Before reaching Mt. Etna, you’ll enjoy a panoramic drive through Messina. Take in the scenery of the slopes of this magnificent mountain before arriving at Cratere Silvestri. From this vantage point, you’ll be able to gaze out across the Catania Gulf. You’ll have some free time to enjoy the major attraction - the crater and the remnants of the awe-inspiring streams of lava.

Embrace the pristine natural beauty of Paklenica National Park during this scenic and invigorating hiking excursion. Drive to Starigrad Paklenica, a picturesque town and harbor located on the southern part of Velebit Mountain and continue to Paklenica National Park. It spans approximately 37 square miles (95 square km), and is highlighted by a legendary peak, Anica Kuk, on its 1,312-foot (400-metre) face. Its summit offers spectacular vistas of the coast, sea, Paklenica and the peaks of Velebit Mountain.

The park also features a pair of picturesque canyons, Mala (Small) and Velika (Large) Paklenica. Its defining characteristic is the steep drop from Anica Luka. The karst is an area of exceptional natural beauty and various geological formations. Cliffs, caves, holes and cracks abound and the dissolution of soluble rock has created natural works of art known as 'skrape'.

After receiving safety instructions, begin your guided hike through Paklenica's Karst River Canyon, located in the foreground of the magnificent Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons. Your hike winds through the river canyon uphill towards Anica Luka, with a few stops en route to admire the landscape and catch your breath. Once at Anica Luka, stop for refreshments, snacks and panoramic views of your surroundings. Afterward, commence the 1.5 hour return walk back to the valley.

Begin your tour with a 40-minute scenic boat ride through historic Nassau Harbor to Blue Lagoon Island. Upon arrival you’ll attend a fun and interactive orientation covering the natural history of sea lions, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and wildlife guidelines. This educational and entertaining encounter is your chance to experience sea lions up-close. You’ll have the opportunity to hug, feed and play with these humorous marine mammals. Your interaction will take place from specially designed, waist-deep submerged platforms in a calm, private island lagoon with ten or less guests in your program. It will be a unique adventure, you’ll never forget! Upon completion of your Sea Lion encounter, stay and enjoy the beautiful and always calm lagoon beach.

Join in the fun of this exciting combo! Enjoy the unique experience of getting behind your shared two-passenger speed boat and explore the underwater world with your snorkel equipment. Start your adventure with a 20-minute taxi ride to picturesque Barracuda Beach. After orientation and safety instructions, you’re now at the helm of a two-seater speed boat and ready for a run across the crystal clear Caribbean waters during this adrenaline-fueled excursion.

Feel the waves below you and admire the scenic coastline, passing by white sand beaches and mysterious lagoons. After your one hour ride gently pilot your boat to the shallow waters and enjoy some time snorkeling. Return to the beach for a delicious lunch and relaxing time beachside. After your fun-filled adventure, settle in for the taxi ride back to your cruise ship.

OVERVIEW

Follow a natural trail to the summit of nearby Sugarlump Mountain and take in the spectacular views the entire way. It won’t take long to reach the trailhead on Hessa, the island just over the bridge west of Ålesund. Because of its proximity to town, the trail is quite popular and well-trodden. Even so, the approximately 2.5-mile roundtrip hike is considered moderately challenging. The higher you go, the more dramatic the views of Ålesund, the distant Sunnmøre Alps and Borgundfjord, the wide waterway that surrounds the islands of the archipelago. You will hike through coastal vegetation that may be in bloom and on into a rocky moorland at the top. Stops will be made along the way for photos and for the guide to point out and describe the natural wonders and landmarks in town. Few views can rival to one at the summit, which stands nearly 1,000 feet above sea level.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike to the summit of Sugarlump Mountain, the highest point on nearby Hessa Island.
• Be awed by the views of Ålesund, the surrounding fjord and the distant alps.
• Pause along the way for photos and for the guide to describe the points of interest.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the surrounding waters in a spacious double-deck catamaran and snorkel at two prime locations. The scenery will be absolutely spectacular the entire way, but especially at El Arco, the natural arch that the tides and wind have cut out of the sheer granite over thousands of years. Few spots are so photogenic, especially if sea lions are present. In time, the captain will select an ideal spot to snorkel depending on the conditions. You can expect to observe an ever-changing parade of tropical fish in the Sea of Cortez, whose waters famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau nicknamed the “Aquarium of the World.” The second snorkeling site will be teeming with marine life as well. Colorful parrotfish, vertical-striped Moorish idols and bright-blue damselfish are just a few of species frequently spotted. When you are not snorkeling, you can partake of an array of snacks, a boxed lunch and the open bar.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to the tip of the Baja California peninsula aboard a spacious catamaran.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters at two locations teeming with marine life.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch, various snacks and drinks from the open bar throughout the cruise.
• Look for sea lions on the rocky shoreline at El Arco at the peninsula’s tip.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a scenic drive into the countryside and on to the pedestrian-only Skodje bridges, where you can walk about and enjoy a closer look at the natural wonders. Once you leave Ålesund, the views will become considerably more rural as the surrounding landscape is sparsely populated and undeveloped. The majority of the route will be coastal and occasionally pass through little villages such as Magerholm, which overlooks the lengthy waterway Storfjord. Once you reach the Skodje bridges, you will spend free time exploring on your own. Built with cobblestone in the early 1900s, they are no longer suitable for vehicular traffic, but ideal for walking. Both bridges offer spectacular views of the surrounding natural beauty. You will return to Ålesund following a different route that loops through the island of Ellingsøya. During the panoramic drive through town, you will see the prevailing Art Nouveau architecture and Ålesund Church, which is clad in Norwegian marble.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the natural beauty that surrounds Ålesund on a panoramic drive through the countryside.
• Spend free time admiring the views while walking across the pedestrian-only Skodje bridges.
• Follow a different but equally scenic route back to Ålesund.
• Enjoy a driving tour through Ålesund that focuses on its Art Nouveau architecture.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the Sea of Cortez on a double-deck catamaran and look for whales breaching the water’s surface. Along the way, you will pass El Arco – the iconic arch-shaped granite formation at the tip of the peninsula – where you will likely see sea lions along the rocky shore. Still, the star attractions are the whales that migrate to breed or give birth. More than a dozen species of whales frequent these waters, including humpbacks, blue whales and gray whales. It is always a breathtaking sight as one of these behemoths comes up for oxygen. Humpbacks are particularly mesmerizing to watch as they acrobatically breach the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive. When blue whales surface to exhale, the spray from their blowholes can shoot as high as 30 feet into the air. As you observe these massive cetaceans, appetizers will be served and the bar will be open.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for whales and other cetaceans while cruising through the Sea of Cortez.
• Learn fascinating facts about whale behavior and their breeding patterns.
• Enjoy appetizers and drinks from the open bar on the catamaran.
• Look for sea lions on the rocky shoreline at El Arco at the peninsula’s tip.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Learn all about the world of the Pacific Bottlenose dolphin from the best possible teachers – the dolphins themselves. Designed with non-swimmers in mind, this program is an ideal introduction the ocean's most inspiring mammals. The knowledgeable trainers will start with a short poolside introduction to the resident dolphins helping you understand more about them and their fascinating underwater communication techniques.

