Dover is a coastal town in England’s southeastern county of Kent. It’s a major port for ferries to Calais, in France. Built to repel invasions from across the English Channel, medieval Dover Castle overlooks the town and houses the extensive Secret Wartime Tunnels.

In 1933, an enterprising editor in Inverness enlivened a slow news week with the story of an odd sighting in Loch Ness. The legend grew overnight – and today individuals still scan the dark waters of the Loch for a sight of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Legend goes back as far as the 6th century and insists that the celebrated Loch Ness Monster inhabits a cave beneath the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle. Welcome to Invergordon, your gateway to Loch Ness and that area of the Highlands known as the “Great Glen.”

Lerwick is the main town and port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Shetlands only burgh, Lerwick had a population of about 7,000 residents in 2010.

The town is your gateway to the famous “Land of Fire and Ice” – Icelands dramatic landscape of volcanic craters, extinct lava lakes and majestic waterfalls. Visitors to Akureyri have a hard time grasping the fact that the town lies just below the Arctic Circle. The climate here is temperate: flower boxes fill the windows of houses, and trees line the neat, well-tended avenues. Thanks to that mild climate, Akureyris Botanical Gardens provide a home for over 2,000 species of flora from around the world – all surviving without greenhouses. No wonder Icelanders refer to Akureyri as the most pleasant town on the entire island.

Iceland, the second largest island in Europe, is a natural wonder of active volcanoes, glaciers, fjords, desert plateaus, and a midnight sun. The air is startlingly clean, and ideal for communing with nature, Iceland style — fjord fishing, river rafting and whale watching. On its northwestern peninsula, the rock formations that make up the fjords date back 14 million years. And some of the countrys oldest and best-preserved buildings remain in this former trading post.

The patron saints of Reykjavik are fire and ice. Iceland is a land of volcanoes and glaciers, lava fields and green pastures, boiling thermal springs and ice-cold rivers teeming with salmon. This unspoiled demi-paradise is also home to a very old and sophisticated culture. The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavik was founded in 874 when Ingolfur Arnarson threw wood pillars into the sea, vowing to settle where the pillars washed ashore. Today, Iceland is an international center of commerce and home to one of the most technologically sophisticated societies in the world. Reykjavik is the gateway to Icelands natural wonders, which range from ice fields to thermal pools. The island is in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology.

Corner Brook is located on the west coast of Newfoundland nestled among the Long Range Mountains. The coastline is filled with magnificent fjords, thick forested areas and jagged headlands. For thousands of years, people have lived and worked along the shores of the Humber River Valley and the Bay of Islands. The Port of Corner Brook has been welcoming cruise ships for more than 30 years. Nestled in the sheltered Bay of Islands, the 35 kilometre (22 mile) sail into Corner Brook is a favorite among cruise passengers, especially in the fall when the Blomidon Mountains are ablaze with vibrant autumn leaves. James Cook was the first to survey and record the geography of the Bay of Islands. Most of the maps he created are displayed at the Captain James Cook Monument. This picturesque region has many groomed walking trails as well as many thriving communities. Mount Moriah, Benoits Cove, Johns Beach and Frenchmans Cove and Lark Harbour are some of the fishing and mountain communities on Captain Cooks Trail.

To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.

To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.

While Prince Edward Island is Canadas smallest providence in terms of area and population, it more than makes up for this with the friendliness of its people, its natural beauty, and for being known as the birthplace of Canada. The islands landscape is dramatic and features rolling hills, pristine forests, reddish-white sand beaches, ocean coves and the famous red soil. The capital of Charlottetown offers a small town feel and a relaxed atmosphere with a cosmopolitan flair. The town has evolved into a dynamic city without sacrificing its historic charm. One certainly cannot think about Prince Edward without mentioning the author Lucy Maud Montgomery who once lived on PEI and drew inspiration from the land during the late Victorian Era for the setting of her classic novel “Anne of Green Gables.” PEI also has another claim to fame with the Confederation Bridge built in 1997. The worlds longest bridge over ice-covered waters provides a connection from PEI to the mainland Canada.

