General Information
An extensive program of shore excursions has been carefully prepared to enhance your cruise experience. Holland America Line and agents along the route have exercised great care in the preparation of these programs ashore. Please be aware, however, that although every effort has been made to present you with the best available facilities in the countries we visit, many of these countries may not have amenities such as air-conditioning and toilets on buses.

Shore excursions will help you make the most of your time in port and provide you with the best transportation and guide services available. Options may include sightseeing, flightseeing, golf and adventure tour packages. A shore excursion brochure has been enclosed with your travel documents so you may familiarize yourself with the tours prior to embarkation. Check your Daily Program for information on shore excursions and port lectures.

On Europe, South America and Alaska cruises you may pre-request your tours by completing the form found in your shore excursion brochure. On other cruises you can book your tours through the Shore Excursion Office once you are on-board.

Guests with physical limitations should review the "Which Tours are Best for You" section of the shore excursion brochure. You can choose the excursions that most interest you by using the icons as general guide to the level of activity involved. Please note that wheelchair lift vehicles are not available in most ports outside of the United States, and guests must be able to walk several steps to (dis)embark transportation. Please check with the Shore Excursion staff onboard for the most accurate and up to date information.

Please note: No refund or allowance can be made to any guest who might, for any reason (including medical), cancel, deviate from, or otherwise not utilize all of the services scheduled to be provided by any excursion. Guests on any excursion who elect to leave the automobiles or motorcoaches in the shopping area, or elsewhere, must provide their own transportation, at their own expense, back to the port.

By selecting shore excursions, you will be relieved of having to make your own sightseeing arrangements. These tours are operated by independent vendors ashore and are sold on board as a convenience to our guests.Prices are per person rates, quoted in U.S. funds.

You will receive a detailed Shore Excursion brochure prior to departure as part of your final cruise documents.

Exact tour departure times are published in the Shore Excursion Planning Form available on board. For more information on each tour, please attend the shore excursion presentation on board or visit the Shore Excursion Office.

All shore excursions include transportation to and from the ship, English-speaking guides unless otherwise noted, any applicable entrance fees and meals or refreshments as stated in each tour description.

You will be able to book your tours on board the ship at the Shore Excursion Office. The staff will be happy to assist you in choosing tours that will enable you to make the most of your time in port.

Answers to Your Questions

What should I wear?
Comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes are recommended for all shore excursions, as there are cobblestone and uneven surfaces in many of the older ports. Expect temperatures to be hot and humid, however, there is always a possibility of "liquid sunshine." When you visit places of worship (cathedrals, churches, etc.) we recommend dressing conservatively (shorts and sleeveless sundresses should not be worn).

What about meals?
Tour departures, when possible, are scheduled to complement meal service hours on board the ship. In the event your excursion returns to the ship after normal ship-board meal hours, and there were no meals provided on the tour, a meal will be available to you on your return aboard. In addition, 24-hour room service is always available on board.

How will I know what time each tour departs?
It is sometimes necessary to make adjustments to our arrival times as local conditions dictate, so to avoid confusion, we do not list departure times on this Web site. When you embark the ship, you will find the Shore Excursion Planning Form in your stateroom. Exact departure times and meeting locations will be listed on the form. This information will also be printed on your shore excursion vouchers, which you will receive on board as your tour ticket.

I have physical limitations. How do I know which tours are best suited for me?
We have graded the Shore Excursions according to the relative level of activity they entail. The walking icons that appear at the beginning of each tour description provide a general idea of the level of activity to expect. Please refer to the Activity Levels below this section for specific information. Most guests will find it beneficial to attend the shore excursion briefing on board the ship, for assistance in evaluating the required activity level for each tour.

I'm traveling with friends and we would like to be on the same motorcoach.
No problem. The meeting place for each shore excursion is printed on your shore excursion vouchers. If you wish to travel with friends, please arrive at the designated meeting place all together. This will enable the staff to allocate space for all of you on the same vehicle.

How do I order shore excursions?
There will be a shore excursion briefing on the ship within 24 hours after boarding, covering all of the sightseeing options available to you. Visit the Shore Excursion Office during business hours to obtain answers to your questions. For the convenience of guests who make their tour selections and would like to avoid standing in a line at the Shore Excursion Office on board, there is an Express Order System:

1. When you board the ship you will find in your stateroom a Shore Excursion Planning Form. This is a complete, up-to-date form containing ALL of the Shore Excursion options available to you during your particular voyage (including the tour departure time and meeting location.) Use this as an order form. Write your name and stateroom number on the front page.
   
   
2. Across from each tour description is a box for you to indicate how many persons you are purchasing tickets for.
   
   
3. Take your completed form to the Shore Excursion Office and deposit it in the Shore Excursion Express Order Box located outside the office.
   
