Alaskan Coastal Adventures & Denali Discovery Cruise Tour

Embark on an 11-day exploration of Alaskan coasts, glacial fjords, and majestic mountains on this inland tour and scenic cruise highlighting the “must-sees” of Alaska. Amble Fairbank’s Gold Rush streets and savor the sumptuous simplicity of Alaskan crab legs paired with locally crafted amber ales. Board a riverboat bound for a rustic Athabascan Indian village on the Chena River. Keep your camera and binoculars ready while you are on the lookout for caribou, Dall sheep and reclusive riverbank grizzly in Denali National Park.  Board a train bound for Talkeetna, then sample artisan ice cream and gourmet coffees as you relax shoulder-to-shoulder with Denali wilderness expedition teams and seasoned mountaineering parties. Cycle remote Sitka coastal roads. Drift close to blue-hued glacial ice on a guided kayak excursion in Tongass National Forest. Scan the horizon for breaching humpback pods swimming through Stephens Passage. Lead a raucous team of friendly canines on a dogsled ride across Mendenhall Glacier’s alabaster expanses.

Alaskan Explorations & Denali Cruise Tour

Awaken and inspire your sense of adventure as you sail north through Canada’s Inside Passage to Alaska along the same waterway frequented by prospectors and fortune-seekers more than a century ago. Your first stop is Ketchikan, a former last-stop mining supply outpost to Skagway-bound adventurers. Wander among the world’s largest totem pole collection and ponder contemporary dilemmas, like whether you want your Chinook salmon served sizzling on an aromatic cedar plank or cured next to an open alder wood fire. Whatever you decide, pair it with a side of sourdough bread and raise a glass of microbrew to the memory of the Klondike stampede. Admire the glaciated slopes and ice floes of Alaska’s Misty Fjords, Tracy and Endicott Arms and Kenai Fjords, but keep a weather eye on the horizon for the telltale spray and black fins of orca pods. Disembark in Seward and ride inland to Fairbanks and scenic Denali National Park. Caribou, foxes and Dall sheep observations are nearly certain, but even the locals grow excited about grizzly and wolf pack sightings. A detailed float along the Chena River provides additional opportunities for ursine encounters prior to your transfer to Fairbanks Airport and your reentry into the predictabilities of a less-adventurous modern civilization.

Cappadocia & Aegean Rhapsody Cruise Tour via the Corinth Canal

Hand painted Iznik tiles in deep lapis lazuli, turquoise, emerald, and coral. Fairy chimneys of taupe and burnt umber. The white, charcoal, and Aegean blue palette of Santorini. On this journey through Turkey and Greece you may expand on your list of favorite new places, and even add new favorite colors, aromas, and flavors. Istanbul is your portal to this sensory world, with its Ottoman mosques, sultans’ palaces, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Cappadocia’s weird landscape of rock pillars and subterranean homes is next, followed by a string of pearls. Sparkling Aegean isles, the marble ruins of Ephesus, an ancient oracle, a Trojan horse. And while larger ships must go around, you cut straight through the narrow Corinth Canal to Athens, one of the world’s oldest cities, and some say one of the finest.
 

Cappadocia & the Black Sea Belles Cruise Tour

History, beaches, diverse cultures, and incredible landscapes are all on tap as you make a complete circuit of the Black Sea, going ashore for an extra helping of Turkish treasure in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Take in broad beach boulevards, mountain-framed resort towns, princely palaces and turbulent histories. And experience cultures that don’t look, sound, taste, or act like anyplace else on earth. Georgia with its wine and walnuts, Turkey with its hamsi and hazelnuts, Bulgaria with its boza and banitsa – no two countries are alike. And within each country you’ll find a cornucopia of contradictions: Sochi’s Soviet sanitoriums and modern Fabergé-inspired Olympic stadium. Odessa’s Mediterranean-style architecture. Romania’s anachronistic language, as close as you can get to ancient Latin. And the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, waiting to enchant you with rose petal sunrises and ultramarine frescoes.

