plants are always in bloom. Although the atomic bomb destroyed the garden, it has been fully restored.

You will be picked up from port and head to the Rock of Aphrodite, the mythical birthplace of the Ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty. Many legends are linked to this particular place. The site is an interesting geological formation of huge rocks along a beautiful coastline. Free time will be provided to take the perfect picture from a view point. Participants will also be transferred on the beach, where the rock of Aphrodite is located, in order to take more photos. Hop back on board and head to Limassol old town for a walking tour. A map and road book of Limassol old town will be provided, indicating the hotspots and allowing you to navigate in the old town in your own pace. An English speaking escort may help you with directions if needed. Some of the suggested places for photos will be the following.

Your tour will start with a drive to the Rock of Aphrodite. Your tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Limassol Municipal University Library where you will have the opportunity to take photos outside the building. The impressive building is unlike any other in Limassol and dates back to 1919.
• The popular sea side Multi-Functional Park, also called Molos by the locals. It is a buzzling with life, park that includes jetties, piers, fountains, open-air sculpture park, green areas, piers and play areas making it the perfect setting for Instagram photos and stories.
• Limassol Old Port. The renovation project has recently turned the traditional fishing port into a destination full of life, with trendy cafes, restaurants. The picturesque pier, which stands since 1880, offers the perfect spot for romantic walks, relaxation, endless sea and town views and the perfect photo! During your time in Limassol old town, take a break to enjoy a Cyprus coffee in a typical kafenio.

We would like to recommend that guests bring their own selfie sticks and charges to ensure that they are compatible with their devices. As Intercruises Cyprus, we will have 5 basic selfie sticks just in case needed. No chargers will be provided.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Santorini! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to the Aroma Avlis. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Aroma Avlis
• The Blue Domes Churches of Oia
• Church Bells in Fira

Delve into the history of the surrounding Aichi Prefecture by browsing an open-air museum and a 16th-century castle that is remarkably intact. Dozens of buildings from the Meiji Period have been carefully reconstructed at the Meijimura museum, and you will easily recognize the Western influence in the architecture. This short period in Japanese history ended in 1912 and marked the end of samurai rule and the beginning of Japan’s modernization.

The nearby Inuyama Castle is even more impressive architecturally as it is one of the few castles in Japan that survived wars and natural disasters without being severely damaged. As you meander through this official national treasure, you will see artifacts relating to the Naruse family that once owned the castle. The armory of samurai weapons and the hidden doors for the guards are of particular note, as they shed light on the fact that the castle was under constant threat of attack.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an authentic taste of Cyprus by sampling locally made products, wines and dishes that reflect the island’s Mediterranean climate. At the Carob Museum in the village of Angogyra, you will gain insight into how the locals ground caffeine-free carob pods into flour that replaces chocolate in recipes. You will also sample yogurt topped with carob syrup. As an introduction to Cypriot wine, family members from two boutique vineyards will lead behind-the-scenes tours to show you how they make the most of their terroirs. Both wineries will offer tastings of wines produced with indigenous grapes. Another glimpse into Cypriot gastronomy awaits you at the Apsiou Tavern in a small mountain village, where the owner and chef will demonstrate how to prepare traditional dishes such as koupepia. Feel free to join in and help to stuff the vine leaves with locally sourced ingredients such as minced pork, tomatoes and rice. A meze lunch follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Gain insight into the local cuisine and wines by touring family-owned businesses.
• See the importance of carob as a substitute for chocolate in local recipes.
• Sample yogurt with carob drizzle and several wines made from indigenous grapes.
• Help a chef prepare a local dish before dining on a traditional meze lunch.

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

Gain an overall understanding of Saigon through landmark architecture that reflects the changing face of the metropolis known as Ho Chi Minh City since 1976. In the lively Chinatown district of Cholon, you will find Giac Lam, the city’s oldest pagoda. A haven of tranquility where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism, the pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree and an elegant statue of the Goddess of Mercy. For a more contemporary perspective, you will view Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, a modernistic white building that was home to the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon presents a glimpse into colonial life, as the French constructed it in the mid-1800s. The ornate Central Post Office is another French-built colonial gem. If not for the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh inside, you might think you were in Paris.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Istanbul! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site Selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to your first selfie stop with astonishing views on the way. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at:

• Sultanahmet Square
• Grand Baazar
• Galata Bridge
• The Blue Mosque
• Hagia Sophia

You will have some free time to go shopping in the Grand Bazaar, and to end your picture-perfect day, you will experience a traditional Turkish Drinks tasting.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Istanbul’s most epic spots to snap your selfies while enjoying local Raki tasting and learning about its history and architecture!
• Learn from Selfie Experts tips & tricks on how to take the perfect selfie.
• Enjoy a deep dive into Turkish culture discovering unique local treats.

