The opportunity to learn, to explore, to discover and to play is virtually limited only to your own energy and interest levels.  And while there is a constant portfolio of activities to choose from, our cruises are structured to respect yearnings to “just get away from it all” too… because we know there’s nothing like a book “well read” on a deck, far from other two legged creatures…

Archeology/History
Archeology and History are obvious highlights on our Mediterranean cruises. It’s safe to say that “where man has been, there’s history to be experienced, ancient palaces to be pondered”. Whether it’s Viking history and remnants in Greenland, Celtic themes in Great Britain, seafarer lore in Scandinavia, whaling ports on the Atlantic coast or a tribal village along the Amazon, our cruises get you to where nations were born, civilizations prospered, and where empires flourished.
View all 'Archeology/History' Packages

Arts/Music
Arts and Music are a big feature onboard our Fred. Olsen Cruises. Certain departures have an arts or music theme and the evening onboard shows always feature a lot of music content. Too, shore excursions such as those in St. Petersburg and other cities, generally include museum and art gallery visits and on long shore stops, the opportunity to attend a play or concert or other artistic event.
View all 'Arts/Music' Packages

Astronomy
Astronomy of astronomical proportion is available while at sea…far away from city lights on a cloudless night… On board lectures often feature information about the astronomical opportunities available to you and sometimes it’s a quiet chat with the captain or a staff member who shares your interest in the star spangled sky. Just ask.
View all 'Astronomy' Packages

Bird Watching
Bird Watching, is purely for your pleasure – it’s not “for the birds”! You don’t need to walk in noiseless shoes, wear a brimmed hat nor tote a powerful set of binoculars to enjoy the birdlife on a cruise/shore excursion. (All those things help, of course) Most of our guests discover, by walking slowly, listening closely, watching carefully, that they are virtually surrounded by birds they would have “sped right by” if they were back home. So relax, settle back, and see the birdies.
View all 'Bird Watching' Packages

Botanical
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet." In the Caribbean and Africa and the Mediterranean we also find Bougainvillea smelling sweet which is to say, clumsily, that every port brings bountiful botanical beauty for the eye to behold. And, often, the opportunity to visit a city’s botanical garden is featured on a shore excursion!
View all 'Botanical' Packages

City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing is a standard component of every shore excursion offered by our cruise lines (except shore excursions in places like Antarctica where there are no cities but there are colonies… of penguins!!). Depending upon the city and your personal sense of adventure, you may wish to strike out on your own (maps are provided) or join a planned shore excursion of the city's highlights. In certain countries (ie: Russia and Libya) you require a visa to go ashore UNLESS you go ashore with a specific planned excursion by/for the cruise line.
View all 'City Sightseeing' Packages

Culinary/Wine
Whether you’re on one of our expedition itineraries or on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, you’ll enjoy the wide variety of food and excellent wine offerings presented to you. Because our cruises are world-wide, it’s hardly surprising that most ships feature wines from Africa, Australia, South America, USA, and Canada and from several European wine lands. Nor is it surprising that most ships’ menus offer a wide selection of entrees including dishes from far away lands.
Certain cruise have a Wine theme and include visits to known wine estates in South Africa, France or Spain. Others focus on the culinary aspects of the countries visited and might even feature a famous chef onboard.
View all 'Culinary/Wine' Packages

Culture
Culture is really why we travel in the first place isn’t it? We want to experience different cultures, different foods, and different ways of dealing with life,.. something different from “where we live”. As our cruise itineraries are being developed, the planners seek out new and different ports of call so that, over the years, we continue to offer unique itineraries… or similar itineraries with unique cultural flavors added to the mix! So, come sail on one of our many special cruise itineraries. And fall in love with the different cultures!
View all 'Culture' Packages

Diving/Snorkeling
Diving and snorkeling are big hits with our clients on the Caribbean and Sea of Cortez itineraries, as well as on the reefs of the South Pacific. We have access to dive shops along the way to equip you for some of the best totally wet sightseeing you could possibly imagine!
View all 'Diving/Snorkeling' Packages

Geology
Geology obviously is an interesting topic in any port for those who are interested in this fascinating science. This is particularly true for our port visits in Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica. For those who have no idea what geology is, we offer special courses in “ology”… where all participants mutter “gee – ology!!”
View all 'Geology' Packages

Golfing
Golfing is not available in conjunction with all cruises, of course…the courses aren’t really good in Antarctica and Greenland and they’re questionable in Libya and the Faeroe Islands. However a number of our Fred. Olsen Cruise Line itineraries include an optional golf package which allows you to work with a pro on board and then golf at 3 or 4 of the top courses along the way. Numbers are limited so “tee up early”…
View all 'Golfing' Packages

Walking/Hiking
The nice thing about our portfolios of shore excursions is that walking and hiking are virtually always offered in every port – even Antarctica!! What a great way to burn off some of the fine-meal-calories you may have acquired between shore stops. You can walk or hike independently (in most port locations) or you may wish to sign up for a guided program.
View all 'Walking/Hiking' Packages

Whale Watching
Where there’s an ocean, there could be whales. Our programs feature several prime geographies for seeing whales, including the high Arctic, Antarctica regions, Sea of Cortez and off the coast of South Africa near Cape Town. You can be sure the crew will announce a sighting…but maybe you’ll be the first to spot a spout!!
View all 'Whale Watching' Packages

Wildlife Viewing
Thankfully these are not bar scenes…they are delightful opportunities to see and photograph animals in their natural environment. Whether it be polar bears, seals, whales, elk, reindeer, or spawning salmon in our northern itineraries or penguins and puffins in our Antarctic programs or tropical animals in our more equatorial destinations– you’ll use lots of film or digital space capturing wonderful memories on these cruises and related shore excursions.
View all 'Wildlife Viewing' Packages