Get an authentic glimpse of life in Kotka by browsing attractions that highlight the influence of the sea. The city is surrounded by water as it covers two islands in the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of the Kymijoki River. While strolling through Sappoka Water Garden, you will soon realize the calming effect of its central waterfall and many ponds and brooks. Kotka’s most iconic building is the Maritime Centre Vellama, a complex of museums within a modern façade that resembles a massive wave that reflects the colors of the sea. Its Museum of Kymenlaakso focuses on cultural aspects and presents a history of the Coast Guard. The complex’s Maritime Museum of Finland is even more comprehensive, as it holds everything from nautical charts to underwater archaeological artifacts to full-size ships. You will gain a different historical perspective at the 19th-century Kotka Church, which is known for its rose windows and for having the largest baroque organ in Finland.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Recognize how the sea has shaped Kotka while enjoying a panoramic drive around town. • Stroll through serene Sappoka Water Garden, the city’s most popular park. • Browse two marine-oriented museums within the Maritime Centre Vellama complex. • Behold the largest baroque organ in Finland at the Kotka Church.

This unforgettable excursion will have you traveling along the coastlines on the Sir Francis Drakes Highway heading through small villages such as Capoons Bay, Apple Bay, Carrot Bay, and then you will ascend about 900 feet above sea level between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Photo stops will be made along the way.

Enjoy stunning views and the different shades of beautiful water. Your knowledgeable driver/guide will keep you constant company as the history and culture of the island is related via the public address system. At Long Bay beach, enjoy a relaxing swim in the crystal- clear water or just relax to the singing of the waves along the seashore.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Athens! 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. Professional photographers & 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 Athens. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Panathenaic Stadium
• The Olympieion
• The Hadrian Arch
• The Acropolis
• Aeropagus Hill
• Parliament House
• Plaka

To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture. End your picture-perfect day with Souvlaki tasting in Monasteraki and some free time.

Sail across Pillsbury Sound to the enchanting island of St. John on a catamaran and then snorkel in the turquoise waters just offshore. All that is required of you is to sit back and relax as the catamaran glides along the eastern end of St. Thomas and continues to St. John, the most pristine of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In time, you will arrive at Honeymoon Beach within the Virgin Islands National Park. You will be free to snorkel, stroll along the sugar-white beach and relax as you see fit. You might stretch out on a beach towel, linger in the shade of a coconut palm and swim in the sea with nothing on your mind other than enjoying yourself. On the return cruise to St. Thomas, the champagne will be flowing and an array of cheeses, freshly baked breads and fresh tropical fruits will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sail on a sleek catamaran to neighboring St. John, half of which is a national park.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters off Honeymoon Beach on the island’s western edge.
• Bask in the sun, relax on the beach and delight in the natural beauty.
• Celebrate the adventure with a tropical beverage from the open bar on the return cruise.

Snorkel a coral reef off Mystery Island, an ecologically protected area that is teeming with marine life. Chances are, you will have the reef pretty much to yourself as the island is uninhabited. In other words, it’s a tropical paradise where the natural world reigns supreme. While snorkeling the reef that lies just offshore, you can expect to see all sorts of brightly colored tropical fish, bizarrely shaped coral and perhaps a sea turtle or two.

A guide will snorkel along with you to point out the more interesting marine species such as parrotfish. These neon-colored fish usually swim in schools and have the unique ability to change their color and even gender over their lifetime. You may also spot teeny, orange-and-white striped clown fish taking refuge in the tentacles of sea anemones. The gentle current around the reef will eventually nudge you toward the shore, allowing you to drift snorkel without expending much energy.

Bicycle through neighborhoods and areas known more to locals than visitors, an experience that will leave you with a genuine understanding of daily life in Valencia. Fishermen founded the residential district El Cabanyal in the 13th century, and it is an excellent place for bicycling, as the streets are relatively flat and easy to negotiate, freeing you to really enjoy the setting. While bicycling through the outskirts of Alboraya, you will likely pass farmhouses surrounded by fields of vegetables and chufa, a vitamin-rich superfood known more casually as tiger nuts. It is also well-known for producing horchata, a beloved chilled beverage made with the milky juice of chufa and sugar. Similarly, Valencia is synonymous with paella, and you will enjoy a tasting of it at a restaurant before bicycling toward Malvarrosa Beach. The fresh sea air and views of the lively promenade along the golden sand will make the final leg of your journey all the more memorable.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Bicycle through areas of Valencia unknown to most visitors for a true glimpse at daily life.
• Pass a beach, farmhouse and field where you will see the diversity of local crops.
• Sample authentic paella, a dish synonymous with Valencia.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Mallorca!

Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as you can find wi-fi in some stops along the route in real time. Your accompanying guide will share some tricks on how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Discover Mallorca’s wealth of treasures that is a must-see for every visit to the island, and which will take your breath away on each and every click. You will have designated selfie stops at: • Bellver Castle
• La Escollera & Cathedral
• Valldemossa
• Na Foradada/Son Marroig
• Port De Soller

Gain an understanding of how local craftsmen make traditional Greek musical instruments and take in the island’s natural beauty. Pyrgos is known for its 13th-century Venetian castle, the classic Cycladic design of its homes and the panoramic views from its hilltop location. It will be an ideal setting to pause for a cup of coffee and a Greek sweet. Megalochori is equally picturesque, as you will discover while meandering the village’s atmospheric cobbled streets lined with neoclassical houses. The intriguing Museum of Musical Instruments honors the history of the instruments that make Greek music so recognizable. You will learn how classic instruments such as the bouzouki and laouto are handmade and have the chance to play some of them. Afterwards, you will visit the family-owned Gavalas Winery, which has been producing traditional wines such as Katsano and Nykteri since the 19th century. There you will sample wines indicative of Santorini’s terroir and snacks that pair perfectly with them.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Pause for a snack and to revel in the village of Pyrgos’ classic Cycladic setting.
• Discover how some of the most recognizable Greek musical instruments are hand-crafted.
• Sample a selection of traditional wines and local delicacies at a family-owned winery.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Seville! 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. Your guide & 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 begins with a scenic drive from Cadiz to the majestic city of Seville.

You will have designated selfie stops at: Metrosol Parasol, Streets of the Old Quarter, Plaza de Espana.

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch the perfect picture. Your picture-perfect day includes some free time to explore on your own. Note: Tour involves approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) of walking on mostly flat and cobblestone terrain, and some steps.

Settle in aboard an expedition catamaran for a wonderfully picturesque cruise to a private island, the starting point for a kayaking adventure through the Siginaka Islands. The cruise will set the stage for what lies ahead, as the scenery will be spectacular. Still, few experiences rival exploring the islands in a sea kayak, where the serenity is so overwhelming that you will feel at one with nature. As you paddle around the islands, the guide will point out the marine life, which should be easily visible in the shallows. Abundant crabs, sea stars and jellyfish live just below the water’s surface. Animals such as sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions and porpoise are frequently spotted as well, some breaching the water’s surface, others sunning on the rocky shores. And be sure to scan the trees for majestic bald eagles. The guide will also describe the influence and culture of the indigenous Tlingits, the area’s first inhabitants.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise to a private island in an expedition catamaran.
• Kayak around the Siginaka Islands as the guide points out marine life in the shallows.
• Look for playful sea otters, sea lions and porpoise in the water and bald eagles overhead.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate clothing i.e. light rain jacket and layers.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Beach Escape Beach Club in nearby Mahahual. After a brief orientation to help you maximize the experience, you will be free to enjoy the club’s amenities, which are considerable and all offered for your enjoyment. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the sea and gather around the thatched-roof poolside bar, which will be open for unlimited drinks the entire time. One end of the Beach Escape is typically busier and more party-oriented, while the other end by the pier is quieter, allowing you to easily find an ideal spot to make the most of your free time. If you wish to explore offshore, kayaks are available. The beach club is located right on the boardwalk at Fisherman’s Village, a great place for people-watching and dining on your own as there are plenty of restaurants.

Relive the history of King Shaka, King of the Zulus, during this enriching visit to the tribal village of Shakaland.

Journey through Empangeni en route to Shakaland, the location where the movie Shaka Zulu was filmed. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your Zulu guide and share welcome refreshments before being invited to relive the momentous and turbulent days of King Shaka, a revered early 19th-century Zulu ruler. During your walking tour through the Zulu village, see a variety of displays, including women doing beadwork, weaving mats, sculpting pottery, baking bread and brewing beer. You’ll also watch the men make a spear and shield as well as build a beehive-style grass hut.

Enter the chief’s hut to observe Zulu dancers performing rapturous rhythmic drum dances and witness a ritual done by the traditional healer, or sangoma, followed by a short audio-visual presentation and some time at your leisure to browse the village’s enticing curio shops. Delight in a traditional Zulu buffet lunch at the Kwabonamanzi restaurant overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake, a satisfying finale to your fascinating outing.