SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW
Discover the panoramic beauty and must-see highlights of Seattle in just a few hours, leaving time to explore the destinations you find most intriguing later on your own. Your introduction to the city will begin with a photo stop at the Space Needle, an icon since being built for the 1962 World’s Fair. You will also see CenturyLink Field, the sports stadium for Seattle’s professional football and soccer teams, and Pioneer Square, the city’s oldest neighborhood. The term “skid row” was coined in this now-elegant district, a reference to the logged trees that were once slid down greased skids to the sawmill. There will be plenty more to explore in Pike Place Market, the city’s oldest and largest farmers market. Don’t miss the “flying fish,” a spectacle in which the fishmongers toss even large fish to each other to save steps and entertain the onlookers. The original Starbucks is also in the market.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See Seattle’s highlights in just a few hours, leaving you with a great overview of the city.
• Pause for photos at the Space Needle and pass by Seattle’s modern sports stadium.
• Gain a historical perspective at Pioneer Square and the city’s oldest farmers market.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy two unique perspectives of Seattle: from high above the city on the Space Needle and from sea level while cruising Elliott Bay. After riding an elevator up the exterior of the Space Needle, you will arrive at the observation deck, 520 feet above the ground. The views will be spectacular, as you look out over Seattle, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. For the ultimate view straight down, walk along the Loupe, the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. The Space Needle is so iconic that Seattle designated it an official landmark. The sights of the city from Elliott Bay will be just as remarkable, but from an entirely different perspective. As you cruise along, you will see lush coastal parks, the edge of historical Pioneer Square and the Seattle Great Wheel, once the tallest Ferris wheel on the west coast. Your cruise ship will also be in sight.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Cruise through Elliott Bay, admiring the sights along the western shore of Seattle.

Board the Alcatraz ferry and sail to the notorious prison that once housed the likes of Al Capone and the Birdman of Alcatraz. During your ferry ride, enjoy a panoramic view of the famous San Francisco skyline. Upon arrival, you'll tour the small jail cells as the audio narration brings you back to days gone by.

You'll return to San Francisco by ferry and board your motorcoach for a journey across the Golden Gate Bridge. After a stop at Vista Point for a fabulous view of the city, it’s a short ride into charming Sausalito. Here, take a stroll and browse some of the specialty shops or galleries.

Take in the highlights of Santa Barbra in this short outing to discover her treasures including free time to browse her quaint streets.

From the pier, depart for a scenic drive to the Old Santa Barbara Mission. With its grand double bell towers, lush gardens and the majestic San Ynez mountains as a backdrop, the Mission is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. Known as “Queen of the Missions” for its exceptional beauty, the Santa Barbara Mission was founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786. More than 200 years later, it’s still an active parish church and a vital and enduring element of Santa Barbara’s cultural landscape.

Pause here for photos before continuing to the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park to view the remains of the Spanish Outpost built in 1782. Across the street is the unique County Courthouse built in 1929 in the Spanish-Moorish architectural style with its carved doors, special widows, balconies and turrets. From the courthouse you are introduced to State Street in downtown. Here, free time of afforded to explore the city center and browse her streets for treasures or enjoy a café. At the appointed time rejoin your guide for the return to the ship.

Discover historic Astoria! You’ll make a brief photo stop at the Astoria Column which was built in 1926. This 125-foot tall concrete and steel structure features a cast-iron 164 step staircase that leads to an observation deck. If you decide to climb to the top, you'll see majestic views of Astoria, the Pacific Ocean and the lower Columbia River estuary. Views from the base are just as panoramic, the column stands atop Coxcomb Hill, Astoria's highest point. Continue to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for a tour of Fort Clatsop. You’ll also visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum located on Astoria's historic waterfront. The museum features nautical artifacts including the Lightship, which served as a floating lighthouse. Enjoy a scenic drive through Astoria nestled between the Columbia River and Young’s Bay. You’ll see picturesque Victorian and Queen Anne style homes and churches, Uniontown - home of the men who worked at the Union Fish Cannery and the Doughboy monument, dedicated to the soldiers who served in World War I.

