Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

• Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
• Visit Reunification Palace
• Stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
• Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
• Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
• Service of English Speaking Local Guides.
• Ports permit arranged
• Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
• One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
• Vietnam Government tax and services charge

 
Not Included:

• All international and domestic air tickets
• Accommodation
• Vietnamese visa arrival
• Other meals than those specified
• Travel insurance
• Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

• Visit Reunification Palace
• Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
• Visit History Museum & Jade Emperor Pagoda
• Visit China Town & Cao Dai Temple en-route
• Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
• Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
• Service of English-speaking local guides
• Ports permit arranged
• Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
• One 0.5 litre bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
• Vietnam Government tax and services charge

 
Not Included:

• All international and domestic air tickets
• Accommodation
• Vietnamese visa on arrival
• Other meals than those specified.
• Travel Insurance.
• Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights:

• Get on a motorized sampan to experience the life of local people, visit local brickwork, local fruit farms, family workshops Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
• Take rowing-boat along water palm creek and cruise back to the Pier
• If time permits, have a quick visit of Sai Gon or shopping at Ben Thanh Market

Tour Duration: 10 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
• Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
• Service of English-speaking local guides
• Private boat cruise on Mekong River
• Ports permit arranged
• Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
• One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
• Vietnam Government tax and services charge

 
Not Included:

• All international and domestic air tickets
• Accommodation
• Vietnamese visa on arrival
• Other meals than those specified.
• Travel insurance
• Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.

Saigon Port

SAIGON PORT

 
Destination: Saigon
Tour Duration: Within 4 hours or 8 hours 

Tour Description:
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.

Note: There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports.
 
Inclusions:
• Private transfers and transportation on tour
• Sightseeing with local English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Non-inclusions:
• Vietnam visa
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Other meals where not mentioned in the program
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column

Saigon City Highlights

SAIGON CITY HIGHLIGHTS

 
Destination: Saigon
Tour Duration: 8-9 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE002

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port or Hiep Phuoc Port), drive to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food. After lunch, we drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.
 
Notes:

• Availability: Morning, Afternoon.
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.
• Due to the anticipated completion of the renovation project for Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2027, we are limited to exploring its exterior for the time being.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon - Cooking Class at Ambassador's Former Residence

COOKING CLASS AT AMBASSADOR'S FORMER RESIDENCE

 
Destination: Saigon             
Tour Duration: 5-6 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE015

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port or Hiep Phuoc port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive to the residence of The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between 1960 - 1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The Vietnamese cooking class commences with a visit to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing to this historic home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes such as Fresh Spring Roll, Pan Cake, and Fish in clay pot. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old-world ambiance of the villa. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Inclusions: Lunch with the foods prepared during the cooking class.
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.
• Age restrictions: Children from 12 years old onward are allowed by joining the cooking station with their parents.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon - Retracing The Past

RETRACING THE PAST

 
Destination: Cu Chi Tunnels
Tour Duration: 5-6 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE009

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port or Hiep Phuoc port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Inclusion: Simple pho at Pho Binh is included
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon City Tour on Vintage Car

SAIGON CITY TOUR ON VINTAGE CAR

 
Destination: Saigon             
Tour Duration: 4 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE011

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Saigon is the country’s commercial center and, with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, a city that never sleeps. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. Driven in a charming vintage car to visit the city’s highlights is one of the most wonderful & lavish way. Sit back and enjoy a city tour to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris (Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until 2027). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustave Eiffel. Continue your visit with the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war, revealing the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past. Further, head to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid insight of the American war through the local’s eyes (Please note that some of the photos are very graphic). Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Inclusion: No meal included
• This excursion is only available for any guests arriving to Saigon via Nha Rong port.
• Due to the anticipated completion of the renovation project for Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2027, we are limited to exploring its exterior for the time being.

 
Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon - City Highlights & Musician Family Visit

CITY HIGHLIGHTS  & MUSICIAN FAMILY VISIT

 
Destination: Saigon             
Tour Duration: 4-5 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE014

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port or Hiep Phuoc port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to the city center to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris. Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel, before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest buildings in Saigon. Pay a short visit to Ben Thanh market (if time permits) which is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs, as well as local cuisine. Then visit a local family of musicians. Learn about traditional musical instruments through conversations with the artists and listen to the performances from each family member (3-generations). You then have the chance to try the instruments yourself - a memorable if somewhat noisy experience! Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Inclusion: No meal included
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.
• Due to the anticipated completion of the renovation project for Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2027, we are limited to exploring its exterior for the time being.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon - In The Dark: A Blind Experience

IN THE DARK - A BLIND EXPERIENCE

 
Destination: Saigon             
Tour Duration: 4-5 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE016

