EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Visit Cefalu, a quaint fishing village where little has changed through the centuries, preserving its typical Sicilian charm and the atmosphere of a traditional fishing port. Syracusians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans have left their traces here. It’s one of the most visited destinations in Sicily and during summer months, the tourist population outnumbers the locals. Though little is known of its origins, the name "Cefalu" may date back from the Greek "Kephaloidion," a word referring to the rock overlooking the town. Your guide will share some of the legends with you. Drive through the main streets of Palermo to reach the highway.

As you travel to Cefalu, the verdant Sicilian countryside unfolds in front of you. Once in the village, visit the Gothic-Norman style Cathedral, founded in 1131 at the request of the Norman kings, and realized by Norman architects and Islamic craftsmen. Stop at the medieval wash house and imagine cool running water and the voices of the women doing the laundry as you walk among these ancient archways. You’ll stop for a taste of some Sicilian specialties at a local gourmet shop. Enjoy free time to take in your activity of choice. There are lots of good restaurants serving the freshest seafood and shops of all sorts around the cathedral and harbor.

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.

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.

Race through Boka Bay in a speedboat. 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. After exciting speedboat ride we will get to the legendary Blue Cave, hidden maritime gem accessible only by boat. To fully preserve this natural wonder, a new local regulation keeps all motorized boat engines outside the cave. We will stop safely just 20 meters from the entrance and You will have the opportunity to swim just ouside the Cave, before zipping off to Žanjic 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.
• Pause for a swim at Žanjic Beach yet another idyllic spot on the bay.

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

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.

The island of Mykonos is world famous for its stunning scenic beauty comprised of windmills, sparking bays, superb beaches, white houses and churches with their colorful blue and red domes. You'll pass by Ornos Beach, one of the most cosmopolitan beaches on the island with an abundance of luxurious hotels, tavernas and yachts mooring offshore.

You’ll make a short photo stop at the beach of Kalafatis to experience one of the island's beautiful beaches and to enjoy the breathtaking view. As you head to the center of the island, you'll visit the village of Ano Mera and the Monastery Panayia Tourliani. You’ll also have a chance to enjoy ouzo and Greek appetizers in the peaceful little square of the village.

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.

Sample a selection of distinctive wines and olive oils produced in Nadin, an ancient inland community revered for its environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Despite having a population of just a few hundred, Nadin boasts an extraordinary number of environmentally sustainable farms and vineyards. You will visit two of the most renowned ones, beginning with the organic winery Škaulj. The wines for your sampling will include some that are produced using sustainable methods and others that aren’t, allowing you to really taste the difference. You can expect the wines to be paired with local delicacies such as smoked ham and cheese. Nadin’s olive oil is also highly touted as you will discover at the Vrsaljko mill. The oil produced there bears a unique flavor that reflects the organic farming practices and the way the olives are pressed within 24 hours of being harvested. Your host will further explain the olives’ characteristics during the tasting that follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit what may be Croatia’s most environmentally friendly agricultural community.
• Tour a winery and an olive mill known for their outstanding organic products.
• Sample local wines and olive oils thoughtfully paired with Croatian delicacies.

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

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.

Relax on this panoramic driving tour of Corsica’s spectacular interior, a land little-changed over centuries. Pass through Cuaro village and beautifully rugged, mountainous terrain, resplendent with lush forests. You’ll see the dense shrubbery known as “maquis” blanketing the countryside and inhale the extraordinarily fragrant evergreen, interspersed with aromatic lavender, myrtle and wild mint. Journey past modest vineyards and cultivated fields before you enter peaceful Pineta Forest, dominated by tall, striking laricio pines, expansive chestnuts and dramatic beech trees. Enter heart-stopping Prunelli Gorges with its jagged granite walls and descend through serpentine twists and curves. Arrive ultimately at serene, man-made Tolla Lake, source of Ajaccio’s hydro-electric power, and snap a postcard-worthy photo. Sharp pinnacles emerge from the forest just past Tolla, a ridge-top village nestled into the mountainside, then the amazing vista opens to an expanse of fertile valley below. Delight in numerous picturesque hamlets, including Ocana, known for austere granite homes, and imagine everyday life in this timeless land.