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.

Enjoy the serenity of several natural settings, including the Big City Park in Tivat, where you will plant a tree that will benefit the Earth for years to come. The urban park is a green oasis full of indigenous and exotic plants that include eucalyptuses, magnolias, Chilean firs and unusual herbs. By planting a small tree on the grounds, you will add to the botanical diversity and perhaps most important help the environment, as trees absorb harmful carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. A bit of free time in Porto Montenegro will follow, after which you will wander through Solila Reserve on the Bay of Tivat. Although salt was once produced in the pools along the shore, birdwatching is now the main activity in the protected wildlife reserve. Keep an eye out for auks, ibises and curlews. A leisurely and informative walk through Old Town Kotor will perfectly complement the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Plant a tree in a park known for its botanical diversity.
• Meander about a protected bayside reserve that supports abundant birdlife.
• Enjoy free time in architecturally important Porto Montenegro and Old Town Kotor.

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

OVERVIEW

View the absolute icons of New York from a water perspective while cruising the Hudson River and up close while driving through the heart of Manhattan. The Big Apple’s skyline will look especially dramatic from the boat as you will see One World Trade Center – the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere – looming in the background. Once you pass Lower Manhattan, you will cruise past Ellis Island and on to the Statue of Liberty, where the boat will pause long enough for you to take close-up photos of this inspiring beacon of freedom and hope. The bus will follow a route that also presents one landmark after another, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park, the urban oasis that famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted co-designed in 1858. You will hear insightful commentary throughout the tour and all the way to the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the Hudson River for an unforgettable water perspective of Manhattan.
• Snap photos while the boat stops as close as possible to the Statue of Liberty.
• See countless landmarks while riding through Manhattan.
• Pass Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park.
• Head to either JFK or LaGuardia airport in plenty of time for your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Race through Boka Bay in a speedboat and enjoy a refreshing swim in the Blue Cave and in the sparkling waters that rim a nearby beach. Although officially known as the Bay of Kotor, Boka – as it is called locally – is considered the southernmost fjord in Europe because of its wild landscape and precipitous cliffs that plummet into the sea. Zipping along its rocky coast in a speedboat will be an exhilarating experience, especially on the approach to the Blue Cave. Expect to be awed by the brilliant blue water and the hue that it casts on the cave’s interior, both the result of the way the sunlight reflects off the sandy bottom of the sea. You will have the opportunity to swim in this enchanting setting before zipping off to Rose Beach on the tip of the Lustica Peninsula. Sheltered by the surrounding mountains and forests, the water there is typically calm.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Zip through the typically calm waters of Boka Bay on a speedboat.
• Swim in a seaside cave known for its brilliant blue water, which reflects on the interior.
• Pause for a swim at Rose Beach, yet another idyllic spot on the bay.

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

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Santorini, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are available and complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture, share, and post the best pictures in the future.

As you walk and ride through Santorini, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Aroma Avlis restaurant
• Oia’s Blue-Domed churches
• Metropolitan Church of Ypapanti Thira

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Santorini.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Sample a local glass of wine at Aroma Avlis, a hilltop restaurant with panoramic views.
• Pose in front of the blue-domed churches in Oia and explore the coastal town.
• Stand above the Metropolitan Church of Ypapanti Thira and capture the ultimate shot of the city Fira.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

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.

OVERVIEW

Take an introductory drive through easy-going “Gizzy,” where a surf beach and a bottle of locally-made wine are never far from hand. These shores are legendary for their beauty, as you will see driving along the coast and past where the great explorer, Captain James Cook, first landed and met the native Maori people in 1769. Traveling up to the top of Kaiti Hill, you’ll be treated to glorious views of beach-lined Poverty Bay and of the white bluffs sitting across the turquoise water; that’s Young Nick’s Head, the first land sighted by Cook’s crew and named for the young lad who spied it. As your coach hugs the shoreline, Wainui and Okitu appear, two showy surfing beaches known for their impressive rollers – and the photogenic sand dunes of Lysnar Reserve. A few miles further out, the scenery changes dramatically as you come into Gisborne’s idyllic rural area. Enjoy the views as you drive along roads bordered by sweet-smelling orchards and award-winning vineyards, and see lush green fields dotted with fluffy sheep and quaint farmhouses. Back in the city, you’ll spin down tree-lined Gladstone Road, where the city shops, dines and people-watches. Hop off here if you’d like to solo-explore.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an introductory coach tour of Gisborne, a laid-back East Cape town that knows how to enjoy life.
• Pass gnarly surfing beaches, impressive dunes, New Zealand’s largest Maori meeting house, and Captain Cook’s 1769 landing spot.
• Enjoy panoramic views of Poverty Bay, Young Nicks Head and your ship from atop Kaiti Hill.
• Travel outside the city to where the vineyards and orchards flourish, and contented sheep graze.
• Hop off for independent exploring along the café-lined Gladstone Road or stay aboard back to the pier.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