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port or Hiep Phuoc port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive to Bung Sang, a small private home and school for over a hundred blind orphans in Saigon. The school was founded by a blind musician - Mr. Dao Khanh Truong. With the love and care for unlucky children, he spent most of his life teaching the children and gathering support from the benefactors. After he passed away few years ago, Bung Sang was given to the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters to take care of. This afternoon, visit the school, talk with the manager for a thorough understanding of their lives here, meet the children and listen to them singing, playing music. Afterwards transfer to Noir restaurant for a special culinary journey - dining in the dark. The concept is to imitate the experience of having meals like a blind person, which is a unique mind-altering experience. Leave behind the sight and let your other senses lead your mind to feel the taste of food. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Pick up time: 16:30
• Inclusions: Set menu at Noir restaurant.
• Capacity: Maximum 10 pax due to the limited space of Bung Sang Home.
• Age restrictions: Children from 10 years old onward are allowed to enjoy the dining experience. For younger children, this experience may be a little frightening and informing in advance is highly recommended.
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.
• Dress code: Smart casual is highly recommended. Shorts and slippers are fine, however no tank tops and no glowing shoes, clothing or accessories.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Saigon - City Highlights & Lunch at Ambassador's Home

CITY HIGHLIGHTS & LUNCH AT AMBASSADOR'S HOME

 
Destination: Saigon             
Tour Duration: 5-6 hours 
Code: MDSGNSE019

Tour Description:
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port or Hiep Phuoc port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to the city center to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris (It is only possible to visit inside when no service is being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel, before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest buildings in Saigon. Pay a short visit to Ben Thanh market (if time permits) which is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs, as well as local cuisine. Then drive to the residence of The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between 1960 - 1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. Meet with the present host for an introduction of the house before enjoying a home-hosted lunch in the historic setting. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
 
Notes:

• Pick up time: TBA. In the morning and is subject to cruise docking time.
• Inclusions: home hosted lunch
• There is an extra charge for transfer from other ports beside Nha Rong or Hiep Phuoc port.

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Half Day Singapore City Tour – 4 hours - Singapore

Highlights:

• Bumboat Ride
• Merlion Park
• Drive around the Civic District
• National Orchid Garden Admission

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes, if guests can walk a short
distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
• Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
• Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
• A Bottled Water

Not Included:

• Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
• Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
• Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc. 

Singapore - Good Morning, Ni Hao (Walking Tour)

GOOD MORNING, NI HAO (WALKING TOUR)

Destination: Singapore    
Tour Duration: 4 hours 
Code: MDSINSP001

Tour Description:

Move your senses with the sights and sounds of a wet market and watch how locals hunt for the freshest bargain. It's no mystery why the term 'wet' is used as stall owners use water in the market to wash floors, to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, and to keep seafood alive. Check out local favorites like century egg, black chicken and wide array of spices. Next adjourn to Singapore's largest hawker centre for a leisurely breakfast. Your day is not complete without visiting a traditional heritage shop where you will see where locals purchase their supply of herbs, tonic and even pastries, which are used for family tea time. End your tour on a sweet note with a sampling of local desserts.

Notes:

• Pick up time: 09:00
• The market visit will be substituted if it’s closed for spring cleaning
• Inclusion: Food sampling at hawker centre and local dessert shop are included.
• Capacity: 1 – 14 persons. Bigger group is on request basis.
• Availability: Everyday, except during F1 Period when surcharge might be applied.
• Guide: TBA

Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Full Day Singapore Tour – 8 hours - Singapore

Highlights:

• Bumboat Ride
• Merlion Park
• Drive around the Civic District
• National Orchid Garden Admission
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Kampong Glam
• Arab Street
• Chinatown
• Little India
• Tekka Centre

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible:  Yes, if guests can walk a short distance to board the bumboat when wheelchair must be foldable to fit into the minivan.

Physical Activity Level:  Moderate

Inclusions:

• Pick up/ Drop off services to/from cruise port
• Licensed, professional English-speaking guide
• Transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle
• Bottled Water

Not Included:

• Meals that are not mentioned in the above itinerary
• Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities.
• Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurants, etc.

Singapore - Gardens By The Bay (3.5 Hours)

Highlights:

• Enter one of the "Top 10 Indoor Gardens of the World" - a futuristic area of garden artistry and horticulture spread over 101 hectares.
• In the Flower Dome we can marvel at the world's largest glass greenhouse, and wander amongst baobabs, thousand-year-old olive trees, a changing flower field display and more.
• In the Cloud Forest we will enter a mysterious world veiled in mist, as we come face to face with the 35-metre tall indoor waterfall and explore seven discovery zones.

Tour Duration:      3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• English-speaking guide.
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
• 1 complimentary bottle of drinking water and 1 cold towel per person per half day tour/ 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person per full day tour.
• Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary.

Not Included:

• Visa fees
• Lunch
• Drinks
• Personal expenses

Singapore - Heartlands Tour (3.5 Hours)

Highlights:

• Visit Toa Payoh New Town. This is the first town to be built by the Housing Development Board, the government arm in charge of public housing in Singapore.
• Explore a typical self-sufficient town complete with public vs private housing, public transport, public amenities as well as industrial and commercial areas.
• Visit the public recreation areas and view a typical show flat for a public housing building. Visits to a wet market and hawker centre will give us an even deeper glimpse into local life. (Showflat is not open on Sundays and public holidays)

Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning (Suggested starting time: 09h00 or 14h00)
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Local English Speaking Guide
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.
• 2 bottles of water and 2 cold towels per person
• Sightseeing including admission fees according to itinerary. 