What’s Included
• 3 hotel stays – 1-night accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room, 2-night accommodations at Argos in Cappadocia in a Stone Standard room
• Daily breakfast at hotels
• Lunch at Sira Restaurant in Cappadocia
• Domestic flights Istanbul to Kayseri and Kayseri to Istanbul (Turkish Airlines - Economy Class)
• All arrival and departure transfers
• 2 full days and 1/2 day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• Licensed professional English speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees to Ayasofya, Blue Mosque, Kaymakli Underground City, Grand Bazaar, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Spice Market
• 9-day cruise round trip from Istanbul
 
Please note:  Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.
 

Comprehensive Iceland Cruise Tour

Take in the glow of pink midnight skies as you stand before fragile moss-shrouded arctic deserts punctuated by alabaster icefields, steaming geysers and smoldering volcanoes on a 10-day combination cruise and tour that integrates inland adventures with a coastal circumnavigation of Iceland. Venture inshore to Iceland’s untouched regions, including the Hraunfoss Lava Falls, the thundering Barnafoss Waterfall and glowing blue ice caverns beneath the Langjokull Glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland. Bask in the steamy comfort of Blue Lagoon’s outdoor geothermal spa. Wander Reykjavik’s cultural museums and make your way along inviting side streets where former fishing homes offer basement bars, artisan boutiques and local coffee houses. Sample Kjötsúpa, a regional lamb stew rich in root vegetables. Spend an evening amid the colorful and quirky Seydisfjordur, a summer haven for artists and a jumping-off point for naturalists and scientists studying puffins, kittiwakes, arctic terns and innumerable wildlife in the nearby Skálanes Nature Reserve.

Crossroads of Empires: Istanbul & the Black Sea Cruise Tour

The Silk Road ended along the southern shores of the Black Sea, enriching the coast with the diverse cultural influences traders bring. In the north, Russia and the post-revolutionary USSR have dominated the landscape. So while the six countries that encircle the Black Sea all share the same shoreline, they are distinctly unique. Come and see how time and circumstance have molded each, taking a particularly in-depth look at Istanbul at the heart of it all. Snack on hot pretzels in Constanta and kebabs fresh from the grill in Sinop. Discover a miniature Dubrovnik in medieval Nessebar and shades of Las Vegas in Batumi. Devote four full days to exploring Istanbul, and see the Blue Mosque, visit the Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia) Mosque, The Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market.  On this cruise tour you’ll see a city that four empires appropriated as their own when they could find none better.

What’s Included

• •Three nights’ accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room
• •Daily breakfast at Hotel
• •Lunch at Hamdi Restaurant
• •All arrival and departure transfers
• •Two full days and one half day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• •Licensed professional tour guide in English language
• •2-hour Bosphorus cruise on a private motor boat
• •Entrance fees to Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Harem Section, •Underground Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia), Rustem Pasa Mosque
• •9-day cruise round trip Istanbul

 
Please note:  Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.
 

Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Antiquities Cruise Tour

Venture to the epicenters of ancient Western Civilization during this pairing of guided Delphi and Meteroa tours and an extensive Greek Isles cruise. Explore the high halls of medieval Meteora monasteries perched on clifftops. Delve into tales of Titans, Olympians and early deities as you step between limestone blocks hewn by hand, etched by turmoil and strewn among the angular shadows of the Parthenon’s marble pillars. Raise your voice and test perfect acoustics in classical amphitheaters near the storied Temple of Delphi and the Epidaurus Theatre. Pull up a bar stool at a bustling estiatorio and sample grilled pita bread paired with a creamy spread of tangy taramasalata--a pureed blend of potato, lemon juice and briny local fish roe. Wander among the white-walled shops of Santorini and the stirring cloth sails of village windmills on Mykonos. Slip between broken walls in Ephesus, a former trading port along the picturesque Turkish Coast, plus appreciate the special dinner at Ephesus during our Destination Discovery Event and the small ship delightful ports of Ermoupoli, Monemvasia and Agios Nikolaos.

Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Treasures Cruise Tour

Delve into the ancient wonders of early Western Civilization on this 10-day journey featuring Meteora and Delphi and delve into the islands of Greece. Stroll the monument-lined Sacred Way toward the Grand Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Savor a moonlit Turkish dinner and romantic concert among the broken columns and weathered walls of Ephesus in Turkey during Windstar’s complimentary Destination Discovery Event. Imagine the sense of adventure among Medieval Turkish raiders as you stare skyward at distant monasteries topping foreboding cliffs and natural sandstone pillars throughout Meteora Valley. Sip tangy, bright citrus flavors of local Assyrtiko wine paired with freshly caught calamari while relaxing on a whitewashed patio high above Santorini’s steep volcanic slopes. Relax by the crystal clear waters of Acropolis, Mykonos and Santorini beaches. Gaze across the Baroque-styled parapets of Palamidi Castle at Nafplio’s red-tiled roofs and the azure Argolic Gulf. Scale the marble steps leading to the Acropolis high above the city of Athens and lose yourself amid the iconic Parthenon’s limestone blocks and marble columns.

Great Barrier Reef & Down Under Cruise Tour

Uncover the natural qualities that make Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand spectacularly unique during an 18-day combination cruise and inland tour. Drift along a river in the iconic UNESCO Daintree Rainforest, earth’s oldest and most continuous tropical forest. Swim or snorkel offshore in the Great Barrier Reef. Scan sandy beaches and shoreline grasslands of Freycinet National Park for waddling fairy penguins. Swirl and savor deep crimson hues and layered flavors in Australian Shiraz wines made from Barossa Valley old vines. Sample sweet Lamingtons—sponge cake dipped in chocolate and dusted with shredded coconut—paired with bush tea’s earthy, roasted-nut flavors. Peer skyward at towering coastal ranges and misty veiled waterfalls along Fiordland National Parks’ steep coastlines. Fly to Stewart Island and hike among countless waterfowl in a predator-free bird sanctuary. Admire Maori artwork and watch Waiata performances at Wellington’s Te Papa Museum. Take in North Island views in the Sky Tower while perched a thousand feet above Auckland.

Holy Lands & Petra Cruise Tour

Embark on a far-ranging voyage to Greek temples, Holy Land shrines and Petra’s pink sandstone facades during this exceptional 11-day cruise and tour to Jordan, Israel, and Greece. Stand atop Jordan’s Mount Nebo summit and take in Promised Land views from Moses’ perspective. Walk among tombs, treasuries and temples carved into Petra’s pink sandstone canyon walls. Venture into the cavernous silence of the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Stroll  the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum and through Jerusalem’s Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Stations of the Cross. Stand in the ghostly ruins of ancient Kourion and atop the walls of a nearby crusader fortress above Cypriot citrus groves. Sip pilsner paired with seared calamari and honeyed mantinades dough in a Rhodes neighborhood café. Embrace sea breezes in the shade of Mykonos windmills and venture inland to sample tart and tasty local Greek wines.

Istanbul Icons & Aegean Artifacts via the Corinth Canal Cruise Tour

With four days to explore glorious Istanbul and another eight to discover what lies beyond the Golden Horn, you don’t need an oracle to tell you this is one auspicious voyage. Everywhere you look in Istanbul you’ll find some fascinating remnant of days gone by – places where chariots raced, sultans ruled, and architects’ greatest aspirations were realized. After you’ve oohed and aahed over the world-renowned mosques, palaces, and bazaars, board your yacht to see more jewels of the Aegean. Islands glowing with whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches; origin stories of gods, oracles, and Atlantis; a canal so narrow you’ll only share it with small mail boats, private yachts, and paddleboarders. Plus, enjoy a complimentary Destination Discovery Event – dinner and a concert in the moonlight in ancient Ephesus.

What’s Included

•Three nights’ accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room
Breakfast at the hotel, lunch at Hamdi Restaurant
•All transfers to and from the included sites
•Two full days and one half day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver and English speaking tour guide.
•2-hour Bosphorus cruise on a private motor boat
•Entrance fees to Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Harem Section, Underground Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Ayasofya, and Rustem Pasa Mosque
•8-day cruise between Athens and Istanbul
 
Please note:  Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.
 

