Afternoon: Orientation and Introductions at 4pm in the hotel. Get a feel for what lies ahead in New Orleans and on your cruise.


Dinner: Welcome dinner in the hotel. Another opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers.


Evening: Music of New Orleans and the Caribbean. Learn from experts about the evolution of Caribbean music and New Orleans Jazz.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Downtown

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in hotel--a full buffet of many choices greets you each morning.


Morning: "It's a New Orleans Thing" Unique New Orleans Traditions and Celebrations--your teacher is a New Orleans native who loves her city--learn more about Mardi Gras,King Cakes, St. Josephs Day, St. Joseph Altars, St. Patricks day parades, Jazz Fest,French Quarter Fest and much much more.


Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.


Afternoon: City excursion with your instructor. See the Garden District, St. Charles Avenue, Lakefront, City Park, Bayou St. John and some of Katrina's damage and recovery.


Dinner: Dinner at New Orleans School of Cooking. Enjoy the demonstration of unique New Orleans food and then enjoy eating it. Your teacher makes this fun while you learn and eat some really good food--even learn to make Pralines!


Evening: Voucher to Preservation Hall--one of the most famous places to hear REAL New Orleans Jazz in a place that is determined to save this important art-form.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Downtown

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in hotel.


Morning: Class at the Golden Feather Gallery with class and demonstrations of the Caribbean influences on New Orleans (as represented in song, dance, masking and unique foods). Enjoy the Calinda, stilt dancing. Learn about New Orleans special culture of the Mardi Gras Indians and view the spectacular costumes with one of the creators.


Lunch: Lunch is at the Golden Feather Gallery and restaurant to experience New Orleans/ Caribbean fare. The chef really knows her stuff and creates a genuine mix of Caribbean and New Orleans cuisine.


Afternoon: Visit Congo Square--the historic slave gathering place for markets, drumming and dancing. Hear the stories about what made New Orleans unique. Learn about the songs and dances that have carried over to this day in the culture of New Orleans.

Use vouchers to visit museums at Jackson Square. Cabildo for history. Presbytere for Mardi Gras and Katrina. Take your time or go as quickly as you please to enjoy these very special places full of characters that make up New Orleans past and present.


Dinner: Dinner at the unique and renowned Creole black owned restaurant, Dooky Chase. Also view fabulous art in the restaurant that was saved right before Katrina hit. You may be lucky enough to hear Leah Chase(winner of the Loving Cup in New Orleans--and much beloved chef and lover of New Orleans) share her history and ideas with you after you have eaten her special variety of Creole cuisine.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Downtown

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Brunch at the famous Court of Two Sisters with a fond musical farewell to New Orleans. Enjoy a display of interesting New Orleans foods such as Grits and Grillades, Duck, --Eggs Benedict and omelettes made to order. Try Boiled Crabs, crayfish and oysters.Taste the local King Cake that is served during Mardi Gras season andBread Pudding with a unique New Orelans sauce.

Enjoy Jazz while you eat in the courtyard that is quintessential New Orleans.


Morning: Free time for last minute visits to French Quarter--a walk in Jackson Square another Beignet or buy some pralines to take onto the ship or mail back home. Maybe you would enjoy a carriage ride or visit some of the renowned antique shops and galleries.


Lunch: Board the ship at 1 p.m.
Light lunch on the ship.


Afternoon: 4 p.m. - Ship departs New Orleans for your adventure in the Western Caribbean.


Dinner: Enjoy dinner on board the ship as we navigate the Mississippi River and make our way to the Gulf of Mexico.


Evening: Enjoy the ship's entertainment this evening and settle into your new home for the next week.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Lecture: Cultural and Natural Wonders of the Coast and Caribbean.


Lunch: On board the ship.


Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy ship amenities.

Visit the ship's Internet Café and check-up on outside news and emails, enjoy the sun deck and the inviting waters of the Tivoli Pool, pamper yourself at the Hair & Beauty Salon or indulge in a relaxing time at the Roman Spa.


Dinner: On board the ship.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Disembark in Cozumel and board a ferry to Playa del Carmen.

From Playa del Carmen, transfer to Tulum. Admire and study the ancient Maya ruins of Tulum during walking explorations of the archaeological site.

Although the ruins at Tulum lack the grandeur of Chichén Itzá and Cobá, its setting is breathtaking. Situated on a cliff, overlooking the azure waters of the Caribbean, the Tulum ruins are a popular destination for travelers to the Yucatán.

