Discover the infinite beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet in a glorious display of natural wonders that the elements have sculpted over time. Behold a landscape of cholla cacti, ancient rock arches, vast boulder-strewn expanses and the Coachella Valley from the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Other adventures include an exhilarating Jeep ride along the San Andreas Fault Zone and taking an aerial tram to a soaring lookout to watch the sunset. Visiting a Cahuilla Indian village adds a cultural aspect.
DAY 1
After arriving at the Los Angeles International Airport and collecting your baggage, you will meet a local representative and transfer to the Hotel Maya. Check-in time at the hotel is 4:00 pm, although every effort will be made for the room to be available earlier.
Nestled along the shimmering waterfront, Hotel Maya is a vibrant oasis where Latin American flair meets Southern California cool. Imagine stepping into a lush, tropical paradise spread across 14 acres, dotted with 500 palm trees and vibrant gardens. The hotel’s unique architecture and colorful design create a whimsical yet sophisticated atmosphere that feels like a world away from the everyday.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 2
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out of the hotel, you will board a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and transfer to California’s desert oasis Palm Springs. This sun-drenched desert gem is where mid-century modern architecture meets the rugged beauty of the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs offers chic boutiques and a vibrant art scene that make it the perfect home base for journeys into the surrounding desert.
Following lunch in Palm Springs, you will check into the Ritz-Carlton in nearby Rancho Mirage. Overlooking the Coachella Valley, the luxurious hotel offers scenic viewpoints, a holistic full-service spa and poolside cabanas for your enjoyment.
You will then embark on an architectural odyssey, visiting neighborhoods where sleek, angular lines and expansive glass walls harmonize with the rugged beauty of the surrounding mountains. Each home tells a story of innovation and elegance, from the butterfly roofs and geometric patterns to the seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces that epitomize the desert modernism movement. The guides, brimming with passion and knowledge, will explain the legacy of architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey and John Lautner, whose works have left an indelible mark on the city’s landscape.
For the ultimate sunset experience, you will ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from the valley floor up the slopes of Mount San Jacinto. This engineering marvel, the world’s largest rotating tramcar, offers a breathtaking 360-degree view as you ascend about 2.5 miles in just ten minutes.
As you glide upwards, the landscape will transform dramatically from sunbaked desert to cool, pine-scented forests. At the Mountain Station, perched at an elevation of 8,516 feet, you will find abundant scenic viewpoints to watch the sunset. The panoramic vistas from the observation decks are nothing short of spectacular, offering a bird’s-eye view of the Coachella Valley and beyond.
A delightful dinner follows, after which you will spend the remainder of the evening at your leisure at the hotel.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at our hotel, you will board a private air-conditioned vehicle and set out for Joshua Tree National Park. This mesmerizing wonderland, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, sprawls over 1,235 square miles. Iconic Joshua trees and massive boulders create a surreal landscape, while hidden oases offer lush retreats. Its rich history is evident in the ancient petroglyphs and remnants of early settlers.
The adventure will begin with a visit to Cholla Cactus Garden, a mesmerizing landscape where thousands of cholla cacti create a surreal and enchanting desert scene. This dense concentration of oddly inviting plants stretches as far as the eye can see, offering an experience that feels like stepping into a natural wonderland.
The journey will continue in picturesque Hidden Valley. Surrounded by massive boulders, this enclave is believed to have once been a hideout for cattle rustlers. The dramatic rock formations, surrounded by unique desert flora, provide a visually stunning scene.
Following a gourmet picnic lunch, you will travel to Skull Rock, a granite marvel sculpted by nature into the eerie likeness of a human skull, with hollowed eyes formed by centuries of relentless erosion. This iconic landmark offers a captivating photo opportunity and a window into the powerful geological forces that have crafted the park’s extraordinary landscape.
A short walk will bring you to Arch Rock, a whimsical gateway that nature’s hand has sculpted over time. This granite arch amidst a labyrinth of surreal rock formations invites exploration.
You will next visit Keys View, a celestial balcony perched high in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. It offers a sweeping panorama that stretches from the shimmering Salton Sea to the towering peaks of Mount San Jacinto and Mount Gorgonio. On the clearest days, the horizon seems to stretch into infinity, revealing even distant Signal Mountain in Mexico. This vantage point transforms into a painter’s palette at sunset with the desert below bathed in hues of gold and crimson.