Kyoto & the Zen of Japan Cruise Tour

From the tranquil Zen beauty of Kinkakuji Temple to the vibrant blinking plasma screens and incessant press of pedestrians throughout Tokyo’s Shibuya Station, this 12-day cruise tour throughout Japan combines pristine natural beauty with contemporary and cosmopolitan contrasts. Nibble on freshly caught fish paired with salty soy sauce and fiery wasabi in Shimizu’s world-famous Fish Market. Meander among East Asian relics and prehistoric stone tools in Busan’s museums, ornate temples and royal tombs in Gyeongju, one of South Korea’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sip steamy green tea in the peaceful shade of chestnut trees near the scenic Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu City, or participate in the ancient rituals of a formal tea ceremony. Examine Kyoto’s majestic temples and storied Nijo Castle in detail as part of a 2-night inland stay, or explore the Zen temple of Tenryuji in scenic and peaceful Arashiyama, one of the most popular destinations in the city. It’s a perfect journey for those who love Japan, and adventurous travelers who want to go further inland to explore the distinctive culture and history of Kyoto.

Lake Como & Adriatic Romance Cruise Tour

Indulge in rustic Italian cuisine, Roman relics and Baroque masterworks on a 11-day odyssey that combines a picturesque overland exploration of Lake Como and Venice with an extensive cruise through the Adriatic and along Italy’s west coast. Delve into the depths of delectable Northeast Italian wine vintages and savor Amarone’s cherry and cinnamon nuances in a cool, underground Valpolicella winery. Overnight provides time to float past Venice’s romantic arched bridges and ancient alleyways on a gondola ride. Dip a kayak blade in the clear waters near old harbor walls outside Dubrovnik. Sample homemade cheeses and sausages in a family-run olive grove near Kotor. Wander between restored mosaics, broken columns and cracked pottery amid Pompeii’s storied ruins. Dine on authentic, handmade pizza while gentle coastal breezes waft through Sorrento’s aromatic citrus trees.

Monteverde Cloud Forest & Arenal Volcano Cruise Tour

An unparalleled exploration of Costa Rica and Panama when you pair a cruise featuring a daylight transit of the Panama Canal with an inland tour of lush cloud forests and Costa Rica’s most prominent volcano is the best way to maximize your time in this region. Whether you choose to hike, kayak or snorkel at pristine destinations like Panama’s Isla Parida, you’ll have an onboard naturalist available to provide insights and answer questions about local fish, flowers, and wildlife. Venture inland to trek through Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and then experience the unique magic of a nighttime walk among nocturnal animals and sleeping tropical birds in the private Curi-Cancha Reserve. You’ll also spend an unforgettable day around the steep slopes of Arenal, Costa Rica’s most famous and active stratovolcano, where you can choose between a heart-pounding zipline ride among the high treetops, or a more leisurely hanging bridge walk featuring breathtaking rainforest and waterfall views.

Portuguese Passages & Spanish Shorelines Cruise Tour

Combine a culturally immersive inland journey throughout Portugal with a scenic and insightful tracing of Spain’s iconic coastlines during this remarkable 12-day combination cruise and land tour. Inhale intermingled aromas of seafood and spicy bean soup on Porto’s glowing twilight streets as melancholic fado lyrics and guitarra strings reverberate across stone walls from a more modest skyline. Light a white candle amid prayerful pilgrims in the silence of Fátima’s most sacred sites. Peer into the spiraling, moss-lined columns of the Initiation Well near the misty and verdant Sintra Forest. Bask in the Douro Valley’s unique sunlit glow as you stand among the rocky contours of steep terraced vineyards and gnarled gray trunks of Tinta Cão vines. Master the art of tapas cooking under the direction of an Andalusian chef near Málaga. Sip sherries and wander among old barrels in Cadiz wine cellars. Kayak between scenic caletas, or quays, in Mallorca’s clear coastal waters.

