Lisbon
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!
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Lisbon: Artistic Half Day City Tour
Visit the Jeronimo’s Monastery of Manueline architecture, the Monument of Discoveries, the Belen Tower, Baixa quarter, the National tile museum and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao Velha,
4 hours tour
Morning or afternoon tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
The Jerónimos Monastery, masterpiece of the Manueline style and a tribute to the king that welcomed and protected the Jews that fled from Spain and then expelled them in 1496. The Monument to the Discoveries where you will have the opportunity to see the faces of Jewish men that participated actively in the Portuguese Golden Age of the Discoveries.
The Monument to the Discoveries celebrates the Portuguese who took part in the Age of Discovery. It is located on the estuary of the Tagus river. The monument consists of a 52 metre-high slab of concrete, carved into the shape of the prow of a caravel with its sails unfurled.
Belém Tower is a fortified tower located in the Belém district of Lisbon. It was built in the early 16th century in the Portuguese late gothic style, the manueline, and is one of the symbols of the city.
The Commerce Square with the beautiful façade of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao Velha. The Church’s greatest highlight is its Manueline Portal representing Our Lady of Mercy, which was part of the ancient Misericórdia Church, featuring a tympanum with the images of the king D. Manuel the 1st, the Queen D. Leonor (sister of King Manuel and founder of the Order of Mercy) and Pope Leo X, the Rossio square and the gothic revival elevator de Santa Justa. The heart of the city is the Baixa or city centre; this area is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
The Museu Nacional do Azulejo or National tile museum is renowned for not only for its Azulejo (tile) collection but also for its location. Azulejo is a cherished Portuguese tradition that has enjoyed uninterrupted production for five centuries. Azulejo is glazed, ceramic tilework that is usually blue. It is a major component of Portuguese architecture and is found throughout the country on ceilings, floors, walls of churches, palaces, and homes. This museum occupies the ancient Convent of Madre de Deus (Mother of God), built in 1509 by Queen D. Leonor, and adjoining buildings including Saint Antony’s Chapel and a church noted for its Baroque style.
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Lisbon: Historical Half Day City Tour
Visit the Saint George’s Castle with a magnificent view over the city, the medieval and old Jewish quarter of Alfama, the Church of Sao Domingos, the Cathedral and the Shaaré Tikvá synagogue if available.
4 hours tour
Morning or afternoon tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
The castle of Sao George is located on one of the seven hills of Lisbon, to the east of the Baixa. In the context of the Christian Reconquista the castle and the city of Lisbon were retaken from the Moors by King Alfonso Henriques with the help of Northern European crusaders taking part on the Second Crusade. The castle was dedicated to Saint George in the late 14th century by King John I.
Lisbon's ancient cathedral was built by Portugal's first king on the site of an old mosque in 1150 for the city's first bishop, the English crusader Gilbert of Hastings. From outside (with two bell towers and a splendid rose window) it resembles a medieval fortress, while inside it appears predominantly Romanesque, with a Gothic choir and ambulatory.
Jewish people were the advisors of Kings and Queens, doctors and even some of the explorers, geographers and mathematicians. The tour will start with a general introduction to the Jewish presence of the city, followed by a nice walk in the city centre passing by the site of the 1506 Jewish Massacre near the Church of Sao Domingos and the most well preserved Alfama Jewish and medieval Quarter. Alfama is a village within a city still made up of narrow streets, tiny squares, churches, and whitewashed houses with tile panels and wrought-iron balconies adorned with pots of flowers, drying laundry, and caged birds.
With the abolition of the Inquisition in 1821, families of Sephardic Jews decided to return to Portugal. Most of these Jews were merchants from Morocco and Gibraltar. These were people with a cultural level greatly above average. They could read, speak and write in liturgical Hebrew, Arabic, English and Hakitia, the Moroccan judeo-hispanic dialect.
We will continue our tour with a visit to the only Synagogue of Lisbon (Shaaré Tikvá), passing by the Commerce Square, the place where thousands of Jews were forced to be baptized in the 15th century.
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Lisbon: Half Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Visit the pretty and charming village of Sintra, former residence of the Portuguese Kings and aristocracy
with the National Palace and continue to the fishing village of Cascais and the famous cosmopolitan town of Estoril.
5 hours tour
Morning tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
Sintra is one of the most
delightful places to be found in Portugal. With its extensive range of green
bills with its crags - the Serra de Sintra - so picturesquely situated and offering
stupendous views of the coastline with its impressive beauty, Sintra is indeed
"a garden of the earthly paradise". The artistic heritage of the Old Town, described
by Byron as "the most pleasing in Europe", also include valuable archaeological
remains, particularly from the Roman period, ancient manor houses, churches
of personalised artistic value and characteristic villages.
The National Palace is consisting
of various bodies built during the course of successive epochs on the so-called
"Chão da Oliva", the Paço da Vila de Sintra is one of the most important examples
of regal architecture in Portugal and for that reason is classified as a National
Monument. This gradual multiplication of buildings, with different styles, is
largely responsible for the enigmatic enchantment of this ancient palace, dominated
by great twin chimneys atop the kitchen that constitute as authentic ex-libris
of Sintra.
Cascais was a small fishing
port throughout early history as it lies protected from nature's elements at
the mouth of the Rio Tejo. When in 1870 the King, Luís I, chose to convert the
17th Century building of the Citadela into his summer residence Cascais soon
became a very fashionable town and aristocratic palaces and mansions followed.
