EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

See the icons of Monaco and Monte Carlo and then explore further on your own, admiring the majestic architecture and elegance of these two gems on the French Riviera.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive along the gorgeous French Riviera to Monaco. During the walking tour that follows, you will see highlights such as the monumental Oceanographic Museum, which rises out of a sheer cliff overlooking the sea. Prince Albert I founded the museum in 1910 and its aquarium is among the best in Europe.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is another icon. Prince Rainer III and Grace Kelly were married here in 1956 and both are buried in the church. The cream-colored facade was constructed with Italian granite starting in 1875 and it took more than 10 years to finish the entire cathedral, which is the largest in Monaco. Interior visits may not be possible if activities are taking place in the cathedral.

After free time to explore a bit further, you will continue on to Monte Carlo, driving along a section of road where the annual Monaco Grand Prix race has been held since 1929. You will notice the road is winding with hairpin turns, a signature of this Formula One race.

You will also see the grand Monte Carlo Casino, which opened in 1863. Designed by Charles Garnier, the architect behind the Paris Opera, the casino is an architectural masterpiece that may well be the most recognized building in Monte Carlo. Free time follows, after which you will rejoin your coach and return to Villefranche.

Admire the star attractions in the principality of Monaco and then browse the craftsmen’s shops in Èze, a medieval hilltop village with stunning views of the sea.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a picturesque drive to Monaco, the world's second-smallest country. During the walking tour that follows, you will stop in Palace Square, the expansive plaza in front of the prince's private residence. Originally a 12th-century fortress, the palace has been transformed into one of the world's most luxurious residences in the style of Louis XIV.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is another icon in Monaco which you will view. Prince Rainer III and Grace Kelly were married here in 1956 and both are buried in the church. Its cream-colored facade was constructed with Italian granite starting in 1875 and it took more than 10 years to finish the cathedral, which is the largest in Monaco.

Following a bit of free time, you will next drive to nearby Èze, an ancient village that perches atop a narrow rocky peak 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean. After your guided tour of the village, you will have time to explore on your own. The ruins of a 12th-century castle crown Èze and the views throughout the village are absolutely mesmerizing. During your free time you might shop for French perfumes and locally produced artwork. The botanical garden is another highlight and not only for its rare plants. It too offers views so stunning it's impossible to take a bad photograph.

After your visit to Èze, you will re-board your coach and return to Villefranche.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Nice’s most well-known areas and then delve deeper into the bountiful charms of the capital of the French Riviera during free time.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy an immensely scenic drive to Nice, entering along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, which was built in 1830. Sights along the way will include the ornate Negresco Hotel, which has been deemed a National Historic Monument, and the multi-domed Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, a Russian Orthodox church built in 1912 for aristocrats who vacationed in Nice before the Russian Revolution.

You will also see the hilltop neighborhood of Cimiez. Once the capital of a Roman province, Cimiez has been extensively excavated, revealing a small amphitheater and ancient baths. There is also a museum devoted to long-time resident Henri Matisse, who is buried here.

Upon reaching the Old Town, you will begin a walking tour perhaps along Cours Saleya, a promenade lined with pastel-colored architecture. Afterwards, you'll have ample time to further explore on your own or perhaps just take the opportunity to observe a genuine slice of daily life as the locals browse the shops of Old Town for garden-fresh produce, fragrant spices and colorful flowers.

For those looking to purchase a memento of their visit, the shops here offer a variety of local goods such as honey, olive oils, fruits and handicrafts. Or perhaps you'd prefer finding a seat at a sidewalk café where you can do some people watching and sample the local cuisine. Be sure to leave room for dessert, especially if you love ice cream. The flavors often reflect locally grown herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. Following your free time, you will rejoin your coach and travel back to the ship in Villefranche.

