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 visit these two impressive landmarks 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 because of the over 21,000 blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration.

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. Visit the Hagia Sophia, 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. Here, you’ll find evidence of both. Continue to the great Byzantine Basilica Cistern, located across from Hagia Sophia. You might think that having so many breathtaking sites to visit above ground leaves no need to go under. But you’ll soon discover why this visit is worth every minute.

Next stop is the Grand Bazaar. You’ll have a short time to experience the exotic atmosphere of the covered part. Then visit the open and modern section, where you’ll enjoy local snacks and a presentation of carpets, leather or jewelry, followed by time for shopping. You’ll also have free time for lunch at your own expense during the tour and you’ll find many choices nearby.

Experience Barcelona’s diverse architectural heritage. You’ll become well acquainted with Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona’s celebrity architect – his unmistakable style with its organic shapes, twisted iron sculptures and colored tiles is hard to miss. Begun in 1883, it remains unfinished to this day. Enjoy an inside visit at his towering masterpiece, la Sagrada Family (The Holy Family). Drive along the elegant Passeig de Gracia with its wrought-iron street lamps and fine array of Modernist buildings, including Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, with a mosaic façade and undulating roof. You´ll wander through the “Poble Espanyol”, an open-air architectural museum, which was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. It consists of 117 full-scale buildings, which are replicas of the most characteristic buildings from all over Spain. It also contains restaurants, artisan workshops and shops offering quality souvenirs. There will be free time in the Old Quarter to explore, shop or have lunch on your own while strolling its narrow streets and handsome squares, lined with medieval buildings contemporary shops, bohemian artist workshops and cool bars and restaurants.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Naples and Sorrento, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Naples and Sorrento, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include::
• Sorrento viewpoint
• Villa Comunale Park
• Naples pizzeria
• Galleria Umberto I shopping mall
• Francesco da Paola church
• BCastel Nuovo

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Naples and Sorrento.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Spend free time in Sorrento’s large leafy park Villa Comunale.
• Enjoy a slice of pizza at a pizzeria in Naples, the town that invented it.
• Gaze upon historical landmarks in Naples, including the 13th-century fortress Castel Nuovo.

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.

Visit several of Old Town’s most iconic sites, which gained even greater fame after serving as locations for the fictional capital King’s Landing in “Game of Thrones.”

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the oldest section of Dubrovnik, a revered UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fans of the TV series “Game of Thrones,” which is based on George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy novels, will recognize this part of Dubrovnik as King’s Landing, the fictional capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

Your first stop will be imposing Lovrijenac Fortress, located just outside the medieval walls that encircle Old Town. Known as Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar, the 11th-century fortress perches atop a craggy rock overlooking the sea, which represented Blackwater Bay in the books.

Continuing on, you will enter Old Town and make your way to the defensive walls to the south. After climbing the steps, you will walk along the stone battlements, which afford extraordinary views of the sea and the inner city. These walls appeared in numerous scenes in “Game of Thrones”; they were particularly prominent in the Battle of Blackwater Bay.

Later, you will enjoy free time within Old Town, where you may explore other sites that you may recognize from the series. For instance, the Jesuit Staircase was where Cersei Lannister began her Walk of Shame in Season Five, and many of the show’s market scenes were filmed along St. Dominic Street. Following free time, you will return to the pier.

Meander through a fragrant herb garden in a 19th-century farm and then savor a delightful lunch of traditional Slovenian dishes. As an introduction to the country’s limestone karst region, you will pause to take in the sweeping views from a castle that overlooks the Gulf of Trieste. You will then stop at a farm for a sampling of local cheeses. Think of it as an appetizer for the culinary experience that awaits you at Belajevi Farm, a homestead dating to 1839. While walking through its aromatic herb garden, you will be offered a taste of herbs grown for culinary and medicinal purposes. They may include fresh sage, fennel and balm mint. Sweet-smelling lavender also flourishes in the karst terrain. As you will discover during the lunch that follows, many of the herbs have been used in the dishes. To complement the meal, you will be served Teran wine, a dark-ruby wine sometimes called King of the Karst.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the panoramic views from an ancient castle overlooking the Gulf of Trieste.
• Meander through a garden, sampling herbs grown for medicinal and culinary purposes.
• Dine on dishes made with ingredients from the garden and enjoy complementary wine.

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 expert guide 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
• Three Bells of Fira church

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Santorini.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Sample local specialties 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 Three Bells Fira Church 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.

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.

The old port of Mandraki, where this tour begins, is believed to be the site of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Historic sites abound in Rhodes, as you will soon discover after enjoying a panoramic view of the city and Rhodes Bay from atop Monte Smith.

Visit the fully restored 14th-century Grand Masters Palace, which contains beautiful alabaster windows, French and Venetian furniture, and floor mosaics with scenes from Greek mythology. It served as a fortress in times of war, and a residence for the Grand Master and a meeting place for senior knights during times of peace. As you continue down the Avenue of the Knights, where the knights lived, the cobblestoned street seems to exude a noble and somewhat forbidden aura, as its lofty buildings stretch in an unbroken wall of honey-colored stone, punctuated by huge doorways and arched windows. At the conclusion of this tour, you can either return to ship, or remain in the old town to explore further on your own.

Join this unforgettable excursion where you’ll travel through small villages and hear their story along the way. Ascend over 900 feet above sea level between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea where you can take some of the most amazing photos on your cruise. Enjoy stunning views and different shades of beautiful BVI blue waters. Listen up as your knowledgeable driver/guide share gems of BVI history and culture. Cross the bridge to Beef Island and swim at the local’s favorite, Long Bay beach. Here you can listen to music, chat with locals, chill at the bars, do light shopping or have a dip in BVI blue waters.

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

Your tour begins with an orientation drive thru Split with designated selfie stops at: • Bacvice Beach
• Split National Theatre
• Vidilica Viewpoint
• S. Dominous Cathedral
• And MORE!

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch your best pose. Your picture-perfect day includes a local snack of smoked ham, cheese and a glass of wine. End the day with some free time to explore on your own before returning to the ship.

Discover the best of Corfu on this tour. You’ll tour the island, visit a stunning palace and enjoy a traditional lunch with live entertainment at a local taverna. Drive through Corfu and arrive at Mon Repos Palace built by order of Empress Elizabeth of Austria and completed in 1891. The empress had fallen in love with the natural beauty of the island during her 1861 visit and also developed a great appreciation for Greek history and mythology.

After a guided visit of the grounds and palace, you’ll continue to the traditional village of Kinopiastes. Enjoy a rich and traditional lunch at the famous Tripas Tavern accompanied by live Greek music and dancers. Board your coach for the drive back to the Old Town of Corfu where you’ll have the opportunity to either be dropped off, to walk through the narrow lanes and browse on your own, or return with the coach directly to your ship.

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.