   
4. The Shore Excursion Staff will process these orders prior to opening the office each day. The tours are charged to your on-board cabin account and tour vouchers will be delivered to your cabin in a special envelope.
   
   
5. Please note: Order forms are processed in the order received. In the event you have selected a departure that has sold out, your name is automatically put on a waiting list for the possibility of a cancellation or acquisition of an additional departure time. If we are able to confirm you from the waiting list, your cabin account is automatically charged and tickets will be sent to your cabin promptly.

Activity Levels
Each tour has a designated activity level to help you select the shore excursions best suited to your physical capabilities. The activity levels range from Easy to Considerable.

Easy Activity: Very light activity including short distances to walk over relatively even surfaces with few stairs to climb. Some of these tours may be accessible for wheelchairs. Guests in wheelchairs must be able to walk a few steps to negotiate their way on and off transportation as wheelchair lifts are not readily available in most ports.

Moderate Activity: Fairly active requiring intermittent effort throughout. The tour may involve recurring physical movement including walking medium distances over uneven surfaces and climbing staircases.

Considerable Activity: Very active involving constantly exerting effort. The tour may require continuous physical movement including walking long distances or climbing steep inclines.

Special Notice for Non-ambulatory / Wheelchair-bound / Physically-challenged Guests: Many of our physically-challenged guests prefer to make their own tour arrangements based on their specific needs. A good source of information may be:

Able to Travel: True Stories By and For People with Disabilities ­ Rough Guide, ed. Alison Walsh

This book can be ordered through your local bookstore, and might also be found in public libraries. In ports where it is necessary for the ship to anchor, non-ambulatory guests may be unable to go ashore.

Please note: For the safety of all concerned, ship's officers and staff are not allowed to carry wheelchair-bound guests up or down the gangway in a port.

Environmentally Sensitive Tours
Holland America Line, in conjunction with our partners in tourism have prepared a special tour program with an emphasis on ecology, nature, culture and sensitivity to the environment. Shore excursions qualifying for this special designation are represented throughout the Web site by the leaf symbol.

Whether you explore the ports of call with one of our organized tours or you choose to venture our on your own, we recommend the following ten tips while sightseeing:

• Care for the environment; never litter, pick up waste and preserve the environment for future generations.
• Learn about the geography, history, culture and nature of the place you visit.
• Respect the privacy and dignity of others; keep noise levels to a minimum and request permission before taking pictures of local residents.
• Follow the direction of your guide and stay on the established trail; venturing into unknown areas may disturb nature's delicate balance.
• Protect endangered plants or animals; do not purchase items derived from species that are at the risk of extinction.
• Seek souvenirs at stores; never take objects from historical sites or natural areas.
• Preserve local culture and historic artifacts; support efforts to nurture the local culture and protect authentic artifacts.
• Walk when possible; and encourage drivers of public vehicles to stop engines when parked.
• Encourage those you meet to be environmentally conscious, also.
• Contribute to local conservation and preservation efforts.

Guides, Services and Transportation
In certain interesting but off-the-beaten-track places, professional guides and vehicles are at a premium. The best available are engaged. It is exceptional for drivers of public hire vehicles to speak any language but their own. It is not always possible to obtain air-conditioned buses or taxis in many ports.

Guests are cautioned not to leave anything behind while sightseeing, especially such items as cameras, coats and umbrellas, and are reminded that Holland America Line is not liable for any lost items or damage to any baggage or other property which occurs ashore, for any reason whatsoever.

Self-Guided Excursions
Guests who do not join these prearranged shore excursions must rely on whatever transportation is available to guests while in port. If you choose to devise your own excursion, it is suggested that you remind the driver or tour escort of the ship's sailing time. The ship's facilities are fully available to guests while in port.

About Pricing
All rates are quoted in U.S. funds. Prices and descriptions are current as of the printing date of the actual shore excursion booklets. In our effort to provide a shore excursion program of the highest quality, prices are subject to change without notice and descriptions may vary from the actual tour provided.

About Refunds & Cancellations
All cancellations are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. Booking deadlines are stated in the Shore Excursion Planning Form on board. Tours canceled after the booking deadline are non-refundable since transportation services have been arranged.

Guests who leave during a tour for which transportation is included must thereafter provide for their own transportation and services at their own expense.

Conditions
Shore Excursions are "Off-Ship Services" for the purposes of your Cruise Contract. Please refer to your Cruise Contract for a full statement of your rights and obligations as well as those of the Owner of the Ship, Holland America Line-Westours Inc. and certain other persons and entities with respect to Off-Ship Services. In particular, please note that you are assuming the entire risk of utilizing Off-Ship Services subject only to whatever terms or arrangements are made by your or on your behalf with the third party furnishing the Off-Ship Services. Shore excursions are subject to cancellations or changes. Shore excursion operators reserve the right to deny participation to guests based on such criteria as they may establish.

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