Enjoy a wonderful ride in the clear lagoon of Moorea with great views of the island's sharp mountain peaks, lush green valleys and picturesque coastal shoreline, then enjoy a typical island lunch, relax on a delightful beach or enjoy the warm tropical waters of French Polynesia.

Boarding your boat at the pier, you'll set-off across the turquoise waters of Moorea, en route to a gorgeous white sandy islet that is surrounded by crystal clear water. The waters here are shallow enough for you to walk right off the boat onto the pristine beach where you will have approximately three hours at your leisure.

During your visit, you can relax and soak up the sun, or enjoy some great snorkeling and discover Moorea's amazing underwater world with its colorful fish, flora and fauna. There may even be some inquisitive stingrays to welcome you and in exchange for a piece of fish, they just might delight you by dancing gracefully around you.

Following a barbeque lunch on the beach, you will have more time to enjoy the refreshing waters here or further relax on the beach while being entertained with local music and a coco demonstration.

Enjoy the most exciting adventure in the natural wonderland of Costa Rica. Board the Pacific Tropical Forest Aerial Tram and literally fly through the forest canopy and take an exhilarating jungle cruise on the Tarcoles River.

The Pacific Tropical Forest Aerial Tram is the only tour that provides a unique exploration of the canopy in the Transitional Tropical dry Forest on Costa Rica’s mid-Pacific coastline. Dry upland forest meets humid coastal dry forest with unique species colonizing the treetops and the canopy in this 222-acre eco-tourism park, dedicated to conservation.

Embark on a gondola designed for 8 passengers and a bilingual naturalist guide to safely glide through a living backdrop of giant trees, hanging gardens and lush green landscapes. Panoramic ocean views and sightings of exotic flora and fauna will introduce you to this unique transitional dry forest.

Your experience includes a guided walk through trails deep into the forest. A visit to the medicinal plant and Butterfly Garden will complement a fascinating winding tour past a snake, frogs and turtle’s exhibit.

After your tram ride, enjoy a Costa Rican lunch at the park in a lush natural setting. You can also shop at the Congo shop where you can find a variety of local and handmade arts, crafts and designs as well as Costa Rican souvenirs before transferring to Tarcoles for a jungle river journey.

Upon arrival at the Visitor Center you will board comfortable roof covered open boats to explore the world famous Tarcoles River. This river tour usually takes 2 hours. It will provide a great understanding of the life and death of the mangroves and swamps that constitute one of the most important ecosystems in Costa Rica. Noted for its mangrove forests the Tarcoles River is a wonderful and crucial habitat for hundreds of species and a wide variety of sea and shore birds as well as colonies of the largest crocodiles in Central America.

During the tour, our naturalist guide will help you identify a great variety of birds and wildlife. This habitat is also vital for the preservation of the endangered Scarlet Macaw.

Tour sequence may vary.

Gain an enlightening overview of Seattle by driving around town, browsing a sprawling farmers market and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the city from atop the Space Needle. The iconic observation tower soars above the Seattle Center, a campus of cultural attractions with roots dating back more than 100 years. For the ultimate views, the Space Needle’s windows are floor-to-ceiling and the glass floor rotates. Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market is Seattle’s oldest and largest farmers market, and as you will discover it is chock full of garden-fresh local produce and other goods. Be sure to stop by the fish market, where the employees famously toss fish to each other with great fanfare, a spectacle that began to simply save time and steps. For an even broader look at Seattle, you will drive through characteristic neighborhoods and past landmarks such as the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium and Pioneer Square, the historical heart of old town.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Spend free time browsing the seemingly endless stalls in Pike Place Market.
• Drive through historical neighborhoods, as the guide describes landmark after landmark.

