Experience the island's natural attractions by hiking through a picturesque valley, swimming in a volcanically formed lagoon, and gazing over the landscape from high atop a mountain.

Depart from the pier in Mindelo, the island's cultural capital, and follow a scenic route inland toward Mato Ingles, a charming village founded by English traders in the 19th century. Here, in the serenity of the beautifully stark countryside, you'll enjoy a hike along a flat path through a rather dry valley. The island's interior is noticeably barren, a characteristic that only adds to its drama and visual appeal. Still, there are some small farms scattered about the valleys, growing crops such as corn, potatoes and beans.

Driving on to the eastern shore, you'll visit Praia Grande, a large crescent-shaped beach. Be sure to note the wonderful contrast between its white sands and the backdrop of black lava mountains. While taking in the spectacle, enjoy a glass of "pontche," a traditional island cocktail made with sugar-cane molasses and "grogue," the national liqueur of Cape Verde. More stunning scenery awaits you at Baia das Gatas, which means Catfish Bay, where you may swim in the sheltered lagoon formed by volcanic eruption centuries ago. Then, linger over a hearty traditional lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Re-boarding your coach, you'll make your way up Monte Verde, a mountainous nature preserve that lies just a few miles east of Mindelo. During a photo stop here, you'll be treated to some amazing panoramic views. As you make your way back to the pier, you'll be able to view more beaches and villages.

Depart from the pier and enjoy a brief drive across town to Futuro Beach, a spectacularly well-maintained stretch of sand in the shadow of the port. Because the ride is so short, you will have more than three hours at the beach to enjoy its countless charms.

Futuro Beach is one of Fortaleza’s most popular spots, so expect it to be vibrant. An area with plenty of lounge chairs has been reserved for your group, so you can comfortably settle in under the shade of an umbrella. The beach itself is wide, flat and nearly five miles long, encouraging you to stroll along the shore, admiring the ever-changing scenery. If the wind conditions are good, you might spot kite surfers zipping across the water.

However, if you wish to simply relax in the sun, that’s perfectly acceptable as this is your time to enjoy at your own pace. If you get thirsty or hungry, there is an abundance of kiosks up and down the beach, selling refreshments and even full meals. Seafood is a favorite especially dishes featuring fresh-caught crabs, fried fish and baked fish stew. To add to the excitement, there is usually Brazilian music playing somewhere, either live or recorded.

Following your time at Futuro Beach, you will rejoin your coach and drive the short distance back to the pier.

Board your motor coach and brace yourself as you set out on a South Shore Adventure of Nova Scotia! Visit Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay and discover their colourful houses, museums, art galleries, souvenir shops, cafe’s and restaurants. This tour will demonstrate the beautiful diversity of the South Shore and allows you free time to plot your journey at each location, whether you want to savor the local foods and atmosphere in one of the cafe’s/restaurants, buy souvenirs, or just mosey along viewing the impressive sites and taking pictures, the choice is yours!

At Peggy's Cove, discover why this picturesque seaside village with its stately lighthouse has been an inspiration to artists and writers for generations. It is here that the power and majesty of the Atlantic Ocean truly comes to life along the granite shores of the Cove - worn and shaped through the crashing surf.

Continuing on, you will arrive at another extraordinarily scenic area, Old Town Lunenburg. Established in 1753, it is North America’s best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement. The original layout and appearance has been retained so faithfully that UNESCO designated Lunenburg a World Heritage site. During free time, you can explore the brightly colored Old Town, which is easy to navigate because the streets follow a rectangular grid pattern designed in Britain. You can expect to see 18th-century wooden buildings and perhaps a replica of the Bluenose, Canada’s legendary racing ship that was launched here in 1921. Finally, we will visit Mahone Bay, considered to be one of the most attractive towns in Canada. This small and friendly community is renowned for the view across the Bay of three prominent churches. Take time to explore the many varied and local offerings along lovely Main Street before relaxing on the return drive to the Port of Halifax.

Learn to make traditional paella at a farm in nearby L’Horta, an agricultural region on the outskirts of Valencia where most of the ingredients grow or can be found. Valencians often spend weekends in L’Horta to relax and enjoy a dinner of paella. The gathering is a ritual of sorts, in which families come together to socialize and dine on a dish that was first prepared in this area in the 15th or 16th century. The owner of the farm will show you around the grounds and point out some of the many garden items that will end up in your paella. You will then join a hands-on workshop and learn the basics of preparing this once-humble dish from scratch. While the dish is simmering in a large circular pan, you will toast the upcoming meal with a glass of sangria. When the paella is finished, you might taste it straight from the pan, another Valencian tradition.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Visit the farming region of L’Horta, where Valencians often spend weekends relaxing.
• Tour a farm where many of the ingredients for paella are grown.
• Learn to make traditional paella in a hands-on workshop on the farm.
• Dine on the freshly made paella, perhaps straight from the pan, which is a tradition.

Tour a country estate with one of the owners, who will regale you with stories of the family’s history as a prelude to a picnic. Generations of the family have lived at the estate, and there are countless stories about their lives, the founding of the property and how the Murcian region has changed over the decades. Farms sprawl across much of the land in Murcia, some of them dedicated to growing grapes for wine and others devoted to fruits and vegetables that thrive in the semi-arid Mediterranean climate. As part of your tour, the owners of the estate will share the family cookbook, whose recipes have been handed down for generations. You will hear entertaining stories about the recipes and see handwritten notes in the margins that show how they have been altered to make the dishes even more delectable. Afterwards, you will picnic in the countryside and taste just how spectacular Murian cuisine can be.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Spend time with the owners of a country estate who will show you around their property.
• Gain an understanding of the local agriculture and see family recipes that make the most of it.
• Enjoy a picnic in the countryside with dishes that reflect traditional Murian cuisine.