Not Included:

• Personal Expenses, Tipping

Singapore City Tour (4 hours)

Half-day tour to Singapore City

Highlights

• Botanical Gardens
• Chinatown
• Bum Boat ride - 30-minute ride (share-basis)
• Merlion Park & Little India

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

Not Included

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel Insurance
• Any Visa

Singapore Sentosa Tour (4 hours)

Half-day tour to Singapore - Sentosa

Highlights

• Sentosa Resort
• Sentosa Merlion Tower
• SEA Aquarium

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

 
 

Singapore Night Safari Tour (4 hours)

Evening Singapore Safari Tour

Highlights

• 1815 hrs   Singapore Night Safari
• 2215 hrs  Return to hotel

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood Tour (4 hours)

Half Day Tour to Singapore Ethnic Neighbourhood

Highlights

• Kampong Glam
• Bugis Village
• Trishaw ride (2 persons to 1 Trishaw)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Foodie Tour (4 hours)

Half day tour to Singapore Foodie

Highlights

• Maxwell Hawker Centre or Lau Pat Sat (either one of the above venue depending availability)
• Tea Chapter

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay (4 hours)

Half day tour to Singapore Flyer & Gardens By The Bay

Highlights

• Singapore Flyer - a 35 minutes ride (share-basis)
• Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Toa Payoh Hub Tour (4 hours)

Half day tour to Singapore Toa Payoh Hub

Highlights

• Toa Payoh (a first generation New Town built in the late 1960s)
• Coffee break in a local coffee shop
• Take a subway for a 5 minutes drive to Bishan (a second generation New Town, designed and built in the early 1990's)

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Singapore Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations Tour (4 hours)

Half day tour to Crazy Rich Asians Movie Locations in Singapore

Highlights

• Bukit Pasoh
• Newton Food Centre
• Chijmes
• Raffles Hotel

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
 
Inclusions:

• Transportation is by private vehicle (Mercedes Benz E200) with services of a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Local bottled water & entrance fees during sightseeing
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Service voucher

 
Not Included:

• Any cruise arrangements
• Any meals
• Travel insurance
• Any visa 

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Georgetown Heritage Tour – 4 hours

Highlights:

• Peranakan Mansion Museum
• Little India
• Chinese Clan Houses
• Armenian Street
• Street Art
• Chocolate Boutique

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can operate: Morning and afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Return transfer from/ to the port with private car and English speaking guide
• Entrance fee to Khoo Kongsi and Pinang Peranakan Mansion (main hall only)

Not Included:

• Any sightseeing or meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Gratuity to the guide & driver
• Miscellaneous charges

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)

Enjoy a private chauffeur-driven luxury sedan with driver for “At Your Leisure” touring. You decide where you want to go and what you want to see.

Inclusions: 
• Transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide 
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers

Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,”  “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.

Continue driving to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill, which offers scenic views over Phuket Town. Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. After exploring the temple, return to the ship.

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 4 hours   

Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,”  “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.

Continue to Saphan Hin, a recreational park that houses a tin mining monument dedicated to Australian Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the man who brought the first dredge to Phuket in 1909. Then visit the Chinese shrine in the park to discover a traditional place of worship.

Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. 

Finally, make a stop at Laem Phromthep, a stunning coastal viewpiont that offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Transfer back to the ship.

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 8 hours   

Life of Old Phuket - 4 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Walk along the old streets of town and feel the charm of lives lived a century ago around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. Visit Thai Hau Museum to learn more about the history of the island.

Continue to a Chinese shrine set in a peaceful spot along Phang Nga Road. Despite being in the center of town, the shrine remains unaffected by the hustle and bustle. Then drive to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill to admire scenic views over Phuket Town before returning to the ship. 

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 4 hours   

Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours

Meet your professional local guide to explore some of the beautiful natural scenery and cultural highlights of Phuket. Visit a rubber plantation to learn about the arduous work of collecting sap and transforming it into sheets of rubber. Then continue to Bang Pae waterfall to admire the tropical greenery and observe the wildlife at the nearby Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
 
Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 
 
You may stop for lunch on your own account at Blue Elephant restaurant, serving traditional Thai cuisine. After lunch, stop by to see the Big Buddha temple and enjoy the scenic views before returning to the ship.

