World Academy on MS Volendam: A Voyage from Pole to Pole
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Explore the top and bottom of the globe as you sail through the waters of Iceland and Greenland and spend four days on an expedition in Antarctica.
- Experience some of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders firsthand, including Patagonia’s Tierra del Fuego, Norway’s fjords and the Amazon River.
- Get an authentic “taste” of new countries and cultures with local dining experiences including Brazilian churrascaria, a traditional Moroccan lunch and port tasting in Portugal.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon: After transferring to the hotel for check-in, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation. In our private meeting room, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. In the event of any significant changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down, Boarding the ship
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel this morning, and transfer to the ship for embarkation. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops are subject to change as weather and ocean conditions could affect the progress of the vessel. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time in each port is set by the cruise line. The cruise line reserves the right change the itinerary without prior notice. The Road Scholar educational program consists of lectures and presentations exclusively for our group as well as educational field trips selected by Road Scholar from among the ship’s shore excursions. These Road Scholar expert-led field trips, included in the cost of the program, will typically be for the members of our group aboard our own designated vehicles (depending on group size). We’re still putting the finishing touches on this program’s lectures and expert-led field trips ashore. In the event of any significant changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: We will have some time to unpack and begin to familiarize ourselves with the ship. We will participate with everyone on board in the ship’s muster drill when announced and proceed to our assigned muster stations.
Dinner: Aboard ship. Each evening aboard the ship, Road Scholar participants are invited to have dinner together with your Group Leader. Included beverages are coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Other dining options are available for an extra cost onboard the ship.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars and enjoy the amenities on board the ship.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Please refer to the ship’s daily program for a list of activities.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The Road Scholar educational program consists of lectures and presentations exclusively for our group as well as designated field trips selected by Road Scholar from among the ship’s shore excursions. Road Scholar field trips will typically be for the members of our group aboard our own vehicles. There will also be occasions when Road Scholars will join other Holland America passengers for shore excursions.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach and with our group leader, we will ride to the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. The largest city in the Caribbean and also the oldest in the Americas, Santo Domingo was established by the Spanish in 1498, more than a century before the first colonies in North America. Hispaniola, the island that includes both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is where Christopher Columbus landed on his first voyage to the New World; it later became the seat of the Columbus family’s power when they served as Spain’s governors for the region. Santo Domingo is filled with beautiful beaches, rich history, and tasty Dominican cuisine. Modern Santo Domingo is a vibrant, sprawling metropolis where vestiges of the early city can still be found in the Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the narrow, cobblestoned streets are numerous examples of 16th-century Spanish architecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Santo Domingo or or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Santo Domingo on our journey to Santa Marta.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach and with our group leader and ride to Santa Marta. Founded in 1525, it is Colombia's oldest city and the second-oldest continuously inhabited settlement in South America. The historic center, with its streets lined with stately colonial buildings, is centered around Parque Simón Bolívar, a square dotted with shade trees located on Santa Marta Bay. There is also, however, a contemporary, glittering side of Santa Marta. While the city, like much of Colombia, suffered for decades from the effects of the country's drug wars, that history feels very distant today. The centerpiece of Santa Marta's revival is the new marina, with its boutiques and open-air restaurants.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Santa Marta or enjoy the activities onboard the ship. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Santa Marta on our journey to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach for a discovery of Puerto Limon with our group leader. Puerto Limon is the most important port in the country and has a long history dating all the way back to 1502 when Columbus landed here while exploring the New World. The port itself was founded in 1870 and has a strong Afro Caribbean Culture and is known for its unique architecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Puerto Limon or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Puerto Limon on our journey to Manta, Ecuador.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Panama Canal Transit- Cruising Only
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today we will be transiting the Panama Canal. The construction of the Panama Canal is one of those epic tales from the past, an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. A cruise along it today is a journey through the centuries, from the Spanish fortifications near Limón Bay to the glittering skyline of Panama City, not to mention the canal itself. In 2016 an expansion more than doubled the canal's capacity, ensuring it will continue to be central to the world's maritime traffic.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Located west of Panama City at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, Fuerte Amador is a gateway to exploring the many faces of this unique Central American country. The impressive engineering of the canal itself is a wonder to behold; a quick trip to the Miraflores Locks' visitor center with its panoramic observation decks offers the chance to watch behemoth barges thread their way through the legendary manmade waterway.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Today, we will cross the equator, the equator is an essential component of our planet’s geography—even though it’s just an imaginary line drawn on a map. In addition to being the widest spot on the planet—a full 43 kilometers (27 miles) wider than at the poles—this is also the planetary dividing line for the Coriolis effect, which explains why cyclones rotate clockwise north of the equator and counterclockwise south of it. It’s also the place best suited for launching spacecraft because the gravitational pull gives rocket ships an extra boost out of the stratosphere.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will board our motorcoach and explore Manta. Located on the Pacific coast, Manta is one of Ecuador’s most important ports. The mainstay of the economy of this city with some 200,000 residents is tuna—both fishing and the processing and canning of the catch. We will discover the contemporary buildings, historic sites, and enjoy the natural beauty of the parks and nearby beaches.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Manta or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port this evening.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Manta on our journey to Salaverry, Peru.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Ride to/from Trujillo is 1/2 an hour.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach for our 1/2 hour ride to Trujillo. With our Group Leader, we will explore one of the most iconic squares in the country: the city's Plaza de Armas. The bright blue, yellow and red buildings date back to the 16th century and will transport you back to the days of the conquistadores. We will also visit the pre Incan ruins around the city, the Chimu capital Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Mochica sites of Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Trujillo or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Salaverry on our journey to Callao, Peru.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will head out by motorcoach for an expert led discovery of Lima's historic center. Visit the cinematic 16th-century Plaza de Armas, the handiwork of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Baroque and neoclassical cathedrals, palaces, monasteries and the remnants of the old city walls.