EXCLUSIVESHORE EXCURSIONS

2016 Grand Mediterranean Voyagems Prinsendam | March 11, 2016 | 55 Days

Scenic Madeira and Lunch at Reid’s PalaceSunday, March 20 | 5 hours | Lunch Included

Enjoy the amazing scenery of this beautiful island before enjoying a delicious lunch overlooking the bay of Funchal. Winding along the coast, pass by the village of Câmara de Lobos, “The Sea Wolves’ Lair”, a picturesque fishing village once painted by Sir Winston Churchill. Next, head up the mountain and pass by the vineyards of Estreito de Câmara Lobos, one of the most important wine growing areas of the island. Continue to Cabo Girão, the second highest sea cliff in the world, and the highest in Europe. This viewpoint offers breathtaking views along the coast, over Funchal, and over the distant horizon. The tour then returns to Funchal, via Pico dos Barcelos, which offers a fantastic panorama of Funchal, the bay, and the surrounding hills. The tour continues inland, passing through São Martinho to the Socorridos ravine. Eira do Serrado is reached after a short drive along a winding road, offering spectacular views of the interior of the island. On arrival at Eira do Serrado, it is a short and easy optional walk up to a spectacular viewpoint on Pico do Serrado. The tour then continues to the Restaurante Villa Cipriani in the Reid’s Palace Hotel for lunch.

Please note: At Reid’s Palace there are approximately 10 steps up to the restaurant and one flight of stairs to the restrooms. There are no elevators.

Mdina & VallettaSaturday, March 26 | 4 hours

After leaving the harbor, proceed to Mdina where your coach will pass through the island’s scenic landscapes and Arabic architecture. Here you will be escorted on foot through Mdina, Malta’s “Silent City.” Meaning “walled city” in Arabic, this former capital has played a key role in the island’s history for more than 1,500 years. Few sights on Malta are as impressive as Mdina, and as one of the few remaining fortified medieval cities in the Mediterranean, it has special status. After a short stroll, you’ll enter the Cathedral of St. Paul. Located within the Mdina city walls, this baroque cathedral was built on the orders of Robert of Normandy after he took control of the island from the Arabs. In the name of Christianity, he felt the structure would rid the town of its infidel influence. Marvel at the impressive Palazzi and churches as you stroll to the bastions to admire the stunning view of the surrounding countryside. Rejoin your coach for the drive back to Valletta. Upon arrival proceed on foot with your guide to visit the main sites within the city, including Valletta’s Upper Barrakka Gardens for a panoramic view of the island’s natural harbor. From this vantage point, you’ll also see the fortified cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa. Your walk continues to St. John’s Cathedral (outside visit only) where you will admire its grand facade. From there you will proceed to the Grand Master’s Palace also known as the State Rooms, the house of parliament in Malta. The interior boasts the famous Council Chamber, adorned with valuable Gobelins tapestries woven in France for Grand Master Ramón Perellos y Roccaful. Other rooms and passages of the palace are brilliantly furnished with art objects, old coats of arms and armor. Afterwards, return to the pier.

Please note: Order of sites may vary due to local conditions. Not suitable for wheelchairs. The escorted walk in Mdina is approximately 30 minutes. The walk around the Barrakka Gardens, Valletta City Center and Grand Master’s Palace is approximately 90 minutes.

Funchal, Portugal

Valletta, Malta MODERATE ACTIVITY

MODERATE ACTIVITY

2016 EXCLUSIVE SHORE EXCURSIONSTOUR ACTIVITY LEVELS:These guidelines are meant to help you select the tours that are best suited to your physical abilities and level of comfort. If you use a wheelchair, or have any mobility challenges, please contact us to discuss your tour options. All tours, regardless of level of activity, involve stepping in and out of vehicles or motorcoaches. All clients signing up for tours should be able to embark or disembark vehicles/motorcoaches with minimal assistance. Strenuous tours are not suitable for anyone who has difficulty walking or who has serious back or knee problems.

EASY ACTIVITY: Very light activity. May include short distances to walk and some stairs.

MODERATE ACTIVITY: Requires some effort, including walking medium distances over uneven surfaces and/or stairs.

STRENUOUS ACTIVITY: Requires active participation, walking long distances over uneven and steep terrain and/or stairs.