Settle in for a full immersion into the world of Santa Barbara wines at the Deep Sea Tasting Room, a delightful venue on Stearns Wharf. The Conway family owns the business and primarily serves Conway wines in the tasting room. As certified sommelier Gillian Conway shares her love of wine, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to properly sample wine, how to choose one to your liking and what wines pair best with certain cuisines. Even wine aficionados will find the experience wonderfully informative and entertaining. You will sample about a half dozen wines, while Gillian describes their characteristics. You might taste a Malbec named for Ringo, the Conway’s rescue dog, a crisp “Sea Horse” Sauvignon Blanc with citrusy notes and a fruity “Sea Star” Pinot Noir. All the grapes come from California vineyards, most of them in coastal Santa Barbara, an area that fog and sea breezes typically cool and influence the oceanic terroir.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a selection of California wines in a tasting room on the Santa Barbara pier.
• Deepen your understanding of local wines as the sommelier describes their characteristics.
• Taste how the wines reflect the oceanic terroir with which Santa Barbara is blessed.

OVERVIEW
Enjoy a 360° view of Seattle from the top of the Space Needle and see the city’s artistic side at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations, the saucer-shaped Space Needle soars above the city. Its observation tower offers sweeping views of Seattle’s urban sprawl, Mount Rainer, Puget Sound and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. You can also look straight down to the ground 500 feet below by standing on the tower’s rotating glass floor, the only one in the world. Chihuly Garden and Glass lies at the foot of the Space Needle. As you stroll through its indoor and outdoor galleries, you will behold a collection of artist Dale Chihuly’s visually stunning blown-glass artwork. Highlights include a massive suspended glass sculpture, thousands of colorful glass flowers and plants, and all sorts of whimsical pieces that showcase the artist’s prodigious talents.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from atop the soaring Space Needle.
• Look straight down 500 feet through the Space Needle’s rotating glass floor.
• Be awed by the whimsical, visually stunning glass art in Chihuly Garden and Glass.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a delightful and spectacularly panoramic drive through San Francisco in the evening when the city is beautifully illuminated. With no stops along the way, you can comfortably settle into a seat and watch the ever-changing vistas as you follow a route past many of the most well-known attractions. The sights begin at Fisherman’s Wharf, whose iconic crab wheel-shaped sign is particularly easy to spot at night. You will then proceed into the Nob Hill district, from which you will enjoy a close-up view of Grace Cathedral. Its façade is typically illuminated with lights of different colors, making the cathedral look all the more glorious. Next, you will cross the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, which will afford extraordinary views of the skylines of both cities. Once you return to the mainland, you will drive to the Embarcadero, an ideal waterfront setting to view the Transamerica Building twinkling against the night sky.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an evening drive through San Francisco when it is beautifully illuminated.
• See iconic attractions such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Grace Cathedral and the Embarcadero.
• Enjoy skyline views of San Francisco and Oakland from Treasure Island.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Join your Alaskan captain and their crew on a cruise through the waters surrounding the naturally beautiful islands around Ketchikan. Once onboard, relax inside the heated main cabin or out on the observation deck, as you prepare for your first sighting of the iconic American bald eagle. Along the way, you will be treated to panoramic views of the historic lighthouse on Guard Island and the Tlingit and Haida hand-carved totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Park. You will also witness a diversity of ecosystems as you cruise past coastal residential areas on Revillagigedo Island and along the undeveloped shoreline of Gravina Island, much of which is blanketed by the Tongass National Forest, our world’s largest temperate rainforest. Wildlife is abundant, so keep an eye out for not just bald eagles, but harbor seals, sea lions, seabirds, and whales. While taking in the scenery, enjoy a hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, or soda of your choice alongside a snack sampler plate of Alaskan specialties, including a traditional alder-smoked salmon.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire Alaska’s natural beauty while cruising to and from Guard Island.
• Relax in the boat’s heated main cabin or out on the observation deck.
• See the colorful, carved Tlingit and Haida totem poles at Totem Bight State Park.
• Look for wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals and humpback or orca whales.

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