Pn-pt 1000-1800 sob 1000

Duration: approx. 3.5 hours

Popular as a tourist destination due to its lovely beaches, relaxed atmosphere and wonderful weather, the beautiful Greek island of Santorini is also known for the ancient city of Akrotiri, which is situated at the southern end of the island and forms the destination of this half-day tour. A tender will first take you on the quick ride from the ship to Athinios port, from where you will continue on an approx. 20-minute coach ride to ancient Akrotiri. Once a thriving settlement during the Minoan Bronze Age, the town was buried by a tremendous volcanic eruption in the middle of the second millennium B.C.. The cloak of lava and ash that descended on the settlement served to preserve the site, which includes pristine frescoes, pottery, furniture, an advanced drainage system and even some three-storey buildings, all of which have been uncovered since excavation work began in 1967. The 1.5-hour stay at this Minoan settlement will give you plenty of time to have a good look around and soak up the special atmosphere of this prehistoric location. The visit will be followed by a little bit of free time to visit the nearby modern village of Akrotiri, after which you will head for the village of Fira where your guide will tell you how to take the cable car down the port to catch the tender back to your ship.

Please note: there may be long queues at the cable car station or to pick up the tender boat. This tour includes tender embarkation/disembarkation and walking on cobblestone streets with steps so is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.

JTR05 – BEST OF SANTORINI

Duration: approx. 6.5 hours

Exciting, exclusive, edifying: three attributes that not only aptly describe this tour, but also the Greek island of Santorini itself, which was created when the crater left by a huge volcanic eruption collapsed, leaving only the rim, a so-called caldera. After a short boat ride to Athinios port, you’ll continue by coach to explore the island’s history, capital and dramatic landscape. First up is ancient Akrotiri, a town that flourished during the Minoan Bronze Age, but then fell victim to a major volcanic outbreak that covered it ash in the middle of the 2^nd millennium B.C.. Since excavation work began in 1967, many extremely well preserved artefacts have been uncovered, including frescoes and even some three-storey buildings. You’ll have about 1.5 hours to enjoy this prehistoric site before you move on to Fira, Santorini’s capital, for more free time to spend as you please. The pretty lanes are fun to walk down, the cafés great for a pit-stop and the views of the Kamenis, twin volcanic islets in the bay, spectacular. Last up is Oia, a blue-and-white village in Cycladic style perched on the very edge of the caldera. After a guided walk through its pretty cobbled streets, a stop at a local winery will give you a chance to sample some local treats and take part in a wine-tasting session before a motorboat takes you back to the ship.

Please note: as this tour involves getting on and off a tender (boat) plus some walking on cobbled streets with steps, it is considered to be unsuitable for guests with mobility problems or using a wheelchair. This tour is available only for guests cruising on the MSC Fantasia with calls in Santorini and on following calls with MSC Armonia : 14.04.2014 + 23.04.2014 + 02.05.2014 + 11.05.2014 + 20.05.2014 + 29.05.2014 + 07.06.2014.


JTR06 – BEACH & GREEK SPECIALITIES

Duration: approx. 5 hours, lunch included

The beautiful Greek island of Santorini is a popular tourist destination due to its lovely beaches, relaxed atmosphere and wonderful weather, all elements you will find on this enjoyable excursion. After a short boat sail to Athinios port, you will board a coach to reach Kamari Beach where you will enjoy approx. 3 hours relaxing in the sun. Kamari is a very popular beach of black-sand and you will appreciate the beauty of the landscape during your stay. A delicious Greek-style lunch will be served in an adjacent tavern on the beach to complete your Greek experience. A coach transfer will take you to Fira where you will take the cable car down the port to catch the tender back to your ship.

Please note: there may be long queues at the cable car station or to pick up the tender boat. This tour includes tender embarkation/disembarkation and walking on cobblestone streets with steps so is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. The excursion operates from June until the end of September and is subject to weather conditions.
JTR07 – BEACH TIME IN LOVELY SANTORINI

Duration: approx. 6 hours, lunch included

Blue skies and sunshine, breathtaking views and time to relax on a stunning beach make great reasons to join this leisurely tour of Santorini. After a short tender transfer to Athinios port, a coach will take you past Fira and the village of Imerovigli en route to Oia at the northern end of the island. Teetering on the crest of the volcanic caldera, the village affords glorious views of the bay and the Aegean Sea. Free time is scheduled for you to spend in Oia, walking through its pretty lanes, enjoying the blue and white of its Cycladic architecture, going shopping or stopping for a rest at one of the enticing cafés. Moving on, you’ll then head south to the striking black-pebble beach at Perivolos. Served by a varied infrastructure, the tranquil beach surroundings are perfect for doing whatever you like. Your 3-hour stay will include a complimentary umbrella and sunbed as well as free snacks and drinks served exclusively for you at a nearby beach-front café. But facilities for windsurfing, jet-skiing and scuba diving are also available, the cost of which is not covered by the price of the tour. Last up on your Santorini outing is the island’s capital of Fira, where you can either take a cable car straight back to the port or choose to explore the town and then return to your ship.

