SHORE EXCURSIONS

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to visit El Yunque National Rainforest, the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Come along and enjoy the panoramic view of the tropical woodland with a vast variety of flora and crystalline waterfalls that spread over hills and valleys. You’ll stop briefly at one of its waterfalls, and the Observation Tower. If weather permits, take a short stroll on a mostly paved pathway in the forest. Choose to visit El Yunque for a once in a lifetime experience to savor tropical nature and its true beauty! Note: Participants must be at least 3 years of age.

Enjoy a guided drive through one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean with its 17th century architecture and historic buildings. You'll have the opportunity to stroll around the grounds of the biggest fortification built by the Spaniards in the New World on your self guided visit to Fort San Cristobal. Come see its Main Plaza, “Garitas” watchtowers and authentic mortor balls. Re-board your bus and continue your guided tour to the New City, which will take you to the Condado District, filled with high-rise condos and luxury resorts.

A stop is made at one of the beautiful beaches and the Capitol Building for pictures. Return to Old San Juan where you'll visit the famous Plaza Colón. Here you may choose to stay to explore the local surroundings and enjoy some shopping or return to the ship. Take a step back in time and enjoy this captivating journey through history.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Old San Juan and an affluent neighborhood of newer residences and designer shops before heading to the airport for your flight home.

After departing from the pier, you will soon enter the heart of San Juan, a city that Juan Ponce de Leon founded in 1521. Old San Juan is especially enchanting, as you will discover while pausing for photos at the capitol building. Built in the late 1920s and later topped with a dome, El Capitolio is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

San Cristobal fort is another landmark within the walls of Old San Juan. Construction began in 1634, but the fort wasn’t completed until 1790. It was built to protect the city from land attacks, unlike the more famous El Morro, which guarded against invasions by sea. During your self-guided tour of San Cristobal, the largest Spanish-built fort in the New World, be sure to visit the Devil’s Sentry Box, where according to legend soldiers mysteriously disappeared.

Continuing on, you will soon arrive in marble-paved Plaza Colon, a popular gathering place where you will enjoy free time. Don’t miss the towering statue of Christopher Columbus as you browse the shops lining the plaza.

Then it’s on to the residential Condado neighborhood in New San Juan. As you drive along, you will pass one luxury tower after another and surely recognize some of the world’s most famous designer shops, leaving you with a lasting impression on the way to the airport.

Before flying home, spend several delightful hours enjoying the natural beauty and serenity of El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System.

After departing from the pier, you will drive inland for approximately 45 minutes toward the eastern tip of Puerto Rico and on to El Yunque. Although it’s one of the smallest national forests, El Yunque is among the most biologically diverse with hundreds of plant and animal species, many of them endemic.

Upon arriving in the forest, your first stop will be at the welcome center for a self-guided visit. El Yunque averages 16 feet of rain each year, leaving the tropical landscape perpetually lush and green. The rain feeds countless streams that create spectacular waterfalls. Your second stop will be at one of these more scenic cascades.

Next, you’ll stop at one of the nature areas where you can take a short stroll to enjoy the natural sights, sounds and fragrances of El Yunque. You might spot blooming epiphytes, tiny Mountain Babyboot Orchids clinging to moss-covered tree trunks, and bright-red Flor de Magas, the national flower of Puerto Rico.

The rare Puerto Rican Parrot also lives in El Yunque, but you are more apt to hear one than see one. The most prevalent animal is the indigenous Coqui frog, a tiny almost weightless creature frequently seen leaping out of the treetops to escape predators, giving rise to the legend that it rains frogs in El Yunque.

Following your rainforest visit, you will drive to the airport for your flight home.

OVERVIEW
Settle in for the definitive panoramic driving tour through San Juan and hear commentary that describes the attractions’ most alluring features. Founded in 1521, the city exudes history, especially at places such as San Cristobal fort. While pausing there for photos, you will get an idea of its enormous scale, as the fort is the largest that the Spanish built in the Americas. You will also stop for photos at one of San Juan’s many beautiful beaches and at the Capitol, a domed neoclassical building just outside the walls of Old San Juan. The city’s newer community of Condado represents San Juan’s vision for the future. Tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly and right on the ocean, it boasts one luxury high-rise after another. The modern convention center lies nearby. As an option to returning to the pier, you can be dropped off at Plaza Colón, a lively square surrounded by an array of shops and restaurants.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through San Juan’s oldest and newest sections for a comprehensive look at the city.
• Pause for photos at the Capitol, San Cristobal fort and one of the most popular beaches.
• Remain in Old San Juan after the excursion to shop and dine if you wish.

