Take the ferry to Miyajima, a small forested island known for its stunning natural beauty and ancient shrines. Upon arriving, you will first notice the giant red torii gate that rises up out of the ocean as if it were floating. The revered primary shrine is also built over the water and together these iconic attractions have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, as they illustrate the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, in which nature and human creativity harmoniously combine. If it is high tide, you will notice that the 12th-century shrine also seems to be floating on the water. To alleviate friction from the rising tides and more severe water conditions, the shrine’s wooden floors have spaces between the planks and were constructed without metal nails that would restrict the planks from moving with the tides. The shrine was established in the 6th century and a 12th-century warrior modified it into its present form.

OVERVIEW

Shop in a historical marketplace and explore other Cartagena attractions before dining on a characteristic Cartagenero lunch. You will get an initial sense of the city’s past while pausing for photos of the 17th-century Spanish-built fortress San Felipe de Baraja. Similarly, during free time at Las Bóvedas, you will see how these 18th-century dungeons were repurposed into a small shopping mall. The merchandise ranges from colorful casual clothing to miniature versions of the works of Fernando Botero, perhaps Colombia’s most famous sculptor and artist. You will browse a collection of pieces from other Colombian artists at the esteemed Cartagena Museum of Modern Art. Even the museum’s 17th-century stone building is a work of art as it was once the Royal Customs House. You will have much to discuss over a traditional lunch that will likely include shrimp croquettes as an appetizer and a whole fried fish or a beef dish flavored with cinnamon as the entrée.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shop at Las Bóvedas, a shopping mall that was once a series of dungeons.
• Browse the outstanding collection at the Cartagena Museum of Modern Art.
• Dine on traditional Cartagenero dishes at a restaurant downtown.
• Pause to take photos of the 17th-century fortress San Felipe de Baraja.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Enjoy a panoramic drive through Hiroshima, pausing on occasion at attractions that highlight the city’s history and rise from near total devastation by an atomic bomb in 1945.

Your first stop for photos will be at the Atomic Bomb Dome, the only structure left standing near the epicenter of the atomic blast. While a stark, powerful reminder of the destructive force of an atomic bomb, the building has also become a symbol of peace and hope for the elimination of nuclear weapons. The skeletal remains of the dome stand exactly as they did right after the bomb blast. Continuing on, from the outside, you will see a wonderful reconstruction of the 16th-century Hiroshima Castle, a historical building that the atomic bomb leveled. Rebuilt in 1958, the stone and wooden castle rises five stories above its immaculately landscaped grounds and is surrounded by a protective moat.

