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.

Stroll through the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter on the way to a nightclub, where you will watch a mesmerizing flamenco performance that tells a passionate story. After walking from the pier, you will continue at a leisurely pace toward the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Quarter, which the Phoenicians founded in the 12th century. Being the oldest continuously occupied city in Western Europe, Cadiz exudes history, as you will soon discover in the Plaza of San Juan de Dios, a square that originated in medieval times.

As you meander the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter, you will pass one architectural treasure after another. Highlights may include the Neoclassical-style Cadiz Cathedral, which boasts a tile dome that appears Moorish, and Calle Ancha, a wide boulevard that is considered the heart of the city. In time, you will arrive at Taberna Flamenco La Cava, a nightclub that showcases the art of flamenco. Before taking your seat, be sure to notice the photos on the wall of some of the most acclaimed flamenco performers in the past 50 years. UNESCO honored flamenco by recognizing it on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Andalusia, especially Cadiz, is the heartland of flamenco, an electrifying art form that fuses expressive songs, passionate dancing and emotional music. To enhance your immersion into the local culture, you will be served traditional tapas that may include Serrano ham and Manchego cheese.

OVERVIEW

Experience São Vicente’s unique natural attractions by hiking through a picturesque valley, swimming in a volcanically formed lagoon and gazing over the landscape from high atop a mountain. Discover Mato Ingles, a charming village founded by 19th-century English traders, and begin a hike along a path through an exceptionally arid valley. Despite the barren appearance, you’ll notice small farms scattered about, growing crops such as corn, potatoes and beans. After a brief coach ride, arrive at the eastern shore and appreciate the stark contrast of the white sands of Praia Grande’s beach against the backdrop of black lava mountains. Enjoy a traditional island cocktail known as a pontche, made with sugarcane molasses and grogue, the national liqueur of Cape Verde. You’ll marvel at the stunning scenery at Baja das Gatas, or Catfish Bay, where you may swim in a volcanically formed lagoon before savoring a hearty traditional lunch at a nearby restaurant. Ascend to the top of majestic Monte Verde, the highest point on São Vicente, for sweeping vistas of the myriad landscapes blanketing this fascinating island.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike into a picturesque valley from Mato Ingles, an enchanting 19th-century village.
• Notice small farms with flourishing corn, potato and bean crops, despite the barren soil.
• Appreciate the pearly sands of Praia Grande beach and refresh yourself with a flavorful native drink.
• Swim at Catfish Bay, a lagoon formed by volcanic activity in centuries past.
• Savor the nuanced flavors of the Cape Verde Islands with lunch at a popular local restaurant.
• Take in sweeping views from Monte Verde, São Vicente’s highest point.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes or boots.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and swim gear.
• Pack a towel and bottle of water from the ship.

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Beach Escape Beach Club in nearby Mahahual. After a brief orientation to help you maximize the experience, you will be free to enjoy the club’s amenities, which are considerable and all offered for your enjoyment. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the sea and gather around the thatched-roof poolside bar, which will be open for unlimited drinks the entire time. One end of the Beach Escape is typically busier and more party-oriented, while the other end by the pier is quieter, allowing you to easily find an ideal spot to make the most of your free time. If you wish to explore offshore, kayaks are available. The beach club is located right on the boardwalk at Fisherman’s Village, a great place for people-watching and dining on your own as there are plenty of restaurants.

Enjoy a combination of Slovenia’s best known sites the capital city of Ljubljana and Lake Bled. Both are a wonderful gateway to Slovenian heritage. After a guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore on your own. Following your approximate two hour drive to the Alpine town of Lake Bled, you’ll have different options to enjoy from a walk around the picturesque lake to visiting a medieval castle visit, all during your free time and at your own expense. After World War II, this was one of the most appealing state residences and drew many people who were attracted by the beauty of this town. Today new pilgrims have been discovering this tranquil and lovely place.

After a guided walk through Ljubljana, a medium sized European city, you’ll have time to explore your own pace. It offers all the friendliness of a small town and at the same time has everything that a capital should. This city of culture boasts one of the oldest philharmonic halls in the world. Every year it hosts more than 10,000 cultural events ranging from prestigious concerts, theater performances and fine art exhibitions.

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.

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.

