Singapore
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
-
Half Day Singapore City Tour – 4 hours - Singapore
Highlights:
- Bumboat Ride
- Merlion Park
- Drive around the Civic District
- National Orchid Garden Admission
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, if guests can walk a short
distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
- Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
- Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
- A Bottled Water
Not Included:
- Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
- Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc.
-
Good Morning, Ni Hao (Walking Tour)
Good Morning, Ni Hao (Walking Tour)
Destination: Singapore
Tour Duration: 04 hours
Highlights:
Our guide will pick you up at the port (Marina Bay Cruise Center or Singapore Cruise Center).
Spend a wonderful morning as a local would visiting a wet market, enjoying a hawker breakfast and finishing off at a traditional heritage shop. Begin with a stroll through a local wet market, always an explosion of sights, sounds and smells! See where the term “wet market” comes from as you watch stall owners use water to wash the floors, to freshen up fruits and vegetables, and to keep fish and shellfish alive. Check out local favourites like century egg, black chicken and a wide array of spices. Continue to the Chinatown Complex, Singapore’s largest food centre and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Finally, stop by a traditional heritage shop where locals go for herbs, tonics and even pastries for a family tea time. End your tour on a sweet note with a sampling of local desserts.
Inclusions:
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Not Included:
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Singapore visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
-
Full Day Singapore Tour – 8 hours - Singapore
Highlights:
- Bumboat Ride
- Merlion Park
- Drive around the Civic District
- National Orchid Garden Admission
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Kampong Glam
- Arab Street
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Tekka Centre
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, if guests can walk a short distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
- Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
- Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled Water
Not Included:
- Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
- Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities.
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc.
-
Singapore City Tour (4 hours)
Half-day tour to Singapore City
Highlights
- Botanical Gardens
- Chinatown
- Bum Boat ride - 30-minute ride (share-basis)
- Merlion Park & Little India
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel Insurance
- Any Visa
-
Singapore Sentosa Tour (4 hours)
Half-day tour to Singapore - Sentosa
Highlights
- Sentosa Resort
- Sentosa Merlion Tower
- SEA Aquarium
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Night Safari Tour (4 hours)
Evening Singapore Safari Tour
Highlights
- 1815 hrs Singapore Night Safari
- 2215 hrs Return to hotel
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood Tour (4 hours)
Half Day Tour to Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood
Highlights
- Kampong Glam
- Bugis Village
- Trishaw ride (2 persons to 1 Trishaw)
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Foodie Tour (4 hours)
Half day tour to Singapore Foodie
Highlights
- Maxwell Hawker Centre or Lau Pat Sat (either one of the above venue depending availability)
- Tea Chapter
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay (4 hours)
Half day tour to Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay
Highlights
- Singapore Flyer - a 35 minutes ride (share-basis)
- Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest)
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Toa Payoh Hub Tour (4 hours)
Half day tour to Singapore Toa Payoh Hub
Highlights
- Toa Payoh (a first generation New Town built in the late 1960s)
- Coffee break in a local coffee shop
- Take a subway for a 5 minutes drive to Bishan (a second generation New Town, designed and built in the early 1990's)
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations Tour (4 hours)
Half day tour to Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations in Singapore
Highlights
- Bukit Pasoh
- Newton Food Centre
- Chijmes
- Raffles Hotel
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
- Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
- Gratuity to the guide & driver
- Service voucher
Not Included:
- Any cruise arrangements
- Any meals
- Travel insurance
- Any visa
-
Singapore - Gardens By The Bay (3.5 Hours)
Highlights:
- Enter one of the "Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World" - a futuristic area of garden artistry and horticulture spread over 101 hectares.
- In the Flower Dome we can marvel at the world's largest glass greenhouse, and wander amongst baobabs, thousand-year-old olive trees, a changing flower field display and more.
- In the Cloud Forest we will enter a mysterious world veiled in mist, as we come face to face with the 35-metre tall indoor waterfall and explore seven discovery zones.
Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- English-speaking guide.
- Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
- 1 complimentary bottle of drinking water and 1 cold towel per person per half day tour/ 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person per full day tour.
- Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary.
Not Included:
- Visa fees
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
-
Singapore - Heartlands Tour (3.5 Hours)
Highlights:
- Visit Toa Payoh New Town. This is the first town to be built by the Housing Development Board, the government arm in charge of public housing in Singapore.