The Citadel or Fort of Cascais is a 16th century fortress built to protect the
Bay of Cascais. Today, Cascais now boasts smart new Marina with lovely yachts.
Just outside the town is
the famous Boca do Inferno in which the sea on rougher days hammers into the
rock and creates a booming noise and a spectacular spray thus creating its name
which in English means "mouth of hell".
Estoril town was really
created from the curious needs of the two World Wars. It became a prime location
for European royal exiles forced to leave their own countries. It has been the
residence of King Umberto II of Italy, Juan de Bourbon of Spain, Karl Hapsburg
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and King Carol of Rumania. The many modest yet
architecturally interesting mansions still remain to indicate their royal owners.
At its height its visitors referred to Estoril as the "Portuguese Riviera".
A Casino with wide surrounding avenues and spacious gardens, a golf course,
all of which soon appeared and then flanked by large hotels and impressive private
homes.
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Lisbon: Full Day to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Visit the pretty and charming village of Sintra, former residence of the Portuguese Kings and aristocracy with the beautiful Pena Palace, drive to Boca do Inferno, and continue to the fishing village of Cascais and the famous cosmopolitan town of Estoril.
8 hour tour
Morning tour
No wheelchair
Moderate physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
Sintra is one of the most delightful places to be found in Portugal. With its extensive range of green bills with its crags - the Serra de Sintra - so picturesquely situated and offering stupendous views of the coastline with its impressive beauty, Sintra is indeed "a garden of the earthly paradise". The artistic heritage of the Old Town, described by Byron as "the most pleasing in Europe", also include valuable archaeological remains, particularly from the Roman period, ancient manor houses, churches of personalized artistic value and characteristic villages.
It will be time to visit to one of the highlights of the day: the Pena Palace. Driving around the mountain passing by amazing chalets and aristocratic residences you will reach the 19th century Pena Palace in the most incredible combination of architectural styles, colors and shapes that you will find in Portugal.
Cascais was a small fishing port throughout early history as it lies protected from nature’s elements at the mouth of the Rio Tejo. When in 1870 the King, Luís I, chose to convert the 17th Century building of the Citadela into his summer residence Cascais soon became a very fashionable town and aristocratic palaces and mansions followed. The Citadel or Fort of Cascais is a 16th century fortress built to protect the Bay of Cascais. Today, Cascais now boasts smart new Marina with lovely yachts.
Just outside the town is the famous Boca do Inferno in which the sea on rougher days hammers into the rock and creates a booming noise and a spectacular spray, thus creating its name which in English means "mouth of hell".
Estoril town was really created from the curious needs of the two World Wars. It became a prime location for European royal exiles forced to leave their own countries. It has been the residence of King Umberto II of Italy, Juan de Bourbon of Spain, Karl Hapsburg of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and King Carol of Rumania. The many modest yet architecturally interesting mansions still remain to indicate their royal owners. At its height its visitors referred to Estoril as the “Portuguese Riviera”. A Casino with wide surrounding avenues and spacious gardens, a golf course, all of which soon appeared and then flanked by large hotels and impressive private homes.
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Lisbon: An Exploration of Lisbon - 8 Hours
Lying north of the River Tagus estuary and stretching over seven hills, Portugal's capital city has much to offer. Receive a warm welcome at the port by your private guide and driver and from here commence your engaging tour of Lisbon.
Explore the Belem district with its magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, an extraordinary example of Portugal's 'Manueline' style of architecture. Once populated by monks, the UNESCO-listed monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I to celebrate Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to India in 1498. Time permitting, visit Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), one of Lisbon's most iconic buildings and symbolic of Portugal's great Age of Expansion.
Next, it's time for a refreshment stop, where you may wish to sample the famous and scrumptious Pastéis de Belém (custard tarts). From here you return to you cruise ship.
Highlights:
- Discover the beautiful Belem district with its magnificent Jeronimos Monastery
- Behold the priceless treasures on display at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and try the exquisite pasteis de nata local pastries
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
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Lisbon: Queluz, Sintra and Estoril – 8 hours
Venture outside of Lisbon to explore Queluz, Sintra and Estoril during your private shore excursion. Take the short driver to the sumptuous 18th-century Queluz Palace, where you can admire the magnificent formal gardens and azulejo-lined canals.
Afterwards visit Sintra, the summer retreat of Portuguese monarchs and Moorish emirs before them. Today, this town, nestling on the north side of the Sintra Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stroll through the town where charming streets are filled with fine handicraft shops. You then descend to Guincho beach for a fabulous view of Cape Rock, the westernmost point of the European continent and continuing to the resort town of Estoril on the scenic coastal road with fantastic views, en route back to your cruise ship.
Highlights:
- Explore Queluz Palace, the summer residence of the Portugese Royal Family
- Take a short drive to Sintra, the summer retreat of Portuguese monarchs and a UNESCO Word Heritage Site
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
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06/13/2024 |
06/13/2024 |
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Oporto (Leixoes)
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06/14/2024 |
06/14/2024 |
La Coruna, Spain
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!
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La Coruña: Santiago de Compostela Full Day Excursion
Drive to one of Spain's great historical cities declared a World Heritage Site & one of the three holy cities of Christendom. The famous cathedral of Saint James the Apostle, the Patron Saint of Spain, the old quarter, the Royal Hospital, the Rajoy and Gelmirez Palaces, the University, the College of San Jerónimo and strolling through Rúa Nova.