Following dinner, you will settle in at the hotel for the remainder of the evening.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on an exhilarating expedition in an open-air but shaded Jeep into the skeletal depths of the earth along the San Andreas Fault Zone. The Jeep will travel through a maze of geological formations and canyons while presenting California’s unique desert flora and fauna.
One of the highlights will be traversing a narrow slot canyon sculpted by tectonic movements and natural elements over eons. Along the way, you will hear tales of the geological phenomena and historical narratives of events that have shaped the Coachella Valley.
A gourmet picnic lunch will be provided midday.
You will then gain insight into the Cahuilla Indians that have lived in this harsh desert environment by visiting a meticulously reconstructed Cahuilla Indian Village at Paltewet’s historic site. You will become immersed in the culture as the guide brings to life the traditions of the Cahuilla through stories within a sacred longhouse, sweat lodge and family huts adorned with interpretive displays.
After dinner at a fine restaurant, you will return to the hotel for the evening.
DAY 5
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will transfer to Los Angeles for lunch and to embark on the cruise ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed. Programs including flights are subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control.
•Itineraries with the most up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 4:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 4:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
After arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, you will be met at the baggage claim carousel and transferred to your hotel to spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of the land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
11:00am Check-out of Hotel Maya
11:30am Depart for Palm Springs
2:00pm Lunch in Palm Springs
Architectural tour of Palm Springs
4:00pm Check into the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
6:00pm Depart for Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
8:00pm Dinner
Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage or similar hotel
DAY 3
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Depart for Joshua Tree National Park
10:00am Visit Cholla Cactus Garden
11:30am Visit Hidden Valley
1:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Visit Skull Rock
3:30pm Short scenic hike to Arch Rock
5:00pm Visit Keys View
6:30pm Return to Palm Springs
8:00pm Dinner
Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage or similar hotel
DAY 4
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Tour San Andreas Fault Zone
10:00am Navigate through geological formations and canyons
12:00pm Visit a Cahuilla Indian Village at Paltewet’s historic site
1:00pm Lunch
5:00pm Return to the hotel
Overnight at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage or similar hotel
DAY 5
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
11:00am Check out from the hotel and transfer to Los Angeles
1:00pm Lunch
2:30pm Approximate arrival at the ship for embarkation
Expected Weather
The weather in Palm Springs can be expected to be hot, sunny and dry with highs of 105 degrees Fahrenheit/41 degrees Celsius and lows of 77 degrees Fahrenheit/25 degrees Celsius.
What to Bring
Dress for dry, sunny weather and be prepared for extreme heat. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen along with comfortable closed-toe walking shoes or hiking boots.
Local Currency
U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.
Electricity
110-120V (60 Hz)
Luggage
Maximum 2 bags per person. Maximum weight 40 pounds per bag.
Documents and Visa Requirements
U.S. passport or visa is required to enter the United States unless under the Visa Waiver Program or a citizen of Canada or Bermuda.
Aircraft (subject to change)
All flights will be scheduled on commercial aircrafts, typically a Boeing 737, Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A320.
Hotels
Hotel Maya
700 Queensway Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
68900 Frank Sinatra Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.
Please Note
Sites and order of visits are subject to change due to weather or other operational influences. All activities in this itinerary require some degree of light hiking on uneven, rocky surfaces. This program is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs or with walking disabilities. Some activities in this program are not suitable for guests with back or neck problems or expectant mothers.
Program Includes for guests:
•Private airport transfer
•1 night at Hotel Maya - Water View King
•3 nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage - Deluxe Resort King
•Daily breakfast, beginning on Day 2
•Entrance fees to all mentioned sites
•Daily lunch on Days 2, 3 and 4 including non-alcoholic beverages
•Dinner on Days 2, 3 and 4 including beer or wine
•Touring in luxury private vehicles
•Local English-speaking tour guide on transfers and sightseeing tours
•Porterage at hotels, airports and pier (based on 2 pieces of luggage per person)
•Bottled water daily on tours
•Taxes and gratuities
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
•Alcoholic beverages where not indicated
•Meals not specifically listed
•Personal expenses such as telephone calls, shopping purchases, spa treatments and laundry
•Entrance fees to any sites not mentioned
•Camera fees
•Visa fees
•Any other services not mentioned above
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.