SHORE EXCURSIONS

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.

OVERVIEW

Spend a delightful and wonderfully enlightening day exploring Rome’s most representative landmarks, beginning with an introductory drive through the city. As you pass the Egyptian-influenced Pyramid of Cestius, the 3rd-century Baths of Caracalla and the ancient chariot racetrack Circus Maximus, the guide will describe these icons in fascinating detail. You will also behold the famed Colosseum from the exterior and the Pantheon, a 1st century B.C. monument renowned for the oculus at the center of its dome. As a contrast to these ancient sites, you will drop by the Trevi Fountain, an immense baroque-style masterpiece with statues of mythical and allegorical figures. You will see more baroque-era fountains at Navona Square, where leisure time will allow you to shop and dine on your own. The focus will turn to Christianity as you browse the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, once the largest church in Christendom.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive past ancient monuments such as the Baths of Caracalla and Circus Maximus.
• Enjoy outside visits of the Colosseum and the Pantheon as the guide describes them.
• Marvel at the ornate Trevi Fountain and drop a coin in its waters, if you wish.
• Spend free time shopping or dining in and around Navona Square.
• Behold the treasures within the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Experience the places which made Rome immortal by observing it from another point of view on board a double-decker bus. Along your route, a very informative audio guide will help you understand the incredible history and the splendor of the art that makes Rome a truly fascinating city.

Your tour starts at the pier with a 90 minute transfer by coach to the heart of Rome. Once there, you’ll transfer to your double-decker sightseeing bus. These buses travel a circuit all day long and have stops at some of the city’s most iconic monuments and cultural venues. The beauty of the Hop-on, Hop-off option is that you can choose which stops you want to leave the bus and explore at your leisure.

Stops will be made at the Colossuem, Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia, The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Barberini. These stops will enable you to visit places such as Vatican City with the wonderful St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and its Archaeological Area, and the famous Trevi Fountain. You will also have the possibility of shopping at Via Nazionale and Via del Corso.

The tour is tape-recorded and individual earphones are available should you wish. The sightseeing buses run at a frequency of 25 minutes around each of the noted main interest points. You will be advised when to return to the main terminal in order to catch the transfer back to the ship.

OVERVIEW

See icons that define Rome during several transformative time periods and come away with a deeper understanding of Italy’s capital. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain beautifully represent the Baroque era. If you toss a coin in the fountain – ensuring a return to Rome according to legend – it will be collected later that day and donated to charity. Standing on the terrace overlooking the Roman Forum will offer a perspective of ancient times as this public space was used for events ranging from religious ceremonies to secular spectacles. Similarly, an outside look at the massive Colosseum will add insight, especially through the guide’s enlightening commentary. The amphitheater held as many as 50,000 spectators that come to watch everything from gladiatorial games to public executions. After you behold the Renaissance treasure St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City from the square out front, you will enjoy free time for shopping and independent exploration.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Climb the iconic Spanish Steps and drop a coin in the Trevi Fountain if you wish.
• Behold the famed Roman Forum from the terrace overlooking it.
• Enjoy outside visits of the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica as the guide describes them.
• Spend free time shopping or further exploring landmarks that you find most interesting.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

If you would like to explore the Eternal City of Rome on your own, this private motorcoach transfer is ideal. You’ll be dropped off in a central location, and your return transfer to the ship departs from the same place as your drop-off. A tour escort will be traveling with you to and from the ship to answer any questions you may have about sightseeing or shopping. You’ll then rejoin your motorcoach for the return to Civitavecchia.

Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at a country estate after an enlightening walk through Tarquinia, an enchanting village within Tuscia, the province more commonly known as Viterbo. As you meander through the winding streets of the village, you will get a great sense of history as this area was once the stronghold of the Etruscans. Known for its ancient necropolis and medieval architecture such as the palazzo that now holds the Etruscan National Museum, hilltop Tarquinia also offers extraordinary views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The panoramas from the nearby estate Casale Poggio Nebbia will be just as magnificent. It too perches on a hill with sweeping views of the sea. The restaurant at this working farm serves dishes prepared according to family recipes handed down from generation to generation. The courses will be thoughtfully paired with local wines, so you will come away with a deeper understanding of the province’s simple, yet wonderfully distinctive cuisine.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Discover the charms of Tuscia, a picturesque province better known as Viterbo.
• Walk through the medieval town of Tarquinia and take in the sweeping views.
• Dine on a farm-to-table meal prepared with organic ingredients grown on the property.