7 hours tour
Morning tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
Santiago de Compostela,
World Heritage City and capital of Galicia, is the final landmark on the St.
James pilgrimage route. Centuries of splendour and development have left us
an urban layout in which the medieval Christian heritage is mixed with monumental
Baroque buildings.
The legend tells that the
appearance of the remains of the Apostle Saint James were the origin of this
city (9th C.), which soon became a centre for pilgrimages and a holy city on
a par with Jerusalem and Rome. Medieval Santiago experienced centuries of scientific,
artistic and literary interchange thanks to the large numbers of pilgrims arriving
from all over Europe. The Pilgrim's Road to Santiago, together with the city
of Santiago of Compostela, is today a World Heritage Site because of the historic
and artistic nature of the route. With the Catholic Monarchs and Archbishop
Fonseca, the University arrived in the city and, in the centuries that followed,
several religious orders established monasteries and churches in its streets,
contributing to the rich Renaissance and Baroque appearance of the Galician
capital.
The centre of the city
is the Plaza del Obradoiro, which has important monuments, including the Cathedral.
Its current Baroque façade gives way to a Romanesque doorway from the original
building, the Pórtico de la Gloria, created by Master Mateo in the 12th century.
Inside, Romanesque and Gothic elements alternate with other Baroque style decoration.
In the Cathedral you have to follow the tradition: bump your head on the figure
of its creator to obtain prudence and wisdom. At the main altar, a bust of the
Apostle Saint James awaits your embrace. Another tradition is the waving of
a huge incense holder, "El Botafumeiro", in the main transept, which even reaches
the vaults.
Beautiful examples of the
civil Romanesque, Renaissance and Neoclassical styles also show themselves in
Obradoiro. The Pazo de Gelmírez, the College of San Jerónimo and the Pazo Raxoi
accompany the Cathedral and the Old Royal Hospital, today the five-star luxury
'Hostal de los Reyes Católicos', Parador de Turismo.
After touring the oldest
streets of the city, which date from the 12th century - Rúas Franco, Vilar and
Nova - we can pass the food market, a medieval structure. Near here stands the
University (of Neoclassical plan), the Romanesque church of San Fiz de Slovio
and the Baroque church of San Agustín.
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La Coruña: Half Day City Tour
The Tower of Hercules national monument, the medieval town with Romanesque architecture, the church of Santiago, San Anton castle, Santa Barbara convent and San Carlos garden.
3 hour tour
Morning or afternoon tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
Although the origin of La Coruña could be in an old Celtic settlement, the history of the city began to be important in Roman times, when the port became a key point on sailing routes. A witness to this period is the Tower of Hercules, the only working Roman lighthouse and a real symbol of the city.
Now declared a National Monument, it was built at the beginning of the 2nd century by order of the Emperor Trajan. There have been many refurbishments throughout history, the last of them in 1791, when Carlos III ordered the architect Giannini to restore and reface the tower.
The harbor has always been the scene of some of the most important historical events in the city, like the defeat of the English privateer Francis Drake in 1589 thanks to the resistance of the people of Coruña, led by the heroine María Pita.
The early medieval town is bounded by the Coruña peninsula. In its lively streets, good examples of Romanesque architecture are preserved. One of the most beautiful is the church of Santiago. Built in the 12th century, this church, the oldest in the city, and has later additions from the 14th and 15th centuries. It's broad nave of pointed arches houses a polychrome sculpture of the Apostle Santiago (Saint James) dating from the 13th century. Because of its architectural interest, it has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument.
In the high part of the early town center stands another equally outstanding church, that of Santa María del Campo. The building of this old collegiate church goes back to the 12th and 13th centuries and was carried out by the Seaman's Guild. One of its greatest attractions is a visit to the Museum of Religious Art housed in this building, which has works from the 12th to the 15th centuries.
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06/15/2024 |
06/15/2024 |
Bilbao
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!
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Bilbao: Full Day Excursion to San Sebastian
Visit the old quarter, the Basilica of Santa María, la Concha promenade, City Hall, Church of San Vicente, Plaza de la Constitución, Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the San Telmo museum with works of Goya, Ribera and el Greco.
8 hours tour
Morning tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Transportation by Deluxe Vehicle; Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals or other services not specified
This city, also known as Donostia, lies along a white sandy bay between the Urgull and Igeldo hills. Fishermen's houses, a smart suburb and modern districts make it one of the most attractive cities on the Cantabrian coast.
In the oldest part of San Sebastián, the churches of San Vicente and Santa María del Coro await you, the former Gothic and the latter Renaissance-Baroque. An old Dominican convent is nowadays the San Telmo Museum, whose archaeological and ethnographic collections, together with its paintings, are worth a leisurely visit. These busy streets lead you to the porticoed Plaza de la Constitución. Among its many balconies - numbered and painted white, betraying its origin as a bullring - stands the old Neoclassical City Hall, converted into the Municipal Library.
La Alameda del Boulevard leads into the Romantic city, which emerged after the old walls were demolished. One the banks of the Urumea you can make out the Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the María Cristina Hotel, built in Neoplateresque style.