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Lima or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, with our group leader, we will board our motorcoach and explore modern Lima. We will ride to the cliff- hugging seaside barrios of Miraflores and Barranco. Miraflores, Lima's modern face, is a bustling enclave of chic restaurants, bars and nightlife, and Barranco is a bohemian resort commune flush with grand casonas converted into atmospheric hotels and eateries.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Lima or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Lima on our journey to General San Martin, Peru.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach for an exploration of Pisco with our group leader, known for its production of grape brandy, Peru's national drink the Pisco Sour. The local waters are often called the Galapagos of Peru due to the local wildlife that can be found here.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Pisco or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave General San Martin on our journey to Arica, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and drive to Chile's northernmost city, Arica. We will visit the village that dates to the pre-Hispanic era.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Arica or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Arica on our journey to Antofagasta, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader for a drive to Antofagasta. Chile took possession of this horseshoe-shaped bay in 1883, we will explore this city that grew rich from mining in the Atacama Desert.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Antofagasta or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Antofagasta on our journey to San Antonio, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to Santiago. Encircled by the Andes and the Coastal Range, Santiago is centered around the Plaza de Armas, with several of the city’s landmarks: the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral the Palacio de la Real Audencia from 1808, the City Hall and the National Museum of History.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Santiago or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Santiago on our journey to Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles on rough, uneven terrain; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will disembark using the ship's tender. Once we reach port, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader for our discovery of Isla Robinson Crusoe. Formerly Más a Tierra, the largest island of Juan Fernández Archipelago National Park (which also includes two uninhabited islands, Alexander Selkirk and Santa Clara) in Chile. The island’s name is inspired by the fact that Alexander Selkirk, the person who was perhaps the real-life inspiration for Robinson Crusoe, spent four years here as a castaway from 1704 to 1708. Even to this day, the island remains remote, sitting 670 kilometers (416 miles) off the coast of Chile. Only one permanent human settlement exists on Isla Robinson Crusoe, or anywhere in the archipelago: the town of San Juan Bautista, with around 700 residents.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Isla Robinson Crusoe or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Isla Robinson Crusoe on our journey to Puerto Montt, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the ship's tender for the port of Puerto Montt. Once we reach port, we will board our motorcoach for a morning discovery with our group leader. Puerto Montt, the capital of the Los Lagos region of Chile, is often called the gateway to the country’s glacial lakes, volcanic landscapes and surrounding national parks. The capital of Chile's southern Lake District, this thriving city is known for salmon farming, shipping, and tourism.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Puerto Montt on our journey to Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship via tenders, once we reach port, board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to Castro. Founded in 1567 by the Spanish, Castro is Chile’s third-oldest city and home to roughly 29,000 people. It is the transportation hub and tourism center of Chiloé—a 41-island archipelago which includes Isla Grande de Chiloé, the continent’s fifth-largest island and where Castro is found. Traces of the area’s past can be found in the historic churches—16 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites—that dot the isle. Another form of arresting architecture exists in the palafitos, the region’s unique waterfront wooden homes that sit atop stilts. The city of Castro itself is a walker’s paradise. A stroll south from the main square (the Plaza de Armas, where the Iglesia de San Francisco is located) to the Museo Regional and on to the Mercado Artesanal de Castro along the coast provides for a delightful walk.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Castro or enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Castro on our journey to Puerto Chacabuco, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will disembark via the ship's tenders with our group leader, once we reach port, board our motorcoach and ride to the town of Puerto Chacabuco. With just over 1,000 residents, sitting at the head of the Aisén Fjord, Puerto Chacabuco is the gateway to Patagonia.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the activities onboard before the ship leaves port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Puerto Chacabuco on our journey to Punta Arenas, Chile.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea- Cruising Only
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today we will be cruising the Chilean Fjords. Much like the Norwegian coastline, the west coast of Chile is sliced by dramatic inlets, or fjords, lined with rugged mountains and glacier-covered valleys. This spectacular stretch of coastline starts near the Reloncaví Estuary (roughly halfway down the long spine of Chile) and extends south to the very end of the continent, at Tierra del Fuego. It's a distance of some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and is known for its beauty.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Continue cruising the Fjords. Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea- Cruising Only, itinerary is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today we will be cruising through the ice and weather of Chile's Ice Field. As ships make their way through this part of the world on Chile’s coast along the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, ice buildup and quixotic weather conditions heavily dictate which routes ships can take. Even when passage is safe around the popular Amalia, El Brujo or numerous other breathtaking glaciers found here, misty rain or soupy fog might be the order of the day. And it can always shift in a flash, as glassy waters erupt into choppy waves or, shrouded peaks become flooded with sunlight sparkling off the ice fields, letting you relish a momentary peaceful stillness in the air. PLEASE NOTE: Weather, sea, & ice conditions can affect the progress of the ship and could affect the route the ship can take, the itinerary is always subject to change.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Continue our cruise through the glaciers. Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and set out for Punta Arenas. This windblown city near Chile's southernmost tip sits on the Strait of Magellan, which itself is positioned squarely between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The city has played—and continues to play—an important role in geographic, political and economic affairs in South America's so-called Southern Cone, which is formed by Chile and neighboring Argentina.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Punta Arenas or enjoy the activities and amenities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Punta Arenas on our journey to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, the ship will cruise Glacier Alley. Glacier Alley—or, as it’s more elegantly known, Avenue of the Glaciers—stretches along a good portion of the celebrated 240-kilometer-long (150-mile-long) Beagle Channel in the vast territory of Tierra del Fuego. We will follow the route that the famous HMS Beagle took with a young and then-unknown geologist and naturalist on board, Charles Darwin.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: The ship is scheduled to arrive in Ushuaia at 2:00 p.m. Once the ship arrives in port, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore the town. Positioned at the southernmost tip of Argentina, this memorable port town is cradled between the pristine—and towering—Martial Mountains and accessed by the picturesque Beagle Channel (which was named for Darwin’s famed vessel).The town itself is a maze of streets lined with low-slung buildings that all seem to meet at its heart, the port. Founded in 1884, the far-flung spot welcomed missionaries, gold prospectors and naval officers before becoming known primarily as a penal colony. After its closure under the infamous Argentine leader Juan Perón, the large jail was reconfigured to house one of the city’s most popular museums. Other current in-town attractions include a maritime museum and a museum dedicated to the region’s natural history.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Ushuaia on our journey to Antarctica.