Please note: there may be long queues at the cable car station or to pick up the tender boat. This tour includes tender embarkation/disembarkation and walking on cobblestone streets with steps so is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. The excursion operates from June until the end of September and is subject to weather conditions.
SOUTH QUEENSFERRY (Scotland/United Kingdom)
As a part of modern-day Edinburgh, South Queensferry is located just over 10 miles north-west of Edinburgh’s city centre on the shores of the Firth of Forth. The town is named after St. Margaret of Scotland, who is said to have installed a ferry service at this point for pilgrims. To this day, a ferry service is operated to the islands within the Firth of Forth.
SOQ01 ― EDINBURGH HIGHLIGHTS & CASTLE

Duration: approx 4.5 hours

This tour will take you to Edinburgh, Scotland’s magnificent capital city, dramatically set atop a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags. The tour proper begins with a fascinating city tour including most of Edinburgh’s historical monuments and sights in both the medieval old town and the 18th century new town. After that, you will continue on to visit Edinburgh Castle, whose medieval outline dominates the centre of the city and has been home to many Scottish kings and queens throughout the centuries. Following the castle visit, you will be driven down Edinburgh’s historical Royal Mile. Also on the itinerary are Holyrood Palace, Queen Elizabeth II’s Edinburgh residence, and the extensive, rather wild Royal Park, where you will climb up to Arthur’s Seat for some beautiful views across the city. The tour then goes on to the Georgian new town with its elegant townhouses and private parks before heading back to the ship at South Queensferry.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. Some areas of the Castle are not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. All the sites except the Castle will be visited from outside. Taking pictures or shooting videos inside the Castle is prohibited.
SOQ02 ― EDINBURGH SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Duration: approx 6.5 hours

This tour will take you to Edinburgh, Scotland’s magnificent capital city, dramatically set atop a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags. The tour includes a 2-hour bus drive around the city and plenty of time at leisure to explore the city centre at your pace. You will begin with a fascinating city tour by bus including most of Edinburgh’s historical monuments and sights in both the medieval old town and the 18th century new town, including a drive down Edinburgh’s historical Royal Mile. Also on the itinerary are Holyrood Palace, Queen Elizabeth II’s Edinburgh residence and the extensive, rather wild Royal Park, where you will climb up to Arthur’s Seat for some beautiful views across the city. The town also boasts an unrivalled number of art galleries and museums, relative to its size and population, like the National Museum on the Mound. The tour then goes on to the Georgian new town with its elegant townhouses and private parks before having free time to explore or to have lunch (not included). Have your camera at the ready to capture all the fabulous sights that Edinburgh has to offer. Return to the ship at South Queensferry.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

SOQ03 ― THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA

Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

Get a taste of a champagne lifestyle on this trip to Queen Elizabeth II’s private yacht. Once described as her floating palace and her ”home away from home”, the Royal Yacht Britannia epitomises style and luxury, and affords a unique insight into the British Royal Family. After reaching Edinburgh, Scotland’s magnificent capital city, you will proceed to Leith, Edinburgh’s port, where the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored. As the venue of glittering state and official occasions, the Royal Yacht remains one of the most famous ships in the world. You will discover Britannia’s fascinating past through exhibits, displays and photographs, before visiting the Royal Apartments, where hundreds of original items are on display in the sun lounge, drawing room and bedrooms, as well as the working deck, officers’ mess, sick bay and the engine room. On leaving the yacht, you will head for Edinburgh city centre for a fascinating sightseeing tour that includes most of Edinburgh’s historical monuments and landmarks in both the medieval old town and the 18^th-century new town.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

SOQ04 ― GLENKINCHIE DISTILLERY

Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

This tour will take you to Edinburgh, Scotland’s magnificent capital city, dramatically set atop a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags. The tour proper begins with a brief sightseeing bus city tour that includes most of Edinburgh’s historical monuments and sights in both the medieval old town and the 18th century new town. The tour then continues along the coastal road to the county of East Lothian, passing through towns such as Portobello and Musselburgh on the way. Heading inland again, you will arrive at Edinburgh’s Glenkinchie Distillery, one of only three remaining lowland malt whisky distilleries and home of the Edinburgh Malt. Apart from producing its own distinctive single malt, the distillery also provides malt whisky for blending, appearing in some famous brands such as the Johnnie Walker range. An impressive exhibition awaits you just as a private guided tour of the active distillery, along with the largest copper pot still in Scotland. A tutored dram tasting session at the bar concludes the visit. The tour concludes with your return to the port and your ship.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. This excursion is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
SOQ05 ― EDINBURGH AND THE “WATER OF LIFE”

Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

This excursion begins in Edinburgh, Scotland’s magnificent capital city, dramatically set atop a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags. A brief sightseeing bus city tour follows that includes most of Edinburgh’s historical monuments and sights in both the medieval old town and the 18th century new town. The excursion then continues at the thrilling Scotch Whisky Experience. Take a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as you become part of the whisky making process. Information will be provided at each stage of the process and you will have a chance to discover the sort of aromas and flavours that appeal to your palate. The visit ends with a dram-tasting session and the chance to see the world’s largest 3,500-strong collection of whisky bottles. A drive down Edinburgh’s historical Royal Mile then follows. Also on the itinerary are Holyrood Palace, Queen Elizabeth II’s Edinburgh residence and the extensive, rather wild Royal Park, where you will climb up to Arthur’s Seat for some beautiful views across the city. The tour then goes on to the Georgian new town with its elegant townhouses and private parks before heading back to the ship at South Queensferry.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only.