La Concha Promenade is unquestionably one of San Sebastián’s most characteristic features. It is a seaside promenade bordering the famous Concha Bay, shell-shaped as indicated by its name in Spanish, with two beaches (Ondarreta and the Concha) and an island (Santa Clara). Added to its unbeatable views of the sea, this lively promenade makes its way past iconic buildings like the Hotel Londres, the Palacio Miramar and the Perla Spa.
What is today San Sebastián's City Hall was home to the city’s Gran Casino from the time it was opened on 1st July 1897 until it was closed in 1924 with the prohibition of gambling. Its roulette tables and Dance Hall, currently the Plenary Hall, provided entertainment for politicians, writers and artists in the Belle Epoque period.
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Bilbao: Artistic Half Day City Tour
Visit the old city center located on the right bank of the river Nervión, the Cathedral of Santiago with beautiful gothic cloister, the Plaza Nueva, the Yohn Palace, Arriaga Theatre, and the incredible Guggenheim museum, designed by the north American architect Frank O. Gehry and built on a 32.500 m2 site in the city center. The building itself is an extraordinary combination of interconnecting shapes. Orthogonal blocks in limestone contrast with curved and bent forms covered in titanium.
3 hours tour
Morning or afternoon tour
No wheelchair
Light physical activity
Pick up and drop off at the Port
Included: Guided Tour; Entrance Fees
Not Included: Any meals, Taxis or other services not specified
Bilbao's 700 years of history are present in buildings and constructions that will pleasantly surprise visitors. The historic quarter is listed as a Conservation Area and forms the best point of reference for understanding the city's history. It is an example of urban regeneration, with more than 400 shops of all kinds. The city centre is a showcase for the best of 20th century architecture, with buildings that have housed the most important firms and institutions of Bilbao for over a century. This impressive collection of buildings has been created by the best local architects of each period.
But Bilbao has not finished being built: in addition to the genius of the local architects, the most prestigious foreign firms have contributed finished projects to the grandeur of the city, with some still in progress, by architects of the stature of Foster, Gehry, Calatrava, Isozaki, Pelli, and others.
The Cathedral of Santiago, is the oldest building in Bilbao.This Gothic church was built on top of an old hermitage that dates back to the Santiago pilgrimages. The cathedral has three naves, covered with ribbed vaults. Although the building is essentially Gothic, the actual façade and the tower were built in the nineteenth century. The choir stalls and the cloister are exquisite with the latter ornately Gothic in style. The crypt was built in the old hermitage, and still has the hermitage's original walls. There are two doorways, one which is Renaissance in style and the other Neoclassical.
The baroque Yohn Palace, known as ‘The Bourse’, has a beautiful carved lintel around the door, which is extremely rare in urban architecture in Bizkaia, and three interesting exterior walls, the one facing Santa María street being the most impressive.
The Arriaga Theatre is a very beautiful building. Inspired in the Paris Opera, it was the work of the municipal architect Joaquín Rucoba and was opened in 1890. In 1902 it was named in honour of the Bilbao musician Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, known as the Spanish Mozart because of his talent.
The Bilbao Guggenheim Museum has become the cultural and tourist driving force of the Basque Country. This spectacular building, built by Frank O. Gehry in 1997, is completely covered with titanium sheets. It houses its own private collection, in addition to sharing with New York and Venice the world's largest and most impressive private collection of modern and contemporary art.
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06/16/2024 |
06/16/2024 |
Bordeaux
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!
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Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours
We invite you to enjoy a gourmet guided tour of Bordeaux which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in June 2007.
“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.
From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.
Our visit offers to combine historic discovery with regional and typical "delicacies" punctuated by three stops at specialized producers:
•Tasting of ewe cheese with jam of cherries from Pyrenean mountains
•Tasting of “cannelé” a very local sweet specialty at Baillardran,
•And of course a "wine tasting" in a bistro…
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- All entrance fees & tasting
- All tax and Vat
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Departure dates : all day , all year
Not available during French Bank Holiday
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Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours
“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.
From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.
The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century).
The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.
Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- All entrance fees
- All tax and Vat
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Departure dates : all day , all year
Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25
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Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours
In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.
Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.
“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)
Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.
Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.
Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.
In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.
Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light,
Package Includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- All entrance fees & tasting
- All tax and Vat
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Departure dates : all day , all year
May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close
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Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours
A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…
Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…
Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.
Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop
The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:
• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989
• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999
• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009
This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.
Schedule:
09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères
11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.
The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.
12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau La Dominique
05:00pm - End of the tour
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,
Package price includes
- Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
- Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
- 2 winery visits and vertical workshop
-
Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours
Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you.
It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!
Wine tasting: Merlot or Cabernet?
There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet?
Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art
Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team.
Wine taster & Expert
Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together.
09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session
05:00pm - End of the tour
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,
Package price includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
- 2 winery visits
- Blending sessions
-
Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours
Modern Temples of Bacchus
To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.
The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.
To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.
Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!
09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux
10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères
11:30 am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.
The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.
12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch
02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique
05:00pm - End of the tour
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: no
Physical Activity Level: Light,
Package price includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
- 2 winery visits
- Monument tour in Saint-Emilion
|
06/17/2024 |
06/18/2024 |
|
Lorient
|
06/19/2024 |
06/19/2024 |
St. Malo
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!
