Discover the relevance of ancient alchemy as it applies to present-day life at Al-Huerta, a farm that promotes healthy habits and environmental education. The farmers recognize how classic symbols of alchemy such as air, water, fire and earth affect human life and agriculture. They rely on these influences to grow organic citrus, teach visitors how to make natural remedies, and strive to improve the environment and achieve a healthier, more balanced life. While walking through Al-Huerta’s orchards and gardens, which were designed to reflect Andalusian alchemy, you will learn about the plants’ medicinal and culinary uses. You will also gain insight into the ways that organic farming increases biodiversity and enriches the environment. During the laboratory workshop that follows, you too will practice a bit of alchemy by extracting essential oils that are often found in perfumes and cosmetics.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Recognize how ancient alchemy may influence present-day life and agriculture.
• Discover the benefits of the eco-friendly agricultural practices at Al-Huerta farm.
• Gain insight into the many medicinal and culinary uses of the plants grown there.
• Learn to extract essentials oils in the farm’s laboratory workshop.

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

Walk through Lungotevere, one of the oldest sections of Rome, and sample a multitude of classic Italian treats. Your culinary immersion will begin at Campo de Fiori, where you will meander a bustling outdoor marketplace with stalls full of colorful produce, aromatic spices and classic Italian condiments. Crudites will be offered, allowing you to see just how tasty raw vegetables can be, especially when dipped in seasoned fresh-pressed olive oil. You will then walk to a bakery for a pizza tasting, on to a chocolate shop to sample confections and then to Sant’ Eustachio, a coffee shop that makes its espresso with water from an ancient aqueduct. The proprietors will explain how they ensure the freshest ingredients and highest quality. A refreshing dessert follows at Giolitti, which may be Rome’s oldest, if not finest, gelato shop. You will then enjoy free time around Navona Square, a wonderfully atmospheric area built over a stadium from the 1st century.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Taste an array of classic Italian treats in one of the Rome’s oldest sections.
• Expect to sample crudites, pizza, chocolate confections, coffee and gelato.
• Spend free time exploring atmospheric Navona Square.

Cruise across the Venetian Lagoon to Chioggia, a low-key port known as “Little Venice” because of its many canals, bridges and historical architecture. Chioggia has long revolved around fishing and its fish market is still one of the busiest venues. Like Venice, Chioggia has its share of notable churches such as the 14th-century San Martino and the 17th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The latter’s highlights include an ornate high altar with scenes of Virgin Mary’s life. Its bell tower stands outside the cathedral near the ancient gate to the city. During the guided walking tour, you can expect to meander along Corso del Popolo, the main street. Be sure to notice the clock in the campanile of the Sant’ Andrea Church. Said to be the world’s oldest clock, its mechanism is housed in a protective glass case. For a literal taste of Choggia, you will snack on traditional cicchetti side dishes before exploring further on your own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise across the lagoon to Chioggia, which is affectionately known as “Little Venice.”
• Admire the historical churches and other landmarks while walking through Chioggia.
• Snack on a selection of side dishes that are representative of Chioggia’s cuisine.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Hop aboard a boat and go fishing in Donegal Bay with a local that knows the best spots to catch fish. What’s biting will depend on the water conditions and the season, but be assured that the skipper will take you to the likeliest places to land a big one. All the gear and tackle will be supplied, so all you have to do is concentrate on reeling in the fish. There is no telling what you might catch or how many, as these pristine waters are teeming with cod, mackerel, haddock and flounder. Lesser-known species include coalfish, dogfish and launce, a slender-bodied fish commonly called a sand eel for the way it burrows in the bottom of the sea. The views will be spectacular the entire time, as the bay features some of the most stunningly rugged coastline in County Donegal. Keep an eye out for dolphin, which are often spotted frolicking on the water’s surface.

HIGHLIGHTSS:
• Go fishing with a local on a boat in Donegal Bay.
• Follow the skipper’s advice to increase your chances of catching fish like cod and flounder.
• Look for dolphin playing in the water and take in the beauty of the rugged coastline.