Prince William Sound & Denali Cruise Tour

Explore more of Alaska and Canada’s Inside Passage during this extended cruise combining Prince William Sound’s legendary fjords and glaciers with an inland tour and train ride to picturesque Denali National Park. Throughout your journey Windstar’s Signature Expedition guides offer insights on wildlife and lead kayak and nature photography expeditions directly from your ship. Test both luck and skills while fishing for Chinook or sockeye salmon among Copper River’s eddies and deep pools. Master dogsled team skills on the expansive Mendenhall Glacier. Float close to the turquoise-hued calving ice at the ends of the breathtaking Tracy or Endicott Arms. As you journey inland to Denali, you’ll see caribou, Dall sheep and foxes, with ample opportunities for spotting moose, grizzly, and roaming wolf packs. After time in the Denali wilderness, you’ll visit the rustic, frontier town of Talkeetna, a centuries-old gathering for Denali expeditions, and ride in domed observation cars on an Anchorage-bound train.

Under the Tuscan Sun & Down the Dalmatian Coast Cruise Tour

From the grandeur of ancient Rome to the Renaissance splendors of the Western Civilization’s greatest artists, few countries have influenced the modern world like Italy. This 11-day cruise tour visits both sides of the Italian peninsula with stops in romantic Venice, small ports along the scenic Dalmatian coast, and a delicious and captivating land tour of both Tuscany and Rome. Float along Venetian canals while listening to singing gondoliers. Soar to expansive Adriatic views as a tram sweeps you high above Dubrovnik’s ancient walls and rustic old town charms. Slurp rich Spaghetti alle Vongole, blended with fresh clams, rich shrimp or fried calamari at a table overlooking the Sorrento seashore. Walk around the towering white marble statue of Michelangelo’s David, a Renaissance masterpiece embraced by Florentines as a symbol in defense of civil liberties. Sniff and sip the red, black and sour cherry aromas and flavors characteristic of the best Chianti wines. Wander Roman piazzas, ancient gathering spaces for families and neighbors for over 2,000 years.

Vatican & Croatian Coastlines Cruise Tour

Delve into architectural and epicurean wonders on both sides of the Italian peninsula during this 10-day adventure that combines an Adriatic and Dalmatian Coast cruise with a Vatican tour, Colosseum visit, and foodie market tour in Rome. Listen to the Venetian clock tower bells of Torre dell’Orologio strike the hour as hundreds of pigeons scatter about St. Mark’s Square. Sip crisp and dry Verdicchio paired with octopus salad or garlic-flavored black risotto in delicious Dubrovnik. Drift past the blue domes of Our Lady of the Rocks, a sanctuary for Kotor’s local fishermen for nearly 2,000 years. Sample succulent baked cardoon stalks harvested from Sicilian thistles and dusted with melted aged Parmesan cheese near the precipitous slopes of Mount Etna in Giardini Naxos. Experience an exclusive tour deep into the storied shadows of the Colosseum, and the Sistine Chapel, and dine in a Rome restaurant featuring authentic Italian dishes.

Vatican & Italian Riviera Cruise Tour

Listen closely and you’ll hear echoes of Europe’s past, from debates and discourse surrounding the broken columns and marble blocks in the Roman Forum, to the reverberating roar of smoking engines in 1920s roadsters winding up city streets to Monte Carlo’s Casino Square. Indulge your senses and engage your sense of wonder during this 9-day journey that combines a multi-day inland exploration to Rome with a scenic cruise along the steep and majestic Italian and French Rivieras. Tour the Sistine Chapel and discover the Colosseum, Rome’s most recognizable landmark. Savor fresh handmade pasta dishes and rich Chianti wines amidst the warm ambiance and sincere hospitality of a neighborhood Italian restaurant. Your cruise features unforgettable opportunities to experience the scenic Portoferraio Biosphere Reserve and explore the historic vineyards of Elba. Watch beachcombers from white-linen sidewalk cafés or sunbathe on romantic sandy beaches in Cannes. Inhale seafood aromas and herbal fragrances in a Barcelonan open market