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.

Explore the west coast of Tenerife, a gorgeous landscape of remote villages and banana plantations. Have privilege views over the fertile Orotava valley from the Humbold viewpoint. Over time, sugarcane, grapes and bananas became the dominant crops, and they are still harvested using traditional techniques. Understand how the crops are cultivated visiting an old hacienda where you can learn firsthand how bananas are grown, a tour in an authentic banana plantation where you can see different varieties of bananas and learn the process before sampling the locally grown bananas and banana liqueur. On the way back to pier, visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island and stop at La Garañona Viewpoint, local´s favorite spot to take in the beauty of the sea and surrounding.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Gain an understanding of how crops are harvested using traditional methods.
• Learn firsthand how bananas are grown and see different varieties in an authentic plantation.
• Visit an ancient garden hosting the largest orchid collection on the Island .
• Sample several varieties of bananas and banana liqueur, which attest to the fruit’s diversity.

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.

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.

Enjoy a carefree day in the laid-back fishing village Afurada, mingling with the locals and browsing exhibitions that will present a candid look at the area’s history. Afurada isn’t touristy, but rather presents an authentic impression of daily life in a seaside village. You might see locals chatting with their neighbors, others shopping at outdoor markets and fishermen mending their nets. Life unfolds slowly here, away from the hustle and bustle of Oporto, and that is much of Afurada’s charm. For a historical and cultural perspective of the village, you will browse the Interpretive Heritage Center. You can expect to see wooden fishing boats, ships’ instruments and brightly colored lunch boxes, the kind sailors typically pack for a day at sea. You will also walk through village squares where locals typically gather to socialize and grill freshly caught seafood. The guide may introduce you to some of them to enhance your appreciation of local life.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Enjoy the charm of a fishing village that has yet to be commercialized.
• Mingle with the locals as they go about their daily routines.
• Browse the exhibits in a heritage center that lends insight into the area’s history.
• Stop at a traditional tavern and sample characteristic Portuguese foods.

OVERVIEW

Behold the natural beauty west of Lisbon where you will find two landmarks with intriguing royal connections. You will first encounter the National Palace of Queluz, which was built in the 18th century as a summer retreat for the future King Pedro III. Often referred to as the “Portuguese Versailles” for its opulent Rococo style, Queluz has been restored to its original grandeur after a devastating fire in 1934. Highlights include the gilded Throne Room where state banquets were held and the tiled canal in the gardens, which could be filled with water so the royal court could ride gondolas. Continuing on, you will soon arrive in historical Sintra, a town that UNESCO recognized as a World Heritage site for its cultural landscape. During free time, you might browse the Palace of Sintra – considered Portugal’s best-preserved royal residence – or simply meander about this idyllic town that poet Lord Byron described as a “glorious Eden.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the lavish National Palace of Queluz, an 18th-century Rococo treasure.
• Learn the disturbing history of the palace, where a mentally ill queen was confined.
• Spend free time exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site city of Sintra.
• Visit the Palace of Sintra or simply meander about, shopping and dining if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Begin your tour with a motorcoach ride through the area known as the 'Le Vieux Port' or Old Port where the Greeks landed in 600 B.C. Here the cafes, the boats and the restaurants are classically French. Continue the drive along the Corniche J.F Kennedy, which follows the natural coast and offers lovely views of offshore islands dominated by the Marseilleveyre Massif. During the photo stops from your coach, you’ll see Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica, the most magnificent building of its kind in southern France, with the statue of the Virgin on the top of the bell tower. The basilica was built in the mid 1800s in Romano-Byzantine style and boasts beautiful ex-votos on the walls and a stunning marble statue in the crypt. Driving through the shopping district, you’ll stop outside the Longchamp Palace where you are rewarded with the chance to take some excellent photos. During your drive, you’ll feel the South of France and the 'Marseillais' the natives with this very singing dialect. A real pleasure!

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a visit to legendary Blarney Castle and an introduction to Cork, Ireland’s second city - or the real capital of Ireland as the locals like to call it! Drive to the little village of Blarney, lying in the shadow of Blarney Castle. It has remained one of the most legendary places in Ireland, nestled in breathtaking scenery and rich in folklore and legend. Enjoy your visit to the castle and if you feel adventurous during your free time, you may try to kiss the renowned Blarney Stone. Those who do so are said to be gifted with the power of eloquence. Or instead, you can enjoy a walk through the gardens. Blarney is also home to Blarney Woollen Mills, one of the finest craft and gift centers in Ireland. Enjoy an Irish Coffee here and browse through the wide range of Irish clothing, crystal, linen and handicrafts. A panoramic tour introduces you to Cork. The River Lee flows through the city, connected by many bridges, that gives the city its distinctively continental air. It’s a University City with a unique character, a city of jazz, film, opera and theatre. However, it manages to retain the charm and friendliness of a country town. See the spires of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, the Old Courthouse, City Hall and the renowned Bells of Shandon./p>

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel through Ireland’s picturesque countryside to the legendary village of Blarney, rich in folklore and nestled in beautiful surroundings.
• Explore this historic and romantic ruin, with the option of climbing and kiss the famous Blarney Stone to gain the "gift of eloquence."
• Enjoy peaceful paths and scenic beauty. Relax with a warm Irish coffee in the mill’s café.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing; include a light raincoat or umbrella.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