Optional Costs:
• Lunch at Blue Elephant including two units of drinks (water, juice, soft drink)

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 8 hours   

Phuket Port

THAILAND - PHUKET PORT 

Destination: Phuket 
Tour Duration: Within 4 hours or 8 hours 

Tour Description:
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
 
Inclusions:
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Meals
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column


 

Phuket - Town Sightseeing Half Day

PHUKET TOWN SIGHTSEEING HALF DAY

 
Destination: Phuket
Tour Duration: 05 hours
Code: MDHKTSE003

Tour Description:
Disembark the ship and meet your guide. Depart on a drive along the Phuket coastline past Karon Beach and Kata Beach to a viewpoint where you can see Phuket’s three most beautiful beaches. Continue to Promthep Cape at the southernmost point of Phuket for its best viewpoint of the coastline. Drive by Rawai Beach and visit Wat Chalong, Phuket’s largest and most revered temple, built at the beginning of the 19^th century. Next, stop at a cashew nut factory to see how the nuts are grown and processed. Drive back to Old Phuket to see the charming Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang and Debuk Roads, reflecting the architecture of people who came to Phuket centuries ago for its tin mining industry. Return to the port and your ship.
Notes:

• Suggested departure time: 11:00.
• Timing may be changed without prior notice, depending on local conditions such as weather, traffic and / or other conditions.
• Lunch is not included, but there are places to stop for a quick bite, if desired (Local noodle shop or snacks at the Sino-Portuguese area).

 Inclusions:

• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Exclusions:

• Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Cochin: Highlights - 7.5 hours

9AM- 10:30AM 
Disembark the ship drive for 45 minutes to Tripunithura and visit the Hill Palace which was the official residence of the Cochin Royal family built in 1865. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala and in surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land with a deer park. A fully fledged ethno-archaeological museum and Kerala's first ever heritage Museum are the main attractions. Displayed inside are 19^th century paintings, murals sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions and coins belonging to the royal family.

Cooking demonstration and lunch can be arranged at a local home ( on direct payment basis)

2PM- 4PM     

In the afternoon, before returning to the ship which is towards the Silk Route trading post of Fort Cochin, these days a `Heritage Zone’. Beginning with the Chinese and Arabs in the 13^th century, the Portuguese arrived in 1500 A.D. followed by the domination of the Dutch and British. See St. Francis Church originally built in 1510 and the first to reflect European influenced tradition. Portuguese hero Vasco Da Gama died on the site and was buried in the cemetery. 

At Matancherry, there’s the Dutch Palace built in 1557 by the Portuguese as a gift for the Maharaja of Cochin in exchange for trading rights. The Palace houses royal costumes, palanquins, furniture and weapons but its striking feature is a series of murals painted on wooden walls. Later, stop by the Pardesi synagogue, at the heart of what is locally called Jew town. (Closed for a visit on Fridays and Saturday)

4PM - 4:30PM   Thereafter return to the pier. 

Added Value: 

•       Great introduction to Cochin city.
•       The Tour covers the main highlights of the city i.e Depart the Fort Cochin, St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry, the Dutch Palace and later Jew Street (or Spice Street) in Jew Town.    
•  

- Tour Duration: 7 hours
- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : Moderate
- Wheelchair Accessible : No

Closing dates : Fridays - Dutch Palace in Mattancherry  and Fridays & Saturdays – Jewish  Synagogue.     

Inclusions:

- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle 
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.  

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Mangalore - 4 hours

Mangalore is a typical South Indian experience with its quaint mix of old and new. From the pier, we drive towards the city center with our first stop at the Cashew nut processing factory for which the town is renowned. We then explore its cosmopolitan nature visiting the Gokarnath Temple belonging to the industrious Billora community offering an insight into the South Indian form of worship. Its religious hustle and bustle gets contrasted in the chapel of St. Aloysius on Lighthouse hill which has important frescoes depicting the life of Christ by Italian masters.

Added Value: -

-Great introduction to Mangalore city a typically small Indian town and very different from other Indian ports. The mix of the characters in this tour makes for a truly unique experience.

- The Tour covers the main highlights of the city i.e the Achal Cashew processing plant, the Gokarnath Temple, St. Aloysius Chapel etc..

Recommended:

Comfortable footwear, hats and sun block for protection against the sun. Footwear to be removed at the temple & no skimpy dress.

- Tour Duration: 4 hours

- Tour can operate : Morning

- Physical activity level : Moderate

- Wheelchair Accessible : No
- Please note: Cashew factory is closed on Sundays and Public holidays.

Inclusions:

- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle

- Services of a local English speaking guide.

- All the entrance fees and camera fees.

- Credit card and bank charges.

- All the prevailing taxes.

Mangalore: Karkala and Moorbidri - 4.5 hours

A statue rising 12.6 meters and engraved from a single stone rises at a foot of a hill in Karkala erected in 1432 alongside a temple in honor of the great prince Bahubali or “the one with strong shoulders”. Bahubali fought a fierce battle with his brother for a throne but having succeeded then turned to meditation and prayer for 12 long years. Soon creepers started winding around him which gets depicted in this gigantic statue.
 

At Moodbidri, we see another masterpiece of the industrious Jain community which became on offshoot of Hinduism. They called them Basidas or residence of god.

Commissioned by king Devaraja Woodeyar in 1430 AD the temple has a thousand pillars no two of which are alike.