Cape Breton is fabled as a magical travel destination and the Port of Sydney is the gateway. Known for its beauty and unique Celtic music and culture, Sydney puts some of the Islands greatest sights and attractions at your fingertips when you disembark into the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion. The dockside pavilion offers an array of Shopping Boutiques, a Craft Market and the Worlds Largest Fiddle. You will also find wireless Internet services, a Visitor Information Centre, and the Cape Breton Island Exhibition Centre featuring artifacts, images and an overview of the rich culture and heritage of this historic Island. Or you can simply sit and savour our local seafood cuisine at the Range Light Cafe, or enjoy a glass of wine on our second level balcony. The city of Sydney has a deep history and was originally founded in 1785 by British Loyalists fleeing the perils of the American Revolution. The rich natural resources led these new settlers to establish prosperous coal and steel industries, which attracted immigrants from a myriad of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sydney remains a haven of multiculturalism. The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion is just a short drive from the community of Baddeck and the breathtaking Bras dOr Lake where Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and studied. On the east coast of Cape Breton lies the largest historic reconstruction in North America, the Fortress of Louisbourg. The Fortress is a Parks Canada National Historic Site and is described as a Williamsburg-style attraction that is not to be missed.

Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia, has considerable charms. The beautifully restored waterfront buildings recall the citys centuries-old maritime heritage. Halifax is also the gateway to Nova Scotias picturesque landscapes and rugged natural beauty.

Youll never run out of things to do in the city that never sleeps, from the bright lights of Broadway and Times Square to the citys world-renowned museums, shopping, and vast culinary choices. Its an incredibly diverse and active place, consisting of an intricate patchwork of neighborhoods, each with its own character and history, yet seamlessly coexisting.

Youll never run out of things to do in the city that never sleeps, from the bright lights of Broadway and Times Square to the citys world-renowned museums, shopping, and vast culinary choices. Its an incredibly diverse and active place, consisting of an intricate patchwork of neighborhoods, each with its own character and history, yet seamlessly coexisting.

Adjectives such as glitzy and glamorous and fun and funky only hint at the reason Miamis a world-renowned international destination. In the 500 years since Ponce de León arrived in search of the elusive fountain of youth, people have flocked here to capture the citys energy, vitality and alluring charms. While the citys noted for its towering palm trees, glittering blue ocean vistas and pristine beaches, beautiful weather, beautiful places and beautiful people its also home to an intriguing history, lively culture and postcard-perfect architecture. From the “walking trees” and gator spotting in the Everglades to celebrity spotting in South Beach, Miamis sure to impress. Note: Upon disembarkation, please collect your bag, go through customs and hand your bag to your tour driver who will stow and lock it underneath your bus. Disembarkation tours end at the airport; therefore guests who have post-cruise packages at local hotels must disembark at MIami International Airport. Guests will then be responsible for their transportation to the hotel.

This modern and bustling city, seaport and commercial center still boasts much of its original Spanish colonial architecture. Explore this beautiful and historic citys walled Old Town. Its fortress walls, quaint, narrow streets and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of its former colonialists. The citys numerous monasteries, plazas and noble mansions are significant links to this regions grand past.

Cruising through the Panama Canal will be one of the unforgettable experiences of your voyage. It takes approximately eight hours to navigate the 50-mile waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing you to experience firsthand one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. Completed in 1914, the canal marks the culmination of a dream born in 1513, when Balboa became the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and sight the Pacific. In 1880 Ferdinand de Lesseps and the French Canal company, builders of the Suez Canal, began construction in Panama, only to be defeated by disease, staggering cost overruns, and massive engineering problems. The French sold their claim and properties to the United States for $40 million, a staggering loss of $247 million on their investment. The United States began construction in 1904, completing the project in 10 years at a cost of $387 million. Building the canal meant solving three problems: engineering, sanitation, and organization. The project, for example, required carving a channel through the Continental Divide and creating the then-largest man-made lake ever built, as well as defeating yellow fever and other tropical maladies. The United States oversaw the operation of the Panama Canal until December 31, 1999, when the Republic of Panama assumed responsibility for the canals administration. The Panamanian government controls the canal through the Panama Canal Authority, an independent government agency created for the purpose of managing the canal.

The breezy, seaside city of Manta is the second largest port in Ecuador and possesses one of the worlds most varied terrains. To the west of Manta lie the Galapagos Islands. To the east rises the great rampart of the Andes. The Mantas were known for their traditional balsa rafts in the coastal waters and their ceramics and pottery. A huge tuna statue greets you on its shores, a whimsical nod to the tuna capital of the world. Fresh seafood is always on the menu, and a stroll along the promenade lets you take in the beach scene. The bustling center of town, an easy walk from port, displays a lively marketplace selling Panama hats, silver jewelry and apparel. There is lush green parkland; the nearby colonial town of Montecristi, the center of the Panama hat industry; and the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, home to indigenous flora and fauna and cheeky howler monkeys. Explore the rich culture, heritage and people of Manta during scenic adventures that take in the Archaeological Museum, which highlights a small, well-curated collection of ceramics of the Manteño-Huancavilca culture that flourished here between 800 and 1550 A.D. Whether you explore its past or its vibrant city of today, a day in Manta is a rich and colorful experience. Note: Manta offers little in the way of tourist infrastructure. Transportation and tour guides are imported to the area. Despite the sometimes hot and humid conditions there is no guarantee of air-conditioned vehicles.