OVERVIEW

It’s not Napa Valley; it is the Annapolis Valley-home to Nova Scotia Wine Country! Join this scenic and tasty tour to travel into the heart of the Annapolis Valley along the shores of the Bay of Fundy. You’ll enjoy wine tastings at 3 unique & award-winning Nova Scotia wineries. Tour a local vineyard, taste 3-4 wines at each stop and finally relax with a local cheese tasting and a final wine tasting. Learn about Nova Scotia’s cool climate wine styles while touring the fastest growing wine region in North America. Try our aromatic whites, cool climate reds and new appellation wine, Tidal Bay while walking through breathtaking vineyards and state of art tasting rooms. On this tour, you’ll also learn about the rich Acadian history including the dykelands of Grand Pre-a UNESCO World Heritage Site, their deportation and the Cajun connection. Enjoy beautiful views of the rising tides from the Bay of Fundy and Cape Blomidon with lots of great photo opportunities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy tours and tastings at three wineries in the prestigious Annapolis Valley wine region.
• Gain insight into the terroirs and the processes that produce the award-winning wines.
• Discover the differences in the wineries despite their proximity and similar terroirs.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Explore two of the most atmospheric, historically important areas in Cartagena and come away with a remarkably in-depth understanding of their influence over the centuries. While walking through the Getsemani district, you will learn about the slaves that settled there after their emancipation in the mid-19th century. Many of the landmarks have been restored and repurposed such as Las Bovedas, a low-slung seaside shopping arcade that was once a dungeon. The many squares in Old Town are as charming as ever and still popular meeting places as you will discover while strolling through Plaza de Bolívar and Plaza de Santa Teresa. You will also have the opportunity to browse the Gold Museum, whose collection of gold, silver and ceramic artifacts is mostly pre-Columbian. A stop for photos at the 17th-century San Felipe fortress will offer an entirely perspective of Old Town as you will look out over the sea, as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the landmarks while walking and riding through Cartagena’s oldest districts.
• See outdoor murals that reflect the local Afro-Caribbean history in Getsemani.
• Spend free time shopping in an arcade that was once a notorious dungeon.
• Enjoy the serenity while strolling around the charming plazas in Old Town.
• Browse the impressive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts in the Gold Museum.
• Stop for photos of San Felipe, a 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage site fortress.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Try your luck fishing for halibut, a flatfish that gets massive and feeds voraciously in the summer. You will cruise to the fishing grounds from Auke Bay with no more than five other guests, which will ensure that the crew can provide exceptional personal attention to increase your chances of catching one of these halibut. Once arriving to the back drifting or anchoring location, you will jig with a vertical rigging to reach the bottom of the ocean floor where halibut live. Imagine what a thrill it would be to reel in one of these amazing fish. If you catch one, you will notice that it has a white-colored bottom and a darker top, which acts as a natural camouflage that mimics the hues of the ocean floor and water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fish for halibut, rockfish, and cod on a private boat with just five other guests’ maximum.
• Follow the crew’s advice and tips to increase your chance of catching a huge halibut.
• Enjoy the comforts of the fishing boat, which includes a heated cabin, and a marine head.
• Ship your catch home (within the USA only) fully processed if you want to eat it later, for additional cost.
• Look for wildlife, especially seabirds, and whales, marine mammals, etc, while cruising through Auke Bay, out around Stephen’s passage, Lynn Canal, Saginaw, or favorite channel!

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring camera, ID, and fishing license.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes. Waterproof shoes and clothing are recommended but not required.

OVERVIEW

This tour is intended for guests who have limited mobility, rely on a cane or walker, or for guests’ companions.

Explore a Shinto shrine that seems to float on the water off the sacred island of Miyajima and savor an equally memorable meal. On the ferry ride over to the island, you will first notice the giant red torii gate that rises up out of the sea. Similarly, the Itsukushima shrine that stands behind it was built over the water to give the illusion of floating when the tide is high. UNESCO declared these architectural treasures a World Heritage site because they so perfectly personify the Japanese concept of scenic beauty that combines nature with human creativity. Itsukushima dates to the 13th century while some of shrines on the island were constructed even earlier. Chances are, you will see free-roaming deer on Miyajima, perhaps even while shopping in the island’s arcade. Back on the mainland, you will stop to dine on Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a pancake layered with noodles, fried eggs and pork belly.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold an oversized torii gate and 13th-century shrine that seem to float on the water.
• Discover why UNESCO designated the gate and Itsukushima shrine a World Heritage site.
• Explore Itsukushima shrine and several shrines ashore before shopping nearby.
• Enjoy a traditional pancake prepared Hiroshima-style with noodles, fried eggs and pork.
• Admire the scenic beauty while riding the ferry to and from Miyajima Island.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a tasting of spirits aged in oak barrels at the Halifax Citadel, an atmospheric setting that will enhance this pleasurable experience. The British built the star-shaped citadel – officially named Fort George – atop a large hill in 1856 and it has been a fixture ever since. Dressed in a military uniform like the ones worn by the 78th Highlanders that first guarded the citadel, your guide will show you around the fortification, which is Canada’s most visited National Historic Site. The citadel has been meticulously restored literally brick by brick since 1931, when it was no longer used for defensive purposes. During the tasting that follows, you will sample the three spirits. They include an amber rum like one 19th-century solders were given as a daily ration, a barrel-aged gin and a whisky made with Nova Scotia-grown grains.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample three spirits at Halifax Citadel, the 19th-century fortification.
• Learn how the spirits are produced from Nova Scotian ingredients.
• Receive an explanation of each spirit and its tasting notes.
• Tour the citadel with a guide dressed like a 19th-century 78th Highlander soldier.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Your adventure takes you to a hidden underground world the Mayans called Chaak Tun–named for the Mayan god of rain–literally meaning “Chaak’s Rain of Stone.” Explore the mysteries of the cenotes and sacred Underground River as you cleanse your heart, mind and spirit while learning of the mythology behind these natural wonders. Visit two mystical caverns and underground rivers, discovering its amazing formations; stalactites and stalagmites reaching from floor to ceiling while snorkeling and swimming through the crystal-clear, sacred waters that purify and rejuvenate. Before the next experience, you will be greeted and welcomed by a local shaman to the Temazcal. Learn about the importance of this ancient cleansing process and experience it yourself. Savor the time for yourself while you purify your body through a relaxing steam bath with the use of medicinal plants, an ancestral ritual practiced in Mesoamerica employed for cleansing, medicinal, and spiritual purposes. Enjoy a Small buffet rajas with cream (vegetarian option) chicken tamalito in banana leaf, rice, beans, tortilla, fruit, flavored water, soft drink and bottled natural water At the conclusion of this memorable adventure, return to Playa del Carmen to board the ferry that will take you back to the ship's pier.

