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.

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

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.

Tear through the jungle canopy high above the forest floor on a series of ziplines, stopping every so often on towering platforms that will offer extraordinary views. The venue for your adventure will be Hacienda Campo Rico, a former sugar plantation that blankets thousands of acres of subtropical forest. Following an orientation that will allow you to maximize the experience, you will walk to the hilltop starting point. The view from this elevated perch will be magnificent, but only a hint of what’s to come. After being harnessed in and stepping off the platform into thin air, you will race through the tree canopy on a series of ziplines, each one a thrill in its own way. It will be an absolutely exhilarating experience as you fly through the air as high as 200 feet above the ground. You will pass over glassy lagoons, fields of plantain and pastureland before the last zipline ends at the Mojito Bar.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Race through a tree canopy high above the jungle floor on a series of ziplines.
• Marvel at the views of the forest and sea, especially from atop the zipline platforms.
• Walk along a natural path and across wooden suspension bridges between platforms.
• Toast the adventure with a refreshing beverage at the Mojito Bar, if you wish.

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

This 4-stop, carefully curated drinks tour through Old San Juan is a great way to explore the old town. Sip on creative cocktails and enjoy local bar bites with a small group and your local bar expert who will quickly seem more like a friend escorting you to the best spots in town. You'll walk at a moderate pace from bar to bar, sampling local cocktails and stopping at major points of interest to learn about the history and culture of our centuries-old city. This is the ideal experience to cap off your stay in the port of San Juan. Our favorite bars are at the top of the hill but it’s very much worth the walk!

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.

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.

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.

OVERVIEW

Admire the diversity throughout San Juan and its outskirts by visiting the places that best exemplify its urban and rural charms. An exploration of Spanish-built Fort San Cristobal will reveal the ingenuity of its 18th-century design and details about military life during that time. Don’t miss the fort’s Devil’s Sentry Box, where according to legend soldiers mysteriously disappeared. After pausing for photos at the city’s Neoclassical Revival-style Capitol building, you will travel through the Condado District, a vibrant beachfront area with luxury high-rises that reflect San Juan’s architectural vision for the future. A scenic drive into the countryside east of San Juan will bring you to Hacienda Campo Rico, a former sugar plantation whose agricultural roots are still apparent. Chances are, you will see peacocks strutting about as you enjoy on a trolley ride through the grounds. Back in San Juan, you can be dropped off at Columbus Square to shop and browse, if you wish.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the modern side of San Juan and the historical area that was founded in 1521.
• Wander through San Cristobal, the largest Spanish-built fort in the New World.
• Travel into the surrounding countryside and tour a former sugar plantation..
• Remain in Old San Juan to shop at the end of the excursion, 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

Walk through Old San Juan with a guide that knows where all the skeletons are buried and will entertain you with chilling and often unnerving ghost stories. The city was founded in 1521 so you can be sure that there are plenty of places that are supposedly haunted. As you stroll the cobblestone streets, following a route of approximately three miles, you will pass nearly a dozen historical landmarks. While viewing El Morro castle, you will hear about its horrid past and chilling paranormal disturbances. Similarly, Fort San Cristobal is known for its Devil’s Sentry Box, where legend has it that soldiers mysteriously disappeared. Even a seemingly innocuous setting like the Tapia Theater has its eerie moments as ghostly spirits are said to walk about the mezzanine level after performances. The guide will describe all the weird happenings in gory detail. Fortunately, this is a daytime tour, not in the dead of night.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hear chilling ghost stories while walking pass the most haunted places in Old San Juan.
• Feel the goosebumps rise as you learn about the ghosts that have appeared all over town.
• See two castles, a cemetery, churches and a prison, all supposedly haunted and cursed.
• Listen to hair-raising tales and legends about murder and mayhem in Old San Juan.

HELPFUL HINTS

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