Cabo Girão

Mdina

Cover Photo: Lisbon, Portugal

Cover Photo: Istanbul, Turkey2

Kusadasi, Turkey

Best of Istanbul with LunchSaturday, April 02 | 7 hours | Lunch Included

Your comprehensive tour of the “must-see” sights of Istanbul starts with a visit to the Blue Mosque. It was completed in 1616 and is a triumph of harmony, proportion and elegance. The mosque was a part of a complex also including tombs, fountains, kitchens, and a bath. Its colorful 260 windows enable the sunlight to reach inside. This makes the interior unusually light. The blue Iznik tiles covering the walls have given the mosque its popular name, Blue Mosque. Then, you will visit the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. It is located on the promontory jutting out between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. This setting provides a magnificent view. The construction of the Topkapı Palace was completed between 1465 and 1478. Being the imperial residence of the sultan, his court and harem, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. Approximately 4,000 people lived in the Palace at one time. In the Treasury section, you will see breathtaking displays, including the 7th largest diamond in the world, the “Spoonmaker’s Diamond”. Next, enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit St. Sophia, the church of the Divine Wisdom. It was built during Emperor Justinian’s reign (AD 537) and it remained the greatest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II who ordered to convert Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. In 1934, Atatürk proclaimed it a museum. The walls of this beautiful piece of architecture are decorated with gorgeous mosaics. Last, you will explore streets of the famous Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops. A variety of Turkish handicrafts, oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs are all sold in small shops next to each other. The streets are named according to the trades, such as gold and silver sellers, carpet sellers, booksellers, etc. The most oriental atmosphere in Istanbul is found in the bazaar. You will have free time to explore the area before returning to your ship.

Please note: Conservative dress is required for visiting mosques. All female guests will be required to cover their heads, shoulders and arms, and shorts above knee-length are not allowed for both male and female visitors. Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The order of sites viewed or visited may vary to avoid congestion.

Ancient Ephesus and Terrace Houses with LunchMonday, April 4 | 5½ hours | Lunch Included

Your fascinating excursion begins with a visit to the House of Virgin Mary, where the Virgin is said to have lived the last years of her life. The building was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Lazartis from Smyrna based on the vision of a German nun.  The site is officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church and was visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. Next, visit Ephesus, famous throughout the ancient world for its Temple of Artemis. You will first visit Odeon Theatre where the state affairs used to be held. Then, view the Temple of Hadrian, one of the main attractions at Ephesus, with a beautiful arch on the front facade and interesting reliefs of Medusa. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch would protect the city from its enemies. Next is a visit to the recently excavated spectacular Terrace Houses which belonged to the wealthy residents of Ephesus. Many of the houses were three-storied and had peristyles surrounded by rooms without windows but included frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. Some of the frescoes were scenes from the comedies of Menander and the tragedies of Euripides. They were luxuriously furnished private houses with fountains and central heating. Proceed to the Celsus Library, a Roman mausoleum and library built in the early 2nd century AD. The Library of Celsus was commissioned by Julius as a mausoleum for his father, Roman governor of the Asian Provinces. It is one of the most beautifully reconstructed buildings in Ephesus and has become an icon of the ancient city. After the Library, visit the Great Theatre, which dates back to the Hellenistic period. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus with a capacity of 25,000 seats. The theatre was used for concerts, plays and religious, political and philosophical discussions and for gladiator and animal fights. Marble Road runs between the Library of Celsus and the theater and is a part of the sacred walkway. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant specializing in delicious Turkish cuisine of the region.

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking on uneven ground and is not recommended for guests with limited mobility. Comfortable walking shoes and a hat for shade are recommended.

Istanbul, Turkey MODERATE ACTIVITY

STRENUOUS ACTIVITY

Ephesus

Topkapi Palace

3

Achilleion Palace, Perama and CorfuThursday, April 07 | 3½ hours

Richly endowed by nature as no other Greek island, Corfu has acquired, with the passing of the centuries, the refinement and sophistication which are the natural outcome of the union of great civilizations with natural beauty. You will journey from the port away from the city area and into the fertile area of orange and lemon groves to reach the Achilleion Palace. Built 100 years ago, the villa contains mementos of its former owners, the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The gardens are adorned with statues and the views over the densely wooded countryside are magnificent. On the way back to town, a short photo stop is made at a vantage point, which offers wonderful views of the bay with Mouse Island and the little chapel clearly visible. Back in Corfu town, a short walking tour will traverse the famed Esplanade, past the cricket pitch and the Church of St. Spiridon, the patron of Corfu. Guests wishing to remain in town may do so. Guests wishing to return to the ship will be taken back by coach.