Discover the charms of two inland villages, one a medieval gem with fine shopping, the other featuring a rare olive mill. Unlike other villages in Provence, Valbonne was designed on a Roman grid plan, so the streets are straight and perpendicular rather than winding. After a guided walking tour through the leafy plazas, you will enjoy free time in Valbonne. You might be surprised by how cosmopolitan it is, especially with regard to shopping and dining. You will then drive a bit farther inland to Opio, a smaller village surrounded by olive groves and pine trees. Opio has one of the area’s few remaining olive mills, which has been operating since the 15th century. Now powered by electricity rather than water, the mill still presses fresh oil from locally gathered olives as it has for centuries. After hearing about the mill’s history, you will sample some the olives and freshly pressed oil with a glass of wine.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Enjoy a leisurely and immensely picturesque drive inland to two villages in Provence.
• Spend free time in medieval Valbonne, where you may shop in its sophisticated boutiques.
• Sample olives, freshly pressed olive oil and a glass of wine at a 15th-century olive mill.

Explore two lively markets in downtown Cartagena; one for food and the second a favorite locale for handmade jewelry and crafts. While walking to the Santa Florentina covered market, you will pass landmarks such as Conception Castle and several leafy parks. Long a staple for shopping, the market offers every imaginable culinary ingredient, and you can expect the atmosphere to be extraordinary lively as the residents and vendors interact and socialize. The guide will lead you to stalls where you can taste tapas topped with favorite ingredients. You might try one of these small-plate appetizers with fried squid, anchovies, artisanal cheese or vegetables, as produce is a specialty. Continuing on to the nearby Artisan Center, which is housed inside an 18th-century palace, you will browse stalls full of locally made arts and crafts. The ceramics, jewelry and glassware are particularly noteworthy. Chances are, you will see artisans making their pieces by hand.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse the stalls of the Santa Florentina market, which is revered for its fresh produce.
• Sample small-plate tapas at the market, topped with local specialties such as squid and cheese.
• Shop for hand-made jewelry and glassware at the Artisan Center, another favorite venue.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Florence & Pisa! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to Piazza della Signoria. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Piazza della Signoria
• Santa Maria de Fiore Cathedral
• Piazza della Repubblica
• Ponte Vecchio
• Piazzale Michelangelo
• The Tower of Pisa

To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture. During the tour, you will stop for some traditional treats and a wine tasting.

Gain an understanding of traditional agricultural practices at a farmhouse museum and then browse an 18th-century church built to honor the Madonna answering the villagers’ prayers. The highlight of the open-air museum, known as El Patio, is a farmhouse from the 1840s that is furnished with period pieces that present a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the time. While browsing, you see how the local farmers survived a series of volcanic eruptions that destroyed their fields. It is a fascinating story, as they used traditional techniques to revitalize the land and turn El Patio into the island’s most productive farm. Crops are still grown at El Patio, and you may sample some of them. Not far away, you will find the village of Mancha Blanca, where you will tour the Virgin of Sorrows church. The church was built to honor the Madonna, who supposedly twice answered the villagers’ prayers by diverting lava from nearby volcanoes.

Stroll through two lesser-known neighborhoods that will present an authentic look at daily life, as you will experience them as a local. While browsing one of the most vibrant markets in the Corts neighborhood, you can expect to watch a lively interaction between the residents and the vendors, as they socialize and amicably haggle over prices. Later, over coffee at a nearby restaurant, you can discuss the experience with the guide and how it might differ from your upcoming stroll through the Sarria neighborhood, which is more affluent and traditional. While meandering through its pretty streets, you can sense that the neighborhood was once an independent rural village. Largely quiet and residential, Sarria offers a unique perspective of Barcelona life, as well-heeled celebrities, politicians and artists are among its residents. You will have the chance to mingle with the locals at one of the bakeries, in a church and later over tapas at Bar Tomás.

Bicycle through neighborhoods and areas known more to locals than visitors, an experience that will leave you with a genuine understanding of daily life in Valencia. Fishermen founded the residential district El Cabanyal in the 13th century, and it is an excellent place for bicycling, as the streets are relatively flat and easy to negotiate, freeing you to really enjoy the setting. While bicycling through the outskirts of Alboraya, you will likely pass farmhouses surrounded by fields of vegetables and chufa, a vitamin-rich superfood known more casually as tiger nuts. It is also well-known for producing horchata, a beloved chilled beverage made with the milky juice of chufa and sugar. Similarly, Valencia is synonymous with paella, and you will enjoy a tasting of it at a restaurant before bicycling toward Malvarrosa Beach. The fresh sea air and views of the lively promenade along the golden sand will make the final leg of your journey all the more memorable.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Bicycle through areas of Valencia unknown to most visitors for a true glimpse at daily life.
• Pass a beach, farmhouse and field where you will see the diversity of local crops.
• Sample authentic paella, a dish synonymous with Valencia.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Valencia! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour begins with a short drive from the ship to your first photo stop, City of Arts & Sciences. You will have designated selfie stops at: • City of Arts & Sciences
• Streets of the Old Quarter
• Calle Bolseria
• Plaza Lope de Vega
• Las Arenas Beach

End your picture-perfect day with a relaxing transfer back to the ship.