SHORE EXCURSIONS

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Naples and folded pizza, a classic Neapolitan treat. Your panoramic drive will present views from affluent Posillipo Hill and of the imposing Castle Nuovo. The castle’s five towers make it one of Naples’ most recognizable landmarks. You will also see the Egg Castle, which holds a commanding position on the sea. In time, you will reach Spaccanapoli, a long street whose name means “Naples splitter,” a reference to it somewhat dividing the city in two. Here, you will visit the Jesuit church Gesú Nuovo and the Church of Santa Chiara, which was founded in 1310 and features an austere Provencal-Gothic style. To delve even deeper into daily life, you will walk through the narrow streets of Old Town, which UNESCO has declared a Cultural Heritage site. As you will discover, there is no better setting for an espresso and portafoglio or folded pizza, as the dish was invented in Naples.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Drive through Naples taking in the panoramic views and passing key landmarks. • See two castles and several churches among the architectural highlights. • Walk through Old Town and pause to enjoy folded pizza, a treat invented in Naples.

Take a scenic drive through the countryside to the magnificent city of Florence. Pause in the Piazza del Duomo to admire the exterior of the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade is covered in a mix of pink and green marble.

View the statues in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Lunch is included at a local restaurant, and after the meal you’ll have free time to explore on your own or to shop, before your tour continues to the historic town of Pisa. Here, you’ll have free time in Miracle Square for a look at the exterior of that famous Leaning Tower. Built in the 12th century, it began to lean soon afterwards, but has now been stabilized.

Discover the charms of several villages in western Malta, where you will observe artisans practicing age-old crafts and get a genuine feel for daily life. Antoine tan-Newl is one of the island’s few weavers that still uses traditional techniques and watching him create items such as handmade rugs, blankets and bags on a wooden loom is a fascinating experience. He may even invite you to try your hand at weaving. In the nearby village of Żebbuġ, you will see the locals playing bocci, a traditional sport that is closely related to the French game of petanque and Italian bocce. You will be welcome to join the game or just sit back and enjoy locally sourced snacks that may include stuffed green olives, an area specialty. You will also stop in the village of Santa Venera for an introduction to traditional Maltese musical instruments such as simple whistles made from wheat stems and reeds.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of traditional life by visiting a number of quintessential villages.
• Watch artisans practice traditional crafts such as weaving and making musical instruments.
• See locals playing bocci and join in a game, if you like.
• Snack on a platter of Maltese delicacies in one of the villages.

Enjoy the amazing scenery of Teide National Park and ride a cable car up Mount Teide, the world’s third highest volcano and a sacred site for Tenerife’s aboriginal people.

After departing from the pier, you will drive inland along an immensely picturesque, circuitous route and on into Teide National Park. The largest of the Canary Island national parks, Teide features a colossal stratovolcano that contains Mount Teide, the highest peak on Spanish soil. Its stunning geological formations are so important to understanding how volcanic islands are created that the park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The now dormant volcano last erupted in 1798. It also erupted in 1492, supposedly as Christopher Columbus was sailing past on his voyage of discovery. Your approach to Mount Teide will be through a volcanic crater 30 miles in circumference.

The closer you come to Mount Teide, the more surreal and lunar the landscape will appear. The terrain is a jumble of bizarre natural rock formations, petrified lava rivers and endemic vegetation. One of the most spectacular plants is the red bugloss, a species with 6-foot, cone-shaped stems covered in pinkish-purple blossoms.

More phenomenal sights await you while ascending Mount Teide via cable car. From this unique perspective, you will enjoy sweeping views of the volcanic landscape and the ancient crater rimmed with red, brown and yellow walls. Upon reaching the summit, you may explore further during free time before retracing your route back to the pier in Tenerife.

Become familiar with the agricultural practices of Ecofinca Nogales, an organic farm that grows fruits and vegetables using sustainable methods that respect the environment. While touring the family-operated farm, you will see firsthand how the produce is grown without chemicals that may damage the quality of the soil. Compost tea, livestock manure and plant debris are used as an organic fertilizer that over time improve the fertility of the land. The farm has also optimized its irrigation system to reduce water consumption and meticulously recorded its carbon footprint to see how it might be lessened. As a result, everything grown at Ecofinca Nogales is certified to be ecologically responsible and sustainable. The variety and distinct flavors of the produce may surprise you. During the tasting that follows the guided tour, you may sample Pinkerton avocados, Red Lady papayas and aubergines.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit an organic farm that strictly follows sustainable practices.
• See how the farm’s water consumption and carbon footprint have been reduced.
• Taste a variety of fruits and vegetables grown using traditional, eco-friendly methods.