Survey Bilbao’s alluring architectural landmarks, with a focus on the stunning Guggenheim Museum. Enjoy a brief panoramic tour of the city including privilege views over the from city at Artxanda Hill, before alighting at the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece clad in swooping titanium plates and curving glass panes that is the pure, unmistakable signature of starchitect Frank Gehry. Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer. You’ll discover its interior of milk-white walls, soaring halls and intimate galleries is equally enchanting. Led by an informative tour guide, spend approximately 1 ½ hours browsing modern art from the mid-20th century to the present, studying masterworks by Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois and Richard Serra, to name but a few. Board your coach continuing the panoramic drive from majestic neoclassical façades to cutting-edge subway stations designed by revered architect Norman Foster: you’ll be thrilled by Bilbao’s embrace of both the old and new. Prior to return to pier , stop for pictures at the 1893 Vizcaya Bridge, a highly unusual hanging transporter bridge that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into Bilbao’s historic heart on a brief panoramic coach tour.
• Appreciate nice city views from a priviledge view points at Artxanda Hill and stop for pictures and the famous Hanging Bridge of Getxo.
• Marvel at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Appreciate an approximately 1 ½ hour docent-led tour of the museum’s 20th-century and contemporary masterpieces.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Gain an understanding of how local craftsmen make traditional Greek musical instruments and take in the island’s natural beauty. Pyrgos is known for its 13th-century Venetian castle, the classic Cycladic design of its homes and the panoramic views from its hilltop location. It will be an ideal setting to pause for a cup of coffee and a Greek sweet. Megalochori is equally picturesque, as you will discover while meandering the village’s atmospheric cobbled streets lined with neoclassical houses. The intriguing Museum of Musical Instruments honors the history of the instruments that make Greek music so recognizable. You will learn how classic instruments such as the bouzouki and laouto are handmade and have the chance to play some of them. Afterwards, you will visit the family-owned Gavalas Winery, which has been producing traditional wines such as Katsano and Nykteri since the 19th century. There you will sample wines indicative of Santorini’s terroir and snacks that pair perfectly with them.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Pause for a snack and to revel in the village of Pyrgos’ classic Cycladic setting.
• Discover how some of the most recognizable Greek musical instruments are hand-crafted.
• Sample a selection of traditional wines and local delicacies at a family-owned winery.

Enjoy a fun cruise along St. Lucia’s coastline to experience the magnificent Pitons. As your catamaran sails out of Castries harbor, you’ll cruise along the west coast, passing the picturesque peninsulas of Vigie and La Toc. Sit out on deck to enjoy the sun and beautiful views – there’s also a cockpit onboard for those that may prefer shade. Take in the lush vegetation of the coastline and the small villages of Anse la Raye and Canaries. Continue to Soufriere Bay where you’ll see the Petit and Gros Pitons rising majestically 2,600 feet out of the sea. Enjoy great photo opportunities, capturing this wonder of nature as the catamaran circles the bay.

Continue your cruise along the coast to the scenic bay of Anse Cochon where an assortment of dry snacks will be served along with refreshing beverages before taking a relaxing swim in the lovely waters of the Caribbean Sea. Cruise to the idyllic Marigot Bay, one of the island’s most beautiful bays, famous for many battles between the English and the French. Enjoy Caribbean music as you cruise back to the pier.

The Ottomans and Byzantines ruled this city for centuries, and testament to these great empires stand the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, opposite each other in Sultanahmet Square. You’ll see these two impressive of Istanbul as well as the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Start with a visit to one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, better known as the Blue Mosque. Continue to the Hippodrome, to see the remains of what was once the scene for political struggles in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. See the Hagia Sophia Mosque from outside a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as a church for hundreds of years during the Byzantine Empire and was converted to a Mosque when the city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. Continue to the great Byzantine Basilica Cistern, located across from Hagia Sophia. Next stop is the Grand Bazaar. You’ll have a short time to experience the exotic atmosphere of the covered part.

Experience Mayan history and a jungle retreat with an open bar & buffet lunch. Your tour begins when your bilingual guide meets you at the end of the pier and escorts you to your air-conditioned transfer vehicle waiting on site. Listen to your guide and learn about the interesting local area and culture from onboard commentary as you pass through the fishing village. Continue this tour inland to visit “The Place of the Red Corn”, Chacchoben, learn about the fascinating Mayan culture during the journey from our knowledgeable guides. Enjoy a guided tour of this unique archaeological site set in beautiful surroundings still partially covered by the rain forest. Climb to the top of the “Gran Basamento” taking you above the tree line and visit two sacred temples. Before leaving, you will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs from shops on site. Your journey continues to a buffet lunch waiting for you at Mahikal Beach. Take a swim at sea and enjoy all complimentary drinks including your favorite cocktails. Feeling fully relaxed, well-fed and in good spirits, your transfer awaits to return you to the ship.