Activity note: Full day at sea. Possibility of rough seas, if you are prone to sea sickness, we recommend taking sea sickness medication as the seas here are known to be treacherous
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Thanks to its location—on one of the southernmost points in South America—Cape Horn has played a major role in navigational history. The Strait of Magellan to the north was discovered first, but that route’s narrow width was challenging to navigate. Cape Horn, discovered by the Dutch in 1615, became the primary route for trade ships traveling from Europe or the east side of the Americas to the American West Coast. Cape Horn marks the entrance to the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. Strong winds, currents, waves and icebergs can make the passage fairly treacherous.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Continue our cruise through the Drake Passage. Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Each day's schedule in Antarctica is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions. This is done with your safety in mind and we hope you understand that schedule changes are part of travelling by cruise ship to this remote part of the world!
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: After a day and a half crossing the Drake Passage, which separates South America from Antarctica, the ship will arrive at the White Continent. We will sail through the bays and islands of the Palmer Archipelago, off the northern tip of the long Antarctic Peninsula, which reaches out toward South America. Encircled in a landscape of snow and ice in every direction, the ship will slowly navigate the iceberg-dotted waters.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Each day's schedule in Antarctica is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions. This is done with your safety in mind and we hope you understand that schedule changes are part of travelling by cruise ship to this remote part of the world!
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will continue our exploration of Antarctica. The surroundings are hauntingly quiet here, an aspect of the continent that comes as a surprise to many first-time visitors. The ship's naturalists will point out the birds—terns, petrels, and gulls—found on the coast and on small islets at stops like Dallmann Bay.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Each day's schedule in Antarctica is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions. This is done with your safety in mind and we hope you understand that schedule changes are part of travelling by cruise ship to this remote part of the world!
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Continue our discovery of Antarctica. As you pass dark, rocky Cuverville Island, you may see some of the 6,500 pairs of gentoo penguins that make their home there, the largest known colony in the world.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Each day's schedule in Antarctica is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions. This is done with your safety in mind and we hope you understand that schedule changes are part of travelling by cruise ship to this remote part of the world!
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will continue our exploration on our final day in Antarctica. Continuing on to Paradise Harbor, we will have a chance to observe not only gentoo and chinstrap penguins but possibly humans as well: Both Argentina and Chile have manned research stations here.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Antarctica on our journey to the Falkland Islands.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The world's southernmost capital, Stanley is located in the Falklands archipelago, which consists of two main islands, East and West Falkland, along with smaller islands nearby. Stanley is proud of its British heritage, evidenced everywhere from its red telephone boxes to its pubs. The Falklands were first claimed by the English in 1765; over the centuries the Crown has had to abandon, reclaim and defend these far-flung islands from invading nations—including an Argentine foray in 1982. During the early years of their colonization, the Falklands were used as a base for ships hunting sperm whales for oil, followed by those hunting seals for fur. Today in this remote British territory, fishing and tourism are what drive the economy.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Stanley or enjoy the activities and amenities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Stanley on our journey to Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader for a discovery of Puerto Madryn. Located on the coast of northern Patagonia, known for its sandy beaches and restaurant-lined promenade. The town was first settled by Welsh immigrants in 1865, the Welsh community is still thriving today.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Puerto Madryn or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Puerto Madryn on our journey to Montevideo, Uruguay.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader for an exploration of Uruguay's capital, Montevideo. The Ciudadela Gateway, the only remaining section of the wall that once surrounded the city now serves as the entrance to Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo's oldest neighborhood.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Montevideo or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Montevideo on our journey to Buenos Aires, Argentina..
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore Buenos Aires. The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires is known for its eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life. Considered to be one of the most diverse cities of the Americas, it's a melting pot where several ethnic groups live together.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Buenos Aires or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motocoach with our group leader for a further discovery of Buenos Aires. Known as the birthplace of Tango, one of the most influential and famous dances in modern history, the tango was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2009.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Buenos Aires or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Buenos Aires on our journey to Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will disembark via the ships tender with our group leader, once we reach port, board the motorcoach for an exploration of Punta del Este. Starting as a small town, Punta del Este is known as the St. Tropez of Uruguay with its beautiful beaches and upscale resorts.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Punta del Este or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Punta del Este on our journey to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader for an exploration of Rio de Janeiro. The city is famous for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the 38 meter Christ the Redeemer statue on Mount Corcovado, and its sprawling favelas.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Rio de Janeiro or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader and continue our discovery of Rio de Janeiro.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Rio de Janeiro or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Rio de Janeiro on our journey to Armacao Dos Buzios, Brazil.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the ship's tender boat and ride to the port with our group leader. Once we reach port, we will board our motorcoach for a discovery of Armacao dos Buzios. The spindly Brazilian peninsula of Armação dos Búzios, or just Búzios, is loaded with hills and fine bays as well as coves where long ago pirates were able to stash their booty and themselves. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, and about a two-hour drive from the city of Rio, the popular resort area is made up of a handful of hamlets spread over some 30 square miles and encompassing nearly two dozen beaches. Dotted with cacti and dry tropical woods, the peninsula was a slaving station before its economic roles morphed into that of fishing villages and a whaling base (an armação was a fish drying rack, while búzios means 'whelks' in Portuguese).
