Shore excursions program for below cruises

Don’t miss this great chance to explore the historical city of Odessa and its beautiful old buildings on a sightseeing tour dedicated to showing you the main attractions of the old town and palaces associated with two of its most famous noblemen: Count Leo Tolstoy and Prince Gagarin. One of these is the Odessa House of Scientists, a former residence of a cousin of Count Tolstoy, the world-famous author of War and Peace. The Baroque-style architecture of this 18^th-/19^th-century building is not just an amazing sight to behold on the outside, but is just as resplendent on the inside with features such as marble and gold decorations and furniture upholstered in Chinese silk. The tour then continues on to the former mid-19^th-century mansion of Prince Gagarin, but which now houses the Museum for Russian & Ukrainian Literature with manuscripts and personal belongings of Pushkin, Bunin, Brodsky as well as other notable writers and poets. A special violin recital in the Golden Hall of the mansion will then follow – accompanied by a glass of chilled bubbly. A final stop at Odessa’s magnificent Opera House rounds off your tour before you head back to the pier and your ship.

A short coach ride from Olbia will first take you north to the coastal town of Palau to board a ferry for the crossing to Maddalena Island, one of the seven main islands making up the Maddalena Archipelago located in the Straits of Bonifacio between north-eastern Sardinia and Corsica. While Maddalena Island looks back on a long military history, even once hosting Admiral Nelson and his fleet, it is now a designated national park – the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena. The island’s granite coastline and verdant interior provide a rich natural habitat for a variety of wildlife and its unspoiled beauty draws tourists from around the world. A coach-based sightseeing tour will be followed by some free time to spend exploring the surroundings at your own pace. The island’s wonderful scenery is well worth a photo or two, so do remember to bring your camera. The leisurely tour is brought to an equally relaxing close with your return journey back to Olbia and the ship.

Beautiful by name and simply gorgeous by nature, the verdant Costa Smeralda is one of the most exclusive stretches of coastline in the whole of Sardinia and a popular holiday playground for the super-rich. This panoramic tour of the Emerald Coast begins with a scenic coach ride, during which a stop will be made to take pictures at Cala di Volpe. You’ll then make your way into Porto Cervo and the resort’s lovely piazzetta. After enjoying some free time, you will continue on to the Baia Sardinia, a pretty cove with a lovely beach of white sand. You can then spend a little time at the beach, before you make your way back to Olbia for additional free time for your to enjoy, Return to the pier and your ship.

After leaving the port of Olbia by coach, the first stop on this enjoyable tour will be in San Pantaleo, a lovely little village located in the hills of the amazing Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast. Look forward to a short stop in the village to stroll around, browse in the small shops and visit the craft workshops. The excursion then continues up through the northernmost part of the island to Santa Teresa di Gallura, a coastal resort that faces the Strait of Bonifacio and Corsica. A guided tour of this small, but pretty town will follow, after which you will also have some free time to stroll around on your own. Return to the port.

This overview of Oslo provides a brief insight into the rich culture and history that the capital of Norway has to offer. Leaving the port we will embark on a scenic tour of the main streets and squares of Norway’s main city, and en route we pass some of Oslo’s most important architectural landmarks including the Town Hall, the Parliament, the National Theatre and the Royal Residence. Further on we will stop to visit Vigeland Park, which contains magnificent examples of the work of famed Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. Over 150 sculptures are assembled here, and his oeuvres represent the full range of the human lifecycle, depicting all stages of man from birth to old age. Leaving the Park we will head to the hill at Holmenkollen, which provides a panoramic view of Oslo from above, and a chance to take photographs. We will then proceed to Oslo’s modern district, where we will find Oslo’s most contemporary buildings, including the celebrated Oslo Opera House. Home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, this stunning piece of post-modern architecture was only recently completed in 2008; the award-winning structure is built from white Italian marble and characterized by large inclined plateaus. Walk up the sloping banks of this fabulous building to its rooftop, for an expansive view of the attractive harbour. Return to the port.

The attractive city of Oslo is Norway’s capital and looks back on a rich history going right back to its foundation by King Harald III c. 1048. This culture-based tour begins with a drive-by look at Oslo’s main landmarks in the city centre, which certainly include the Royal Palace, on your way to Frogner Park. Covering an area of some 45 hectares, this super-sized city park also hosts a fabulous collection of art in the so-called “Vigeland Sculpture Arrangement”. This exhibition of sculptural art comprises the lifework of the famous Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, and is made up of more than 150 works that represent the full range of the human condition – from birth to death. Vigeland lived from 1869 to 1943 and is also known for having designed the medal that is awarded to winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. The tour then continues on to the nearby Bygdøy peninsula for a first stop at the fascinating Viking Ship Museum, whose copious collection of Viking artefacts includes three authentic longboats dating back to c. 900 to 1,000 A.D.. To round out your Oslo experience, you will also pay a visit to the Kon-Tiki Museum for a look at the famous balsa-wood raft that the legendary Norwegian explorer and zoologist Thor Heyerdahl used to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1969 as well as the reed vessel Heyerdahl used on his Ra II expedition. This maritime experience comes to a close with your return to the port and your ship.