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

Explore the west coast of Tenerife, a gorgeous landscape of remote villages and banana plantations. Have privilege views over the fertile Orotava valley from the Humbold viewpoint. Over time, sugarcane, grapes and bananas became the dominant crops, and they are still harvested using traditional techniques. Understand how the crops are cultivated visiting an old hacienda where you can learn firsthand how bananas are grown, a tour in an authentic banana plantation where you can see different varieties of bananas and learn the process before sampling the locally grown bananas and banana liqueur. On the way back to pier, visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island and stop at La Garañona Viewpoint, local´s favorite spot to take in the beauty of the sea and surrounding.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of how crops are harvested using traditional methods.
• Learn firsthand how bananas are grown and see different varieties in an authentic plantation.
• Visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island .
• Sample several varieties of bananas and banana liqueur, which attest to the fruit’s diversity.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic driving tour through Florence with occasional stops for closer views of the must-see landmarks. You will ride around the city in a double-decker bus that offers 360º from the top. As an alternative, you can sit in the shaded lower deck. Either way, commentary will describe the points of interest and give you a clear understanding of their significance. UNESCO deemed the historic center of Florence a World Heritage site because of its artistic and cultural importance over the centuries, so there is plenty to see. The bus will stop at the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio bridge that spans the Arno River, the museum within the Palazzo Strozzi and Santa Maria Maggiore, which is among the oldest and most beautiful churches in Florence. For the ultimate view of the city, you will pause at Piazzale Michelangelo, a hilltop terrace with a bronze replica of Michaelangelo’s David.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride around Florence on the top of a double-decker bus or in the shaded lower deck.
• Hear enlightening commentary that describes the upcoming landmarks.
• Take the opportunity to stop at the most intriguing attractions for a closer look.
• See landmarks as diverse as the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the museum in Palazzo Strozzi.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Spend free time exploring a series of sea caves and an inland village that was the island’s first capital. The Ajuy sea caves are on the other side of Fuerteventura and on the way to this natural monument you will get a genuine feel for the island’s volcanic landscape. To reach the voluminous caves, you will follow a short trail through bizarrely shaped, fossilized dunes. The caves’ gaping entries will be quite the sight as will the geological wonders inside. The stone towers that you will see along the walkways are old lime kilns that were used when many of the local residences were constructed. Time will also be allotted for you to meander through Betancuria, a village that French explorer Jean de Béthencourt founded in 1404. Although the Norman Gothic-style Church of Santa María de Betancuria is the architectural highlight, the Museum of Sacred Art is also well worth browsing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through the high-ceilinged Ajuy Sea Caves, a Canary Islands natural park.
• Stroll at your leisure through the village of Betancuria, the island’s first capital.
• Marvel at the island’s volcanic landscape as you travel to and from its western coast.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive across Ibiza and explore some of its most enchanting villages before enjoying lunch at a beachfront restaurant. A winding road through pine-forested mountains will bring you to Sant Josep, a beach-blessed village nestled in the foothills. It is a wonderfully scenic setting with white-washed houses and medieval churches. Farther down the coast, you will pause to admire Es Vedra, a petite nearly 100-year-old lighthouse on a rocky island whose only inhabitants are goats. Sant Antoni de Portmany is another village on Ibiza’s western coast and it has become quite the foodie destination. Fishermen unload their catch daily and the local agricultural cooperative supplies a bounty of seasonal produce. While dining at a family-owned waterfront restaurant that overlooks the Sant Antoni Yacht Club, you will taste the difference that fresh, locally sourced ingredients make. Lovely inland villages are also plentiful as you will see while later passing through Santa Gertrudis.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See some of the island’s most characteristic coastal and inland villages.
• Visit the gorgeous beach-rimmed village of Sant Josep on Ibiza’s western shore.
• Pause at a lookout that presents a dramatic view of the lighthouse Es Vedra.
• Dine on traditional cuisine at a waterfront restaurant in Sant Antoni de Portmany.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Nothing says Los Angeles more than "Beaches and Beverly Hills"! This tour will begin at the Port of Los Angeles, where you will disembark the ship and begin a tour in route to Beverly Hills. Here you'll be taken through the most exclusive neighborhoods, and on to Rodeo Drive, the home of world famous stores and shops. This will be a perfect time and place to pick up a souvenir or two along the way. Upon departure from Rodeo Drive our next visit will be to Santa Monica, the home of the world famous amusement pier where we will stop for you to enjoy the atmosphere, scenery and ocean breezes. The Tour will conclude at Los Angeles International Airport.

Follow a local guide on an enlightening walk through Lisbon’s most atmospheric districts, pausing at various venues to sample Portuguese delicacies. In the Baixa district, you will stop at Manteigaria Silva, a delicatessen that dates to the 19th century. Chances are, you will sample local ham and cheeses such as Serra da Estrela. You will then head to Mouraria, a Moorish-influenced district that is considered the birthplace of the music genre fado. There, you will be served a sweet cherry liqueur known as ginja. continue your walk to Rossio, where you will gain even more insight into daily life in Lisbon. Admire the magnificent D. Maria II National Theater and the striking Train Station, both iconic examples of Portuguese architecture, and take in the haunting ruins of Carmo, a poignant reminder of the 1755 earthquake. Then, stroll along the emblematic Augusta Street, where traditional Portuguese pavement, elegant building facades, and the impressive Santa Justa Lift create a truly captivating scene. One last stop will be made at a café, where you will sample Portuguese products such as codfish pastry and cornbread with sausage, perhaps with another glass of ginja.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Walk through Lisbon’s historical districts and stop on occasion in the cafés.
• Snack on an array of Portuguese specialties, such as ham, cheeses and traditional beverages.
• Explore the city on foot, immersing yourself in Lisbon’s vibrant atmosphere.

If you want to explore these fascinating places on your own, we are pleased to provide a motorcoach transfer to Florence and Pisa, complete with an English speaking escort. You’ll visit Pisa first, to avoid the heavy traffic entering Florence in the morning. Arriving in Pisa, your escort will walk you to the famous Miracle Square to enjoy some free time to take pictures of the Leaning Tower. Continue to Florence, where in the early afternoon, you’ll be dropped off at a central location in Florence and have approximately 3 hours to explore the city at your leisure.