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

OVERVIEW

Hike through the beautiful countryside surrounding Window Cave and then explore the interior of this voluminous cave system that sits atop a limestone cliff. While driving inland toward the Arecibo River Valley, you will notice the terrain becoming greener and more mountainous. A leisurely walk through the woodlands around the cave will reveal some of the more unusual flora and fauna that flourish in the tropical landscape. Still, the natural wonders inside the cave system are the real showstoppers. As you follow an environmentalist from cave to cave, you will learn about the Taino Indians that once lived in this area and see pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved into the rock surfaces. The caves are full of eerily shaped stalactites and stalagmites, which look even more dramatic when illuminated. The highlight will be standing before large namesake opening in Window Cave that offers a sweeping view of the lush valley that lies 700 feet below.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike through the woods with an environmentalist that will describe the flora and fauna.
• Explore several caves that feature bizarrely shaped stalactites and stalagmites.
• See petroglyphs carved into the cave rocks in pre-Columbian times.
• View the valley 700 feet below from the “window” opening in Window Cave.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing however you please on Isla Verde Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand in the nearby town of Carolina. It won’t take long to reach the beach, giving you all the more time to enjoy the tropical setting. It should be easy to find your own slice of paradise there as the beach is wide and long. Despite being one of the most popular beaches in the metropolitan area, Isla Verde boasts a laid-back ambiance that invites relaxing. You will be free to do nothing more ambitious than bask in the sun, stroll along the shore and lie in the shade beneath a coconut palm. The sea couldn’t be more enticing so be sure to take a refreshing swim in the Atlantic Ocean with turquoise waters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delight in the carefree atmosphere at Isla Verde, an urban beach often voted the best.
• Relax for hours in the tropical setting and do most anything you please.
• Swim, bask in the sun and stroll along the shore, if you like.
• Enjoy chairs and umbrellas included in this experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Delve into San Juan’s history on an enlightening scenic drive with a stop at Old Town and discover how Bacardí rum has long been part of the city's storied past. Ponce de León founded San Juan in 1521 and several landmarks from the 16th century still remain. They include the original city walls and the forts Castillo San Cristóbal and El Morro. As you follow the guide through the atmospheric streets, you will hear commentary describing events that shaped San Juan. The second-oldest church in the western hemisphere, the gothic-style San Juan Bautista has survived hurricanes, pillages and attacks. You will learn much about the influential Bacardí family on the Legacy Tour of Casa Bacardí, the world's largest rum distillery. Its museum details the extraordinary history of Bacardí rum and the distilling process. A cocktail made with Bacardí Special Reserve, a rum that is only available at the distillery, will round out the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See many of San Juan’s historical landmarks on a scenic drive around Old Town.
• Browse the enlightening exhibits at Casa Bacardí on a special Legacy Tour.
• Discover the history of the Bacardí distillery and watch the rum-making process.
• Enjoy a cocktail made with a Barcardí rum that is only blended in Puerto Rico.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Enjoy a leisurely and enlightening walk through Old San Juan and Fort San Cristobal, one of the largest fortresses ever constructed in the Americas. Named for Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, the Spanish-built fort is a masterpiece of 18th-century military engineering and design. The expansive main plaza, complex tunnels and still-functioning system of collecting rainwater are particularly fascinating. So too is Old San Juan, a wonderfully atmospheric area that was settled 500 years ago. You will enter the historical district through the only original gate that remains. As you pass through it, be sure to note the remarkable thickness of the centuries-old defensive walls. While visiting the 18th-century Christo Chapel, you will hear about the miracle that supposedly happened there. Similarly, you will learn about the bishop that is said to have saved San Juan from British troops in 1797. His statue stands in Rogativa Plaza.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Fort San Cristobal, a massive Spanish-built fortress overlooking the sea.
• See the highlights in Old San Juan while walking through the 500-year-old district.
• Hear tales of the legendary figures that played key roles in San Juan’s development.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Delve into the history of the pirates and privateers that relentlessly attacked San Juan centuries ago by visiting landmarks where that turbulent past comes alive. Most of your time will be spent within the walls of Castillo San Cristóbal, the largest Spanish-built fort in the New World. Surrounded by a dry moat, this so-called Gibraltar of the Caribbean was built to protect San Juan from land attacks. Its counterpart, the more famous Castillo San Felipe del Morro – which you will also view – was constructed to guard against invasions by sea. The military design of both forts and several others in San Juan is so extraordinary that UNESCO declared them collectively a World Heritage site. Don’t miss the Devil’s Sentry Box in Castillo San Cristóbal, where according to legend soldiers mysteriously disappeared. The fortification is so atmospheric and visually stunning that it was used as a location in one of the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Thoroughly explore Castillo San Cristóbal, the New World’s largest Spanish-built fort.
• Learn how the fort protected San Juan from land attacks rather than invasions by sea.
• Hear commentary that describes life centuries ago when pirates attacked San Juan.
• View other landmarks that played significant roles in San Juan’s defense against pirates.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Welcome to Puerto Rico, the rum capital of the world! Here’s your opportunity to learn about the history of rum, create your own rum cocktails and learn to dance the Salsa.

Begin your journey with an enthusiastic tour guide/bartender that will walk you from the pier and narrate details of the history of sugar cane and rum on the island. You’ll first be introduced to the national drink of Puerto Rico - the delicious Pina Colada! The original, recipe was created here. As you continue your evening walk, you’ll begin your official rum tasting - prepare your taste buds for hints of spices, strong molasses and caramel overtones.

Discuss and learn where each of these rums are made, their differences and how to mix them. You’ll create two exciting Caribbean rum cocktails - whether it’s a guava or passion fruit mojito or an exotic rumtini. You’ll also enjoy a light, local snack of pinchos – chicken skewers. Get ready to learn to Salsa, your dance instructor will show you all the local moves. You’re bound to enjoy the combination of good rums, good company and salsa dancing – it’s a party.

Discover the magic of a "cocina criolla" by spicing up your day with a tasty culinary experience where you'll enjoy the rich flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine. The meeting point will be the heart of Old San Juan. Here you will be familiarized with important details of Puerto Rico’s culture and the mysteries that the cobblestone streets provide. Meanwhile we will also pass through the unique shopping district where our guest will be able to take a glance at our local products like Puerto Rican coffee, arts and crafts, jams and delicious spices.

The highlight of the tour is the Mofongo and Mojito experience where our chef will guide you into assembling your own local dish. You can’t come to Puerto Rico and not try the Mofongo (a mashed mound of plantains or cassava into which a combination of meat or vegetables is added) at a local restaurant that has a unique colonial atmosphere where you can appreciate the Latin flavors. The staff welcomes you with Puerto Rican hors d’oeuvres and a renowned chef