SHORE EXCURSIONS

This completely unique tour could easily be the highlight of your trip. Just imagine traveling down the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad in a beautifully restored and richly adorned railcar, while viewing what is widely considered to be the 8th wonder of the world; the Panama Canal, as well as spectacular Gatun Lake and the extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. Adding to all of that, the unrivaled experience of traveling from one ocean to another, crossing the amazing continent of the Americas in just over one hour!

The Panama Railroad was the brainchild of a group of New York Financiers who wanted to create an easy passage for the increasing gold rush traffic. The railroad took five years and eight million dollars to build and was completed in 1855. During its first 12 years of operation, the train carried over 750 million dollars’ worth of gold and silver and collected one-quarter of one percent of each shipment as duty. The railroad was rebuilt in 1909 during the construction of the Panama Canal, and without it, the canal could not have been built. Your journey will begin with a short coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Pacific side railroad station where you will board the train for your approximately 75-minute rail journey. As you travel through the lush tropical rainforest, there is a good chance you'll sight some Howler monkeys, colorful toucans or other exotic wildlife. Crossing the Continental Divide, you'll find yourself on the Atlantic side, where you will disembark the train.

Following your time at locks, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier in Amador.

This Mexican Outback and Camel Safari is an unforgettable eco-adventure that combines spectacular views, delicious cuisine and an exciting beach camel ride.

Check in at the pier, sign your waivers, and make a quick bathroom stop. Continue with a short walk to board your A/C vans for the scenic 45 minute drive into the heart of the Baja outback and Rancho Tierra Sagrada.

Upon arrival at Rancho Tierra Sagrada, you will be greeted by your friendly and knowledgeable local expert who will give you a briefing of the adventure that awaits you.

Start by meeting our friendly camels, these gentle giants will then take you on a fun and unique caravan across the white sands of the beach. From your perch high atop the camel, you'll have excellent views of your surroundings and in the winter months, you'll want to keep an eye out for whales which are sometimes spotted off-shore.

After you've dismounted your camel, your good times continue as you expert guide leads you on a guided tour through desert vegetation, pointing out the indigenous flora and fauna, making this a true eco experience.

The pathway of your nature walk will lead you to the restaurant of our local ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where you'll have a chance to catch your breath and savor some traditional Mexican food of hand-made tortillas, beans and salsas. Your guide will continue with a Tequilla sampling and a short class on how to make traditional tortillas.

Then it's time to head back to the pier. Re-board the A/C van and enjoy some breathtaking views of the Baja desert while you drive beside the Pacific Ocean coast line.

Go fishing in the beautiful, crystal-clear waters off Harvest Caye, which are teeming with highly prized, fun-to-catch fish such as groupers, snappers and jacks. After departing from the pier in a skiff designed for fishing, you will cruise into the turquoise waters off Harvest Caye, which are teeming with fish. Just settle in and enjoy, as the 32-foot boat races to a spot where the fish have been biting lately. Once the boat anchors, a crew member will outfit you with the necessary bait that the fish should find irresistible. The crew will also offer tips on how best to cast and retrieve the bait to maximize the experience. Jacks thrive here among the reefs and if you catch one be prepared for a fierce fight. Easy to identify by their steep heads and deeply forked tails, jacks are often caught here. If you catch a striped fish that grunts like a pig when you pull it out of the water, it will be a grunt. They make that characteristic sound by grinding the teeth deep in their throats. Grunts tend to school in the many reefs and sea beds off Harvest Caye. Many types of groupers are found in deeper waters near rocks, drop-offs and ledges. Although groupers are slow swimmers, they can be powerful, especially the massive ones.

Experience the thrill of an Iron Chef-style cooking challenge, where you can put your skills to the test with fellow passengers. With breathtaking rooftop views of San Francisco as a backdrop, classes are taught by local hosts who bring their expertise and passion to each session.

Spend hours with a chef as they demonstrate culinary techniques and provides cooking tips, all in the interest of improving your skills in the kitchen. Whether you are somewhat of a novice or a highly experienced cook, this course has plenty to offer. During the session, you will learn how to prepare dishes using seasonal ingredients that are nutrient-rich and responsibly sourced. You will also discover the principles of flavor composition so you can create memorable dishes without following a recipe when you return home. Much of the course will be hands on, allowing you to better understand the principles by practicing the techniques under the chef’s watchful eye. Afterwards, you will enjoy a lunch made with garden-fresh ingredients that reflect California international cuisine. The exact dishes will be determined by what’s in season, but past offerings have included Thai, summer vegetable galette, balsamic Swiss chard tart and buckwheat crepes with tarragon zucchini.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend time in a hands-on cooking class with an accomplished chef in her home kitchen.
• Learn techniques to better prepare nutrient-rich, responsibly sourced dishes.
• Gain an understanding of flavor composition so you can prepare meals without a recipe.
• Dine on dishes that reflect California cuisine.

