Guided Visit of the Palace and Garden of Versailles (morning)

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.

Are you ready to explore the cultural rich city of Sharjah? Hop on board on one of the Bus Lines. Both the Leisure and Cultural Tour start from the Central Souq I, so make sure you look around before beginning the adventure as you'll find so many great shops and boutiques. Along the Leisure Tour hop-off at Bus Stop 2 if you're a nature lover. Palm Tree Oasis is a great area to breathe in the fresh air, take a stroll or even sit down for a little picnic break.  Hop-off at Bus Stop 4 to visit the Al Majaz, a relaxing area where you can enjoy the views of the waterfront. There's even a water feature in the middle which is lit up in an array of colours at night, it's breathtakingly beautiful! The Sharjah Aquarium at Bus Stop 9 is one for all the family and a great day out if you want to escape the heat for a while. At the same Bus Stop you'll find the Maritime Museum too where you can learn about everything that goes on at the Sharjah port.  If you love seafood then hop-on the Cultural Tour Bus Line and head to the Fish Market at Bus Stop 15 where you'll be able to pick up some freshly caught fish. Next up at Bus Stop 17 is the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, a spectacular landmark both inside and out, where you'll be able to see all kinds of exciting Islamic artefacts. Buy you City Sightseeing Bus Tour today!

TOUR DETAILS  This great value tour will take your straight from central London to three top UK destinations with an expert guide. You will travel to Bath, Stonehenge and Salisbury for a wonderful day out of London. Entrances are not included in the price of this tour but can be purchased on the day, letting you choose where to visit at each of the three wonderful locations.  Stonehenge First on the agenda is the mysterious site of Stonehenge! Solidly towering above Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is an ancient wonder still puzzling experts and visitors to this day. The 5,000 year old stones have captivated theorists for hundreds of years, so join in with the speculation during our stop at Stonehenge.  Salisbury Home to the tallest church spire in the UK, Salisbury and its beautiful cathedral has so much to offer visitors. Surrounded by a glorious expanse of green, Salisbury Cathedral is the stunning highlight of this picturesque city. Featuring English Gothic architecture that is just begging to be photographed, the cathedral is also where you can see one of the four remaining copies of the legendary Magna Carta document! Bath The last destination on your day trip from London is the Georgian city of Bath. This historical city was the first in England to be designated a World Heritage Site and its many architectural gems include the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the pretty Pulteney Bridge, which was modelled on Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. Walk through Bath and explore its cobbled streets, unique shops and diverse attractions.  Windsor (From 1st April 2017) Windsor is a quintessentially English town, crowned by the spectacular Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is the queen’s official residence and dates back to the 11th century! The town is famous for its royal connections, it’s rich in history and royal tradition. Take a wonder through the stunning town on the cobbled streets and admire the historic buildings surrounding you.  Entrances are not included in the price of the tour.

Our tours offer you the company of a knowledgeable English-speaking monitor, a comfortable and easy to ride bike, useful tips and advices about what to do and see while in Madrid and a fun and informative outdoor experience. You’ll finish our tour with the feeling that you’ve seen the sights and gotten to know a bit about Madrid, while having a fun, entertaining and social experience in the process. Get to know the “must see” places and also spots away from the typical paths in a short time and a relaxed way. We ride to the most important sights of Madrid: Templo de Debod, Royal Theatre, Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza de la Paja, Town Square, Plaza Mayor (Main Square), Puerta del Sol, St. Ann´s Square, Paseo del Prado, Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Alcala Gate and Cibeles Square. Our monitors will introduce you to the heart of Madrid and we will ride mainly on cycling paths, pedestrian zones and parks. Of course we will make stops to take some photos and to have a drink. You’ll finish our tour with the feeling that you’ve seen the sights and gotten to know a bit about Madrid, while having a fun, entertaining and social experience in the process. JUST DO IT! You will never forget this great experience.               

Downtown Tour The three most visited sites in New York City are all located in the area referred to in local terms as “downtown”.  That world famous trio includes the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the site of the World Trade Center – “Ground Zero” where the city and the nation’s heart was broken on September 11, 2001. Your City Sights hop-on/hop-off double decker tour bus has stops offering convenient access to these must see locations and attractions Narrated by licenced New York City tour guides passengers will hear about the neighbourhoods, sites and attractions made famous in song, story, film and television. Hop off and explore the legendary artists and writers’ quarter, Greenwich Village or have authentic Italian or Chinese cuisine in Little Italy or Chinatown or see the neighbourhood that was the first home to wave after wave of immigrants making this diverse city truly the World’s Capital.  View the most famous neighbourhoods, attractions and places of interest: Times Square, Madison Square Garden, Macy's, Empire State Building, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Site of the World Trade Center, Wall Street, Financial District, Battery Park South Street Seaport, Lower East Side, United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, Broadway Theatre District and much more. Tours Now Offered in 11 Languages! Now, Gray Line CitySightseeing NY is giving you even more flexibility in enjoying their tours by offering multilingual audio tracks in 11 different languages on all of the popular hop on/hop off bus tours. You can experience the journey in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Hop on Hop off double-decker tickets valid for 24 hours from the time you arrive in NYC and exchange your confirmation voucher for a boarding ticket. 

Want to see the San Francisco Bay as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean? Our 1.5-hour Sunset Sail is for those who want a serene, romantic experience—it's the perfect date night! Watch the city slowly light up behind you as the Golden Gate bridge glows in the dwindling sunlight. Relax and sip some California wine in our protected cabin with intimate tables and cushy seating. Included with your ticket are two complimentary beverages (beer, wine or soda) from our bar and light hors d'oeuvres. It's a memorable night out that won't break the bank! Recorded audio tour handsets are available for free upon request, 8 languages available () Things to Remember: 
Bar and snacks available onboard, accepting cash and credit cards. 
Arrive 30 minutes early to find parking and to locate us on Pier 39, Gate J, next to the sea lions. 
Bring a jacket and wear soft-soled shoes. 
No outside beverages may be brought on board.
All cancellations must be made 3 days before day of cruise