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Saint Malo Shore Excursion - Brittany Coast and Saint Malo - 8 hours
Meet your private English speaking driver guide who will wait for you with a nominative board at the main exit of your ship and depart for a visit of Saint Malo
HIGHLIGHTS
- St Malo: Walled and built with the same grey granite stone as Mont St Michel, ST-MALO was originally in the Middle Ages a fortified island at the mouth of the Rance, controlling not only the estuary but the open sea beyond. In later centuries it became notorious as the home of a fierce breed of pirate-mariners, who were never quite under anybody's control but their own; for four years from 1590, St-Malo even declared itself to be an independent republic. The corsaires of St-Malo not only forced English ships passing up the Channel to pay tribute, but also brought wealth from further afield.
- Britanny Coastal Road
- End of the tour at your ship
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
Package includes
- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
- English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal
- All entrance fees
- All tax and Vat
Does not include
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Departure dates : all day , all year
May 1st - due to French law, cost double
|
06/20/2024 |
06/20/2024 |
|
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre)
|
06/21/2024 |
06/21/2024 |
|
London (Tilbury)
|
06/22/2024 |
06/22/2024 |
|
Bruges (Zeebrugge)
|
06/23/2024 |
06/23/2024 |
Amsterdam
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!
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Amsterdam: An Introduction to Amsterdam – 4 hours
Meet your driver at the Port in Amsterdam for a private transfer to the city centre where your guide is waiting to meet you for a walking tour of this beautiful city. Begin at Dam Square, bordered by the Royal Palace and enjoy wonderful views of the canals and gabled houses of the mercantile quarter before visiting the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*. After your tour, transfer in the comfort of your own private vehicle back to your ship.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 4 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
-
Amsterdam: Highlights of Amsterdam - 8 Hours
Spend the day exploring Amsterdam in the hands of your expert guide. You are met at the port and transferred to Dam Square where your morning’s walking tour includes the notable Royal Palace. Admire the views of the canals and the gabled houses of the Canal Ring district, where you will visit the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*.
After lunch explore the beautifully-restored Rijksmuseum, to admire the stunning collection of masterpieces from the seventeenth-century Golden Age, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without seeing the delightful Van Gogh Museum, home to many of his famous works as well as those of other Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
- Visit Anne Frank's House
- Explore the Van Gogh Museum
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
-
Amsterdam: The Three Sisters, Delft & Den Haag - 8 Hours
You are met at Amsterdam port for a full-day excursion outside of the city. Head south into the countryside for a photo opportunity at the impressive Three Sisters Windmills in Stompwijk. As over a third of the Netherlands lies below sea level, windmills were initially designed to pump vast amount of water out, thus protecting land from flooding. Today, these silent giants draw many visitors every year for their charming appearances.
From here, you travel on to Delft, world-renowned for its famous blue and white pottery and one of the most beautiful towns in the Netherlands. Take in the town’s architectural gems and charming ambience, which are best appreciated by walking along its small canals with their graceful humpbacked bridges.
Following this, enjoy a privately-guided tour at the Royal Delft Experience, where a painter shares the passion behind the production of this stunning 17th-century earthenware during a special demonstration.
After lunch at leisure, you continue to the Hague, the home of the Dutch Royal Family and the administrative capital of the Netherlands; walk the Inner court past the Government buildings and take the opportunity for a photo stop at the International Court of Justice. You may like to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, which holds one of the world's finest collections of paintings, including Rembrandt, Steen, Hals, Rubens and Van Dyck, or you may choose to visit the Panorama Mesdag, which hosts the Panorama, one of the largest canvas paintings in the world (subject to opening times).
On your return journey, stop at Scheveningen beach for some spectacular views before continuing back. (8 hours, driver and guide)
Highlights:
- Witness the majestic windmills known as the Three Sisters
- Delve into Delft's artistic heritage
Tour Duration: 8 Hours
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Exclusions:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
|
06/24/2024 |
06/24/2024 |
|
Antwerp
|
06/25/2024 |
06/26/2024 |
|
Paris/Normandy (Le Havre)
|
06/27/2024 |
06/27/2024 |
|
Portsmouth, UK
|
06/28/2024 |
06/28/2024 |
|
St. Peter Port (Guernsey)
|
06/29/2024 |
06/29/2024 |
Cobh
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!
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Cobh - Cork/Blarney Shore Excursion - Full Day Tour
Arrive at port and meet with your driver/guide who will escort you around Cork today. Drive through the attractive City of Cork which hosts some fine Georgian architecture, the imposing St Finbarr’s Cathedral, great shopping and many pubs. Continue your journey into the Irish countryside to the pretty town of Blarney. Continue on to visit the 15th century Blarney Castle, famous for its stone, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all those who kiss it. The stone itself is set in the wall below the battlements and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. Lunch at a local pub.
Following lunch visit Cork City Gaol. Here you can step back in time to see what 19th Century life was like in Cork – inside and outside prison walls. Amazingly life like figures, furnished cells, sound effects and fascinating exhibitions are to be seen.
Return to your ship this evening.
Inclusions:
- Private Driver Guide
- Entrance to Blarney Castle
- Entrance to Cork City Gaol
- Lunch
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Cobh's Highlight's Shore Excursion - Cobh/Midleton - Full Day Tour
Meet with your professional driver & local guide who will escort you around East Cork today.
Your first stop of the day is a visit to Cobh Heritage Centre a dramatic exhibition of the origins, history and legacy of Cobh. Known previously as Queenstown this was the main port for Irish emigrants to Canada and the United States. The story of the Titanic and the White Star line is also told at the Cobh Heritage Centre.