Riga, the capital of Latvia, was founded more than 800 years ago and has now grown into the most cosmopolitan city in the Baltic States. Founded in 1201 during the Middle Ages, Riga was developed into a Hanseatic city, and by the 18-th and 19-th century had grown into one of Europe’s leading ports and industrial centers. As a cosmopolitan city Riga was once revered as “the Paris of the North''. Years of independence and becoming a member of the European Union have brought great changes and development to the city and to the country itself. Enjoy a short ride along Riga's boulevards, parks and charming green spots. During this part of the tour you will have the opportunity to admire several memorable examples of Art Nouveau buildings, as well as the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Freedom Monument erected in 1935 on donations from the citizens of Latvia, Latvian University, National Opera House and other notable buildings. Discover the historical Old Riga on foot and acquaint yourself with the churches, renovated buildings, and glorious Dome Cathedral – a masterpiece of architecture, which you will have a chance to visit. Foundations for the cathedral were laid in 1211. Large restoration works from the late 19th to early 20th centuries gave it its present look. It is considered the largest Medieval church in Latvia and the Baltic States. The Dome, the tallest of all spires at the time, is famous for its magnificent organ, constructed in 1883, with more than 6,000 pipes. Continue your walk to the Town Hall Square, where you will see House of Blackhead’s, Roland Monument, St. Peter’s church. Stop at the Livu Square and listen to a story about the Cat House, Small and Large Guild Houses.

Cruise to the village of Amalfi along the beautiful coastline. Author John Steinbeck once described it as “a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” UNESCO agreed and declared the Amalfi coast a World Heritage site for its great physical beauty and natural diversity. The boat will afford you the ultimate up-close, front-row seat to observe the spectacular coastline. During free time in town, be sure to see the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Built in the early 1200s, it contains the relics of St. Andrew, which are kept in a subterranean crypt decorated with Baroque murals. The cathedral was constructed alongside an earlier one from the 9th century, and they are now joined into one, six-nave building. Also, leave time for shopping and a quick snack. Fried seafood in a hand-held cone makes a good choice for street food.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to the village of Amalfi along the staggeringly beautiful Amalfi coast.
• Spend free time exploring Amalfi’s boutiques and grab a snack, if you wish.
• Peruse the architectural splendor of Amalfi’s extraordinary 13th-century cathedral.

Enjoy an enlightening drive through Hamburg and, as a contrast, a sobering visit to the notorious Neuengamme Concentration Camp. During World War II, more than 100,000 people endured horrific conditions at the camp while being forced to work in its brickworks. You will view the factory, the deplorable prison housing, buildings that the SS used and the House of Remembrance, where the names of the prisoners that died are written on white fabric banners. It will be a moving experience and a revealing look into the Nazi mindset. Although much of Hamburg was destroyed in the war, it was beautifully rebuilt, as you will discover by passing landmarks such as, the modern HafenCity District, the opulent 647-room town hall and the Gothic-style warehouse district Speicherstadt. You will also, the enormous Baroque church St. Michaelis and the Reeperbahn entertainment district, where the Beatles played long before they became famous.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Get a poignant glimpse into the horrors of World War II at a former concentration camp.
• View the prisoners' housing and the brickworks where they forced to work.
• Gain an excellent overall understanding of Hamburg on an introductory driving tour.
• See historical landmarks such as Hamburg's Gothic-style warehouse district.

Your tour begins with a scenic transfer to Gdansk. En route, you will drive through the small town of Oliwa passing the Abbot's Palace and gardens and the beautiful Oliwa Cathedral, located on the grounds of a former Cistercian monastery.

Next, you will Pass by the Gdansk Shipyard and the Solidarity Monument Square with its famous monument commemorating the deaths of shipyard workers shot down in December 1970. Arriving at Gdansk's old town, the historic heart of the city, you'll leave your coach behind and commence a guided walking tour that begins near the Golden Gate, a grand ornamental arch that once allowed access through the medieval city's defensive walls.

Continue along Long Street, lined with marvelous buildings decorated with elaborate facades crowned by myriad ornate gables. Pass the Town Hall, Long Market and the beautiful 15th-century merchants' palace of Artus Court. Pause at Neptune's Fountain to admire this monumental symbol of Gdansk's Hanseatic past and its connection with the sea before walking down to the waterfront. Then turn up Mariacka or St. Mary's Street, which delights its visitors with its lively atmosphere, quaint shops and lovely terraced buildings.

The pride of Gdansk, Gothic St. Mary's is the world's largest brick church, accommodating some 25,000 worshippers. Situated in the center of Old Town, this medieval church took 159 years to build, and its deceivingly plain exterior belies a bright, spacious interior with large windows and more than 30 beautifully decorated chapels. The high altar displays a lovely polyptych, the floor is covered with ancient tombstones and the northern transept holds an amazing 15th century astronomical clock, complete with the zodiac cycle and a calendar of the saints.

Following some free time to do a bit of exploring or shopping on your own, you will rejoin your coach and transfer back to the ship.