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Armacao Dos Buzios at 2:00 p.m. on our journey to Salvador Da Bahia, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach and set out with our group leader to discover Portugal's former New World colonial capital of Salvador Da Bahia. Under Portuguese royal orders to establish a capital in Brazil, Tomé de Souza landed in Salvador in 1549 with 400 soldiers and 400 settlers in tow. By the late 1500s, the city was the most important in the Portuguese empire after Lisbon. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Pelourinho, the old town where we will see colorful colonial buildings, churches, and open air plazas.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Salvador Da Bahia at 3:00 p.m. on our journey Maceio, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader for an exploration of Maceio. Northeast Brazil has a number of large cities that few outsiders have heard of; Maceió is one of them. Located on the coast, Maceio, an indigenous word, means "spring waters." The coastline is marked by beaches, lagoons, reefs and vast mangrove swamps with manatee reserves, all of which are just beginning to be discovered by travelers to the country.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Maceio or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship is scheduled to leave Maceio on our journey Recife, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach and set out to explore Recife. Known as the Venice of Brazil, mangrove swamps and waterways are integrated right into the fabric of city life. The Portuguese founded it in 1537, while the Dutch ruled briefly in the 17th century and left their mark on the architecture. Recife is one of Brazil's largest metro areas, with distinct neighborhoods, including an old colonial core with buildings in various states of preservation.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Recife or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Recife on our journey to Fortaleza, Brazil.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will set out on our motorcoach with our group leader to discover Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil's fourth largest city. Known for its beaches punctuated by red cliffs, palm trees, dunes and lagoons, Fortaleza originated as a small village adjoining a Portuguese fort.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Fortaleza or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship is scheduled to leave Fortaleza on our journey to Santarem, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture. We will cross the equator, hemisphere to hemisphere, there is nothing quite as romantic as slipping, in the blink of an eye, from one side of globe to the other, made possible by the mere act of crossing the Equator.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Crossing Amazon River Bar-Cruising Only
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture. We will be crossing the Amazon River bar today. After traveling some 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), the Amazon River finally arrives at the Atlantic Ocean.This section of the world’s largest river measured by volume is often referred to as its “bar,” a name used to describe the mouths of other rivers as well. The delta here is a maze of islands, formed by the sediment that accumulates when the Amazon enters the ocean. The largest island in this area is Ilha de Marajó, which measures 40,100 square kilometers (15,500 square miles). That’s roughly equivalent to three Connecticuts or one Switzerland.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 hours, walking on uneven ground; standing up to 2 hours. Ride to the forest is 1 hr. 15. min each way. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes & light clothing, including trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. Bring bug spray.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride south on the Santarém-Cuiabá Highway, the only road connecting this part of the Amazon with other points in Brazil. Different stages of "slash and burn" agriculture and the effect it has on the forest and land can be observed on this stretch of road as well as large soya plantations. After approximately 1hr 15 min. on the road, we will reach Tapajos National Forest where we will enjoy a nature walk with a local expert where we will see the biodiversity of the area.
Lunch: Bagged lunch included.
Afternoon: We will continue our discovery of Tapajos National Forest before returning to port. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Santarem on our journey to Boca Da Valeria, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender and go ashore to Boca Da Valeria and enjoy some free time on our own. Surrounded by the Amazonian rain forest, Boca da Valeria, a small Brazilian settlement of fewer than 100 people, has no tourism infrastructure. The destination lures travelers by offering an authentic glimpse of the simple river life that the Amerindians have followed for centuries. Meaning "Mouth of the Valeria River," the remote fishing and trading village sits at the convergence of the Amazon and the Rio da Valeria. Boca Da Valeria, which is located between the towns of Parintins and Santarém, stands in stark contrast to nearby urban centers such as Manaus, where residents live with all the comforts, and complications, of contemporary life.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Boca Da Valeria at 2:00p.m. on our journey to Manaus, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles, walking on uneven ground; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to "Adolpho Lisboa Market", also called Mercado Municipal or Mercadão (big market). It was constructed between 1880 and 1883. The building was based on the Les Halles marketplace of Paris, France. Its metallic structures were built in Paris and sent to Manaus by ship. There are two completely different façades, one facing the Rio Negro and one facing the public road. As a significant historical and architectural building of the city, the Municipal Market also stands out today as a cultural center. The market is one of the largest open markets in the city of Manaus, offering fresh fruits, spices, fish, and traditional indigenous medications among other products.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Manaus or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles, walking on uneven ground; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and head out to discover the world-renowned Teatro Amazonas, the Amazon Theater. At the end of the 19th century, rubber trade and plantation owners and other moguls became fabulously rich. They hired architects and artists in an effort to transform Manaus into the “Paris of the Tropics.” The focal point was a grand opera house, the Teatro Amazonas. Construction began in 1884 and no expense was spared with materials imported from Europe. Enrico Caruso, then the most famous singer in the world, inaugurated the theater with a performance in 1897. We will step inside the theater to learn why its Renaissance-style architecture gave it a reputation as the “Jewel of the Amazon.”