- Explore a typical self-sufficient town complete with public vs private housing, public transport, public amenities as well as industrial and commercial areas.
- Visit the public recreation areas and view a typical show flat for a public housing building. Visits to a wet market and hawker centre will give us an even deeper glimpse into local life. (Showflat is not open on Sundays and public holidays)
Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning (Suggested starting time: 09h00 or 14h00)
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Local English Speaking Guide
- Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
- 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person
- Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary.
Not Included:
- Personal Expenses, Tipping
|
03/06/2025 |
03/06/2025 |
Phuket
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
-
At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)
Enjoy a private chauffeur-driven luxury sedan with driver for “At Your Leisure” touring. You decide where you want to go and what you want to see.
Inclusions:
• Transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
-
Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,” “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.
Continue driving to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill, which offers scenic views over Phuket Town. Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. After exploring the temple, return to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 4 hours
-
Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,” “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.
Continue to Saphan Hin, a recreational park that houses a tin mining monument dedicated to Australian Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the man who brought the first dredge to Phuket in 1909. Then visit the Chinese shrine in the park to discover a traditional place of worship.
Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang.
Finally, make a stop at Laem Phromthep, a stunning coastal viewpiont that offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Transfer back to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 8 hours
-
Life of Old Phuket - 4 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Walk along the old streets of town and feel the charm of lives lived a century ago around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. Visit Thai Hau Museum to learn more about the history of the island.
Continue to a Chinese shrine set in a peaceful spot along Phang Nga Road. Despite being in the center of town, the shrine remains unaffected by the hustle and bustle. Then drive to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill to admire scenic views over Phuket Town before returning to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 4 hours
-
Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours
Meet your professional local guide to explore some of the beautiful natural scenery and cultural highlights of Phuket. Visit a rubber plantation to learn about the arduous work of collecting sap and transforming it into sheets of rubber. Then continue to Bang Pae waterfall to admire the tropical greenery and observe the wildlife at the nearby Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
You may stop for lunch on your own account at Blue Elephant restaurant, serving traditional Thai cuisine. After lunch, stop by to see the Big Buddha temple and enjoy the scenic views before returning to the ship.
Optional Costs:
• Lunch at Blue Elephant including two units of drinks (water, juice, soft drink)
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 8 hours
-
Phuket Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Phuket
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Thailand visa (US/ CA Passport holders do not need visa to Thailand)
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
-
Phuket Town Sightseeing
Disembark the ship and meet your guide. Depart on a drive along the Phuket coastline past Karon Beach and Kata Beach to a viewpoint where you can see Phuket’s three most beautiful beaches. Continue to Promthep Cape at the southernmost point of Phuket for its best viewpoint of the coastline. Drive by Rawai Beach and visit Wat Chalong, Phuket’s largest and most revered temple, built at the beginning of the 19th century. Continue on to Nakkerd Hill to see one of the island’s iconic landmarks, the 45m (147ft) tall Big Buddha, impressively layered with beautiful Burmese white jade marble. After enjoying a tasty Thai set lunch at a local restaurant by the sea (non-alcoholic drink included), stop at a cashew factory to see how the nuts are grown and processed. Drive back to Old Phuket to see the charming Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang and Debuk Roads, reflecting the architecture of people who came to Phuket centuries ago for its tin mining industry. Finally, visit Sapanhin, a beautiful public park by the sea popular with local families on weekends. Stop by the nearby Chinese shrine before returning to the port and your ship.
NOTES:
- Suggested departure time: 11:00.
- Tour duration: 07 hours.
- Timing may be changed without prior notice, depending on local conditions such as weather, traffic and / or other conditions.
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Thailand visa (US/ CA Passport holders do not need visa to Thailand)
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
|
03/09/2025 |
03/09/2025 |
Mumbai
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
-
FULL DAY MARVELS OF MUMBAI
FULL DAY
MARVELS OF MUMBAI
Proceed to Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark –an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure. You will make a stop here for photographs.
See the highlights of the city from the comfort of your minivan as you set off for a tour of Mumbai city. Your tour begins with the Gateway of India (PLEASE STOP FOR A WHILE SO THE GUEST CAN TAKE PHOTO), the city's most famous landmark - an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure.