Interspersed between these two highlights is the Soan’s Farm started by the Swiss – German Basel Missionary society in 1926. Alfred Soans made innovative changes to the dry laterite soil and with inter cropping and better water management farmed superior qualities of upland rice, coconut, arecanut, banana, chillies, ginger, tapioca, mango and spices like clove, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom. Most famous are his Soan’s pineapples which we get to sample.

Added Value:

The imposing statute and the temple are great sights. The visit to the Soans horticultural Farm is a highlight of this tour. In the past, guests have thoroughly enjoyed this excursion.

Recommended: Comfortable footwear, hats and sun block for protection against the sun. Footwear to be removed at the temple & no skimpy dress. It may be advisable to carry a pair of socks for the temple walk.

- Tour Duration: 4 ½ hours

- Tour can operate : Morning
- Physical activity level : High
- Wheelchair Accessible : No

Please note the climb involves 212 steps to reach the statue atop the hilllock. Comfortable footwear, hats and sun block for protection against the sun. Footwear to be removed & advisable to carry a pair of socks.

 

Inclusions:

- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle - Services of a local English speaking guide.

- All the entrance fees and camera fees.

- Light refreshments at Soan Farms.

- Credit card and bank charges.

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Mumbai: 9 hours

With a population exceeding 18 million, this one time group of low lying mud flats is now India’s economic power base and her most industrialized city, bustling with activity of incredible diversity and complexity, her color and elegance, her wealth corresponding with her historic struggle against poverty. Certain affluent areas give Bombay an air of mini–Manhattan!
 

8:30am - 9:30am:  
Depart   the   pier for the famous Gateway of India en route to Banganga. This Indo-Saracenic archway was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, and is the city's most famous landmark.

We then proceed to Banganga via Art Deco Marine Drive also called the Queens Necklace at night due to its curve shape around the bay.
 

9:30am - 10:30am
Walk around Banganga, the sacred tank surrounded by four hundred-year-old temples and modern skyscrapers. Nowhere are Bombay’s paradoxes more evident than at Banganga. Part of an ancient temple complex, the water in this tank is believed to come from the Holy Ganges. It sprung forth when Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana stopped at the spot five thousand years ago, in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. Overcome with fatigue and thirst, he asked his brother Laxman to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the Ganga, over a thousand miles away. Although the story is the stuff of legend, the tank has always been sacred. On pious occasions, thousands turn up to take a ritual dip in its mossy waters, and offer flowers at the ancient Banganga Temples.
 

10:30am - 10:50am
Drive to Dhobi Ghat.
 

10:50 - 11:15
Visit the `Dhobi Ghat’, the city’s open-air laundry! where “Dhobis’ (washermen) attend to an astounding quantity of washing daily. Clothes, linen, towels… are washed in small open air cubicles rented out each day. An itemized account is logged in a notebook and clothes collected from households are returned a week later. Through the apparent chaos incredibly nothing gets lost from a countless number of pieces and most clothes somehow survive the beating they receive on the washing stones.
 

11:15pm - 11:45pm 
Drive to Churchgate Railway Station.
 

11:45am - 12:15pm
We stop at the Churchgate Railway Station to see the `Dabbawallahs’, members of the Bombay Union of Tiffin Box Carriers, described by Prince Charles as the symbol of this enigmatic and intriguing city.  Each morning, the 2500 dabbawallahs call on suburban housewives who pack a freshly cooked lunch into small circular aluminum or stainless steel containers - `dabbas’.  Typically the dabbawallahs collect 30-40 boxes, range them out on a long pole and cycle to the nearest station. Here he hands them over to a fellow dabbawallah who then transports them into the city for delivery to the consumer.  Over 100,000 lunches of maybe sabze (vegetable curry), chapattis (Indian bread), dal (lentils) and pickle, make their way daily across town to the breadwinner and back again. The service which costs a few rupees a week, is a good example of the fine division of labor in India, reliable and efficient for the dabbawallahs pride themselves on never losing a lunch.
 

12:15pm - 12:30pm
Drive to `Khyber’ restaurant for lunch which specializes in the Northwest frontier cuisine.
 

12:30pm - 2:00pm
Lunch (on own)
 

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Drive to Mani Bhawan passing through the teeming commercial areas, Crawford Market and many handsome buildings of Victorian Bombay, including the University and Victoria Terminus. 
 

2:30pm - 3:15pm
Visit the Gandhi Museum. Located on leafy Laburnum Road, a quiet lane named after its shady trees, Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It's a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the Mahatma's life, and well preserved memorabilia, including an old charkha or spinning wheel that Gandhiji used to use. 
 

