See how orphaned and displaced bears are rehabilitated in a rescue center and explore a remote homestead on a deep-water fjord. You will enjoy an up-close view of the animals at the Fortress of the Bear, where brown and black bears are typically in residence. The naturalists will elaborate on why the bears were brought to the center, their personality traits and their chances of being released back into the wild. The stories are inspiring, as many of the bears were once malnourished, injured or orphaned. Learn about the history of the area and look for wildlife while cruising through Silver Bay on your way to the Homestead. Living in the remote Alaska wilderness can be challenging for animals and people, as you will discover in more detail at a private homestead on Silver Bay. The same family has lived there for generations and are happy share their experiences as you tour the property and gather around a campfire. You can also expect to learn about the indigenous Tlingits that first settled the area.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Watch rescued brown and black bears in the Fortress of the Bear rehabilitation center.
• Hear how the bears have been brought back to health in hopes of releasing them.
• Cruise on a heated, expedition boat to a remote homestead on the deep-water fjord Silver Bay.
• Learn about the challenges of living in the Alaska wilderness.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate clothing i.e. light rain jacket and layers.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This sightseeing cruise features guaranteed whale watching! Following a short motorcoach ride to scenic Auke Bay, you’ll board a water jet powered catamaran specially designed for wildlife viewing. Relax in the warm, comfortable, spacious main cabin, surrounded by large windows as your experienced Captain guides you through the island studded waters of Stephens Passage. Against a majestic backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glaciers, the onboard naturalist will explain the behavior and habitat of wildlife you may encounter, including humpback and killer whales, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles, bears and deer.

The operators of this tour guarantee that you'll see a whale. If not, you’ll receive a $100 cash refund as you disembark the vessel. Don’t anticipate a refund; in the past 10+ years, whales have been sighted on every tour! To fully enjoy the sights and sounds of a close encounter with wildlife, be sure to bring a warm, rainproof jacket to wear on the topside observation deck and don’t forget your camera! Day use binoculars and a souvenir wildlife guide and map are provided, along with complimentary snacks and beverages. less

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.

Experience the real Florence by mingling with the residents at a popular market, sampling Florentine delicacies and browsing the less commercialized Oltrarno district. The fun will begin at San Lorenzo Market, which occupies a beautifully restored cast-iron building constructed in the 1870s. Although you may recognize some of the delicacies, be sure to ask the guide if you can’t identify something or don’t know its name. Chances are, you will see lampredotto, a Florentine specialty of cow stomach slow-cooked with vegetables and served on a crunchy bun. It is considered comfort food. After sampling a selection of more well-known products such as cheese, salami and olives, you will walk toward the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of the city. The famed Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore overlooks the square, and its dome has become a symbol of the city. Then, after stopping for a cup of creamy gelato, you will enjoy free time to explore the Oltrarno district.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Mingle with the locals while browsing Florence’s popular San Lorenzo Market.
• Sample local delicacies such as salamis and cheeses and some more exotic ones.
• Explore Florence’s authentic, less commercialized Oltrarno district.

Come experience the world famous, magnificent ruins of the walled city of Tulum, the only Mayan city built right on the blue Caribbean Sea! After a 45-minute ferry to Playa del Carmen, your guide will lead you to an air-conditioned motor coach for a scenic and informative one-hour drive to Tulum.

Once there, your guide will escort you through the ruins giving a complete narration along the way. See the restored temples and some of the mysterious hieroglyphic writings still visible today. Visit the temple of the frescos, famous for the detailed carved figures and original paints. And perched on the edge of the Caribbean and rising high above all of the other ruins is “El Castillo” with its breathtaking view of the aqua-colored water below.

Once back in Playa del Carmen, you may have free time for shopping etc., depending on the ferry schedule. There will be a stop on the way to Tulum to purchase food, refreshments, souvenirs and use of the restroom.

Snorkel the azure waters adjacent to the of Belize's Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living barrier reef. This is a shallow water entry, well suited for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. Depart from the Harvest Caye Marina on one of our comfortable snorkel vessels for the short scenic ride to a beautiful site along the reef. This location is teeming with multitudes of colorful reef fish, co-habiting among the beautiful hard and soft coral formations, intermingled with sponges, sea fans, and delicate sea anemones.

Possible sightings of spotted eagle rays and schools of larger fish are quite common, large starfish, queen conchs, and sea cucumbers also call this patch of the reef home. After snorkeling, re-board your boat and enjoy the return trip while listening to Caribbean rhythmic vibes. After returning to the pier, as you step off the boat, you can pick up your complimentary rum punch.

Settle in aboard an expedition catamaran for a wonderfully picturesque cruise to a private island, the starting point for a kayaking adventure through the Siginaka Islands. The cruise will set the stage for what lies ahead, as the scenery will be spectacular. Still, few experiences rival exploring the islands in a sea kayak, where the serenity is so overwhelming that you will feel at one with nature. As you paddle around the islands, the guide will point out the marine life, which should be easily visible in the shallows. Abundant crabs, sea stars and jellyfish live just below the water’s surface. Animals such as sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions and porpoise are frequently spotted as well, some breaching the water’s surface, others sunning on the rocky shores. And be sure to scan the trees for majestic bald eagles. The guide will also describe the influence and culture of the indigenous Tlingits, the area’s first inhabitants.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise to a private island in an expedition catamaran.
• Kayak around the Siginaka Islands as the guide points out marine life in the shallows.
• Look for playful sea otters, sea lions and porpoise in the water and bald eagles overhead.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate clothing i.e. light rain jacket and layers.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Cruise into waters teeming with humpback whales and other marine life, and then dine on traditional Alaskan dishes at a seafood feast. Point Adolphus has the highest concentration of humpback whales in the Alaskan panhandle, so be on the lookout for these majestic and intelligent creatures. They will be breaching the water’s surface, waving their flukes up and down as they dive, and feeding voraciously to fatten up for their winter migration south. You might also observe frolicking Dall’s porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, curious Harbor Seals and Orca whales, which sometimes feed on infirm or wounded humpbacks. Be sure to look skyward for majestic bald eagles, too. Following the whale-watching adventure, you too will have the opportunity to feast. A sumptuous meal of classic Alaskan dishes awaits you back in Hoonah. The menu will include seasonal shrimp and crabs, Andouille sausage and all sorts of sides. Afterwards, you can roast marshmallows around the campfire.

