Norwegian Cruise Line Expands Cruisetours

Experienced travelers know that a cruise is a great way to "sample" destinations, but some of us want to get a deeper appreciation of the places we visit. Recognizing that desire, Norwegian Cruise Line has added new Hawaii and Europe Cruisetours, which are available to book now for sailings beginning January 2014. These new offerings further expand the line’s Cruisetours and provide guests even more ways to enhance their cruise experience with a land vacation in Hawaii, Europe and Alaska.

For guests sailing a 7-day inter-island Hawaii cruise on the newly enhanced Pride of America, the 4-day, 3-night O’ahu Explorer Cruisetour showcases the beauty, history and culture of the islands, while providing guests with an opportunity to explore O’ahu in-depth prior to the cruise. Featuring three of the island’s top attractions, the O’ahu Explorer begins with a journey to the spectacular North Shore and the historic surfing town of Haleiwa. After a chance to view the famous Pipeline surfing destination, guests will then continue on to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which celebrates various cultures of the original inhabitants of Hawaii. Interactive experiences range from island games, to traditional dances and a leisurely canoe ride.

The following day, guests will visit historic Pearl Harbor. The tour includes time to explore the USS Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island and includes a drive though the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. On the final day of their tour, guests will visit the Kualoa Ranch for a customized tour to celebrate the ecology and way of life of ancient islanders. Along the way, they’ll have the chance to visit the scenic Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, known for breathtaking views of the lush Windward Coast and strong, howling winds, along with the dramatic cliffs of the Ko’olau Mountain Range and cascading waterfalls. Once at the ranch, cultural practitioners will invite guests for hands-on experiences, including traditional island games, poi tasting, lei making and learning an authentic hula dance. Guests will then enjoy the ranch’s Tram ride, offering spectacular scenery, along with lunch and a catamaran cruise on the Bay.

The O’ahu Explorer tour includes a traditional fresh flower lei greeting at the airport; a personal escort to the hotel transfer; free time each evening to explore Waikiki; baggage collection and delivery to and from the hotel to the cruise ship; transfers to Pride of America on embarkation day; customized tours and park admissions with local tour guides; and hotel accommodations at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Rates for the Hawaii Cruisetours with ocean view accommodations begin at $939 per person.

In Europe, guests have three new Cruisetours to choose from to enhance their cruise vacation. Baltic cruisers can now start their adventure with a 3-day, 2-night Gardens & Castles of Copenhagen tour. Guests begin with a city sightseeing tour to view the National Museum, Christiansborg Palace, and the colorful 17th-century harbor district of Nyhavn, and finish their adventure with a classic Scandinavian smorgasbord lunch. Guests will also enjoy a special nighttime visit to Tivoli Gardens, as well as a visit to Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Guests embarking in Barcelona can live like a Spaniard on the 4-day, 3-night Art & Architecture of Barcelona tour. Highlights include a city tour with visits to Park Guell, the Gothic Quarter, La Sagrada Familia Basilica and the 1992 Olympic Stadium on Montjuic Hill; and an excursion to the Catalonian countryside with stops at the Monastery of Poblet. For food and drink lovers, the tour includes an authentic tapas lunch and a cava tasting at a local wine estate.

For guests embarking in Venice, the 4-day, 3-night Canals & Palaces of Venice provides a chance to experience all of the top attractions the Floating City is known for, including Doge’s Palace and a boat tour with time to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Guests will experience a memorable Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal with music and prosecco, and enjoy a tasting of traditional Italian gelato and local tapas-style specialties known as Cicchetti.

All European tours include hotel accommodations, breakfast, arrival transfers to hotel, and port transfers, an English-speaking local guide and entrance fees for all itinerary destinations. These new Europe Cruisetours complement Norwegian’s choice of existing Europe Cruisetours, including the 4-day, 3-night Rome & the Vatican cruisetour, available to guests sailing on Norwegian Epic, and the 11-day Classic Italy cruisetour, available for guests of Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Epic.

Norwegian’s Cruisetours program also includes four unique pre- or post-cruise adventures in Alaska, with experiences ranging from a ride on the Alaska Railroad to a private tour of an Iditarod musher’s home, a dogsled tour and much more.

For more information, see NCL.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-and-hotel-packages.

Image Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line