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Manaus at 3:00p.m. on our journey to Parintins, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender and go ashore to Parintins. Once we reach port, we will board local tricycles (each tricycle takes 2 participants), decorated by the locals for a unique discovery of the city. We will start outside the port to see the major highlights; cycle by the club of Caprichoso Boi, the Liberty square and to the Bumbódromo where the annual Festival is held, here we will have a short visit of this area. Continue to the Cathedral and ride along the shore back to port in our tricycles.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Parintins or enjoy the activities and amenities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Parintins on our journey to Alter Do Chao, Brazil.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used). Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 2 hours, walking on uneven ground; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will board the shp's tender and ride to port, upon arrival board our motorcoach. On our way to Santarem, we will ride through rural Brazil crossing the forest and small villages along the way. After arriving in Santarem, we will visit the town centre and Cathedral of Our Lady of Conceição - the oldest building in Santarém, dating back to 1761. Then, we will pass by Fishermen's Square on our way to the next stop , the Joao Fona Cultural Center. This historic building, dating back to 1868, has served as Santarem’s courthouse, prison and city hall. Today, it houses the Cultural Center, which features a small but exquisite collection of pre-Columbian pottery and Tapajo ceramics, as well as paintings and furniture from Santarem’s early days. Our final stop will be the Mirante Square (Belvedere ) to watch the meeting of the waters of the Amazon and Tapajos rivers
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Alter Do Chao at 2:00p.m. on our journey to Devils Island, French Guiana.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Crossing Amazon River Bar-Cruising Only
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture. The ship will cross the equator and cross the Amazon River Bar.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Yellow Fever Vaccination Required.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender and go ashore to Devils Island. We will have free time to discover the island on your own. Devil's Island, part of a three-island chain called Îles du Salut, in French Guiana, was home to one of the most infamous—and impregnable—prisons of the 19th and 20th centuries. Opened in 1852, it received worldwide renown in the mid-1890s when French military captain Alfred Dreyfus was sentenced to life imprisonment after being wrongly convicted of selling military secrets to Germany. Although Dreyfus's sentence was commuted after five years, more than 80,000 political prisoners and hardened criminals endured years of mistreatment and abuse among disease-ridden conditions. Few were able to escape, though Henri Charrière, author of the book Papillon, allegedly succeeded by filling sacks with coconuts in order to float to the mainland. The prison was officially closed in 1953. In 1965, the French government transferred responsibility of the island to the Guiana Space Centre, and in recent years, tourism facilities have been added. Devil's Island and its two smaller neighboring islands receive more than 50,000 visitors each year.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Devil's Island on our journey to Mindelo, Cape Verde.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to Mindelo. The archipelago was a Portuguese colony from 1495 until achieving independence in 1975, and Mindelo is the capital of one of the northernmost islands, São Vicente. With its rich Portuguese-Creole-African culture, this city is the nation’s musical epicenter, and morna—an appealing fusion of Portuguese and African rhythms—is the signature sound. Colorful colonial-style buildings surround the deep-blue harbor, along which we will find a small-scale reproduction of Lisbon’s landmark Tower of Belém.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Mindelo or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Mindelo on our journey to Praia, Ilha De Santiago, Cape Verde.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The Cape Verde archipelago consists of 10 islands—ranging from flat as a pancake to steeply volcanic—that lie in the Atlantic some 570 kilometers (350 miles) west of Senegal. This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to Praia, one of the archipelago's least visited city on the largest island of Santiago. In the central area called Plateau, the colonial National Archives and the recently renovated Presidential Palace sit alongside faded Art Deco buildings.If Praia lacks a certain commercial bustle, it still has a spirited street vibe, and visitors can hear residents speak melodious Portuguese Creole.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Praia or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Praia on our journey to Banjul, Gambia.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The Gambia is defined by a river, the one that gives the nation its name. The long, narrow country stretches from the Atlantic into Africa for some 475 kilometers (295 miles), and consists of the Gambia River and its banks—spanning only 48 kilometers (30 miles) at its widest point. Today we will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore Banjul, the smallest capital on the African mainland. Sitting on an island where the river enters the ocean, Banjul is decidedly laid-back, without the bustling city center—or traffic jams—of Africa’s larger metropolises.The Gambia also has the distinction of having enjoyed a relatively stable government since independence. That, combined with a warm tropical climate and miles of beautiful beaches along its Atlantic coastline, has attracted a thriving expat community.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Banjul on our journey to Dakar, Senegal.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. NOTE:Roads are often congested with buses, taxis and horse-drawn carriages
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Senegal’s capital, Dakar, was long a tiny settlement on the southern part of the Cape Verde peninsula. It now encompasses former colonial towns (once a French commune) and a handful of other villages. We will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to discover this city. The hub is the Place de l’Indépendance, a buzzing square lined with both concrete-block and colonial buildings and from which streets with restaurants, shops and theaters radiate. Roads are often congested with buses, taxis and horse-drawn carriages, and the Medina quarter, home to the Grand Mosque and markets, is an explosion of color and commotion.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Dakar on our journey to Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Rugged, volcanic Lanzarote—the northeasternmost island of the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain yet lie less than 200 kilometers off the coast of Morocco—is small enough that you can travel its whole length in less than an hour. We will board our motorcoach this morning with our group leader and explore Arrecife. A former fishing village, the port of Arrecife (meaning “reef' in Spanish and named after the offshore reefs that long provided protection from pirates) is now a medium-sized city. Despite its location in the Atlantic, Arrecife has a decidedly Mediterranean feel with seafront promenades lined with palm trees.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Arrecife or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Arrecife on our journey to Agadir, Morocco.