Bath England

Bath is one of the most popular destinations in England and has been welcoming visitors for centuries. Bath takes its name from the 116 degree mineral hot springs that have been flowing from a point in the center of town for thousands of years. When the Romans arrived in Britain, they built an extensive Bath house modeled on those throughout the Roman Empire. Natural hot water still flows today, and you can even have a taste. A tour through the complex allows you to see the ancient baths including lots of Roman artifacts. We can arrange a private tour to Bath from the port of Southampton or London.

Have you been to Bath, England? Or maybe you just took a bath today. Let us know.

Top 10 for 2009

The Christmas Holiday is over and media turns it's attention to year end lists. We thought we'd share with you the Top 10 ports where our clients visited in 2009.

1. The French Riviera
2. Athens
3. Monte Carlo
4. Rome via Civitavecchia
5. Naples and Amalfi Coast
6. Florence/Pisa via Livorno
7. Barcelona
8. Kusadasi - Ephesus
9. St. Petersburg
10. Marseilles

Newest Baltic Port - Oslo Norway

This week we have began offering tours in Oslo, Norway, making it our 20th port in the Baltic Region. Some of the sights visited on the tours include the Munch Museum, the National Gallery, the Opera House, the Viking Ship Museum, the Vigeland Park and more. If you are taking a Baltic cruise in the coming years, these tours are a great alternative to the mass market tours offered by the cruise lines.

Hermitage Museum - Amsterdam or St. Petersburg?

One of the most popular museums in the world is the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The museum's collection has more than 3,000,000 (yes that's 3 million) pieces. They have such a large collection that more pieces are in storage than are on display. Have too much art? Why not open a new museum? That's exactly what has happened. Starting this year the Hermitage has opened a satellite museum in Amsterdam. Every six months a new collection will premiere in Amsterdam. Just recently opened, it has already become one of the most popular museums in Amsterdam. So if you are going to Russia or the Netherlands and would like a private tour at the Hermitage, please let us know.

Berlin Wall came down 20 Years Ago!

On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall came down. This week Berliners are celebrating that anniversary. The wall was 96 miles in length and created a city within the city. People living inside the wall (West Berlin) were not permitted to see their friends or family who lived outside the wall (East Berlin) for nearly 30 years. During that period 136 people were killed trying "break-in" to the free west.

Today, sites associated with the Berlin Wall have become popular tourist attractions. Those sites include Check Point Charlie, the Wall Museum, Brandenburg Gate and the East Side Gallery (a one mile stretch of the wall that remains and is used for murals). You can find these sites on a private shore trip from the port of Warnemunde / Rostock. Also, if you wish, we can arrange for a border crossing guard to provide an Authentic East German Stamp in your Passport.

Please let us know if we can be of assistance in planning your private tours to Berlin.

Visiting Vatican City

Many clients who are visiting Rome as part of a shore excursion ask if they can make a short stop at the Vatican just to see the Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately this is not possible. The Sistine Chapel is a part of the Vatican Museums, which is an enormous complex of museums that contain Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman and Renaissance art. At the end of the museum visit you arrive at the Sistine Chapel. Due to the large size of the museum, you must plan a "minimum" of 2 hours for the visit. It is also important to note that Saint Peter’s Cathedral is separate from the museums so typically a visit to Vatican City is about 4 hours in length.

Many people know about the long lines to get into the Vatican Museums (up to 3 hours in high season). With our private shore trips, we can arrange a VIP entrance so that you avoid the lines. You will arrive at the museum, meet your licensed guide, and after passing security you immediately start your tour.

Special Note- The Vatican has a strict dress code. No bare shoulders, no shorts or dresses above the knee, and no bare midriffs are allowed. Please come prepared or you will be turned away.

Rotterdam Netherlands

In 2008 we introduced private tours in Amsterdam and now we have added tours from the port of Rotterdam. Options include visits to the Hague, the beach resort town of Scheveningen, the medieval village of Delft, where you visit the famous Delft pottery factory, and of course Rotterdam itself.

These tours are packed with art, culture, crafts, panoramic drives and more. Personal favorites include the Kinderdijk Windmills and the market square in Delft.