Then it's straight into the shallow water of the seawater pool where you'll get closely acquainted with these friendly and curious characters. Feel their smooth skin, feed them their favorite treat, kiss and play with them and communicate one-on-one using your newly learned hand signals. The group size is kept small so that you can make the most of your unforgettable experience.

OVERVIEW

Browse a butterfly sanctuary before turning your attention to the joys of Dominican cuisine at a local market and at a farm-to-table restaurant. After an enlightening drive through Puerto Plata, you will head toward the town of Maimón, where you will meander through a butterfly sanctuary. You can expect it to be an eye-opening experience as you will discover all sorts of fascinating facts about butterflies, such as how they can migrate thousands of miles and taste with their feet. You will take a more conventional approach to eating at a local market where vendors will offer samples of their fresh-brewed coffees and chocolates. A traditional buffet lunch follows at nearby Hacienda La Huerta, a former sugar plantation once owned by the Brugal family, one of the finest producers of Dominican rum. You will have the opportunity to sample some of those aged rums and learn about their production.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into the fascinating world of butterflies at a sanctuary for these colorful insects.
• Enjoy a sampling of local products at a market that also sells crafts.
• Watch cigars being hand-rolled, another artisanal craft.
• Dine at a former sugar plantation and sample a selection of premium rums.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Cruise to subtropical Rose Island to relax on the beach and interact with its most well-known residents—a passel of cute, friendly pigs that will swim out into the ocean to greet you. On the way there, you will see many of the attractions around Nassau’s harbor and hear tales of the domesticated pigs that inhabit Rose Island. The pigs have been pampered since they were babies and love attention, so be ready for a fun, up-close and personal experience. Once you wade into the shallow waters, you can expect the pigs to approach, knowing that food awaits. The guide will show you how to feed the pigs and the best ways to interact with them while swimming. The pigs couldn’t be cuter or more enthusiastic about the attention. You will also have time to enjoy activities such as beach volleyball, a refreshing swim in the sea and lounging about while Caribbean music plays in the background.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire the gorgeous scenery on a leisurely cruise to Rose Island.
• Swim with the friendly pigs that live on the island and feed them if you wish.
• Relax on the island’s idyllic beach and take a refreshing swim in the sea.

OVERVIEW

Zip across the turquoise waters off Charlotte Amalie in The Screamin’ Eagle, a turbo-charged jet boat that doesn’t just sound exhilarating, it is. The moment you take a seat in the open-air boat and the 750-horsepower engine roars to life, the thrills will begin. Prepare to get wet and to scream at the top of your lungs as the high-speed jet boat races off into the harbor. You may want to hang on with both hands because the captain just loves to fishtail the boat and make impossibly tight 180-degree turns. Your adrenaline will be flowing like a fire hose. Then, when you least expect it, the captain will stop The Screamin’ Eagle on a dime in a controlled power brake that is sure to raise goosebumps. As you catch your breath, the captain will point out and describe the historical landmarks along the shore. Then, it’s full throttle and pedal to the metal once again.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race through Charlotte Amalie harbor on a turbo-charged 750-horsepower jet boat.
• Be awed by how the boat effortlessly maneuvers at top speed and then stops on a dime.
• Hear enlightening commentary about St. Thomas during breaks on the water.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.