SEA LIFE Hannover

Shearwater is a classic Newport-style schooner yacht, only recently recognized as a national landmark in 2009.  The vessel was built by Rice Brother Corporation in East Boothbay, Maine, back in a time when yachting was a rare combination of elegance and adventure; Rice Bros. were well known for building luxury pleasure yachts and produced some 4,000 hulls over a period of 64 years. The keel was laid down on January 4, 1929 and a news clip from the Boothbay Register reflects alongside a photograph "Tyler Hodgon at the old Tide Mill is getting out timbers for the schooner to be built at Rice’s. Vessel to be built of native white oak." Traditionally built from hand-hewn native white oak, she was the last boat to be constructed at that yard - likely due to the ensuing Great Depression brought on by the Stock Market Crash that occurred later that autumn.  East Boothbay was a small coastal town with shipbuilding being its only industry. About 40 workmen were employed for the construction of SHEARWATER. Her designer Theodore Donald Wells was born in Hudson Falls, N Y on October 22, 1875. He was a naval architect and marine engineer, a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and also the Institute of Naval Architects London. His education included post-graduate work at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He began his career as a member of the firm Herreshoff and Wells, N. Y. City in 1902. Working with Herreshoff no doubt had an influence on his designs, which bear similarities to many of the famous Herreshoff designed yachts of that time. From 1903 to 1907 he worked for Wintringham and Wells and then began practicing his profession under his own name. Mr. Wells joined the Navy Department in March 1917 and became Superintending Constructor of the Baltimore District U. S. N. Notable yachts designed and constructed under his supervision are "Viking" a 272 foot steel motor yacht built for George F. Baker in 1929 by Newport News and "Karina" a three masted schooner built for Robert E. Tod in 1932 by Staten Island Shipbuilding. Mr. Tod was a well-known offshore yachtsman as was his former yacht ‘Thistle", which competed in the Emperors Cup ocean race. SHEARWATER was launched on May 4, 1929 and photographs in the Boothbay Register reflect her graceful and elegant lines. Her first Captain, Leon Esterbrook of Edgarton, MA, arrived to take charge of the fitting out. Her owner Charles E Dunlap was a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, NY and this became SHEARWATER’s first homeport after her completion in late September 1929. It was there in Oyster Bay that she first started to thrill those who sailed in luxury aboard her and those who were privileged to crew her on race day. Since her launching and documentation in Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts in 1929, she has had a colorful history and has been carefully maintained and restored to standards that few contemporary vessels are able to match and is truly a piece of American Maritime History. On November 7, 1942 SHEARWATER was requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration and became a member of The United States Coast Guard’s Coastal Picket Patrol during World War Two. She was painted gray and bore the numbers CG67004. Based at Little Creek, Virginia she patrolled the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay entrance and south towards Cape Hatteras. Her skipper during that period reflected on how they used their free time while out on submarine patrol to race against other yachts and in his own words "sailed in tandem with the schooner Lord Jim, racing in and out of port, up and down the east coast and winning." She was designed and built as a gaff rigged schooner but during this period was changed to a Marconi rig. She carries over 2,550 square feet while under full sail. A true veteran world cruiser, she first transited the Panama Canal in July 1946 and in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s completed a two and a half-year global circumnavigation. In December 1971 Mrs. John B. Thayer of Rosemont, wife of a former trustee and treasurer, donated SHEARWATER to the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Environmental Medicine. She was used by the university as a laboratory for research on physiological responses to the stresses of living and working underwater. Captained by James Shearson, she was fitted with compressors, generators, monitoring instruments and a small decompression chamber. She has participated in many Ancient Mariner and Classic yacht races in U S waters as well as racing in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand while on her circumnavigation in the early 1980’s. It is rumored she was once dismasted in the famous Newport to Bermuda race. She was last raced by the current owners in San Diego in May 1995 in the American Schooner Cup and finished second overall. She entered the yacht charter industry in 1966 whilst on the West Coast sailing to the Channel Islands and was again used to generate income to keep her shipshape while owned by the University of Pennsylvania. During the chartering industry’s infancy in the Caribbean, SHEARWATER was known as the " Queen of the Fleet". Today she continues this tradition offering the most unique sailing experience and has passed rigid Coast Guard inspections and can carry up to 49 passengers. We welcome you to join us for an excellent opportunity to experience the ambiance of a vintage sailing vessel while delighting in the splendors of The Manhattan sky-line, the Statue of Liberty or the beauty of the oceans beyond.

 Charm of Holland - Departure from Amsterdam   Highlights: Visit the charming villages Volendam, Zaanse Schans, Marken, and Edam Cheese-tasting demonstration Traditional clogs-making demonstration Ticket Includes: 8.5 hour Live Guided Tour in English, Spanish and German Walking tours in Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam Deluxe Coach Admission to a working windmill Boat trip on the Ijsselmeer Demonstration by a clog maker Lunch at a traditional Holland fish restaurant Admission to the Cheese Factory Volendam incl. cheese tasting Admission to the Old Dutch Bakery  Ticket Excludes: Hotel Pick Up   Full Description: The Charm of Holland Tour will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the best that Holland has to offer. The tour starts with a visit to the delightful villages of Volendam, Zaanse Schans, Marken, and Edam and enjoy a cheese-tasting and a demonstration of traditional clog-making! From there you will to visit an authentic and typical Dutch wooden windmill, followed up by a cruise on the waters of the lake Ijsselmeer to the picturesque village of Volendam. You will have the chance to indulge the various delicacies the Netherlands have to offer, including local cheese, lunch in a traditional Dutch fish restaurant and visit an authentic Dutch bakery.       