Callao is a seaside city on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Perus chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists of the whole Callao Region, which is also coterminous with the Province of Callao.

Callao is a seaside city on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Perus chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists of the whole Callao Region, which is also coterminous with the Province of Callao.

Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises 2 separate countries, divided between its northern French side, called Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch side, Sint Maarten. The island is home to busy resort beaches and secluded coves.

Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is a remote place. This 64-square-mile volcanic island lies some 2,000 miles from Tahiti and the coast of South America. The giant stone monoliths of Easter Island have fascinated and puzzled Westerners since the Dutch seaman Roggeven first made landfall there on Easter Sunday, 1722. And the mystery of Easter Islands first settlers remains just that—a mystery. Most anthropologists believe the island was settled as part of the great wave of Polynesian emigration, since the first inhabitants arrived in 400-700 BC. In addition to erecting the great Moai, the society of Rapa Nui possessed considerable masonry skills, on par with those found in the Inca Empire of South America. Today, Easter Island has a population of approximately 3,400, although it is believed that the society that produced the great stone Moai no longer exist.

Lying below the tropic of Capricorn, halfway between New Zealand and the Americas, the Pitcairn Island group is surely one of the most remotely inhabited in the world. A well deserved title, indeed, Pitcairn Island is the final resting place of the H.M.S. Bounty and its mutineers. Later, Pitcairn became the first Pacific island to become a British colony. Today it remains a breathtakingly beautiful retreat from the world.

Tahiti is not just an island – Tahiti has always been a state of mind. The bustling capital of Tahiti and her islands, Papeete is the chief port and trading center, as well as a provocative temptress luring people to her shores. Immortalized in the novel “Mutiny on the Bounty,” who could blame the men of “HMS Bounty” for abandoning their ship in favor of basking in paradise? And what would Modern Art be without Tahitis influence on Gauguin and Matisse? Today the island is a charming blend of Polynesian “joie de vivre” and Gallic sophistication. But venture out from Papeete and you find a landscape of rugged mountains, lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls and deserted beaches. Contrasting with other French Polynesian ports, Papeetes coastline initially greets you with a vista of commercial activity that graciously gives way to both black and white-sand beaches, villages, resorts and historic landmarks.

French Polynesia is made up of some 130 islands, of which Tahiti is the best known. Just 12 miles across the lagoon from Tahiti lies Moorea. To discover the Polynesia of Melville, Gauguin and Michener, you must visit Moorea. This former haunt of Tahitian royalty is a place where you will still see fishermen paddling outrigger canoes, pareo-clad women strolling along the roads and children fishing from island bridges. It is an island of steep vertiginous mountains where most of its 14,000 people live along the narrow coastal shelf, with a backdrop of lush green mountains rushing upwards to fill the sky

The International Date Line is an imaginary line extending from the North Pole to the South Pole through the Pacific Ocean. It serves as the 180th meridian of longitude, and is used to designate the beginning of each calendar day. As you know, each adjacent time zone on the map has an hour time difference. However, at the International Date Line, +12 hours and -12 hours meet, bringing about a 24-hour time change. So while a person standing just to the west of the line may be celebrating Christmas Eve at 6 pm, someone just to the east will already be sitting down to Christmas dinner on December 25th. Therefore, when your ship crosses this line heading west, a day is added, and while crossing in an easterly direction, a day is subtracted. Crossing the International Date Line has long been a rite of passage for sailors, who often must participate in a line-crossing ceremony to become part of the sacred “Order of the Golden Dragon”, an honorary naval fraternity.

Straddling a narrow isthmus created by 60 different volcanoes, New Zealands former capital boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. Rangitoto, Aucklands largest and youngest volcano, sits in majestic splendor just offshore. Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, once home to Maori earthworks, overlook the city. One of New Zealands fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland. Auckland served as New Zealands capital from 1841 until 1865, when the seat of government moved to Wellington.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australias largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby.