Travelling through Jamaica's beautiful countryside, you'll drive past some historic sites and districts on the way to Dunn's River Falls. Described as a living and growing phenomenon, the waterfall continuously regenerates itself from deposits of travertine rock, the result of precipitation of calcium carbonate from the river, as it flows over the falls. The small dome-shaped cataracts are usually associated with thermal spring activity found in limestone caves. Experience the thrill of climbing the waterfall, in a human chain led by experienced Falls Guides. Pause at the 'massage parlour' and experience the soothing effects of the water as it cascades over the rocks, to the sea.

For the less adventurous, view the activities of the more intrepid from the "safe" vantage point of the terrace or deck. For those who enjoy Mother Nature’s gifts, lose yourself in the lush tropical foliage of ferns, bamboos, ginger lilies, crotons, orchids, a variety of palms and breadfruit trees. After visiting the falls, you will be treated to a delicious Jamaican buffet lunch, served in the beautiful garden setting of the Ruins Restaurant before the return drive to Montego Bay. A sample of the buffet menu which is subject to change may include jerk chicken, jerk pork, curried chicken, escoveitched fish/fish in batter, sweet & sour chicken, hot & spicy wings and various side dishes.

OVERVIEW

Gain a greater understanding of Northern Ireland and its culture by following a foodie guide through Belfast and sampling classic dishes and delicacies. The exact locations to be visited will be determined the day of the excursion, but they will definitely be establishments that best represent the cuisine of Northern Ireland. They will be the markets, restaurants and cafés that the locals frequent, rather than those typically found in guidebooks. Tastings are frequent and generous! Along the way you will encounter the places the locals like to frequent for lunch or dinner or for a cup of coffee. You will visit a variety of eating establishments in the city center, each specifically chosen to highlight the unique foods of Northern Ireland. The best way to get to know a city is through its food, and this tour highlights what makes Belfast so appealing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a local foodie around Belfast and sample a variety of classic dishes.
• Stop in the markets, restaurants and cafés that the locals frequent.
• Expect to taste favorites such as Belfast bap, colcannon and boxty, a potato pancake.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Experience Oman's unique blend of historic and contemporary sites when you visit Nakhl Fort and Springs, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, as well as other city highlights.

A drive along the Batinah Coast takes you to the centuries-old Nakhl Fort, perched on a 200-foot high hilltop with spectacular views of the surrounding oasis. This impressive pre-Islamic fortress was the stronghold of the well-known Bani Kharous tribe during Medieval times, and offers a unique look into Oman's past. You'll then visit Nakhl Springs, a tranquil and picturesque area framed by majestic mountains and a dense green oasis.

Stop for photos at the Zawawi Mosque, Oman's most exquisite mosque and at the splendid Al Alam Palace, which offers scenic vistas overlooking Muscat Bay. Visit Bait Al Zubair, a private museum housing collections of traditional Omani items that include weaponry, jewelry, clothing, household items and more. You’ll enjoy lunch at a local hotel during the day.

A day in Muscat is not complete, until you visit the colorful Muttrah Souq, where the scent of exotic Arabian perfumes and spices fills the air. Here, a multitude of shops offer Omani daggers, or khanjars, as well as handmade Omani costumes, antiques, silver jewelry and a variety of handicrafts.

A beautiful drive along the east coast of Rhodes to Lindos will take you past picturesque little villages and through a splendid landscape of orange and lemon groves, gnarled olive trees, and lovingly tended vineyards.

An ancient Doric town, Lindos is dominated by a magnificent acropolis, located atop a strategic hill overlooking the bay. The views are absolutely breathtaking on the walk to the summit, especially of the waterscape below where St. Paul is said to have landed in 58 A.D. Other highlights of the famed archaeological site are the ruins of a walled fortress built in the 15th century and the remains of the ancient Temple of the Lindian Athena. It was was consecrated to the goddess Athena and also named for Lindia, a pre-Hellenic divinity.

Upon descending from the acropolis, you can meander freely through the narrow streets and past clusters of whitewashed houses that lend Lindos its distinct look. A haunt of artists for years, the village also boasts a myriad of shops carrying locally made jewelry, leather goods and ceramics.