We'll leave the hotel at around 09:30 and head for the fascinating Tzotzil Maya settlement of San Juan Chamula, famous for its unique religious practices blending Catholic and Maya beliefs. During our tour, we'll learn about the culture and traditions of this remarkable community. We visit first their atmospheric cemetery with its Maya crosses spread out across a hill. And from there we'll wander through the village to the main church of the community. Our next stop, San Lorenzo Zinacatan, is another Tzotzil-speaking community. This is one of the most colourful communities in the highlands, and this can be seen in the brilliant red, blue and purple clothing embroidered with large flowers worn by the local people. We'll visit the main church of the community and we'll also meet local people with the chance to buy some of their beautiful work. hen on the way back we we will go on a guided tour of the beautiful colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas before arriving back at our hotel at around 14:30.

Central park has been designed as a relieving oasis for a rapidly growing city in the 19th century and it has evolved into one of the most historic masterpieces of the United States. A fundamental part of the city, Central Park is a requisite that no New Yorker could give up. Its architecture fits into the urban environment so perfectly, that many people never believe it is completely man-made. You will be informed about many movie scene locations that you've only been able to see on screen. The walking tours are rated effortless and there are no tough hills. Some walking tour spots:     •    Wollman ice-skating rink from Love Story and Serendipity     •    Dakota Building where Mia Farrow lives in Rosemary’s Baby     •    Tavern on the Green, used as a location in Ghostbusters and Wall Street     •    Bethesda Fountain, as seen in Enchanted and Gossip Girl     •    The Bandshell where Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Kramer vs. Kramer were shot     •    The Boathouse Café used for When Harry Met Sally and Sex and the City     •    The Pond, which from in Home Alone II during the pigeon lady scene     •    The Dairy, as beautiful Victorian gothic building, which is featured in Independence Day     •    The Mall, also known as the literary walk is used for Vanilla Sky and Big Daddy     •    The Bow Bridge, this white bridge was featured in films such as Autumn in New York and Little Manhattan     •    The Conservatory where Stuart Little drove sail boats Central Park Sightseeing walking tour's last 2 hours. Let their entertaining and informative tours guides enlighten you about the anecdotes of distinguished Central Park. This is an experience you will remember for years.. These guided tours are held rain or shine, extreme weather conditions like heavy rain, strong winds of 35 mph or more, heavy snow, and temperatures 24 degrees and below or 96 degrees and above. Please remember to bring your cameras. You can't miss taking pictures of must-seen places in Central Park wonderland!

Additional Info: Visiting Gulliver’s Gate Location: 216 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 (between 7th & 8th Avenue) Hours of Operation: Open Daily. 10am - 8pm. Duration: There’s a lot you’ll want to see at Gulliver’s Gate and we want your guests to take their time enjoying our miniatures. A typical visit is 1.5 to 2 hours but you are welcome to stay as long as you’d like! Inclusions: Your ticket includes general admission, a lanyard & key that will allow you to interact with our models (i.e. turn on lights, move cars within our models, etc.), and a complimentary map. Guests have 6 months from the date of purchase to redeem their ticket.

After a refreshing dip in the ocean, enjoy a tasty buffet with rice and peas and sweet corn, chicken meatballs in tomato sauce, bread and banana with drinks. Please let us know if you are vegetarian and we will do our best to accommodate you. Your drinks including beer, soft drinks, sangria and water are included during the journey, and after enjoying your lunch you will sail back to Puerto Colon enjoying spectacular views on the way. When the whales and dolphins are close to the boat you can get excellent views through the glass bottom, or window in the catamaran but if they are a distance away you will get a good view of them from the deck. Through the glass bottom you will see plenty of fish and if the whales appear beneath the boat you will really see them up close and personal! The return trip will give you the chance to enjoy a different view of this spectacular coast with its sophisticated resorts, volcanic beaches, hidden coves and wide bays sailing down to Puerto Colon, where the journey will come to an end. An unforgettable day out for all the family.  As you sail on the crystal clear water you will be treated to spectacular  views of the coastline and of the beautiful island. A perfect way to enjoy a family day out with sun on your face and a soft gentle and welcoming breeze blowing through your hair! Bon Voyage! Including on-board service: - Drinks: beer, soft drinks, sangria and water included during the journey. - Type of Food: Buffet with rice and peas and sweet corn, chicken meatballs in tomatoe sauce, bread and banana. - Special menu for vegetarian people. - Funny bath in the crystal water of our coasts and under the waterfall of our boat. - Specialized guides on board. - Panoramic windows with submarine vision. - Live submarine TV. Don't forget to bring with you bathing suit, cap, sun cream and suitable shoes!