Continue through Marine Drive, Mumbai's seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. This hill is Mumbai's ritziest neighborhood. Popular since the 18th century because of its forested slopes, fresh sea breezes and panoramic views, merchants and colonial governors built many mansions and bungalows on its hillsides.
Your drive includes a look at a most remarkable railway station. Inspired by St. Pancras Station in London, the Victoria Terminus was built during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. It is an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets in a style that was described by journalist James Cameron as "Victorian-Gothic-Saracenic-Italianate-Oriental-St. Pancras-Baroque". The first train in India left from this station in April 1853; today half a million commuters use the station every day.
Depart to Church Gate Station and spend some time watching the dabba-wallahs, the members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day 4,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 100,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable aluminum boxes. The meals are carried to their hungry recipients dangling from shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars, and stacked on decorated handcarts. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch.
Even if you are not possessed of an interest in other people’s dirty laundry, you’ll be fascinated by the dhobi ghats, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Mumbai is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. The next day, after being aired, pressed, folded and wrapped, the bundles are returned from whence they came. The secret that keeps the operation running smoothly is the coded symbol that each dhobi-wallah places on every item. Invisible to the untrained eye, this mark ensures that nothing will be lost. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
Proceed for Taj Mahal Hotel for Lunch on direct payment basis.
You will continue to The Prince of Wales Museum, crowned by a white Mughal-style dome, the finest work done by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 09h30 – 11h00 |
Orientation tour of Mumbai, Gateway of India, Malabar Hill and VT Station. |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 11h00 – 11h20 |
Proceed to Churchgate station |
|
| 11h20 – 11h40 |
Watch the Dabba-wallas at Churchgate |
10 meters / even |
| 11h40 – 12h15 |
Drive to Dhobi Ghat |
|
| 12h15 – 12h45 |
Visit Dhobi Ghat |
100 meters / Flat / 5 steps |
| 12h45 – 13h15 |
Drive to Taj Mahal Hotel for lunch on direct payment basis |
|
| 13h15 – 14h15 |
Lunch at Taj Mahal Hotel |
150 meters / Flat / 4 steps |
| 14h15 – 15h30 |
Drive to Prince of wales Museum and visit |
|
| 15h30 – 16h00 |
Return to pier |
50 meters / Uneven |
-
HALF DAY MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
HALF DAY
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
Explore the history, art and people of Mumbai and India during this informative half-day visit to the area's finest museums and galleries.
Depart from pier for the drive to Mani Bhawan, Gandhi's Bombay residence between 1917 and 1934. Mani Bhawan is now a permanent museum and memorial to the Mahatma. It contains a research library of more than 20,000 volumes, and a series of tiny dioramas depicting his life story in an interesting fashion. The walls are covered with photos of historic events and noteworthy people.
Next, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, easily recognized by its unique white Mughal-style dome. The museum is the finest work by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India. It houses interesting displays of jade work, antique weapons, Indian paintings, illustrated manuscripts, exquisite miniatures, and clay and terracotta figures from the 3rd century B.C. Adjacent to Prince of Wales Museum, you will find the Jehangir Art Gallery. Mumbai's best-known venue for contemporary art, Jehangir is home to five small galleries displaying changing exhibits of 20th century arts and crafts from around the world.
Return to pier.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h30 |
Pier to Mani Bhawan |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Mani Bhawan |
20 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Prince of Wales Museum |
|
| 01h30 – 02h30 |
Arrive and visit Prince of Wales Museum |
50 steps/flat Terrain |
| 02h30 – 02h35 |
Walk down to adjacent Jahangir Art Gallery |
|
| 02h35 – 03h20 |
Arrive and visit Jahangir Art Museum |
15 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 03h20 – 04h00 |
Back to pier |
|
-
FULL DAY THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
FULL DAY
THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
More than a thousand years ago, Hindu craftsmen carved columns and sculptures out of a series of caves located on an island off the shores of Mumbai, creating a temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Portuguese named the island Elephanta, after the large statue of an elephant they found near the spot where they docked their ships. Come and discover the unique beauty and intriguing tales of these temple caves with today’s memorable excursion.