An eye-opening study in contrasts, this tour presents the extravagant world of Brunei's sultan, followed by a look at life in a village built on stilts in the river.

Starting off from the pier, you will first travel inland toward the majestic Jame Mosque, Brunei's largest, where you will pause briefly for photos. Nearby, you will have a second photo stop that offers you a distant view of the Sultan's Palace (there is no stop at the Palace itself) which is situated on the leafy banks of the Brunei River.

Continuing on, you will arrive at the white-domed Royal Regalia where you can wander through exhibits of luxurious items from the Sultan's lavish coronation and other celebrations. Some of the items you may have the opportunity to see here are His Majesty's royal chariot, ceremonial swords, a model of the palace and various gifts from foreign dignitaries. But as you will soon see, there's more to Brunei than the extravagances afforded by its abundant oil and natural gas.

Making your way to a nearby jetty, you will board a boat and cruise to Water Village where you will witness firsthand a much different side of life. More than 30,000 people live here in thousands of structures built on stilts in the Brunei River. The village is an amazing assortment of homes, restaurants, mosques, shops and hospitals, all connected by wooden boardwalks. Surprisingly, some of the homes are quite elaborate, and you will have the unique opportunity of stopping by one for a cup of tea. Amazingly, people have lived in the Water Village for more than 1,300 years, making it one of the most historic areas in Brunei.

Following your time at the Water Village, you will retrace your route as you make your way back to the pier.

Drive a Jeep through downtown Nassau and its suburbs, taking in attractions such as the caves where the indigenous Lucayans once lived and then pausing to relax at the beach..

After a short walk from the pier, you will hop into a Jeep Wrangler and hit the open road. There is plenty to see during your time behind the wheel, starting with downtown Nassau, the capital, largest city and cultural hub of the Bahamas..

You will drive through the colorful shopping district on Bay Street and see highlights such as palm-dotted Rawson Square, lovely government buildings such as the Supreme Court and the pink-hued House of Assembly. You will then head west past lovely Cable Beach and on towards the Nassau Caves for a photo stop..

The Lucayans, the original residents of the Bahamas once lived in these caverns. Settlers later used the caves for religious services and the guano inside to fertilize their crops..

You will drive along JFK Drive, which recognizes President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 meeting in Nassau to discuss Polaris, the United Kingdom’s submarine-based nuclear-weapons program. The fabulous and sprawling Baha Mar resort is another Bahamian landmark that you will pass. .

Free time on one of Nassau’s most inviting beaches follows, during which you might stroll along the shore, bask in the sun or simply admire the natural beauty and serenity of the sea. Then after a bountiful lunch at the Bahamian Grill, you will return to the pier..

Sail across Pillsbury Sound to the enchanting island of St. John on a catamaran and then snorkel in the turquoise waters just offshore. All that is required of you is to sit back and relax as the catamaran glides along the eastern end of St. Thomas and continues to St. John, the most pristine of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In time, you will arrive at Honeymoon Beach within the Virgin Islands National Park. You will be free to snorkel, stroll along the sugar-white beach and relax as you see fit. You might stretch out on a beach towel, linger in the shade of a coconut palm and swim in the sea with nothing on your mind other than enjoying yourself. On the return cruise to St. Thomas, the champagne will be flowing and an array of cheeses, freshly baked breads and fresh tropical fruits will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sail on a sleek catamaran to neighboring St. John, half of which is a national park.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters off Honeymoon Beach on the island’s western edge.
• Bask in the sun, relax on the beach and delight in the natural beauty.
• Celebrate the adventure with a tropical beverage from the open bar on the return cruise.

Experience local life by exploring food markets and a shopping mall, sampling Finnish cuisine and then strolling a serene waterfront park. As you meander about the historical market Vanha Kaupahalli, you will gain an understanding of daily life in Helsinki. Similarly, after a short tram ride to the Kamppi Shopping Centre, you will get a feel for other types of merchandise available to the residents, mainly fashions and jewelry. You will then ride the metro to Hakaniemi Market, a shopping area that specializes in gourmet foods and delicacies. To see if the local cuisine suits your palate, you will sample traditional snacks such as cold smoked reindeer with marinated red onion, Finnish archipelago bread with lemon crème fraiche and salmon, and non-alcoholic rhubarb soda. To become further immersed in local life, you will stroll through waterfront Kaivopuisto Park, which is on the southernmost tip of Helsinki and surrounded by embassies and extravagant homes.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Observe local life while browsing the merchandise at several popular shopping areas.
• Recognize the vast range of stores available in urban Helsinki.
• Sample traditional Norwegian snacks and stroll a waterfront park.