Please note: There are approximately 50 steps to ascend at the Achilleion Palace. The tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.

Ancient Pompeii Friday, April 15 | 4 hours

Visit one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. After a scenic drive along the Bay of Naples, you will arrive at remarkable Pompeii at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. The excavated ruins of Pompeii are considered one the finest representations of an Italian city at the height of the Roman Empire. Walking through the city, which was buried in ash from the devastating volcanic eruption in 79 A.D., you will gain great insight into what ancient life must have been like here. Time seems frozen as you observe the eerie plaster casts of numerous victims, who are caught in their final moment of life. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pompeii is filled with aristocratic villas, temples and a forum, which was the heart of the city. This coastal area has thrived for centuries, and much of its lure is natural beauty, as you will see on the return trip, which passes the seaside resorts of Castellamare and Sorrento.

Please note: Comfortable walking shoes, hat and sunscreen are recommended. Photography with flash is not permitted inside some parts of Pompeii. This tour requires an extensive amount of walking and takes place entirely on foot over cobblestones and uneven surfaces on an archaeological site. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or guests who utilize a wheelchair.

Naples, Italy

Kerkira, (Corfu), Greece MODERATE ACTIVITY

MODERATE ACTIVITY

Pompeii

Achilleion Palace

4

Lisbon City TourSunday, April 24 | 4 hours

This excursion, which includes many “must-see” sights, is ideal for guests who are visiting Lisbon for the first time. Lisbon is a city blessed with natural beauty and steeped in fascinating history. Enjoy this overview tour which showcases many points of interest. Enjoy the magnificent view of the city and harbor from Alto do Parque Belvedere. Experience Rossio Square, the “Piccadilly Circus” of Lisbon. Travel the mile-long Avenida da Liberdade which leads to the statue of Pombal, who rebuilt the city following the devastating earthquake of 1755. You will drive by Lisbon’s oldest quarter, “Alfama”, and continue on to the April 25th Suspension Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, which connects Lisbon to Almada. The bridge was built in 1966 and is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (both were built by the same construction company). Enjoy a superb view of the city from the comfort of your tour coach. Driving to Belém district, you will visit the Church of the Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and architectural masterpiece built in the 16th century. Following your visit, your guide will lead you to the lavishly decorated Belem Tower, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Portuguese explorers were given a rousing send-off. Visit the Monument to the Discoveries, built in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator – the mastermind behind Portugal’s voyages of exploration. During the return to your ship, you will see once again the April 25th Suspension Bridge stretching across the River Tagus and the towering Christ the King statue on the far side.

Please note: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. This tour involves some walking and there are a few steps to negotiate. Passengers can remain on the coach at any of the stops if they wish, although this is not recommended in order to get the most from the excursion. The order of sites visited may vary due to local conditions.

Lisbon, Portugal EASY ACTIVITY

Caldeira and the Volcano of CapelinhosThursday, April 28 | 4 ¼ hours | Snack Included

Leave the quay side and drive to the belvedere at Espalamaca, from where there is a splendid outlook towards the Port and the charming old town of Horta. You shall also have the opportunity of seeing the islands of Pico, São Jorge and Graciosa, which make up part of the Central Group. Then, drive up 3,000 feet to the center of the island to inspect a vast volcanic crater known as “Caldeira”, over a mile in diameter and 1,200 feet deep, surrounded by luxuriant vegetation. Continuing westward, you will pass the typical Azorean villages of Ribeira Funda, Praia do Norte and Norte Pequeno, from where there is a magnificent view of Capelinhos, the volcano which rose from the sea in 1957. The volcano is now extinct, but you can see the effects of that devastating eruption. The tour returns along the south coast of this hydrangea-filled, windmill-dotted Island, through Capelo and Castelo Branco back to Horta. Before returning to the ship, stop at Hotel do Canal for a refreshment and snack. Relax for a few moments and enjoy the nice view from the hotel overlooking the beautiful and unique mountain island of Pico.

Horta, Portugal MODERATE ACTIVITY

Rossio Square

Volcano of Capelinhos

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