Discover the charms of several villages in western Malta, where you will observe artisans practicing age-old crafts and get a genuine feel for daily life. Antoine tan-Newl is one of the island’s few weavers that still uses traditional techniques and watching him create items such as handmade rugs, blankets and bags on a wooden loom is a fascinating experience. He may even invite you to try your hand at weaving. In the nearby village of Żebbuġ, you will see the locals playing bocci, a traditional sport that is closely related to the French game of petanque and Italian bocce. You will be welcome to join the game or just sit back and enjoy locally sourced snacks that may include stuffed green olives, an area specialty. You will also stop in the village of Santa Venera for an introduction to traditional Maltese musical instruments such as simple whistles made from wheat stems and reeds.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of traditional life by visiting a number of quintessential villages.
• Watch artisans practice traditional crafts such as weaving and making musical instruments.
• See locals playing bocci and join in a game, if you like.
• Snack on a platter of Maltese delicacies in one of the villages.

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.

Become immersed in the Maltese culture by meeting locals that are engaged in traditional activities and by meandering about villages that practice different customs. At Vicky’s Place, a bakery in the village of Qormi, you will watch a popular sweet or perhaps a loaf of bread being prepared. Feel free to ask questions about the ingredients, how they are sourced or anything else that comes to mind. Later, you will get the chance to converse with the local residents s in a kazin, a Maltese social club that often features music and snooker, a game that was introduced when Malta was a crown colony of the United Kingdom. You will also mingle with the locals at the village center in Ghaxaq, a cultural experience that is sure to be enlightening. Sightseeing in the fortified city of Senglea, which lies just across the harbor from Valletta, will offer yet another perspective of daily life.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain insight into Maltese culture by mingling with the locals as they work and socialize.
• Snack on baked goods and traditional Maltese delicacies while conversing with the locals.
• Visit several villages and come away with a multi-layered perspective of Maltese life.

Don’t miss a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular ‘City of Lights’, from two perspectives. After an approximately three-hour drive from Le Havre, you’ll arrive in Paris to discover the most important sights.

Your guide will point out Place de l’Etoile, its Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees Avenue at the end of which the Place de la Concorde offers to all visitors, its legendary obelisk. Continue to the Rive Gauche where the most impressive monuments of Paris are located. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, a glass-covered sightseeing riverboat awaits you for a scenic cruise on the Seine River. Enjoy a different perspective of this monumental city from the water while having lunch. See the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and much more. During your lunch cruise, you’ll not only discover the quays and the monuments of this enchanting city, but also the districts where the nobility and the Bourgeoisie live. Afterwards, before driving back to Le Havre, you’ll enjoy some free time in the city near the Trocadero.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of intriguing Portimão with an enlightening visit to a museum and a guided walk through its quaint Old Town, where you’ll discover intriguing landmarks that survived the ravages of the 1755 earthquake that leveled Lisbon. Meander through narrow streets and find the stalwart Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, which still retains its original 15th-century Gothic doorway, buttresses and gargoyles. Note the equally magnificent later additions, including signature 17th-century azulejo tiles and a regal statue of Saint Peter the Apostle that is lavishly adorned with ivory and wood crucifixes.

You’ll explore the Convento do Colégio dos Jesuítas and the mausoleum of Diogo Gonçalves, a nobleman who funded the church’s construction a century before the quake, and revel in some free time to shop or further examine the city’s churches. Delve into a wealth of exhibits at the Museu de Portimão, housed in a former fish-canning factory on the picturesque Arade River, and learn how early settlements in the area were altered by Roman and Islamic occupations. You’ll long remember the treasures to be found in Portimão’s endlessly captivating Old Town.

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.