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will disembark via the ship's tender, once we arrive in port, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and discover Agadir. We will drive past modern whitewashed buildings and palm-lined boulevards. Agadir was the site of an ancient Roman port and occupied by both the French and the Portuguese, it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and little of its past survived.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: The ship is scheduled to depart Agadir at 1:00 p.m. on our journey to Casablanca, Morocco. Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and ride to visit Morocco's largest city and its most important port. Casablanca was the first city in the world to be laid out by aerial survey, and was barely 20 years old when its name was framed forever in the Hollywood classic of the same name.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Casablanca or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Casablanca on our journey to Gibraltar.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Gibraltar at 11:00 a.m.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: This afternoon, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and head out to Gibraltar. Strategically located at the southern tip of Europe, facing Africa, Gibraltar offers a fascinating mix of cultures.With a history that includes Moorish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English influences (among others), this tiny, 6.7-square-kilometer British Overseas Territory is most famous for the giant Jurassic limestone rock soaring above the territory’s main commercial and residential areas. The Rock contains an abundance of history (military and otherwise), not to mention significant flora and fauna, and a labyrinth of caves and tunnels. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Gibraltar on our journey to Barcelona, Spain.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles in Gothic quarter; cobblestones, uneven terrain; standing up to 1 hour at a time. Outside visit of La Sagrada Familia only.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will set out from the ship by motorcoach with our group leader, then take a walking field trip through the Barri Gòtic — Gothic Quarter — that still has traces of its ancient Roman heritage. We will also walk down Las Ramblas, a colorful boulevard that runs through the heart of the city, and visit a market where we will taste some of the local produce.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Continuing by motorcoach, we will see highlights of Gaudí’s “Modernist Route” with a local expert. Modernism was the Catalan version of Art Nouveau and its most important exponent was the visionary architect and designer Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). We will stop to view the renowned towers of the Sagrada Familia church (OUTSIDE VISIT ONLY, we will not go inside) that remains Gaudí’s most famous legacy. The first stone was laid in 1882 and Gaudí took over design responsibilities the next year. Work continues to this day following his plans and is expected to be completed around 2026. It has become an internationally recognized symbol of Barcelona. We will also see emblematic sites including the famous Passeig de Gràcia with idiosyncratic buildings designed by Gaudí and other Modernists.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; some pedestrian-only areas with restricted motorcoach drop off points. Walking up to 2 miles, cobblestones, uneven terrain; standing up to 1 hour at a time. Picasso Museum entrance times are strictly regulated and subject to change or substitution with another monument.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will depart by motorcoach with our group leader for a field trip to the Picasso Museum, here we will see works produced by the artist during his formative years. Opened in 1963, the museum occupies five large houses dating from the 13th-15th centuries and has a permanent collection of more than 4,000 works displaying the genius of young Pablo Picasso.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Barcelona or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship is scheduled to depart Barcelona on our journey to Cadiz, Spain.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; uneven terrain including steps without railings and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will depart from the pier and start with a panoramic drive by coach through the city, up to the city beach- Playa Caleta - and the castle- Castillo Santa Catalina - from 17th century where we will stop to take photos of the stunning view. After, we will stop at the Mudejar-style tobacco factory (1741), which now serves as the Congress Building, visit the outside of Santo Domingo Church (OUSIDE VISIT ONLY, we will not go inside), and pass by Town Hall which seems to be the best reflection of the architectural style of the old Cadiz City during a historical period of great artistic splendor. Following this, we will visit the Cathedral of Cadiz and the Diocesan Museum. It took 116 years to complete this 18th century Baroque and neo-classical Cathedral, so the mix of styles is evident. Construction began in the Baroque style and was completed in the Neoclassic style (this will be an inside visit). We will continue our walking discovery to the picturesque Plaza Flores before driving back to the pier.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Cadiz or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Cadiz on our journey to Lisbon, Portugal.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; uneven terrain including steps without railings and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: While these lands have been inhabited since the Paleolothic era, the nation of Portugal takes its name from an ancient settlement — Portus Cale — near the mouth of the River Douro. Lisbon is one of the oldest and most vibrant cities in the world, known to the Romans as Olisipo. It became the national capital in 1298. By motorcoach, we take in the most important monuments of the Portuguese capital. We pause to admire the Belém Tower, a gorgeous defensive tower that sits on the Rio Tejo like an enormous white wedding cake, and the Monument to Discoveries. This marks where the Portuguese navigators left on their "discovery" of India.. We continue with a visit to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, where Vasco da Gama and renowned 16th-century poet Luís Vaz de Camões are buried. We end our morning visiting downtown Lisbon, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Lisbon or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; uneven terrain including steps without railings and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader and continue the discovery of Lisbon with a guided visit to the old decorative art of ceramic tiles at the Portuguese National Tiles Museum and a walk through Alfama, the city oldest quarter, with narrow streets and crooked lanes steeped in history.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Lisbon or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Lisbon on our journey to Leixoes (Porto), Portugal.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down.Pedestrian-only areas with very restricted motorcoach drop off points. Walking 3-4 miles over the course of the day; cobblestones, uneven terrain, some steep slopes; standing up to 2 hours at a time.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, with a history dating back to its days as a Roman trading outpost. We will set out with our group leader to explore Porto’s highlights by motorcoach. We will start our exploration on a walking field trip in the historic city center, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “The city of Oporto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river, is an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year history. Its continuous growth, linked to the sea (the Romans gave it the name Portus, or port), can be seen in the many and varied monuments, from the cathedral with its Romanesque choir, to the neoclassical Stock Exchange and the typically Portuguese Manueline-style Church of Santa Clara.”