SOQ06 ― STIRLING, THE TROSSACHS & CULROSS

Duration: full day, lunch not included

The tour first heads to the city of Stirling, with its towering Wallace Monument and imposing castle, set high atop a rocky hill overlooking the whole of the surrounding area. Located at the centre of Scotland, the city was of huge strategic importance in the past. Visit and explore the historic castle and its magnificent architecture as well as enjoy the Royal Palace, which has been returned to its former glory. The visit ends with a visit to the tapestry studio to see world-class weavers restoring one of the world’s finest surviving sets of medieval tapestries. The excursion continues with a scenic drive through the rugged heather-covered mountains of the Trossachs – the miniature highlands – and will also pass Loch Venacher on the way. Then travelling westwards, you will head for the pretty town of Aberfoyle, the gateway to the Trossachs, with Ben Venue towering in the background. A stop will then be made for lunch. Afterwards, the tour continues deep into the heart of the Trossachs and then eastwards to the 16^th-century village of Culross. A large part of Culross is original, with narrow, cobbled wynds, including the evocative and probably once descriptive "Stinking Wynd", the Mercat Cross in the village square and plenty of stunning whitewashed buildings. Having immersed yourself in 16^th- and 17^th-century Scottish life, you will return to South Queensferry and the ship via the world-famous Forth Bridge, which has been admired for its elegant beauty and as a feat of engineering the world over.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. The Castle is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
SOQ07 – EDINBURGH ROYAL MILE AND ST. GILES CATHEDRAL ON FOOT

Duration: approx. 4 hours

Looking back on a long history that dates back to prehistoric times, the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh is known for its beautiful architecture and fine old buildings, many of which have now been restored to their former glory. This walking tour covers three of the four Royal Mile sections and will take you past St. Giles Cathedral, John Knox House, the former home of the Scottish Parliament (pre-Enlightenment), “Writers’ Close” and Gladstone’s Land, a perfectly preserved 17^th-century tenement. Your guide will provide information on the city’s folklore and luminaries, such as David Hume, Adam Smith, Mary, Queen of Scots as well as John Knox. The tour ends with a short coach ride down Canongate, the final section of the Royal Mile, for a view of Holyrood Palace and the modern-day Scottish Parliament. You will then return to South Queensferry and your vessel.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. Taking photos or shooting videos inside St. Giles Cathedral is prohibited. Conservative attire is recommended for visiting sites of religious importance. This tour is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.
SOQ08 – MYSTERIOUS ROSSLYN CHAPEL & EDINBURGH

Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

Board a coach and team a visit to one of Scotland’s key architectural highlights, Rosslyn Chapel, with a sightseeing tour of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. Your first stop will be at the quaint village of Roslin and the wonderful mid-15^th-century Rosslyn Chapel. Situated on a small hill overlooking the Esk Valley, the exquisite chapel has been called an “architectural wonder” and a “library in stone” due to its many carved surfaces. You will then return to Edinburgh for a tour of the city’s best sights in both the medieval Old Town and the 18^th-century New Town. After going down the Royal Mile, past the 16^th-/17^th-century Holyrood Palace – the Edinburgh residence of Queen Elizabeth II – and through the extensive Royal Park, you will then reach Edinburgh’s main shopping centre at Princes Street, the Scott Monument and the lovely Princes Street Gardens. Relative to its size and population, Edinburgh is home to an unrivalled number of art galleries and museums, some of which you will pass as you head for the Georgian New Town with its elegant townhouses and private parks. Your tour then comes to a close with your return journey to the port and your ship.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. Taking photos or shooting videos inside Rosslyn Chapel is prohibited. Guests using a wheelchair can take part in this tour although the crypt inside the Chapel is not accessible.

SOQ09 – THE REAL MARY KINGS CLOSE: THE STREET THAT TIME FORGOT

Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

When you make your way through Scotland’s charming capital and down the Royal Mile, you would never suspect that some of its historic closes lie deep beneath the calm surface: “The Real Mary King’s Close: The Street That Time Forgot”. Opened to the public after meticulous restoration in 2003, “The Close” provides an accurate sketch of Edinburgh in the 17^th century. Your tour begins with a coach drive from the port into Edinburgh, whose location on a series of extinct volcanoes makes a fittingly dramatic setting for the Scottish capital. Then it’s down to the dimly lit Mary King’s Close, the most characterful and historically accurate of a whole network of streets beneath the City Chambers of the Royal Mile. These buried streets provide a first-hand feel for how both the rich and the poor lived in these crowded conditions all those years ago. As a winning mix of storytelling and multimedia, the Mary King’s Close experience is sure to entertain and inform in equal measure. Some free time to spend in the city then follows before you return to the port and your ship.

Please note : limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be provided in English only. This tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties, using a wheelchair or suffering from claustrophobia.