Aloha. The Hawaiian Islands are an unrivalled paradise. The city of Lahaina, located on the second largest isle of the group, Maui, was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Maui’s beaches are considered to be some of the best in the world. And its extinct volcano, Haleakala, dominates the island’s profile.

Our morning drive begins with a historical description of the waterfront area of Old Lahaina Town. For 100 years Lahaina was the chosen area of Hawaiian royalty and is now a National Historic Landmark. Historical sites we will see along our route include the oldest continuing lighthouse in the Pacific, the nearby Cathagenea whaling ship, Maui’s first missionary house built in 1834, and the largest Banyan tree in the Pacific. Over 150 years old, this tree covers more than two acres. This property sits on ancient volcanic lava that once flowed into the sea and overlooks Moloki’i Island. We will then make our way to the other side of the island, past sugar cane and pineapple fields with the beautiful West Maui Mountains in the background. The jagged coast of Maui's western shore will offer breathtaking vistas. We'll stop at the unique Maui Ocean Center where we will be able to view the native undersea life of the local oceans off the Hawaiian Islands. The aquarium houses indigenous corals, marine life, stingrays and turtles and boasts the world's only living ocean aquarium with tiger sharks. We will enjoy light refreshment before we begin our tour. A special surprise awaits us at the shark tank. After our visit, we will continue our drive to our wonderful luncheon venue where a fabulous gastronomic experience awaits us.

We'll dine at Gannon's- A Pacific View, formerly known as the Sea Watch Restaurant. Sister restaurant to The Hali’male General Store, Gannon's is the latest venture of famous world class chef, Beverly Gannon and entices guests with its lush and inviting ambience. One of Hawaii's most renowned Pacific Rim cuisine chefs, Miss Gannon has been featured on television talk shows and in celebrity spotlights for her food and catering service throughout the islands. We will enjoy a special and innovative menu celebrating regional flavors prepared by Chef Bev from fresh local ingredients, complimented by wine.

After lunch we will return to the ship by 2:45pm.

Approximate Length: Six hours.

Suggested Attire: Casual resort wear (light colors highly recommended) with a sun hat and comfortable soft-soled shoes; a light sweater or jacket may be necessary at higher elevations. Light walking.

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city is characterized by the surrounding steep hills and its beautiful harbor. A cosmopolitan city, it is home to many fine museums, libraries, art galleries, theaters and parks within the central city area.

We will begin our day through New Zealand’s capital to Mt. Victoria from where we will have magnificent views of the city skyline and its surroundings. Many of these buildings will be easily recognized such as Te Papa Tongarewa, an unusual modern museum that houses interactive exhibitions about the history of New Zealand. Also, Michael Fowler Events Centre & Westpac Stadium that is also known as the “cake tin” because of its shape. We will also view Wellington’s iconic cable car that connects Lambton Quay, the main shopping area, with the Botanical Gardens. Continuing, we will pass New Zealand’s Parliament buildings which include the aptly named “Beehive” and then Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the oldest wooden churches in New Zealand before we head out of Wellington City to the picturesque Akatarawa Valley where we will visit the enchanting “Efil Doog” Gardens.

“Efil Doog” Garden, which spelled backwards spells Good Life, is of international renown and has been assessed as a “Garden of Regional Significance” by the New Zealand Garden trust which aims to foster and promote the best New Zealand Gardens and Horticulture. Stretching over 11 acres, it was created by Ernest and Shirley Cosgrove who are members of the New Zealand Garden Trust, the New Zealand Horticultural Institute and Bonsai Association. Here we can view rare and unusual trees, shrubs and perennials. Wander along the paths or sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility while contemplating intriguing sculptures placed in settings of rare beauty.

After this beautiful setting we will re-board our coach for the ride back to Wellington City where an exclusive lunch awaits us at one of New Zealand’s leading restaurants, Martin Bosley.

Located on spectacular Wellington Harbor this restaurant offers a fantastic waterfront location with panoramic views of the harbor and excellent service with stunning cuisine to match. Martin Bosley is the 206 winner of the edible Art Award and prides himself in his unique approach to presenting his meals in a myriad of ways. Discover new delights as Martin’s passion for the plate is not only pleasing on the palate but a delight for the eyes.

After lunch, we will return to the ship at approximately 3:00pm.

The drive from the port of Keelung to Taipei will be approximately one hour, depending on traffic. We will ride in a deluxe, air-conditioned coach.