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Porto or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Leixoes on our journey to Brest, France.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Sitting by a natural harbor at the mouth of the Penfeld River in western Brittany, the city of Brest has a rich maritime history that stretches from the Middle Ages to today, as it is home to the main French naval base in the Atlantic. We will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore some of Brest's important sites: the Château de Brest, a 13th-century castle that’s the oldest structure in town and the 14th century tower-Tour Tanguy.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Brest or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Brest on our journey to Cherbourg (Normandy), France.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 125 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; extended periods of standing at field trip sites; sandy terrain on beach, paved and gravel paths and sidewalks.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Arriving in Cherbourg on the coast of north-west Normandy, we’ll step ashore and board a motorcoach to continue our investigation of American maneuvers in Operation Overlord. We’ll begin at Omaha Beach, where we’ll learn about central D-Day operations while exploring on foot with our Group Leader. The assault on Omaha was one of the most challenging of all; the beach lies in front of steep hills and cliffs, concentrating the German defenses and machine gun fire on the beach itself. Harsh weather and sea conditions complicated matters further, as nearly all of the Allied units landed some distance from their planned targets and few tanks made it to shore. By evening, the Allies had gained a tenuous foothold at Omaha, but this came at a heavy cost. Casualties numbered in the thousands, and first-hand accounts make for sobering reading. We will also pay our respects at the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Normandy Cemetery, above the beach at Colleville-sur-Mer.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Next, we’ll go to the Pointe du Hoc to see the Ranger Monument overlooking Omaha Beach. It was erected by the French to honor the American Second Ranger Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. James E. Rudder. The Rangers scaled the 100-foot cliffs to seize German artillery.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Cherbourg on our journey to Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The ship is scheduled to arrive in Zeebrugge at 9:00 a.m. Once the ship arrives in port, we will board the motorcoach with our group leader for a discovery of Brussel's picturesque canals, cobblestone streets and fairy-tale gabled houses.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Brussels or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Zeebrugge on our journey to IJmuiden, Netherlands.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and set out to explore Amsterdam. We will explore one of Europe's most colorful, dynamic and historic cities. The iconic network of waterways that surrounds the downtown area offers a picturesque backdrop.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Amsterdam or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave IJmuiden on our journey to South Queensferry, Scotland.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the ship's tender, once we reach port; we’ll travel by motorcoach into the heart of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town for a field trip that will include Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and St. Giles Cathedral. The oldest part of Edinburgh Castle dates from the 12th century. Among its highlights are Scotland’s crown jewels — called The Honours — and the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, an ancient symbol of monarchy that legend says was the “pillow” of the biblical Jacob.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Edinburgh or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave South Queensferry on our journey to Eidfjord, Norway.
Activity note: Full day at sea
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: In the shadow of snowy peaks and near stunning blue-green fjords, Eidfjord is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. We will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore this village.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Eidfjord or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Eidfjord on our journey to Trondheim, Norway.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll step ashore to explore Trondheim, Norway’s original capital founded around 997 by King Olav Tryggvason. It is today a modern city with charming remnants of its small town past. We’ll learn about the city and its many features as the motorcoach takes us through streets and boroughs, including a short stop at Utsikten (The View) to admire the city from a high elevation. We’ll then proceed to the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial place of St. Olav, where we’ll consider the gothic architecture of its exterior as we walk through the grounds.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Trondheim or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Trondheim on our journey to Tromso, Norway.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Tromsø has been the starting point of many polar expeditions, lending it the epithet "Gateway to the Arctic." This morning we'll visit the Arctic University Museum of Norway, where we’ll learn more about life in Arctic Norway through the ages. Permanent exhibitions focus on subjects including wildlife, geology, archaeology of the Viking era, and nomadic Sami culture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Tromso or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Tromso on our journey to Honningsvag, Norway.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Minimal walking.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll set out on a field trip by motorcoach from Honningsvåg to the North Cape, the northernmost point on the European continent, passing through vast frozen plains, shores, and mountains. The North Cape plateau rises more than 1,000 feet in a steep cliff from the Arctic Ocean. A sculpture of the globe has become a symbol of the North Cape and a popular site for pictures. We will also visit the North Cape Hall, a modern visitor center, and watch a panoramic film about the area and its seasonal changes.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Honningsvag or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Honningsvag on our journey to Djupivogur, Iceland.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will disembark via the ship's tender, once we reach port, we will head out to explore Djupivogur. A quiet fishing village with fewer than 500 residents, sits on the eastern coast of Iceland and dates back to the days of the Vikings.Despite the fearsome reputation of those who first established Djúpivogur, today what draws visitors to this remote corner of the country is its dramatic natural setting.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Djupivogur at 3:00 p.m. on our journey to Akureyri, Iceland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Often described as the capital of north Iceland, the country's second-largest city is both vibrant and pretty, and serves as an ideal hub for exploring the incredible landscape that surrounds it. We will set off on a walking field trip with our group leader to discover Akureyri. Its main sights include the Akureyri Church, a wonderful botanical garden (founded in 1912) and the fascinating Akureyri Museum.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Akureyri or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Akureyri on our journey to Isafjordur, Iceland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will board the ship's tender and head to the Isafjordur port. Upon arrival at the port, we will go on a walking field trip with our group leader and discover Isafjordur. Bordered on three sides by dramatic mountains that form a natural harbor, the idyllic town of Ísafjörður traditionally dependent on fishing as its main source of income, its streets are today lined with old wooden houses interspersed with occasional shops, restaurants and cafés.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Isafjordur or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Isafjordur on our journey to Reykjavik, Iceland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven, hilly terrain.