3:15pm - 4:45pm
Before returning  to the  pier, we spend some time where it all began, where the  tide of  human life rolls down the center of the street, unruffled by vehicles from all quarters ploughing their way through it. No visit to Bombay is complete without a foray into the bazaars of Bhuleshwar.  The city’s densest concentration of lifestyle and retail jewelry stores is a crush of shop fronts, street stalls, hawkers and handicrafts and a seething mass of people. It may look like absolute chaos but the areas are closely knit, and cohesively built around the traditional residential complex, temples, flower markets, community halls, cow shelter and bazaars. Within a few square kilometers there are a dozen bazaars and more commodities for sale than you will see probably anywhere else in a lifetime.

 

4: 45  -  5:30
Drive back to the ship.

Added Value:

-     A good overview of the unique aspects of this unique city.

- Tour Duration: 8 – 9 hours

- Tour can operate : Morning

- Physical activity level : Moderate

- Wheelchair Accessible : No

Inclusions:
- Transportation by an air-conditioned vehicle 
- Services of a local English speaking guide.
- All the entrance fees and camera fees.
- Credit card and bank charges.
- All the prevailing taxes.  

FULL DAY MARVELS OF MUMBAI

FULL DAY
MARVELS OF MUMBAI
 
Proceed to Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark –an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure. You will make a stop here for photographs.
 
See the highlights of the city from the comfort of your minivan as you set off for a tour of Mumbai city. Your tour begins with the Gateway of India (PLEASE STOP FOR A WHILE SO THE GUEST CAN TAKE PHOTO), the city's most famous landmark - an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. It was originally conceived as an entry point for passengers arriving on P&O steamers from England; today it is remembered more often as the place from which the British staged their final departure.
 
Continue through Marine Drive, Mumbai's seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. This hill is Mumbai's ritziest neighborhood. Popular since the 18th century because of its forested slopes, fresh sea breezes and panoramic views, merchants and colonial governors built many mansions and bungalows on its hillsides.
 
Your drive includes a look at a most remarkable railway station. Inspired by St. Pancras Station in London, the Victoria Terminus was built during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. It is an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets in a style that was described by journalist James Cameron as "Victorian-Gothic-Saracenic-Italianate-Oriental-St.  Pancras-Baroque". The first train in India left from this station in April 1853; today half a million commuters use the station every day.
 
Depart to Church Gate Station and spend some time watching the dabba-wallahs, the members of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. Every day 4,000 of them deliver fresh, home-cooked food from 100,000 suburban kitchens to offices in the downtown area. Each lunch is prepared by a loving wife or mother, and packed into a set of stackable aluminum boxes. The meals are carried to their hungry recipients dangling from shoulder-poles and bicycle handlebars, and stacked on decorated handcarts. Tins are rarely, if ever, lost, and always find their way home again to be washed up for the next day’s lunch.
 
Even if you are not possessed of an interest in other people’s dirty laundry, you’ll be fascinated by the dhobi ghats, your next stop. Each morning washing from all over Mumbai is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. The next day, after being aired, pressed, folded and wrapped, the bundles are returned from whence they came. The secret that keeps the operation running smoothly is the coded symbol that each dhobi-wallah places on every item. Invisible to the untrained eye, this mark ensures that nothing will be lost. Stop here for photos that you’ll never be able to duplicate anywhere else.
 
Proceed for Taj Mahal Hotel for Lunch on direct payment basis.
 
You will continue to The Prince of Wales Museum, crowned by a white Mughal-style dome, the finest work done by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India.
 
Return to pier.
 
 

TIMING	ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST	DISTANCE & TERRAIN	W/C FRIENDLY
09h30 – 11h00	Orientation tour of Mumbai, Gateway of India, Malabar Hill and VT Station.		This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues
11h00 – 11h20	Proceed to Churchgate station
11h20 – 11h40	Watch the Dabba-wallas at Churchgate	10 meters / even
11h40 – 12h15	Drive to Dhobi Ghat
12h15 – 12h45	Visit  Dhobi Ghat	100 meters / Flat / 5 steps
12h45 – 13h15	Drive to Taj Mahal Hotel for lunch on direct payment basis
13h15 – 14h15	Lunch at Taj Mahal Hotel	150 meters / Flat / 4 steps
14h15 – 15h30	Drive to Prince of wales Museum and visit
15h30 – 16h00	Return to pier	50 meters / Uneven

 

HALF DAY MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI

HALF DAY
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES OF MUMBAI
 
Explore the history, art and people of Mumbai and India during this informative half-day visit to the area's finest museums and galleries.

Depart from pier for the drive to Mani Bhawan, Gandhi's Bombay residence between 1917 and 1934. Mani Bhawan is now a permanent museum and memorial to the Mahatma. It contains a research library of more than 20,000 volumes, and a series of tiny dioramas depicting his life story in an interesting fashion. The walls are covered with photos of historic events and noteworthy people.

Next, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, easily recognized by its unique white Mughal-style dome. The museum is the finest work by architect George Wittet, who also designed the Gateway of India. It houses interesting displays of jade work, antique weapons, Indian paintings, illustrated manuscripts, exquisite miniatures, and clay and terracotta figures from the 3rd century B.C. Adjacent to Prince of Wales Museum, you will find the Jehangir Art Gallery. Mumbai's best-known venue for contemporary art, Jehangir is home to five small galleries displaying changing exhibits of 20^th century arts and crafts from around the world.