Experience the wonders of the Panama Canal on this spectacular partial canal transit. Arriving in Panama City, you will disembark the ship and take a short transfer by coach to the La Playita dock where you will board a spacious ferry and begin your unforgettable tour of the Panama Canal. The first lock you will pass through is the Miraflores Locks, where your ship will be raised the first 56 feet and enter Miraflores Lake. From here, you will transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks, where you will be raised the second 28 feet and enter Gatun Lake, once the largest man-made lake in the world. Crossing the Continental Divide at this point, you will continue to Gaillard Cut. The Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut, was the most challenging section of the canal to build. As you pass through the Cut, you'll see the continuing excavation that keeps this passage open to marine traffic. Enjoy a buffet lunch aboard the ferry before your fascinating tour of the Canal ends in the small village of Gamboa. While not large, Gamboa is home to the headquarters of the Panama Canal dredging division and some of the largest floating cranes in the world. After leaving your ferry, board a waiting motorcoach for the just over 1-hour drive back to the ship at Amador. Each tour participant will receive a certificate that commemorates their crossing of the Canal.

Drive through the beautiful Andalucia region to an acclaimed cheese-producing village for an insider’s look at the artisanal process and to sample the most representative cheeses. The most well-known and award-winning cheese is El Bosqueño, a smooth textured, light-colored cheese, manufactured in the most traditional way. This particular cheese, made from Grazalemeña sheep’s milk, is distributed nationally and exported to countries like the UK, USA, Japan, Italy, Sweden and Belgium. You will also browse a cheese museum with displays of cheese-making hand tools and exhibits detailing the history of cheese production in the area. Afterwards, you will enjoy a sampling that may include an emborrado cheese cured in olive oil and wheat bran. Other cheeses produced here are cured with fresh spices such as rosemary and paprika. To complement the experience, you will be served a glass of locally produced wine.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• See how several award-winning cheeses are produced in the town of El Bosque.
• Browse a cheese museum with displays that trace the importance of cheese in this region.
• Sample various cheeses made with milk from payoya goats and Grazalemeña sheep.

Experience the joys of two iconic Scottish activities: drinking a wee dram of whisky and playing the bagpipes.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at a downtown venue for a whisky tasting. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will host the event, in which the whiskies will be served at cask strength. That means the drams will not have been subjected to chill filtration or any other interference that would alter their tastes.

You will be served three drams, a dram being an eighth of a fluid ounce. The tasting will reveal the remarkable variety within the distillation processes and present the complexities that the different oak casks and aging times impart.

Before each dram is sampled, one of the society’s members will describe the whisky’s characteristics. Some whiskies might taste spicy and dry while others may be heavily peated with strong smoky flavors. The experience will be enlightening and entertaining.

Your immersion into the world of bagpipes will be just as fulfilling. Louise Marshall, one of Scotland’s most renowned pipers, will lead your workshop. She has played for Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict XVI, and her instruction will be based on years of experience.

Marshall will teach you basic chanter techniques, show you how bagpipes work and describe the instrument’s history. If you wish to look the part, Scottish attire such as kilts, sporrans and feather bonnets will be available.

Enjoy meeting the locals and being entertained by whimsical lemurs on this delightful tour to nearby Nosy Komba.

Board your local boat from the ship's gangway and cruise across the east coast of Nosy Be to Nosy Komba, passing the verdant Lokobe evergreen forest along the way. Reaching the fishing village of Ampangoriana, you will tender ashore (please note it is a "wet" landing) and then have a bit of time to mingle with the locals and browse for souvenirs. Approximately 500 yards from the village is the Black Lemur Sanctuary, home to Madagascar's most famous residents, the black lemurs. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to observe these lively creatures as they leap from tree to tree. The black lemurs are the males and the brown lemurs the females. Although these animals live in the wild, they are tame enough to be fed with bananas and their capricious behavior will no doubt be fun to watch.

Leaving the sanctuary, you will walk to a nearby snack bar where you will be treated to a light snack while relaxing in the shade of a Tamarind tree and taking in the wonderful views of the Lokobe Reserve and surrounding islands. During your break, the local Sakalava embroiders will give you a demonstration on tablecloth making and the village children will perform a brief folk show for you. Free time will be provided for you to stroll on the beach, shop for souvenirs or perhaps take a dip in the ocean.

At the conclusion of your visit, you will re-board your boat and cruise back to Nosy Be and your awaiting ship.

Enjoy an insider’s look at life in Edam by visiting a local family and touring a cheese-making facility to see how Edam’s famed cheese is produced. An enlightening walking tour will introduce you to the city. Here, you will see from the outside, St. Nicholas Church and the Edam Museum; which occupies an 18th-century sea captain’s house. For a deeper understanding of life in Edam, you will stop by a centuries-old residence and enjoy coffee and cake with the owners. They will elaborate on the long history of their home, how Edam has changed just in their lifetimes and what the future may hold. Still, it is impossible to escape the draw of cheese in Edam. More than a quarter of the cheese produced in the Netherlands is the city’s namesake cheese, a soft variety made with less milk fat than most other cheeses. While touring a cheese-making facility in town, you will watch the process and then taste samples.