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll set out from the port by bus for a full-day field trip around the Golden Circle. Our field trip will begin with an exploration of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. It was here that the Althing, an open-air representative assembly, was established in 930 CE. It is the world’s oldest existing parliament. Thingvellir is considered the most sacred place in Iceland due its historical significance and for the fact that this is also the meeting point of the American and European continental plates.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Moving on, we’ll reach Gullfoss — golden falls — the most famous waterfall in Iceland. Water from the Langjökull glacier flows into the Hvítá (White) River. When it reaches the great Gullfossgljúfur canyon, it falls in two stages more than 100 feet (32 meters). We’ll then continue our ride to Geysir, where the active Strokkur geyser bursts forth every few minutes in a cloud of steam.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the motorcoach with our group leader and ride to the National Museum of Iceland. The charming museum traces the history of this remote island nation from the Settlement era to the modern day. Our field trip will continue with riding and walking in Reykjavik. We will see sites such as the historic Höfði House, site of the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Cold War. We will also drive by Lake Tjornin, a small lake in downtown Reykjavik known for its birdlife, as well as walking through the Parliament House and City Hall with its large topographic map of Iceland.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Reykjavik or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Reykjavik on our journey to Nanortalik, Greenland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender to go ashore to Nanortalik. Upon arrival at the port, we will go on a walking discovery of the town with our group leader. The southernmost town in Greenland, founded in 1797 as a trading depot at the mouth of Tasermiut Fjord, and is currently home to approximately 1,000 people. The Nanortalik Museum explores native, Old Norse and European colonial history as it shaped Greenland, with nine historic buildings and the world’s oldest umiak (sealskin boat).
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Nanortalik or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Nanortalik on our journey to Qaqortoq, Greenland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender to go ashore to Qaqortoq. Upon arrival at the port, we will go on a walking discovery of the town with our group leader. Located near Cape Thorvaldsen, the town of Qaqortoq is the most populous in southern Greenland.The area has a rich history, as it has been inhabited continuously since prehistoric times. You can still see traces of Thule and Norse cultures throughout the region, starting with the ruins of the 14th-century Hvalsey Church at the nearby Hvalsey Fjord.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Nanortalik or enjoy the activities onboard. Most of the town's main attractions, including restaurants and the Qaqortoq Museum, are located on or close to the main square. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Qaqortoq on our journey to Paamiut, Greenland.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board the tender to go ashore to Paamiut. Upon arrival at the port, we will go on a walking excursion of the town with our group leader. Home to the largest population of white-tailed eagles (Nattoralik), Paamiut became known for its soapstone carvings. Like all towns in Greenland, it's a multitude of brightly colored buildings, the Lutheran church with its green roof, red walls and golden trim is one of them.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Paamiut or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Paamiut on our journey to St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)-Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Near the northern tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, tiny St. Anthony (population: 2,418) predates even the famed navigator and explorer Jacques Cartier. Though he gave the town its name, it was already a seasonal camp used by French and Basque fishermen when he arrived in 1534. We will board the ship's tender for our ride to port, upon arrival, we will board our motorcoach with our group leader and set out for our morning Field Trip to St. Anthony.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave St. Anthony at 3:00 p.m. on our journey to St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Ship schedule is subject to change due to weather & ice.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Closer to London than it is to Canada’s west coast, the capital of Newfoundland, St. John’s is the easternmost city in North America, excluding Greenland, and has its own time zone, a half-hour ahead of the rest of eastern Canada. This morning, we will go on a walking discovery; to this day the harbor remains the center of the city, with its oldest buildings and streets (including Water Street, the oldest street in North America) nearby. The rest of St. John’s sits on hills around the harbor, which has led to frequent comparisons to San Francisco. The tallest, Signal Hill, is one of St. John’s most famous sights with its panoramic views.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in St. John's or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave St. John's on our journey to Saint Pierre And Miquelon.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Ship schedule is subject to change due to weather & ice.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning, we will explore the French island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon with our group leader. This French archipelago located south of Newfoundland has a distinct French atmosphere with a cathedral and the Musée Heritage, which celebrates regional history.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Saint Pierre And Miquelon or enjoy the activities onboard. Later in the afternoon, the ship will leave Saint Pierre And Miquelon on our journey to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach with our group leader and explore Halifax. The city is spirited mix of world-class history and nautical-themed museums alongside bunkers and fortresses that guarded the harbor, plus striking public art, sights and funky shops. Explore the Halifax waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants at Pier 21.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship. The ship is scheduled to leave Halifax at 4:00 p.m. on our journey to Bar Harbor, Maine.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tender Port (the ship's smaller tender boats will be used)- Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will disembark via the ship's tender to ride to port, upon arrival, we will board our motorcoach and ride to Acadia National Park. Home to sites such as Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain along the eastern coast of the United States and the first place in the country to see the sun rise.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Bar Harbor and explore the picturesque and charming town with its scenic and walkable streets lined with restaurants and boutiques or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Bar Harbor on our journey to Boston, Massachusetts.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach and head out on our morning field trip in Boston. New England’s largest city, Boston, Massachusetts, is home to historic sights and modern neighborhoods; stores and restaurants with old-time character; and gracious green spaces as well as a beautiful waterfront. Legendary figures of the American Revolution come alive at buildings and attractions along Boston’s Freedom Trail, including the Paul Revere House and Old South Meeting House.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon in Boston or enjoy the activities onboard.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. The ship will leave Boston on our journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day at sea.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: Aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation tomorrow.
Activity note: This concludes our program.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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