Explore the winding atmospheric streets of Old Town and then savor a selection of characteristic French wines and canapés in a traditional wine cellar.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy an immensely scenic drive to Nice, entering along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, which was built in 1830. The sights along the way will include the ornate Negresco Hotel, which has been deemed a National Historic Monument, and lovely Massena Square. Seven rather unusual statues on poles rise high above the square, each one representing a continent.

A walking tour of Old Town follows, during which you may stroll along Cours Saleya, a promenade lined with pastel-colored architecture. Old Town is wonderfully compact and offers a genuine look into daily life in the French Riviera.

To enhance your immersion into the French lifestyle, you will stop at Cave Bianchi wine cellar. After learning about the fascinating history of wine production in the region, you will sample a special selection of local wines, accompanied by various canapés. You may taste a velvety red from the Bandol region, a lovely white from Bellet, or a complexly aromatic pinot noir from the Burgundy. The exact selection of wines will be chosen that day.

After the tasting, you will have free time to shop in the one-of-a-kind boutiques or perhaps enjoy a refreshing scoop of ice cream. The flavors often reflect locally grown herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. Following your free time, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to Villefranche.

Experience the charms of the medieval village of Eze and then explore Nice’s extraordinary Old Town, an easy-to-walk neighborhood of boutiques and restaurants.

After departing from the pier, you will soon merge onto the Moyenne Corniche, a scenic coastal road whose height affords sweeping views of the French Riviera. More amazing vistas await you in Eze, an ancient village that perches atop a narrow rocky peak 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean.

After a delightful walking tour through the labyrinthine streets of medieval Eze, you will have some free time to enjoy the village on your own. You might shop for French perfumes and locally produced artwork or visit the ruins of the 12th-century castle that crowns Eze. The views are absolutely mesmerizing, as are the ones from the village's hillside botanical garden.

Then it's on to Nice, the exuberant capital of the French Riviera, which you will enter along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais. The sights along the way will include the ornate Negresco Hotel, which has been deemed a National Historic Monument, and the multi-domed Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, a Russian Orthodox church built in 1912.

Upon reaching the Old Town, you will begin a walking tour perhaps along Cours Saleya, a promenade lined with pastel-colored architecture. Afterwards, you'll have ample time to further explore on your own or perhaps just take the opportunity to observe a genuine slice of daily life as the locals browse the shops of Old Town for garden-fresh produce, fragrant spices and colorful flowers.

For those looking to purchase a memento of their visit, the shops here offer a variety of local goods such as honey, olive oils, fruits and handicrafts. Or perhaps you'd prefer finding a seat at a sidewalk café where you can do some people watching and sample the local cuisine. Be sure to leave room for dessert, especially if you love ice cream. The flavors often reflect locally grown herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. Following your free time, you will rejoin your coach and travel back to the ship in Villefranche.

Discover the beauty of hilltop Saint Paul de Vence, whose medieval walls enclose a village of atmospheric streets, architectural gems and irresistible shops.

After departing from the pier, you will soon drive inland where the landscape becomes wonderfully pastoral. On the approach to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you will see the village atop a spur of land between two deep valleys, where it has perched since medieval times. It is easy to imagine the village during that period, as its 13th-century ramparts are still intact.

You will enter Saint-Paul-de-Vence through the main gate and then commence your guided walking tour through the winding pedestrian-only streets. Because there are no vehicles, it's a pleasure to get around and you can't help but delight in the lovely churches, shaded squares and fortified towers.

You may even see the French game of pétanque or lawn bowling being played beneath a plane tree. The setting has long inspired artists, especially in the 1920s when Signac, Modigliani and Bonnard painted here.

Following your guided walking tour of the walled city, you will enjoy time to explore on your own. The Great Fountain Square is an excellent starting point, from which you can easily reach the grand Collegiate Church, whose construction stretched from the 14th to 18th centuries.

You might also browse the galleries, where work from many local artisans is displayed. There are also plenty of other shopping opportunities for merchandise that varies from French fashions to confections. Following your free time, you will travel back to Villefranche.