All the height… and you don’t need might!

The Osprey traverse gets its name from the bird of prey that is commonly seen perched on our decks and consist of 3 easy flights. The first flight south is the shortest traverse at 185 feet; it is also the tallest at 120 feet above the ground. We said it was easy, we didn’t say it wouldn’t be scary!

Start the second flight by be stepping off the platform 75-feet above the ground to soar some 850 feet to next landing perched just 75 feet above the ground.

Ascending a series of stairs takes you up to your launching pad for the final 900-foot zip to ground level back to where it all started.

At these heights the air is fresher, the colors are brighter, and the ground has never been so sweet.

Tour is limited, secure your altitude today.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an enlightening walk-through Old Town, ride through the atmospheric streets in an electric-powered replica of a 1920s car and cruise around Cartagena Bay in a party boat. Historical landmarks are plentiful as this UNESCO World Heritage site city was founded in 1533. Colonial mansions, leafy squares and military fortifications are just a few of the attractions that you will likely view while walking and driving through Old Town. Because pirates frequently attacked Cartagena in the 16th and 17th centuries, thick defensive walls were constructed that still stand today. Other highlights that you may see include the iconic clock tower at the entrance to Old Town, the Inquisition Palace and the Church of San Pedro Claver, which the Jesuits established in the early 17th century. Once you begin cruising the bay, the mood will become noticeably more festive as the drinks will be flowing and lively music will be playing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the landmarks in Old Town while walking along the cobblestone streets.
• Ride around Old Town in an electric-powered replica of a 1920s car.
• View Old Town from a bay perspective while cruising along the coast in a party boat.
• Toast the experience with cocktails on the boat and snacks.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Begin your journey with a scenic drive along the Tongass Narrows in route to Totem Bight State Park, home to one of the world’s largest stand of totems. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Tongass National Rainforest as you stroll under the canopy of majestic hemlock and cedar trees. Through lively stories and narrative, you’ll learn about the culture and lifestyle practiced by the Northwest Coastal Natives. You’ll also have an opportunity to enter a traditional Native clan house to see how they lived firsthand. Prior to departing the park, you’ll have a chance to photograph a magnificent collection of totem poles located in a picturesque setting. During a brief stop at the quaint Alaska Totem Trading store, you’ll have an opportunity to shop and view beautifully carved totems along with a collection of and antique guns. While travelling to downtown Ketchikan, you will be engaged with an entertaining town overview and learn of the industries which built Ketchikan and helped to make it the “Salmon Capital of the World”. Travel along the picturesque Tongass Narrows en route to the park, taking in beautiful views of the surrounding rainforest and waterfront. Your final stop will be in downtown to explore the shops and exciting Creek Street on your own. When you are ready to return to your ship you will be taking the free shuttle to Ward Cove.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit one of the world’s largest collections of standing totem poles.
• Stroll beneath the towering hemlock and cedar trees of the Tongass National Rainforest.

HELPFUL HINTS

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