Spend an enlightening day at a farm in Tuscany that produces a multitude of organic foods, many of which will be used as ingredients in your lunch. As an introduction to the artisanal practices at the Diacceroni farm, you will see how honey is produced and sample several varieties of the natural sweetener, which may include an amber chestnut honey and a floral-flavored acacia honey. Similarly, you will discover how the farmers use traditional methods to grow and harvest the crops. In preparation for the afternoon cooking class, you will gather a selection of fresh vegetables and herbs from the farm’s fields and gardens. You will then use those ingredients to concoct your delicious four-course lunch under the chef’s watchful eye. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with organic wines. Afterwards, you’ll spend some time with a wine expert and agronomist who will talk with you about environmental ethics and biodiversity.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain insight into the organic methods used at a traditional Tuscan farm.
• See how organic honey, vegetables and wine are produced.
• Join a hands-on cooking class and prepare your four-course lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Enjoy an enlightening walk through an eco-friendly citrus orchard and then settle in for a breakfast made with organic ingredients. The setting for your immersion into healthy living Andalusian-style will be Al-Huerta, a farm that also serves as a center for environmental education. Your host will explain the sustainable agricultural techniques that improve the fertility of soil, heal degraded ecosystems and provide habitat for a variety of animals, including hedgehogs and indigenous birds. You will notice aromatic wild plants—some medicinal, others used for cooking—growing freely among the citrus trees. There are also orchards of fruits trees such as mangoes and avocados. The farmers follow a philosophy of social responsibility and encourage visitors to seek a more balanced lifestyle. Feel free to discuss the workings of the farm over breakfast, which will likely include fresh juices, organic coffee, herbal-infused olive oil and homemade bread from a wood-fired oven.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Walk through a citrus orchard where eco-friendly agricultural practices are followed.
• Become familiar with the benefits of sustainable agriculture for humans and animals.
• Enjoy a breakfast of organic juices, herbal-infused olive oil and homemade bread.

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

Experience the wonders of the Panama Canal on this spectacular partial canal transit. Arriving in Panama City, you will disembark the ship and take a short transfer by coach to the La Playita dock where you will board a spacious ferry and begin your unforgettable tour of the Panama Canal. The first lock you will pass through is the Miraflores Locks, where your ship will be raised the first 56 feet and enter Miraflores Lake. From here, you will transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks, where you will be raised the second 28 feet and enter Gatun Lake, once the largest man-made lake in the world. Crossing the Continental Divide at this point, you will continue to Gaillard Cut. The Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut, was the most challenging section of the canal to build. As you pass through the Cut, you'll see the continuing excavation that keeps this passage open to marine traffic. Enjoy a buffet lunch aboard the ferry before your fascinating tour of the Canal ends in the small village of Gamboa. While not large, Gamboa is home to the headquarters of the Panama Canal dredging division and some of the largest floating cranes in the world. After leaving your ferry, board a waiting motorcoach for the just over 1-hour drive back to the ship at Amador. Each tour participant will receive a certificate that commemorates their crossing of the Canal.

Gain a greater understanding of Northern Ireland and its culture by following a foodie guide through Belfast, pausing every so often to sample classic dishes and delicacies.

After departing from the pier, you will soon reach the heart of Belfast, where you will commence a walking tour, accompanied by a local food enthusiast. 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. These will be the markets, restaurants and cafés that the locals frequent, rather than those typically found in guide books.

You may well start at St. George’s Market, the oldest covered market on the entire island of Ireland. While browsing the stalls and soaking up the atmosphere, you will sample delicacies that are distinctly Irish. You may be offered a chunk of fried eel or a bite of Belfast bap, a hearty sandwich typically loaded with Irish bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese.

Continuing on to other foodie locales, you might try a few spoonfuls of colcannon, a mixture of mashed potatoes, cabbage, cream and butter. Of course, potatoes appear in all sorts of classic dishes such as Irish stew, Ulster fry and boxty, a tasty potato pancake.

Other Irish staples that you may sample include fluffy soda bread and wheaten farls. The latter is a griddle cake that is served in quarters known as farls.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Naples! 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 Sorrento. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Sorrento Viewpoint
• Lift to Water Viewpoint
• Villa Communale
• Piazza Tasso
• Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola
• Castle Nuovo

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 get to taste traditional Neapolitan pizza and local beer.

Spend a full day meandering through a natural reserve, enjoying lunch at an organic farm and exploring an estate that creates essential oils from eucalyptus trees and medicinal plants. Your appreciation of all things natural will begin with a stroll along the marshland boardwalk at Massaciuccoli Nature Park, where you will likely see a huge variety of water birds. Lunch follows at Tenuta Mariani, a Tuscan farm with vast olive groves and vineyards. Besides running entirely on renewable energy and recycling most everything possible, the estate takes a biodynamic, chemical-free approach to farming that adds vitality to the soil and plants. It is a difference you will taste in every bite. The company Versil Green also respects the Tuscan environment when creating organic products for the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. While touring, you will observe the production process and perhaps participate in an essential oils workshop. Afterwards, you will sample a craft beer made with organic hops.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Look for water birds while strolling the boardwalk at Massaciuccoli Nature Park.
• Gain insight into biodynamic agriculture that benefits the environment at a Tuscan farm.
• Toast the day with an organic beer after touring a company that makes essential oils.

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

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Venice! 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

Your tour will start with a private boat transfer along Giudecca Canal. Your tour will have designated selfie stops at

• San Giorgio Bell Tower
• St Mark Basin
• St Mark Square
• Bridge of Sighs
• Rialto Bridge
• Fondaco dei Tedeschi

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch the perfect picture. End your picture-perfect day with a beverage from the Fondaco bar.

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.