Eat Dessert First!
Eat Dessert First!
Get an early start on the moveable feast of Insight Cruises learning events
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Did you know that you can book our pre- & post-event excursions even if you are not attending the cruise conference? |
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Bright Horizons 15: October 25 – November 5, 2012 Insider’s Tour of CERN: Oct. 21 – 23, 2013 From the tiniest constituents of matter to the immensity of the cosmos, discover the wonders of science and technology at CERN. Join Bright Horizons for a private pre-cruise, custom, full-day tour of this iconic facility. Whether you lean toward concept or application there’s much to pique your curiousity. Discover the excitement of fundamental research and get a behind-the-scenes, insider’s look of the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. Our full day will be led by a CERN physicist. We’ll have an orientation; visit an accelerator and experiment; get a sense of the mechanics of the large hadron collider (LHC); make a refueling stop for lunch; and have time to peruse exhibits and media on the history of CERN and the nature of its work. This tour includes:
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Ashdod, Israel: Oct. 30, 2012 Location, location, location. Jerusalem’s got it, as one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world, an axis mundi whose ownership has been hotly contested throughout its history (destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.) Delve into a 3,000-year span of Jerusalem’s complex archaeology in a full-day look at key sites in the region. We’ll survey the terrain with a breathtaking view of Jerusalem from an observation point overlooking the city. Onward to the City of David excavation, the actual site of the city King David captured and made his capital about 3000 years ago. Among the archaeological sites we’ll see in these excavations are the Royal Quarter area, Hezekiah’s Tunnel and Warren’s Shaft. Onward into the Old City and the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred site, to look at the monumental Herodian ashlar stones. We’ll study the Western Wall Tunnel, a Hasmonean/Herodian era street that ran parallel to the wall around theTemple Mount (tunnel schedule permitting), emerging to walk through the reconstructed Jewish Quarter including the Cardo, Byzantine Jerusalem’s main shopping street. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive off to Herodium near Bethlehem in the West Bank, Herod’s man-made hill fortress and his burial site. We’ll explore this palace/fortress and its massive circular double wall with 4 round towers. If time permits we’ll head to Bethlehem to visit Manger Square as well as the Church and Grotto of the Nativity before returning to Ashdod port. |
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October 5–17, 2012 Florence & Tuscany: Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2012 Why does Florence capture the imagination and Tuscany linger in the memory? Ponder the question on location on a five-day, pre-cruise visit to the cradle of the Renaissance. Florence’s art and architecture, an informed look at Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo’s work, Lucca’s cuisine, the elemental pleasures of the Tuscan countryside, and Pisa’s cultural riches are our mileposts. Anchor your Times Journey cruise album with images of Tuscany when you join us on this optional sojourn. »» Florence tour details »» |
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Milan, Parma, & Bologna: Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2012 What says “Italy” to you? Sunshine and Roman ruins come to mind. Join your fellow Times Journeys travelers for a choice exploration of another Italy, home to many of Italy’s iconic contributions to the world. We’ll make a pre-cruise, optional five-day visit to Milan, Parma and Bologna on our way to our conference sailing from Venice. We’ll partake of Milan’s dynamism and delicacies, view “The Last Supper,” explore the region’s musical legacy, sample culinary specialties, take guided rambles through medieval cities and soak in Northern Italy’s visual beauty. Join us in Milan and start the fun and wonder early! »» Milan tour details »» |
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Bright Horizons 16: February 20 – March 5, 2013 Galapagos: Feb. 12–20, 2013 Enter an unearthly natural world in an eight-day pre-cruise excursion to the Galapagos Islands. “See the world in a grain of sand” and hone your knowledge of evolution with your observations in the Galapagos, a self-contained natural history laboratory. We’ll tour Santiago, Chile, and straddle the Equator at the “Middle of the World” complex in Quito, Ecuador. Then off to the Galapagos for a four-night/five-day expedition on the mv Galapagos Legend. Accompanied by certified naturalists see the incredibly diverse flora and fauna up close. You’ll have the opportunity to swim and snorkel, and photograph legendary wildlife and wild landscapes. The package price includes all transportation, 4-night hotel accommodations in Chile and Ecuador, a 4-night Galapagos cruise, nearly all meals (19 in all), guides, escort, gratuities, and tours. »» Galapagos trip details »» |
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Easter Island: Feb. 16–20, 2013 The moai of Easter Island linger in many a mind’s eye, monumental statues gazing inland, away from the South Pacific. Join Bright Horizons on a four-day pre-cruise excursion to explore the mysteries of Rapa Nui. Visit archaeological sites, learn about the complex cultural and natural history of the island, and absorb the ambiance of one of the most remote communities on Earth. Come along on an adventure where archaeology and environment create memories and food for thought. (We’ll be staying in the Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa.) |
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Machu Picchu: Feb. 15–20, 2013 Scale the Andes and absorb Machu Picchu’s aura. Visit this legendary site of the Inca World, draped over the Eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes, wrapped in mystery. Whether it was an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti or a site for astronomical calculations, it captures the imagination. Visit Machu Picchu, and see for yourself the massive polished dry-stone structures, the Intihuatana (“Hitching Post of the Sun”), the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Iconic ruins, rich flora and fauna, and incomparable views await your eye (and your lens). |
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To get a sense of significance of The Dish and the spirit of Parkes, check out the 2000 comedy movie: The Dish. |
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MacMania 15: November 7 – 21, 2012 Parkes Observatory & “The Bush”: Nov. 3 – 7, 2013 MacMania has prepared a pre-cruise expedition that adds a memorable dimension to your experience. If you’d like to get a flavor of elemental Australia, and boldly go where non-Ozzie tourists do not go, join MacMania for a visit to “The Bush” and “The Dish” (Australia Telescope National Facility, Parkes Observatory). After getting a look at the bright lights of Sydney, we head out to the quiet, sheep-studded New South Wales countryside to visit the famous Parkes Dish radio observatory. “The Dish” received and broadcast the first lunar landing, Apollo 11, to 600 million people. »» Parkes tour details »» |
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Bright Horizons 17: April 11 – 25, 2013 Guilin, Hong Kong, and Macau: April 8–12, 2013 While locals assert that Guilin’s mountain and water scenery is “best under heaven” any visitor can agree that the region’s otherworldly beauty is among the most picturesque anywhere. Soak in Guilin’s vistas, then contrast it with the bustle and urban delights of Hong Kong, China’s longtime interface with the Western world.
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Beijing: April 20–22, 2013 Simply put, Imperial Tours has made a connoisseur’s visit to Beijing possible. Extraordinary access to behind the scenes, extraordinary experiences, and extraordinary memories await you.
»» Beijing tour details »» |
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Shanghai & Xi’an: April 25–28, 2013 Tap into 2,300 years of China’s vitality, continuity, and beauty. From Shanghai’s dynamism to Xi’an’s Silk Road heritage and incomparable terra cotta warriors, you’ll sense China’s rich, complex history.
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