Visit a rural farm and tour the fields with the owners, who will be quite willing to discuss how farming and life has changed since Latvia’s independence from the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era, collective farming was practiced, in which government-owned farms banded together to grow crops. When Latvia gained its independence in 1991, farms could be privately owned again. The farm that you will visit grows an abundance of raspberries and strawberries, as the conditions in this part of Latvia are quite favorable for both crops. Growing berries became even more widespread following the Soviet era because the farmers could directly reap the benefits. You may have the opportunity to pick some berries (if available) in the fields and enjoy homemade seasonal pie while lingering over a cup of tea with the owners of the farm. Feel free to ask them about their lives before and after Soviet rule. It is sure to be an eye-opening experience. Gain an understanding of how farming has changed since Soviet rule ended in 1991. Tour a berry farm with the owners and learn more about its challenges and development. Enjoy some berries (if available) and homemade seasonal pie and a cup of tea with the owners as they discuss post-Soviet rural life.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of how farming has changed since Soviet rule ended in 1991.
• our a berry farm with the owners and pick your own raspberries and strawberries.
• Enjoy the berries and a cup of tea with the owners as they discuss post-Soviet rural life.

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.

OVERVIEW

Watch a fascinating woodworking demonstration in Sorrento and wander through the ruins of Pompeii, which reveal ancient life in a surprisingly candid way. The craftsmen will demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, which has long been associated with Sorrento. During free time that follows you might browse the boutiques and dine on your own. If you stop for lunch, be sure try a glass of chilled Limoncello, a sweet lemon-flavored liquor that has been produced locally for more than a century. You will then head to Pompeii, a Roman town forever known for the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried it under ash and pumice in 79 AD. After watching artisans hand-carve classic cameos, you will meander through the excavated ruins. The buildings are largely intact, frescoes adorn the villas and everyday objects are scattered about, just as they were when the volcano erupted. Expect to see ancient baths, temples and residences with intricate mosaic floors.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch woodworkers demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, a specialty in Sorrento.
• Browse Sorrento’s museums and boutiques or dine on your own during free time.
• See the artistry behind the making of traditional cameos in Pompeii.
• Walk through the ruins of Pompeii for an eye-opening look into ancient life.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Visit the site of the first Olympic Games and learn about its glorious history. Then head to the beach and spend the rest of the day basking in the sun and swimming in the warm, sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea. Even though the temples and monuments have disappeared and only the ruins are left, you can’t help but to envision the grandeur of the Temple of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The site was a sanctuary even before the stadium was built and the games took place.

The famous stadium, the largest of its day, is entered through a long, tunnel-like passage constructed in Roman times. Today, you can stand at the starting line and imagine the roar of the spectators seated on the marble benches, as the athletes took their marks. Reboard your coach and head to the beach to bask in the sun and swim in the sparkling Ionian Sea. Enjoy use of a sun bed and umbrella at the main beach, as well as a complimentary refreshment. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

Your tour begins with a short drive into the center of Edinburgh, Scotland's bustling capital city. From your coach, enjoy panoramic views of some of the city's landmarks before making your way to Edinburgh Castle.

The unwritten history of Edinburgh goes back to the ancient British tribes who existed in clusters of wooden huts on the rocky slopes of the castle crag, choosing the windy heights for greater security. Arriving at the Castle, you will enter via the Esplanade, which slopes steeply towards the main gate. There is much to see within the castle, including the 15th century Old Royal Palace in which are housed the Scottish Crown Jewels. The amazing regalia on display in the Crown Room have their origins in medieval times. Also found here is the Apartment in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland who also became James I of England. This intriguing castle has without doubt, witnessed many tense moments in its thousand year history.

Following your visit, you'll re-join your coach and travel through the Old Town, descending eastwards along the ridge from the castle. This is the historical area known as `Royal Mile` and your route takes you along Castle Hill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate - passing delightful multi-storied houses and quaint side streets. You will also drive past St. Giles Cathedral, considered the finest of the city's churches. This impressive cathedral dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, and is known for its famous crown spire. Continuing, you'll then pass Palace of Holyrood House, Scotland's premier Royal Palace. Dating from the late 15th century, it is the official Scottish residence of the Queen.

Before heading back to Leith, it's a drive along famous Princes Street, with its array of fine stores on one side, and beautifully laid out formal gardens on the other, affording outstanding views across to the ever present castle, standing majestically on its extinct volcanic rock.

Enjoy extra time to unwind and savor the ship at your own pace – no rushing, no waiting at the airport, just more time to relax and soak in the experience.

• Relaxed, stress-free departure.
• Enjoy the ship at your own pace with leisurely lunch and extra time onboard.
• Complete with the added convenience of included shuttle transfer to airport.