Return to pier.
 

TIMING	ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST	DISTANCE / TERRAIN	W/C FRIENDLY
00h00 – 00h30	Pier to Mani Bhawan		This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues
00h30 – 01h00	Arrive and visit Mani Bhawan	20 steps/ Uneven Terrain
01h00 – 01h30	Leave for Prince of Wales Museum
01h30 – 02h30	Arrive and visit Prince of Wales Museum	50 steps/flat Terrain
02h30 – 02h35	Walk down to adjacent Jahangir Art Gallery
02h35 – 03h20	Arrive and visit Jahangir Art Museum	15 steps/ flat Terrain
03h20 – 04h00	Back to pier

 

FULL DAY THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA

FULL DAY
THE CAVES OF ELEPHANTA
 
More than a thousand years ago, Hindu craftsmen carved columns and sculptures out of a series of caves located on an island off the shores of Mumbai, creating a temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Portuguese named the island Elephanta, after the large statue of an elephant they found near the spot where they docked their ships. Come and discover the unique beauty and intriguing tales of these temple caves with today’s memorable excursion.
 
Travel by minivan vehicle to the Gateway of India, the city’s most recognized landmark. Built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the archway was originally conceived as an entry point for people arriving on steamers from England. Today, the gateway serves as a launching point for your own exploration of the Elephanta Temple.
 
Boarding a motor boat, enjoy the approximately one hour and thirty minutes cruise to the Elephanta landing. From the jetty you have the option of either taking the mini train or walking approximately 15 minutes to the base of the long stairway which leads to the top of the hill, where the caves are located. As you enter, you will see a magnificent sculpture of Shiva as Nataraj, showing an enraptured expression as he removes the veil of ignorance. The most outstanding sculpture is a bust of Trimurti—the three-faced Shiva representing the Hindu trinity, Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. In other panels, Shiva is depicted in service to humanity as he brings the River Ganges to Earth, and at his most fearsome as he crushes the demon of Andhaka. Later, board the motor boat for return cruise to the Gateway.

Re-board your vehicle for the transfer back to your ship.
 
 

TIMING	ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST	DISTANCE & TERRAIN	W/C FRIENDLY
00h00 - 00h15	Depart from the pier by minivan to the Gateway of India		This tour is NOT suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues
00h15 - 01h45	Board the motor boat and cruise to Elephanta Island
01h45 - 03h45	Arrive and visit Elephanta Island	1.5km / Uneven, cobblestones / 125 long steps each way
03h45 - 05h15	Board your motor boat and return to Mumbai
05h15 – 05h30	Return to the pier

 

FULL DAY THE VICTORIAN PAST

FULL DAY
THE VICTORIAN PAST

Experience the highlights of this fascinating city, with its Western monuments and Eastern sensibilities.

Begin your tour with photo stop at the Gateway of India, the city’s most famous landmark an Indo-Saracenic archway built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.

Next visit, The Church of St John the Evangelist better known as Afghan Church in South Mumbai, built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous First Afghan War of 1838. The church is located in Navy Nagar in the Colaba area of Mumbai. Besides British soldiers it also commemorates different Indian regiments, such as the Bombay Army, the Madras Army, and Ranjit Singh's army from Lahore.

Drive along Marine Drive-Mumbai’s seaside promenade, an eight-lane highway with a wide pavement. Its graceful curve sweeps from the skyscrapers at Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, Mumbai’s ritziest neighborhood. At the top of hill are the Hanging Gardens, laid out in 1881. Here, an assortment of hedges, trimmed into animal shapes. The gardens also offer a superb view of the bustling city centre in the distance.

You then proceed to Bhau Daji Lad Museum (formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum) one of the oldest museums in Mumbai. It was established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. The museum houses a large number of archaeological finds, maps and historical photographs of Mumbai.

You then visit, Crawford Market - one of South Mumbai's most famous markets. It is named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. The market is situated near to Victoria Terminus railway station. The market houses a wholesale fruit, vegetable and poultry market.

Finally, visit and savor a relaxing lunch while exploring the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which dates back to the 1500s before returning back to the ship.
  