Discover the archaeological heritage and history of the first inhabitants of the island and learn about this beautiful land. You’ll visit a lush botanical garden, the Painted Cave Museum and Archaeological Park plus enjoy a typical drink. Discover the archaeological heritage and history of the first inhabitants of the island and learn about this beautiful land. Drive to Arucas for a short photo stop to view its majestic lava-stone church. You’ll visit the Jardin de la Marquesa, which started as a small garden surrounding the summer residence of the marquis of Arucas. Today, this lush botanical garden has hundreds of species of tropical and subtropical flora. Flower lined lanes and ponds enhance the beauty of this place, where you may encounter free wandering peacocks. Relax and taste a banana liquor. Continue to Galdar to visit the Painted Cave Museum and Archaeological Park; taking its name from the remarkable rock paintings found in the cave. The museum was built around the remains of the aborigine settlement and preserves the great cultural heritage of the island, offering a journey into pre-Hispanic Gran Canaria.

OVERVIEW

See the absolute icons that define Rome and learn about their historical importance by listening to entertaining pre-recorded commentary on your own audio guide. The device is synchronized to each location so as you approach a landmark the wireless audio guide will automatically describe its points of interest in fascinating detail. Besides offering in-depth information, it allows you the freedom to move about at your own pace. You will see highlights such as Palatine Hill – where Rome was founded – the legendary Colosseum and Circus Maximus, an ancient chariot racetrack that was also used for gladiator fights and other barbaric public spectacles. Photo stops have been chosen to showcase attractions in both the foreground and background. For instance, as you stand atop Capitoline Hill, one of the famed seven hills of Rome, the Roman Forum will be seen below. Free time around Trevi Fountain will allow you to dine and shop independently. The final part of the tour will enrich your experience with the view of the Pantheon, Navona Square, S,Angelo’s Castle and St.Peter’s Dome.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the most historically important, must-see landmarks in Rome.
• Hear engaging commentary about each location through your own wireless audio guide.
• See ancient sites such as the Colosseum and icons built centuries later such as Trevi Fountain.
• Enjoy free time to shop and dine on your own.
• Come away with a remarkably in-depth understanding of Rome through the centuries.

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the Bay of Fundy in a Zodiac boat and look for whales feasting on krill, squid and schools of fish. An extraordinarily scenic drive through the countryside will bring you to the town of Saint Andrews, where you will board a Zodiac and zip off toward the Bay of Fundy. Over the next few hours, you will watch for the abundant marine life that inhabits these waters such as seals, porpoises and whales, including humpbacks, minkes and finbacks. Humpbacks have huge appetites and are named for the way they arch their backs out of the water before diving to feed. Minke whales are much smaller and easy to identify by the white strip across each flipper. Finback whales are the second largest of all whales and have a distinct dorsal fin. Following this exhilarating adventure, you will enjoy free time in Saint Andrews to shop and perhaps enjoy lunch on your own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for various species of whales and other marine life in the Bay of Fundy.
• Learn the distinguishing characteristics of the whales that you may spot.
• Zip through the bay’s tidal waters in a speedy but stable Zodiac boat.
• Explore the town of Saint Andrews independently following the whale-watching adventure.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

See the historical highlights in the capital Santo Domingo, a colonial town that Bartholomew Columbus founded on the Ozama River in 1498. Even so, the Columbus Lighthouse honors Christopher, Bartholomew’s more famous older brother. It was inaugurated in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of the explorer’s first voyage to the New World. Following a revealing look at the beacon’s exterior, you will visit the Alcázar de Colon, a limestone palace that Christopher’s son Diego built while governor. It lies in the Colonial Zone, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site because its grid layout became the model for future colonial cities. While browsing the rare artifacts at the Museum of the Royal Houses, you will discover more fascinating details about the settling of Santo Domingo and the indigenous pre-Columbian Taino people. That history will really come alive as you watch an immersive 4D movie at the Colonial Gate Cinema.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the history of Santo Domingo through its most significant landmarks.
• Gain insight into how the family of Christopher Columbus influenced the city.
• See the Columbus Lighthouse and the palace that Columbus’s son built while governor.
• Explore the Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Watch an immersive 4D movie that brings the history of Santo Domingo to life.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Venture into the historical heartland of Orkney to visit pre-historic landmarks and the intriguing Scapa Flow. You’ll head from Kirkwall across Mainland Island, passing through a gently rolling landscape and into the UNESCO-designated Heart of Neolithic Orkney – a World Heritage site recognized for its ancient archaeological wealth. The drive brings you past the Standing Stones of Stenness, four tall Neolithic slabs with sharply angled tops; if time permits, the coach will stop here for a closer view. Not far away, the Ring of Brodgar awaits – you’ll spend awhile admiring this huge ceremonial circle of standing stones somehow raised in place 5,000 years ago. You’ll also visit Skara Brae, a village of clustered dwellings dating to about that same era. Buried for millennia, they were only revealed from under the sand dunes by a chance storm in 1850. Nearby is Skaill House, a 1620 manor built on top of an ancient Pre-Norse burial ground. Following the coast of Scapa Flow, one of the world’s best-known stretches of sheltered water, you’ll encounter some far more modern history; this is where the German naval fleet scuttled itself soon at World War I’s end. WWII saw calamitous action here, too.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel into the region known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• See 5,000-year-old landmarks including the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Neolithic village of Skara Brae.
• Drive along the coast of Scapa Flow, whose waters once sheltered Viking ships yet have more chilling modern tales to tell.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing; bring a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

Everything you’d want to, and should, experience in St. Thomas all conveniently packed into one complete tour – a cornucopia of beaches, spectacular down island views, historical locations and ultimate shopping experiences encompassing all the best highlights of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ most popular island. This tour provides all the elements for a perfect day in paradise. Begin with a scenic ride along Skyline Drive up to St. Thomas' highest peak, Mountain Top, where it offers breathtaking views of Charlotte Amalie Harbour, the Caribbean Sea, the British Virgin Islands and Magen’s Bay, rated by many travel magazines as one of the top ten beaches in the world. Next, it's on to the crystalline waters of Magens Bay for 2 hours of sun and fun. Continue on to historic downtown. located in the heart of the Kongens Quarter, and step back into the age of seafaring trade at the Danish West Indian port town of Charlotte Amalie. Envision the island’s past global traders, Caribbean pirates, the impacts of slavery, and life in a vibrant West Indian port city as you walk amongst historic landmark properties dating back to the late 1600’s. Indulge your passion for the great recommended shopping in St. Thomas. When you're finished with your free time of shopping, head back to the ship via your pre-arranged return transportation.

Embrace the beauty and flavors of the scenic Rioja Alavesa countryside during this memorable tour, tasting and lunch in El Ciego.

Depart the pier by coach for the scenic 2-hour drive to the town of El Ciego. Located in the Alava Province, El Ciego is the site of the new City of the Wine, a complex created by the Marques de Riscal cellars. The City of the Wine includes the old cellars, new Frank Gehry hotel, and new French wine spa, Caudalie.

Upon arrival to the complex, your tour will begin with a visit to the cellars. Here, you will learn about the history of the region's wine-producing heritage and techniques, and hear about the latest wine-making technologies. After your visit, you will be invited to taste the white Verdejo and red Reserva Marques de Riscal wines.

Continuing on, you will make your way to the town of Laguardia, where you will enjoy a brief guided walking tour and then a typical local lunch at Posada Mayor de Migueola, a traditional restaurant. Following lunch, you'll transfer directly back to the ship.

Explore the landmarks of Colombia’s oldest city, delving into its storied history and alluring culture, which have helped fuel the rebirth of Santa Marta. Depart from the pier and begin a leisurely drive through Santa Marta, a colonial city that the Spanish established as a base of conquest. Founded in 1525 at the foot of the world’s highest coastal mountain range, Santa Marta is considered the oldest, still-inhabited city in Colombia. When the Spanish arrived, the indigenous people were skilled goldsmiths, and you will see the kinds of objects they made in the Gold Museum. An impressive model of the main city of their empire, Ciudad Perdida, is also on display, along with pre-Columbian pottery. Continuing on, you will explore Santa Marta’s magnificent whitewashed cathedral, which is thought to be the oldest church in Colombia, although construction wasn’t finished until late in the 18th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Roman cross. Simon Bolivar was buried in the cathedral until 1839 when his remains were moved to Caracas, his birthplace. You will discover more about the Great Liberator at Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino Villa, where Bolivar died. Now a museum, the butterscotch-yellow hacienda beautifully displays many of his personal objects and a large statue of the revered Bolivar lords over the grounds. To delve deeper into Santa Marta’s cultural history, you will watch a folkloric performance and enjoy a beverage at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino before returning to the pier.