We will begin the morning with a visit to the National Palace Museum, a highlight of any trip to Asia and well worth the trip to Taiwan. The museum hosts a collection of more than 600,000 priceless treasures of Chinese art, some dating back more than 4,000 years. These treasures once comprised the greater collections of the former National Palace in Beijing and the Central Museum in Nanjing, but were taken by General Chiang Kai Shek when he fled from China.

Later we will continue on to the National Martyrs’ Shrine for a brief visit. This shrine is modeled after the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing’s Forbidden City. This is a popular venue for local residents especially those residents whose family migrated to the island in 1949. The Shrine commemorates all those heroes who have given their lives to the cause of modern China (not communist China).

Following our visits we will make our way to the IS TEA Restaurant where a delicious Chinese lunch, prepared in tea, has been arranged for us. Our lunch will be accompanied by wine and beer while we are being entertained by Chinese music.

After lunch we will return to the ship passing by the Presidential Square and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall before we arrive at the pier by approximately 3:30pm.

We will begin our day with a private tour of Hong Kong Island where we can experience the excitement of this unique destination. Departing by deluxe air-conditioned motor coach we will make our to the Aberdeen fishing village where we will board a motorized sampan to cruise around the floating Tanka community. Sampans are the traditional ancient Chinese sailing vessels made of teakwood and are still in use today.

After our ride on the sampan we will re-board our coach and continue our journey to Man Mo Temple, which is the oldest temple in the city, built in 1847. Man Mo Temple is named for its two principle deities: Man, the god of literature (holding a calligraphy brush) and Mo, the god of war (distinguished by his green robes and large sword). The interior of the temple is notable for its many fine well polished brass and pewter incense burners as well as the heavily carved wooden chairs on which images of the gods were formerly carried in procession.

Next will be a ride aboard the famous Peak Tram to the Galleria Observation Deck on top of nearby Victoria Peak for a spectacular panoramic view of the diverse landscapes of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. In operation since 1888, this funicular is one of the city’s oldest and best loved forms of transportation. From here we will descend down the south side of the island through scenic Repulse Bay to Aberdeen.

We will now continue to Hong Kong's Prince Restaurant with a magnificent view of the harbor. Here we will enjoy a delicious lunch of Dim Sum, accompanied by wine and beer, while we are entertained by a local Fusion Duet and a Chinese calligraphy demonstration.

After lunch, we will make our way back to the ship and if time permits, perhaps visit the Jade Market.

We will return to the ship at approximately 3:00pm.

Dress: Casual with comfortable shoes.

Walking Notes: Moderate walking with some steps.

Yangon is a city where contemporary and colonial Myanmar (19th and 20th centuries) continues to coexist decades after British departure. It is a handsome city with a history of over two millennia, though it has been a capital for a mere 100 years. Rebuilt on a grid plan in the 1850s, the wide tree-lined boulevards are bordered by fine stone buildings. In the 1880s, Yangon was renowned as “the Queen of the East”. Today, Yangon bustles without urgency, high-rise buildings, traffic jams or department stores. Instead, small shops sell everything from antique lacquer-ware to silver-backed dressing table sets left over from colonial days.

On arrival at Thilawa Terminal, you will be met and transferred via air-conditioned coach for your sightseeing. First, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. This architectural masterpiece is a golden fantasy of gilded stupas, serene Buddhas and mythical beasts said to be 2500 years old. According to legend, eight hairs of the last Buddha are enshrined within. On the outside the stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold slabs and the tip of the stupa is set with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, sapphires and topaz. A huge emerald sits in the middle to catch the first and last rays of the sun.

Then you will head to a monastery situated near Shwedagon Pagoda compound. Here you will make offerings to the young novice monks and witness the simple manner in which these people live their lives. This is a very moving experience and one that will leave you with a real insight into everyday life in Myanmar. You will help with handing out the food to the young monks, which is a donation that we have made on your behalf.

You will then head to the Strand Hotel and the River Gallery for a private viewing of some of Myanmar’s best contemporary art where the artists will be on hand to talk to you about their work and what inspires them in modern day Myanmar. This will then be followed by a Gala lunch at the Strand with a Burmese orchestra playing for you during your lunch. The Strand Hotel is considered to be the old lady of Yangon and everyone from Mick Jagger to George Orwell to Somerset Maugham have all graced its corridors and drunk its famous cocktails.

Following lunch, you will continue to visit the Scott Market (Bogyoke Aung San Market) where you can find all the consumer goods a Myanmar family could possibly need or want. The days when it was difficult to buy so much as an electric light bulb seem to be over. Scott Market is situated in the downtown region of the city and is housed in a stunning old building dating back to the 1920’s spend an hour or so wandering around its stalls and shops and chatting with the locals.