The image conjured by Panama is generally that of the spectacular Canal, considered by many as one of the eighth wonder of the world, and rightly so. The Panama Canal cuts through one of the narrowest saddles of the Isthmus of Panama approximately 80 kilometers long, joining North & South America with the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.

Today you will have a unique opportunity to travel on board a comfortable air conditioned motor coach and travel from Atlantic to Pacific on a similar route once used by the Spanish Conquistadors and the 49ers seeking a short cut in search of Gold in the West.

Your first stop will be Miraflores Locks, take this opportunity to pause and view the gargantuan ships that make their way through the Panama Canal and visit the four exhibition halls, organized by themes that constitute the heart of the Miraflores Visitors Center.

Continuing with the Panama Canal informative tour, you will visit the Panama Canal Expansion the largest project at the Canal since its original construction that created a new lane of traffic along the Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, doubling the waterway’s capacity, be a witness of this major undertaking by visiting the New Observation Center of the Canal Expansion.

The new Observation Center of the Canal Expansion, located in Colon Panama, is a park style concept based on open platforms and roofed terraces, built in an area of four hectares, 400 visitors, simultaneously, will be able to enjoy in this new center, the construction of the new locks of the Panama Canal in the Atlantic, at the same time, from its privileged location, visitors see the majestic Gatun Lake, where ships continue their transit through the waterway.

The Discover Island Tour combines an interesting look at the countryside of Curacao and the city of Willemstad and a visit to three of the major attractions of this Dutch island.

Drive past the salt flats and flamingoes before proceeding to the spectacular Hato Caves, a dramatic collection of grottos filled with stalactites, stalagmites and crystal-clear pools, centuries in the making.

From the Hato Caves you continue to the Curacao Museum in Otrabanda. The museum combines contemporary art with an exhibition of life in Curacao during the mid-nineteenth century. Cross the Queen Juliana Bridge and enjoy a magnificent view over Punda and Otrobanda, the 2 sides of our natural harbor, St Ana Bay.

Enjoy a taste of the world famous Blue Curacao Liqueur at the Chobolobo Liqueur Factory. Next, your guide will point out major points of interest as you drive through Punda in the heart of Willemstad. If you wish to stay in town, you may leave the tour at this point; otherwise it is a short five-minute drive back to the ship.

Discover the beauty and diversity of Miami and neighboring cities of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Visit hip and trendy South Beach and see the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Pass Star Island and Fisher Island with multi-million dollar homes owned by Miami's rich and famous.

Depart the Port of Miami in your air-conditioned motor coach with your knowledgeable guide to explore the diversity of Miami and neighboring cities. You’ll cross scenic MacArthur Causeway and pass Star Island and Fisher Island – home to Miami’s elite and celebrities such as Gloria Estefan and Naomi Campbell. You’ll visit trendy South Beach “SoBe” with the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Marvel at the new home of The New World Symphony considered to be the one of the greatest works of world famous architect Frank Gehry.

Drive along downtown’s Brickell Ave, the second largest financial center in the USA to charming and laid back Coconut Grove, once the home base of Pan Am. Continue to Coral Gables “The City Beautiful”, an upmarket residential area with multi-million dollar homes, the campus of the University of Miami and the Biltmore Hotel. The Biltmore has the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental USA and when it opened in 1926, it featured Tarzan in a water show around the pool. On the way to the airport drive past the area known as Little Havana, it’s where Cuban refugees first settled upon arrival in Miami. After offloading City Tour only Guests, continue to Dolphin Mall for the shopping extension and eventual return to the airport.

Tour is for guests with flights departing Miami after 5:00 pm.

Visit one of the largest animal parks in Guatemala. Depart on a scenic one hour ride towards a drive-through zoo called the Auto-Safari Chapin – a natural reserve founded in 1980 and one of the largest animal parks in Guatemala. Its mission is to help preserve the fauna and to educate the public about the vital importance of animals. Upon arrival at the premises, your coach will stop at the entrance for a brief orientation and a written guide to the nature park will be distributed.