Continue on this morning for a visit of the Stephen Pearce Pottery Gallery. Spend the late morning touring the pottery. Browse around the Pottery showroom and Gallery shop, or view their latest exhibition in the Gallery.
Lunch today at the famous Ballymaloe House, the renowned Irish country house hotel and restaurant owned and run by the Allen family over 40 years. Darina Allen is one of Europe's most famous chefs and has a cookery school also on the grounds of Ballymaloe. Nestled in a 400 acre estate in rural East Cork, Ballymaloe House is only 20 miles from the historic city of Cork and minutes from the breathtaking south coast. Ballymaloe prides itself on offering a warm welcome, award-winning cuisine which celebrates the best of local, seasonal produce.
This afternoon, enjoy a visit to The Old Midleton Distillery  which is a wonderful, worthwhile excursion. Tour the distillery and learn how the world famous Irish whiskey is made.
Included:
- Private Driver Guide
- Cobh Heritage Centre
- Stephen Pearce Pottery Gallery
- Lunch at Ballimaloe House
- Entrance to the Old Midleton Distillery
Not Included:
Gratuities
|
06/30/2024 |
06/30/2024 |
|
Dublin (Dun Laoghaire)
|
07/01/2024 |
07/01/2024 |
|
Greenock
|
07/02/2024 |
07/02/2024 |
|
At Sea
|
07/03/2024 |
07/03/2024 |
Stavanger
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!
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Stavanger City Tour with Norwegian Oil Museum– 4 hours
Explore Norway's past and present during this picturesque 4 hour sightseeing tour that highlights historic Stavanger.
Stavanger, now known as the Oil Capital of Norway has since evolved into a prosperous modern city. Today journey starts with a scenic drive past the harbor area's quaint fish and farmer's market and residential areas. On route you will note how the city has retained its centuries-old roots through the preservation and renovation of its old architecture and infrastructure. Following on the tour takes you out of the city centre to Ullandhaug hill, a hilltop vantage point that commands a sweeping view of Stavanger and beyond to the sparkling Hafrsfjord.
After taking in the panoramic sights, we journey to the little beach at “Moellebukta” where you will see the impressive monument that was raised in commemoration of the battle that unified Norway. The monument, three 30 ft. high swords have been forced into the ground, symbolizing peace, unity and freedom.
It is now time to commence the journey back to the city center where the old residential section of Stavanger will be reached. Here we begin a leisurely walking tour which takes us through some of the narrow lanes that house Northern Europe's best-preserved wooden houses, dating from the late 17th and early 18th-century. The walking tour ends at the small lake where the Stavanger Cathedral is situated; one of a few cathedrals in Scandinavia that has kept its original features.
Join your awaiting vehicle for the transfer to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. During this part of the tour you will discover how oil and gas are created and extracted and how petroleum influences Norwegian society.
| Basis: |
Private Tour. |
| Duration: |
4 hours. |
| Start/End: |
City center Hotel or address. |
| Vehicle: |
1st Class. |
| Guide: |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances: |
Norwegian Petroleum Museum. |
| Meals: |
None. |
| Difficulty: |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes: |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
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Stavanger Food Tour – 3 hours
Indulge in 200 years of Norwegian food culture with tastings throughout Stavanger. We will discover the old town and its cobblestone streets, winding along the many well-preserved 18th- to early 20th-century buildings.
Your guide will mix tales of the city’s rich history with explanations of how Norwegians’ eating habits have evolved over the centuries. You will make stops along the way to savor the aromas and taste several different food items that have played a significant role in the development of Stavanger.
Start the tour passing by the Cathedral and market square before getting to the Norwegian Canning Museum where you will get a taste of canning smoked sardines and “flatbrød” bread. This culinary walk continues with a visit to one of the most popular eateries in the very heart of the city center - famous for their local specialties and unique house. Here you will taste a selection of Norwegian waffles and homemade specialties, a” must eat” if you are a foodie visiting Norway. The last stop will be to a local chocolatier in a narrow charming street. Here you will learn and see how chocolate is made while you enjoy a confectionary and a cup of warm chocolate topped with chili and whipped cream.
Many of Stavanger’s chefs are ranked among the best in Europe, and Stavanger is considered a premier culinary destination. If you want to combine sightseeing with a gastronomical experience, this is the right tour for you!
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: Approx. 3 hours
Start / End: City.
Vehicle: None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.
Entrances: Norwegian Canning Museum.
Meals: Tastings.
Physical activity level: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair accessible: NO
Tour operates: morning, afternoon.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. Veggie option may be possible upon request. The tour is not offered on public holidays.
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Cruise in the Lysefjord with walking tour and traditional lunch in Stavanger– 6 hours
Start this tour at the pier and get on board of a brand new and full electric boat. This boat will take you on an unforgettable sailing tour in the Lysefjord.
Once on board you will enjoy a striking scenery from the comfort of our boat’s sheltered cabin with panoramic windows all around. However, we strongly recommend you venture out on the spacious sundeck.
During the tour you will have majestic views of one of the most famous attractions in Norway, the Preikestolen or “Pulpit Rock”. The boat will also pass by the Vagabond’s Cave, and you will hear more about the legend of this mysterious opening in the mountain. Our captain will carefully nudge the boat’s bow up the Hengjane Falls to feel the spray of mountain water.