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

Extra-virgin olive oil being produced at a mill in Canino and savor its extraordinary flavor when drizzled over local specialties. Upon arrival stop at the bus parking, walk shortly to reach the view point to admire and take some pictures. of two medieval churches near the town of Tuscania – Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of San Pietro. The latter is so atmospheric and architecturally spectacular that it was used as a set for the Academy Award-winning film “Romeo and Juliet.” The nearby town of Canino is known more for its olive oil, which carries a Protected Designation of Origin that guarantees that it is produced, processed and prepared locally using traditional methods. You will gain an understanding of those time-honored steps while touring the Canino oil mill. The extra-virgin variety must be cold-pressed within 12 hours of harvesting, giving it an intense green color, low acidity and a medium fruity taste. As you will see, it perfectly complements the Italian specialties that you will be served.

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

OVERVIEW

Explore the architectural ruins on Palatine Hill, where Rome’s emperors lived for centuries until the fall of the empire. The elliptical Colosseum may well be the most recognizable Roman building from ancient times, and while pausing to snap photos of its exterior you will hear about the amphitheater’s notorious past as a venue for everything from gladiatorial games to public executions. A few steps away, you will find Palatine Hill, home to numerous imperial palaces, the first being the 1st-century Domus Tiberiana. This palace complex includes residential quarters, places of worship and rooms for the guards that protected the emperor. You will also visit the nearby Roman Forum, the center of ancient life in Rome. There, emperors were crowned, elections were held and speeches were given that changed the course of the empire. Following this deep dive into antiquity, you will enjoy free time to shop and dine in Venice Square.

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

OVERVIEW

This small-group tour begins in Oriolo Romano, a tiny village where a glimpse into nature awaits. Lace up your boots and escape the city with a hike through the forest. Your National Geographic Expedition Guide, who is also a specialized hiking guide, will lead you into the heart of a UNESCO-protected beech forest – drenched in vibrant hues, this forest is part of a global treasure: the “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests”, spanning across 18 countries and celebrated by UNESCO for their ecological importance. What makes this hike unique? You're walking among some of the tallest beech trees at this altitude, a phenomenon celebrated by experts like Alfredo di Filippo, a botanist, and National Geographic Explorer. These trees defy the norms, thriving in the rich, microclimatic conditions made possible by the nearby Lake Bracciano. This makes Monte Raschio's forest a rare "depressed beech wood," flourishing at an altitude where beeches are seldom found. Your Expedition Guide will bring the forest to life with specialist knowledge about the flora and fauna that make this ecosystem so extraordinary. But there's more to this forest than just its trees. It's a sanctuary for creatures like the Rosalia Alpina, an endangered beetle under the protection of the European Union. After your trek through the leafy beech canopy and the relaxed return down Monte Raschio, Oriolo Town offers a perfect spot to reflect on the natural wonders you've just experienced. Mingle with the locals at a traditional Italian cafe and sample some local produce from the area.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Oriolo Romano's ancient forest on Monte Raschio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's oldest beech forests.
• Gain insights from a National Geographic Expedition Guide, who is also a specialised hiking guide, into the rare microclimate of Oriolo Romano, a treasure trove of unique flora and fauna.
• Hear about the project funded by the National Geographic Society aimed at exploring these trees and their importance.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

You'll see the Eternal City on an orientation drive passing iconic structures which includes the Colosseum of ancient Rome where gladiators fought. In Vatican City admire the beauty of St. Peter’s Square, and view some of the treasures of the world’s largest church, St. Peter’s Basilica during your brief visit. The Vatican Museum is home to masterpieces spanning the centuries, marvel at the Sistine Chapel, topped by Michelangelo’s magnificent ceiling. Lunch is included.

The Romans built amphitheaters all across their vast empire, but this is the largest and most important of them all. Its four levels of seats could hold 50,000 spectators for bloody gladiatorial combat and wild animal fights. Drive by the Colosseum for a photostop.

Next, stop at the Trevi Fountain. This massive Baroque extravaganza was built in 1732 and features Neptune, god of the sea, surging forward in his shell-shaped chariot. After lunch, proceed to St. Peter's Square, designed and built by Bernini and visit St. Peter's Basilica. If time permits, you'll have some free time to explore on your own.

OVERVIEW

Maximize your sightseeing in Rome with an Attraction Pass that gives you the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks, such as the Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon. Walking allows you to truly experience Rome as you will be among the locals, see the attractions up close and linger longer at them. You will pause at the famed 18th-century Trevi Fountain and visit the ruins of the Roman Forum, a multi-purpose ancient site used for everything from public speeches to religious ceremonies. Gladiatorial matches were held there before the Colosseum was built at the height of the Roman Empire. Few experiences are as enlightening as browsing the interior of this famed Roman amphitheater. Rome is just as renowned for its squares and you will see the most beautiful – St. Peter Square and Piazza Navona–, whose elongated shape reflects its original function as a stadium for athletic events.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to access Rome included attractions.
• Enjoy admission into the Colosseum which was built in the 1st century AD, and visit the Roman Forum, the former center of Roman public life and governance.
• See iconic landmarks on a guided walking tour, such as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and Pantheon.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Wear conservative, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.