Travel by minivan vehicle to the Gateway of India, the city’s most recognized landmark. Built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the archway was originally conceived as an entry point for people arriving on steamers from England. Today, the gateway serves as a launching point for your own exploration of the Elephanta Temple.
Boarding a motor boat, enjoy the approximately one hour and thirty minutes cruise to the Elephanta landing. From the jetty you have the option of either taking the mini train or walking approximately 15 minutes to the base of the long stairway which leads to the top of the hill, where the caves are located. As you enter, you will see a magnificent sculpture of Shiva as Nataraj, showing an enraptured expression as he removes the veil of ignorance. The most outstanding sculpture is a bust of Trimurti—the three-faced Shiva representing the Hindu trinity, Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. In other panels, Shiva is depicted in service to humanity as he brings the River Ganges to Earth, and at his most fearsome as he crushes the demon of Andhaka. Later, board the motor boat for return cruise to the Gateway.
Re-board your vehicle for the transfer back to your ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE & TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 - 00h15 |
Depart from the pier by minivan to the Gateway of India |
|
This tour is NOT suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h15 - 01h45 |
Board the motor boat and cruise to Elephanta Island |
|
| 01h45 - 03h45 |
Arrive and visit Elephanta Island |
1.5km / Uneven, cobblestones / 125 long steps each way |
| 03h45 - 05h15 |
Board your motor boat and return to Mumbai |
|
| 05h15 – 05h30 |
Return to the pier |
|
-
FULL DAY THE VICTORIAN PAST
Experience the highlights of this fascinating city, with its Western monuments and Eastern sensibilities.
Begin your tour with photo stop at the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
Next visit, The Church of St John the Evangelist better known as Afghan Church in South Mumbai, built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous First Afghan War of 1838. The church is located in Navy Nagar in the Colaba area of Mumbai. Besides British soldiers it also commemorates different Indian regiments, such as the Bombay Army, the Madras Army, and Ranjit Singh's army from Lahore.
Drive along Marine Drive-Mumbai’s seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s ritziest neighborhood. At the top of hill are the Hanging Gardens, laid out in 1881. Here, an assortment of hedges, trimmed into animal shapes. The gardens also offer a superb view of the bustling city centre in the distance.
You then proceed to Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum) one of the oldest museums in Mumbai. It was established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The museum houses a large number of archaeological finds, maps and historical photographs of Mumbai.
You then visit, Crawford Market - one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The market is situated near to Victoria Terminus railway station. The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market.
Finally, visit and savor a relaxing lunch while exploring the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which dates back to the 1500s before returning back to the ship.
| TIMING |
ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST |
DISTANCE / TERRAIN |
W/C FRIENDLY |
| 00h00 – 00h10 |
Leave from pier to Gateway of India |
|
This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues |
| 00h10 – 00h15 |
Arrive at Gateway of India (photo stop only) |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 00h15 – 00h30 |
Leave for Afghan Church |
|
| 00h30 – 01h00 |
Arrive and visit Afghan Church |
4 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 01h00 – 01h30 |
Leave for Hanging Gardens |
|
| 01h30 – 02h00 |
Arrive and visit Hanging Gardens |
2 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 02h00 – 02h15 |
Leave for Victoria & Albert Museum |
|
| 11h15 – 12h00 |
Arrive and visit Victoria & Albert Museum |
5 steps/ Uneven Terrain |
| 03h00 – 03h15 |
Leave for Crawford market |
|
| 03h15 – 03h45 |
Arrive and visit market |
Uneven Terrain |
| 03h45 – 03h15 |
Leave for hotel Taj Mahal |
10 steps/ flat Terrain |
| 04h15 – 05h45 |
Arrive at hotel and proceed for lunch (On Direct Payment) |
|
| 05h45 – 06h00 |
Back to pier |
|
-
Mumbai: 9 hours
With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city, bustling with activity of incredible diversity and complexity, her color and elegance, her wealth corresponding with her historic struggle against poverty. Certain affluent areas give Bombay an air of mini–Manhattan!
8:30am - 9:30am:
Depart the pier for the famous Gateway of India en route to Banganga. This Indo-Saracenic archway was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, and is the city's most famous landmark.
We then proceed to Banganga via Art Deco Marine Drive also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay.