Then relax and enjoy as the coach drives through the park and you see a variety of animals such as hippopotamus, giraffes, lions, zebras and many other animals from Africa and Guatemala. After the drive through the park, you can walk around another area that is more like a zoo to see other animals including birds and reptiles.

While the ingenuity of the Panama Canal is world renowned, few know about the amazing history that shaped Panama and this tour invites you to discover it. Enjoy a scenic view of the skyline while traveling to the old Panama City, founded in 1519 and destroyed by the infamous Welsh Captain Henry Morgan in 1671. This scenic excursion takes you to see the ruins of the churches and convents, colonial palaces, bridges and military buildings that attest to the city’s history and grand past.

As you make your way along the coastline, take the opportunity to discover the tales of gallantry and piracy that wait in the narrow streets of Colonial Panama. You’ll walk through the old French Quarter, founded in in 1673 by French colonists. On a leisurely 45 minute walk, you’ll appreciate the many changes of the city by viewing its unique architecture, influenced by a combination of French, Spanish and Italian styles.

OVERVIEW

Visit the landmarks in Falmouth that best reflect its 250-year history before heading to a waterfront resort for an inspired tasting of Jamaican rums. The highlights that you will see downtown include the iconic St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Georgian-style Falmouth Court House and Water Square, a popular gathering place whose name dates to the early 19th century when running water was first available there. The natural beauty on the outskirts of town is equally captivating as you will discover while gazing out over the lush countryside from the High View Point lookout. Jamaica is also known for its rum, which has long been intertwined with the culture of the island. It tends to be exceptionally aromatic and flavorful as you will discover while sampling a selection of premium rums at the Bamboo Beach Club. If time permits, you might swim in the sea and stop for a bit of shopping.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the best of Falmouth and come away with an understanding of its history.
• Appreciate the town’s many Georgian-style buildings, which are largely intact.
• Sample a selection of Jamaican rums at a waterfront resort.
• Take a dip in the Caribbean Sea and shop if time permits.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Discover two of Costa Rica’s most remarkable ecosystems on this full-day adventure that combines a canal cruise with an in-depth rainforest experience. Begin with a scenic bus transfer to a private dock, where you will board a covered boat for a gentle cruise through the Tortuguero Canals, often called “Costa Rica’s Amazon.” As you drift past orchids, water lilies, and lush mangroves, your naturalist guide will help you spot wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, toucans, and other tropical birds. After enjoying a seasonal tropical fruit snack, continue to the Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park, set high in the mountains. Here you will explore frog and reptile exhibits, one of the country’s largest butterfly gardens, and the Foundation laboratories to learn about groundbreaking scientific research. Then glide through the rainforest canopy aboard the Sky Gondola, descending from the mountaintop to the river below with spectacular views along the way. Enjoy a nature walk on the Trail of the Giants or choose the more challenging 350-step trail to the Puma Waterfall. Your visit concludes with a delicious Costa Rican lunch and free time for souvenir shopping in the gift shop, where proceeds support local rainforest conservation efforts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the lush Tortuguero Canals and spot a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
• Explore the Veragua Rainforest, including frog and reptile exhibits and the butterfly garden.
• Ride the Sky Gondola for a breathtaking view of the rainforest canopy.
• Take a guided nature walk or optional hike to the Puma Waterfall.
• Enjoy a Costa Rican lunch and shop for local crafts that support rainforest research.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes, light clothing, and bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a poncho or umbrella.
• Bring cash or credit card for optional purchases in the gift shop.
• Wildlife sightings are common but not guaranteed.

Take in the jewels of the City by the Bay on this half day discovery of the “the City.”

From the pier, travel west passing fisherman’s wharf en route to view the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Here you pause at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center which offers excellent views of the bridge and informative information and representations of the bridge’s history and engineering. The ample shop offers souvenirs and books memorializing the city and bridge structure. From the Golden Gate to Land’s End, where the city meets the sea.

At Lands’ End, enjoy views over the Pacific Ocean while the nearby modern visitors center offers Indoor exhibits and videos on the natural and cultural history of the Land's End area, Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights. From the coast, drive along the Great Highway to Golden Gate Park on the way to one of the city’s numerous hills, Twin Peaks. At 922 and 904 feet, respectively, South Peak and North Peak are the second- and third-highest hills in San Francisco. Enjoy postcard views over the entire bay from the viewpoint here before beginning the route back to the water’s edge passing a number of historic neighborhoods and buildings before arriving to the pier.