Despite having been built sometime during the Early Classic Period (250-600), the walled city of Tulum did not gain true importance until the Late Post Classic Period (1200-1530). When the Spaniards arrived in the early sixteenth century, Tulum still operated as an important trading port. It is believed to be one of the last cities of the Mayan world to be abandoned after Spain's conquest.


Lunch: At a local restaurant at Playa del Carmen.


Afternoon: Time at leisure to explore Playa del Carmen.

Take the ferry back to Cozumel and board the ship.


Dinner: On board the ship.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Belize City -
Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center/ House of Culture/City Orientation

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Disembark in Belize City.

Field trip to the Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center.

The small zoo was established in the early 1980s with the purpose of saving native animals that had once been used for making documentary films. Deciding that it was important to educate Belizeans about native wildlife, the founders turned the animal shelter into a wildlife education center. The animals are enclosed in reproductions of their natural habitats and many have religious or ceremonial significance in Mayan lore.


Lunch: Experience Belizean cuisine at a local restaurant.


Afternoon: After lunch, return to Belize City for a field trip to the House of Culture. The visit will provide an overview of the rich history and culture of the Garifuna that will include exhibits and musical and dance presentations.

On the way back to the pier, acquaint yourself with the architecture and history of Belize City during a short city orientation.

Belize's most populous city, and former colonial capital, is also the nation's most important sea port and commercial and banking center. The coastal city has a Caribbean atmosphere and many locals communicate in Creole. An exploration of Belize City's bustling streets reveals an interesting melting pot of cultures, including Maya, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, Chinese, European, and others. Historic buildings such as St. John's Anglican Cathedral and the Government House hail back to the days of British Honduras and colonial rule.

Board the ship and take advantage of some free time to freshen-up before dinner.


Dinner: On board the ship.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Roatan -
Carambola Botanical Gardens/Butterfly Farm/Reef Snorkeling at West Bay

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Disembark at Roatan.

Forty miles long and two miles wide, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands. Once favored by pirates then controlled by the British, the island is now a preferred destination for divers and romantics. It has a mountainous backbone, is surrounded by coral reef, and boasts some of the best snorkeling and diving in the hemisphere.

A short, 20 minute, drive by air conditioned bus will take us to the beautiful Carambola Botanical Gardens. Listen to a lecture on the history of fruit commerce between Roatan and New Orleans before enjoying a guided walk on the botanical garden's trails.

After leaving Carambola's attractive gardens, head to a local butterfly farm. See and study some of Honduras' most colorful species including varieties such as common owl, zebra, helicopter, firecracker, julia's, sunset longwing, monarch, and queen butterflies.


Lunch: At a local restaurant.


Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to West Bay. A lecture on reef ecology, plus an overview of snorkeling procedures, prepares us for a guided exploration of Roatan's beautiful coral reefs.

Return to the ship.


Dinner: On board the ship.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Morning at leisure to enjoy the ship amenities and get ready for today's activities.

Disembark at Costa Maya Port in the town of Mahahual.

Transfer to the Chacchoben Maya community (approximately 50 mins drive). Once there, enjoy some cultural interaction and learn about the life of the modern day Maya. Visit the home of a local family.


Lunch: Learn about local foods and help to prepare a typical meal--including the making of corn tortillas-- using fresh and wholesome ingredients. Then sit down to enjoy the savory fruits of your labor and watch a demonstration of traditional Maya dances.


Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to the nearby Chacchoben Archaeological Site.

Most of the ancient Maya buildings at Chacchoben were designed in the Peten style and were constructed during the Classic Period (A.D. 200-700). The complex contains a number of temples and smaller structures that were used for ceremonial purposes. Because some of the buildings still have the remnants of the original stucco and paint, visitors are not allowed to climb the temples.

Late-afternoon return to the ship.


Dinner: On board the ship.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: On board the ship.


Morning: Lecture: The Mesoamerican Reef and the Caribbean Sea.


Lunch: On board the ship.


Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the ship's wide range of amenities.

Walk-off the effects of indulging in the ship's culinary delights with a jog or walk on the outdoor track, or perhaps swim a few laps in the jet exercise pool, play a pick-up game of basketball, lift weights at the fitness center or even practice your golf swing at one of two driving nets.


Dinner: On board the ship.


Evening: Celebrate the last night of your cruise with newlyfound friends. Get together for some evening entertainment at the Stardust Theater, socialize and dance the night away at Maharini's Lounge and Nightclub, try your luck at the crap table at Maharajah's Casino, or join in a friendly game of darts at Henry's Pub.

Lodging: Norwegian Jewel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.


Morning: Arrive at Port Orleans. Disembark in the morning for individual departures.

Meals Included: Breakfast