Gain an appreciation for some of Cyprus’ crafts and foods by visiting a traditional baker, beekeeper and basket weaver. Your first stop will be the village of Larnaca, where you will stop at the Byzantine church Agios Lazaros and at a bakery for a snack of koupes, a traditional street food stuffed with minced meat and spices. Cyprus is known for its extraordinary honey, which you will hear about from a beekeeper in the rustic village Valva. You will also taste the honey, which may reflect a bouquet of flora such as thyme, eucalyptus and orange blossom. Once you arrive in the village of Choirokotia, artisan Petros Nicolaou will demonstrate the art of basket-weaving, a trade he learned from his grandparents. It takes about three hours to make a single basket from water reeds, and it is a fascinating process. While observing Nicolaou’s artistry, you will sample local delicacies that include halloumi cheese made in a basket.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Stop in a historical village to snack on a traditional street food known as koupes.
• Sample honey that reflects the flavors of the local flora in another village.
• Watch a basket weaver demonstrate his prodigious talents as you snack on local cheese.

Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites honoring the apostle Saint John, including the cave where he spent years in exile, and the Monastery of Saint John, dedicated to his illustrious life. Experience the Cave of the Apocalypse, where Saint John dictated his Gospel and The Book of Revelations. Arriving in Chora, you’ll view the arresting Monastery of Saint John, the wealthiest in the Dodecanese due to the patronage of Byzantine emperors and countless private contributors. Learn that great wealth enabled the monks to establish the Theological School of Patmos in 1713, which still attracts students from around the world.

Tour the chapel that contains Saint John’s relics, which is adorned with magnificent frescoes depicting his voyages and miracles. You’ll marvel at the enthralling museum’s rare icons, chalices and vestments, as well as ancient manuscripts and 33 pages of an invaluable copy of Saint Mark’s Gospel written in the 6th century. As you contemplate the life of the revered saint, relish free time in town to explore and appreciate the sweeping views of the azure Bay of Patmos and the scattered islands beyond.

View the landmarks of Dubai, an ultra-modern city with a strong reverence for its past. The stark contrast between the old and the new is evident throughout the city. As you will see, Jumeirah Mosque was built in the medieval Fatimid tradition but is a modern white-stone building that can hold 1,200 worshippers. You will also pause for photos of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the luxurious hotel whose signature sail-shaped silhouette rises high above the Arabian Gulf. Historical Dubai will come to life in the atmospheric Al-Bastakiya district. Its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers, known as barajeels, lend the area a character that harkens back to the days before electricity. You may delve even deeper into the past by browsing the Dubai Museum, which is housed in the 200-year-old Fort Fahidi. A water taxi will then bring you across Dubai Creek to the spice and gold souks for one last glimpse of traditional life before departing for the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• l at the iconic buildings that define the skyline of modern Dubai.
• See how centuries-old buildings have been beautifully folded into the modern landscape.
• wse the collection of artifacts in the Dubai Museum for a deep historical perspective.
• Ride a water taxi across Dubai Creek to the spice and gold souks.

Experience country life in a village near Kusadasi, where you will mingle with the residents and help them harvest crops. You might discover how the villagers spend most days, earn livings and view the rest of the world. This frank, face-to-face conversation will offer great insight into country life, and you can expect the villagers to reciprocate and ask about your life. A meandering walk through the village will bring you to fields of fruits or vegetables, depending on the season. There, you will have the opportunity to join the villagers as they harvest the farm’s crops. What better way to experience rural life than to be a genuine part of it, sharing each moment as if you were a local? Chances are, you will work up an appetite, which will easily be appeased with a hearty Turkish breakfast, known as “kahvalti.” It typically includes cheeses, black and green olives, spicy sausages, fruit preserves and fresh-baked bread.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Mingle with the locals in a small village on the outskirts of Kusadasi.
• Learn about the farmers’ rural lifestyle and join them in a harvest, if you wish.
• Enjoy a hearty Turkish breakfast with country favorites such as sausage, cheeses and olives.

The island of Mykonos is world famous for its stunning scenic beauty comprised of windmills, sparking bays, superb beaches, white houses and churches with their colorful blue and red domes. You'll pass by Ornos Beach, one of the most cosmopolitan beaches on the island with an abundance of luxurious hotels, tavernas and yachts mooring offshore.

You’ll make a short photo stop at the beach of Kalafatis to experience one of the island's beautiful beaches and to enjoy the breathtaking view. As you head to the center of the island, you'll visit the village of Ano Mera and the Monastery Panayia Tourliani. You’ll also have a chance to enjoy ouzo and Greek appetizers in the peaceful little square of the village.