TIMING	ITINERARY & POINTS OF INTEREST	DISTANCE / TERRAIN	W/C FRIENDLY
00h00 – 00h10	Leave from pier to Gateway of India		This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs; and those with mobility issues
00h10 – 00h15	Arrive at Gateway of India (photo stop only)	10 steps/ flat Terrain
00h15 – 00h30	Leave for Afghan Church
00h30 – 01h00	Arrive and visit Afghan Church	4 steps/ flat Terrain
01h00 – 01h30	Leave for Hanging Gardens
01h30 – 02h00	Arrive and visit Hanging Gardens	2 steps/ Uneven Terrain
02h00 – 02h15	Leave for Victoria & Albert Museum
11h15 – 12h00	Arrive and visit Victoria & Albert Museum	5 steps/ Uneven Terrain
03h00 – 03h15	Leave for Crawford market
03h15 – 03h45	Arrive and visit market	Uneven Terrain
03h45 – 03h15	Leave for hotel Taj Mahal	10 steps/ flat Terrain
04h15 – 05h45	Arrive at hotel and proceed for lunch (On Direct Payment)
05h45 – 06h00	Back to pier

 
 

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Abu Dhabi City Tour - 12 hours - Private Transfer

Get ready to explore the rich culture and world-renowned landmarks of Abu Dhabi during this full-day city tour of the incredible capital of the UAE. This is your chance to learn about the fascinating heritage of the country as well as experience all the iconic sights that make Abu Dhabi
the cultural hub we know today.
 
Inclusions

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private vehicle
• Knowledgeable tour guide
• Drive through Yas Island
• Ticket to Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Scenic Abu Dhabi Corniche drive
• Admission to Emirates Palace and gold dust coffee
• Entry to Observation at Conrad at Etihad Towers with light snack (F&B is limited to one piece of cake (selection of the day) and tea or coffee
• Admission to Qasr al Watan – (or Qasr al Hosn in case of
Presidential Events)
• Picturesque drive in Al Bateen
• Visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Departure
The tour runs every day except on Mondays and public holidays. Based on the guests’ preference, the tour can start as early as 8:00 am, but no later than 10:00 am

Duration
12 hours

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Highlights of Dubai - Including at the Top (148) and the View - 10 to 12 hours

Description
Experience the best of the best of what Dubai has to offer! Embark on this awe-inspiring Dubai city tour, taking you to the most historic landmarks from Dubai’s past and the world-famous attractions of modern Dubai. The Highlights of Dubai tour is an ideal way to experience the best of Dubai’s past, present and future!

Inclusions
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private vehicle
• Photo opportunities at Jumeirah Mosque, and a drive past the famous flag at Union House
• VIP Tickets to The View observation deck at the top of Nakheel Mall
• Photo opportunities with Museum of the Future, Zabeel Palace and the Dubai Frame
• An Abra ride across the Dubai Creek, exploring the Gold and Spice Souqs, and the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
• A visit to Souk Madinat and plenty of photo opportunities with Burj al Arab and the canals of the Madinat
• A ride on the Dubai Monorail, from the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis The Palm
• A photo stop on the bridge of Ain Dubai, with views across Jumeirah Beach Residence
• A visit to the Dubai Mall, the Middle East’s biggest mall and one of the largest in the world
• A photo stop in front of the Burj Khalifa as part of the visit to the Dubai Mall
• Leisure time at the Dubai Mall, or transfer back to the hotel
• Admission to At The Top Burj Khalifa, including the SKY Lounge at Level 148

Departure
Daily. Based on the guests’ preference, the tour can start
as early as 8:00 am, but no later than 10:00 am
 
Duration
10 to 12 hours

Dubai - Evening Desert Safari - 6 hours - Private Transfer

Description
Leave the buzzing city behind as you’re whisked off to the beautiful and peaceful Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, ready to deliver the best of what the dunes have to offer. Enjoy a thrilling dune drive, spotting local wildlife along the way, snap unbeatable photos at sunset, find your balance on a camel or a sand board and have your hands decorated in Henna to help the memories last longer.

Inclusions
• Pick-up and drop-off in a shared/private vehicle in a 4 wheel drive (Toyota Land Cruiser or similar)
• Dune drive
• Sunset stop
• Modern Bedouin-style camp
• Enjoy a variety of entertainment: Camel ride, sandboarding, henna hand painting
• Arabian Adventures fire and dance show
• BBQ dinner
• Unlimited soft drinks
• Option to add an adult beverage package (House or
Premium beverages)
• Guests on a sunset stop can enjoy Aperol Spritz refreshments as an optional extra

Duration
6 Hours - Late afternoon until early evening (estimated departure at 3:00 pm with estimated return at 9:00 pm)
 

Authentic Dubai Food Tour - 4 hours - Private Transfer

Description
If you’re looking to take your taste buds on an adventure around the globe, Dubai is the perfect destination for you. Join our Taste of Dubai tour, to learn about traditional Arabic dishes and the importance gastronomy holds in the Emirati culture. Get ready to add some flavour to your visit!

Inclusions
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private vehicle
• Knowledgeable tour guide
• Enjoy a juice and get introduced to local spices at the Spice Souk
• Enjoy delicious starters at Bayt Al Wakeel restaurant
• Experience Mandi, a traditional Middle Eastern dish, at Robou Al Yemen Mandi Restaurant
• Finish the tour with Arabic sweets and desserts while enjoying stunning views of the Dubai Creek, at City Creek Restaurant

Duration
4 hours

Daily. Based on the guests’ preference, the tour can
start as early as 8:00 am and 4:30 in the evenings.
During Ramadan the tour will operate from 6pm to 10pm.