Once the boat tour is over, you will walk a few hundred meters to the local restaurant where you will enjoy a delicious and traditional Norwegian lunch. After lunch you will meet your guide to have a 2 hours walking tour. Our guide will take you around the main spots of the city, walking the cobblestone streets of the old Stavanger. You will pass by the market square, the Cathedral of the 12th century, the harbor bay and statue of Alexander Kielland, former mayor of Stavanger and well-known writer. You will discover the typical wooden houses of the old town and much more!
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: Approx.6 hours (3 hours cruise + 1 hour for lunch at Local Restaurant on your own + 2 hours walking tour).
Start / End: Pier/ City.
Vehicle: None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.
Entrances: 3 hours cruise.
Meals: Traditional Lunch at local restaurant (Catch of the day or Fish Soup or Caesar Salad or Veggie dish).
Physical activity level: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair accessible: NO
Tour operates: morning, afternoon.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. The tour is not offered on Sundays and Public Holidays.
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Stavanger City Walk– 2 hours
In this 2 our walking tour you will discover Stavanger´s old town, with its cobblestone streets and small wooden houses.
Our guide will introduce you to some of the city’s main icons and personalities and their influence on today’s living standards. You will pass by the market square, the Cathedral of the 12th century and the harbor bay and statue of Alexander Kielland, former mayor of Stavanger and well-known writer.
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: 2 hours.
Start / End: City.
Vehicle: None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.
Entrances: None.
Meals: None.
Physical activity level: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair accessible: NO
Tour operates: morning, afternoon.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes.
|
07/04/2024 |
07/04/2024 |
|
Arendal
|
07/05/2024 |
07/05/2024 |
Oslo
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!
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Oslo City Tour - 4 hours
Drive through the center of Oslo, passing all of the main sights and highlights, including the Royal Palace and the Nobel Institute. View the City Hall, inaugurated in 1950 at Oslo's 900-year jubilee. Akershus Fortress, sitting boldly on the waterfront is today partly a museum and a military area.
Pass the Parliament Building before entering Karl Johan Street, named after the Swedish-Norwegian king in the early part of the 19th century. The oldest part of Oslo University, dating back to 1813, lines this street. It is famous for its interior decoration by the painter Edvard Munch.
You will also pass through attractive villa areas on the way to Vigeland Park. This enormous open-space was laid out in the first half of the 20th century by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Over a period of 30 years, he created his own world of human beings and animals from stone, iron and bronze. There are about 200 statue groups in all, which describe the course of human life from birth to death. The monolith, a 56-foot high granite block carved with 121 figures stands as the unequivocal centerpiece of this well-planned park.
On the Bygdøy Peninsula you will visit the Viking Ship Museum. It houses three authentic longboats dating from the Viking Age, around AD 900-1000, which were excavated from the mudbanks along Oslo fjord. The museum also holds a large collection of items found on board the ships, such as household goods, tools, jewelry and clothing.
| Basis: |
Private tour. |
| Duration: |
4 hours. |
| Start / End: |
City center Hotel, address or Pier. |
| Vehicle: |
01st Class. |
| Guide: |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances: |
Viking Ship Museum. |
| Meals: |
None. |
| Difficulty: |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes: |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
-
Oslo Tour to Drøbak - 5 hours
Located 40 minutes outside of Oslo, on the east side of the Oslo Fjord, lies Drøbak. The narrow 18th- and 19th-century streets lined with small wooden houses give the town an idyllic touch. On an island just outside Drøbak you can visit the fortress Oscarsborg.
The centre of Drøbak is the square Torget where you find the popular Tregaarden's Christmas House and Santa's Post Office. They have Norway's biggest permanent Christmas exhibition and a special Santa Claus post stamp. By the charming boat harbour there is also an Aquarium, with the world's only "lutefisk" museum, and Badeparken a little north of the centre is a great place for swimming.
From Sjøtorget there are regular ferries to the Oscarsborg Fortress. The trip takes 5 minutes.
The construction of the fortress was finished in 1853. It got the name Oscarsborg when king Oscar I visited the fortress in 1855. The fortress has a proud and dramatic history and is best known for the sinking of the German heavy cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940 during World War II.
Oscarsborg Fortress is a jewel in the Drøbak narrow. In summer, Oscarsborg is perfect for families and for those interested in nature, culture and history. Oscarsborg Fortress Museum presents the history of the place and organises guided tours. There are plenty of activities for children. A safari through the subterranean tunnels below the fortress, obstacle courses, bathing beaches and crab fishing.
| Basis: |
Private tour. |
| Duration: |
5 hours. |
| Start / End: |
City center Hotel, address or Pier. |
| Vehicle: |
01st Class. |
| Guide: |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances: |
Oscarsborg Museum |
| Meals: |
None. |
| Difficulty: |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes: |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
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Oslo Bicycle tour – 3 Hours
Discover an alternative Oslo, full of street art, hip cafés, surprising waterfalls, great food and award winning coffee.
During this approximately 3-hour bike tour, you will ride the path along the Akerselva River, with a stop at the heart of Oslo’s food scene, the indoor food market “Mathallen”. Mathallen is closed on Mondays.
Be amazed by rushing waterfalls in the middle of the city, just blocks from the trendy Grünerløkka neighborhood.