After shopping at the market, you will be returned to your cruise.

Please note: Short skirts, sleeveless tops or dresses and flip flops, socks and stockings are not permitted to be worn on Shwedagon Pagoda.

We will be greeted on the pier by our representatives holding a sign reading “Virtuoso Voyager Club”, and will depart by deluxe motor coach from Aqaba to Petra, one of the ancient world’s most precious sites. The drive takes approximately 2 hours through a region steeped in almost 9,000 years of continuous, living history of human civilization.

The ancient Nabataean city of Petra has often been called the eighth wonder of the ancient world. Always breathtaking and never to be forgotten, it is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago.Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO world heritage site that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe. Upon arrival, we will approach Petra via foot and walk through the 1,200-meter-long Siq, it’s steeply rising sides all but obliterating the sun, to reach the ancient city’s astounding monuments. See the Siq’s mysterious rock faces punctuated by inscriptions and the huge guardian ‘spirit blocks.’ Rounding the last bend, the gorge opens into a natural square where we’ll get our first magical glimpse of Petra's most famous monument, El-Khazneh, The Treasury. Its intricately carved facade glows in the dazzling sun. Statues of Nabataean goddesses and tiers of Corinthian columns punctuate the famous rose-red facade. At the summit stands a vast urn, which according to legend contains the treasures of the pharaohs. More facades beckon until the ancient city gradually unfolds. Beyond, we’ll discover the numerous individual monuments, including buildings, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, and colonnaded streets, mostly carved from the kaleidoscopic sandstone by the technical and artistic genius of its inhabitants.

Returning to the entrance of the Petra site, we’ll proceed to the award-winning Al-Iwan Restaurant located in the luxurious Movenpick Hotel. Weather permitting; we may be able to dine on the beautiful rooftop terrace. Voyager Club guests will dine on local delicacies and listen to the soothing sounds of the ancient Oud. Following lunch, we will board the motor coach for our drive back to Aqaba.

Dress Code: Casual wear with comfortable walking shoes. Hats, light jacket, and sunglasses highly recommended. Important Walking Note: This excursion requires 3 hours walking approximately 2-miles round-trip over a loose shale road through a desert canyon at higher altitude and at times in direct sun. It is not recommended for anyone with walking difficulties, or short in stamina. Clients unable to visit the site are welcome to wait in the Movenpick hotel where the luncheon will be held. There may be a gentle horseback ride available and a limited number of donkey-carts; they are both owned by locals operating independently and we have no way of reserving them, or knowing in advance if they will be available These are recommended for those with walking difficulties only, and it should be understood that the ride can be a bit rough and guests must stand upright in the cart during the ride.

Portugal’s capital is nestled on the right bank of the Tagus River, just seven miles inland from the Atlantic’s swells. Like the ancient city of Rome, this metropolis is ideally set on seven arching hills. Modern Lisbon is an intriguing cacophony of architectural styles, from medieval Moorish palaces to Renaissance monasteries to 20th-century Art Nouveau apartments.

We will depart by deluxe air-conditioned motor-coach and drive west, entering a rural region and leaving the urban society behind. Our first stop is at the walled village of Óbidos, which is considered by many as a true museum. This village, one of the best well-preserved medieval towns of Portugal, was the wedding gift of our kings to their queens. Its clean narrow streets and carefully whitewashed houses decorated with flowerbeds show the female touch left by our queens. After a walking tour accompanied by our guide, you can take the opportunity to enjoy the local traditional drink “Ginginha” in one of the many cafes and bars. This is cherry liquor tasted in a small cup of chocolate (one of the particularities of this traditional local drink).

After the visit of this unique medieval village, it will be time to enjoy a wine tasting followed by a delicious lunch at the exclusive Quinta de Santana Wine Estate.

Quinta de Santana is located in the village of Gradil, a region that has supplied Lisbon for centuries with fresh fruit and vegetables, wine, dairy products and meat. This historical property dates back to the 17th century.

After lunch, we’ll drive back to Lisbon and visit the neighborhood of Belém, which is linked to the Portuguese glorious period of the Maritime Discoveries. Part of the wealth from the maritime expeditions was used to build magnificent monuments in a unique Portuguese style. The extravagant Manueline architectural style is best typified in the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, both classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. If time allows, we will also drive through the city center, passing by the main historical squares and avenues, before returning back to the ship.

Approximate Length: Seven hours.

Dress Code: Resort casual with comfortable walking shoes.

Walking Notes: Moderate walking with cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces are to be expected.