9:30am - 10:30am
Walk around Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
10:30am - 10:50am
Drive to Dhobi Ghat.
10:50 - 11:15
Visit the `Dhobi Ghat’, the city’s open-air laundry! where “Dhobis’ (washermen) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily. Clothes, linen, towels… are washed in small open air cubicles rented out each day. An itemized account is logged in a notebook and clothes collected from households are returned a week later. Through the apparent chaos incredibly nothing gets lost from a countless number of pieces and most clothes somehow survive the beating they receive on the washing stones.
11:15pm - 11:45pm
Drive to Churchgate Railway Station.
11:45am - 12:15pm
We stop at the Churchgate Railway Station to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city. Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’. Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer. Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
12:15pm - 12:30pm
Drive to `Khyber’ restaurant for lunch which specializes in the Northwest frontier cuisine.
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lunch (on own)
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Drive to Mani Bhawan passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus.
2:30pm - 3:15pm
Visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use.
3:15pm - 4:45pm
Before returning to the pier, we spend some time where it all began, where the tide of human life rolls down the center of the street, unruffled by vehicles from all quarters ploughing their way through it. No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar. The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see probably anywhere else in a lifetime.
4: 45 - 5:30
Drive back to the ship.
Added Value:
- A good overview of the unique aspects of this unique city.
- Tour Duration: 8 – 9 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No
Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.
-
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 4 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
You will first explore the Fort area of Mumbai – Kala Ghoda, literally Black Horse – a neighborhood in South Mumbai. The crescent-shaped precinct is the city’s premier art district. You will drive past a large number of the city’s heritage buildings, full of museums, art galleries and educational institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (previously called the Prince of Wales Museum) and The Arts Trust.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
Stop for a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant before you return to the port area.
Inclusions:
Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, Private guide, Complimentary Soft beverages and Bottled water in the car, Monument entrance and still camera fee, Meet and Assist at all airports and hotels, Porterage at airports, All currently applicable taxes
Exclusions:
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry,telephone calls etc, unless specified) Tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), Meals (unless specified), Any insurance or Visa, Any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, Air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
-
Mumbai, Shore Excursion - 6 hours
You will be met at the pier. (Excursion timings will be subject to the ship's arrival and departure). Once you disembark from your cruise-liner, you will meet your guide in the arrival hall. He will escort you to your waiting vehicle and together you will set of to explore India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve centre – Mumbai.
Your first stop will be to take pictures at Dhobi Ghat, a sight unique to this city. ‘Dhobi Ghat’ or “washerfolks’ place”, is the world's largest outdoor laundry, and where Mumbai's traditional washer-folk - or dhobis - provide a wonderful service, collecting dirty laundry, washing it, and returning it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee.
Drive to Churchgate Station where you get the opportunity to see the famed ‘dabbawallas’ or ‘lunch box carriers’ in action. The Mumbai dabbawallas are international figures now, thanks to Forbes Global. The Forbes story details the efficiency with which they deliver the dabbas or lunch pails of their customers. Around 5,000 dabbawallas collect and deliver 175,000 lunches every day and take the empty boxes back. Their operation has a six sigma rating which implies less than 3.4 errors in every million transactions. This is the same rating that has made companies like Motorola and GE world famous for their quality!
Later you will visit Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, a structure steeped in Indian history and culture. Built in Renaissance revival style in 1872 as the Victoria & Albert Museum, it contains 3,500-plus objects centering on Mumbai’s history. This landmark building was renovated in 2008.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before you continue on your tour.
You will end your tour with a visit to Mani Bhavan. As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The museum showcases the room where the leader formulated his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign that led to the end of British rule and Indian independence.
You will then return to the port area.
Inclusions: Private chauffeur driven air conditioned vehicle, private guide, complimentary soft beverages and bottled water in the car, monument entrance and still camera fee, meet and assist at all airports and hotels, porterage at airports, all current applicable taxes.
Exclusions: Expenses of any personal nature (laundry, telephone calls etc, unless specified), tipping at hotels and to guides/escorts (unless specified), meals (unless specified) any insurance or Visa, any hike in monument entrances fee or revision in government taxes, air fare is quoted separately.
*Terms and conditions apply
|
03/17/2025 |
03/18/2025 |
The Signature Collection – A Hosted Sailing