And an absolute must is a stop at the modern Opera and the exciting urban development around it, including a stop at Oslo's newest urban beach.
| Basis |
Private tour |
| Duration |
3 hours |
| Start / End |
Bicycle rental shop. |
| Vehicle |
None |
| Inclusions |
Bicycle and Helmet. |
| Guide |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances |
None |
| Meals |
None |
| Difficulty |
Grade Easy/Medium. Guests must be in good health and be comfortable riding a bicycle with hand brakes. The tour includes about 2½ hours of cycling, all at a leisurely pace. |
| Notes |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
-
Oslo Explorer tour – 5 Hours
We start with Vulkan - The area is a fusion of culture and creative industry with schools, hotels, food hall, restaurants and exciting tenants. It is the diversity and composition of the players that make Vulkan exciting.
Mathallen Oslo is inspired by the great European food courts. Here you’ll find specialty shops, cafés and great places to eat. The food court will also put on a number of food-related activities like conferences, courses, fairs and competitions. Mathallen Oslo is the place to go for everyone who appreciates high quality food and bevergages and something unique. There will be time for light lunch at Mathallen during the tour.
On the east side of the river Akerselva, behind the old industrial buildings, lies Grünerløkka. Here you will discover numerous little cafés, restaurants and bars. Grünerløkka is also a popular shopping district, with original design shops and many vintage and second-hand stores.
During the tour we will have an outside visit to the Opera House. Officially opened in April 2008, the Oslo Opera House was designed by the acclaimed Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta. The Opera House, which took five years to complete, sits on the bank of the Bjørvika district, near the stock exchange and the central station.
A visit to Oslo is not complete without a brief wal through Vigeland´s Sculpture Park .The sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's life work, comprising over 200 sculptures in granite, bronze and wrought iron. It was installed mainly in the period 1940-1949, but is nevertheless a result of over 40 years of work. It is located in a beuatiful park and natural setting in the city.
Edvard Munch was one of Modernism's most significant artists and the other great Norgwian artist. The New Edvard Munch Museum will open at the end of 2020.
| Basis |
Private tour |
| Duration |
5 hours |
| Start / End |
City center Hotel, address or Pier. |
| Vehicle |
1st Class. |
| Guide |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances |
Edvard Munch Museum when it opens at the end 2020 |
| Meals |
None |
| Difficulty |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
-
Oslo Holmenkollen tour – 6 Hours
The famous Holmenkollen ski-jump, located in the hills above Oslo afford a panorama view over the city and the fjord below.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump has been at the heart of Norwegian skiing for over 100 years. The first ski jumping competition took place on 31st January 1892 when 12,000 spectators were present. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump is world famous and represents an international symbol of ski jumping and ski sport generally.
The Norsk Folkemuseum is Norway’s largest museum of cultural history. With collections from around the country, the museum shows how people lived in Norway from 1500 to the present. The 160 buildings in the Open-Air Museum represent different regions in Norway, different time periods, as well as differences between town, country and social classes. The Gol Stave Church dating from 1200 is one of five medieval buildings at the museum. The contemporary history is presented through exhibitions and documentation projects. Permanent indoor exhibitions include folk art, folk costumes, toys and Sami culture. There is also a variety of temporary exhibitions and audience programs all year round.
| Basis |
Private tour |
| Duration |
6 hours |
| Start / End |
City center Hotel, address or Pier. |
| Vehicle |
1st Class |
| Guide |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances |
Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Norwegian Folksmuseum. |
| Meals |
None |
| Difficulty |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces |
| Notes |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
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Art Tour with visit of Vigeland Sculpture Park and Opera House in Oslo with Rickshaw transfers – 4 hours
This art tour starts on three wells, a more sustainable way of discovering the city!
Your rickshaw driver will take you to Frogner Park, the famous sculpture park of Oslo. This enormous open space was laid out in the first half of the 20th century by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Over a period of 30 years, he created his own world of human beings and animals from stone, iron and bronze. There are about 200 statue groups in all, which describe the course of human life from birth to death. The monolith, a 56-foot-high granite block carved with 121 figures stands as the unequivocal centerpiece of this well-planned park.
Along the ride your driver will tell you more about the Norwegian capital and one of the greatest artists in the country: Edvard Munch. The famous painter grew up in Oslo and started out as an artist in this city. Together with your driver you will follow his footsteps and pass by some of the places that have a significance in his life: his first studio, right in front of the Parliament Building, the Grand Café, a popular hangout for artists in the late 1800s, and Blomqvist art gallery, where he held several exhibitions. We continue towards Pilestredet 30, where Munch spent seven years of his childhood, and then to the campus of the University of Oslo where we will stop to learn about the Aula decorations.
The last stop of the tour is at the Opera House, where you will say goodbye to the rickshaw driver and meet the Opera´s guide, who will show you around this emblematic building in a private tour lasting around 50 minutes.
During the visit you are shown the theatre's unique rooms and stages, visit the backstage area, the Main Stage and talk about what happens behind the scenes before the curtain rises. You will also learn about the architecture, stage technology, opera and ballet.
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: Approx. 4 hours (3 hours for rickshaw tour + 50 mins visit of National Theatre).
Start / End: City Center/National Theatre.
Vehicle: Ricksaw (2 pax per vehicle)
Guide: English-speaking.
Entrances: Opera House.
Meals: None.
Physical activity level: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair accessible: NO
Tour operates: morning, afternoon.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes.
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07/06/2024 |
07/06/2024 |
