If you’re thinking about taking a cruise vacation, chances are you’ve already begun planning the types of sites you’d like to see during your shore excursions. But if you’re an adventurer at heart, this might be a little bit more difficult. Maybe you’ve already climbed the Mayan ruins or zip lined through the jungles in Mexico. Maybe you’ve mountain biked in Canada or parasailed in Jamaica. So, if the thought of a guided walking tour or trip to the museum makes you yawn, we recommend these top five shore excursions - guaranteed to get your heart pounding and adrenaline rushing.

5. Gallop Through the Ocean in Jamaica

The sound of hooves pounding on sand and the breezy smell of salt water will make you feel alive on Norwegian’s “Horseback Ride N’ Swim” tour in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After you debark from the cruise ship, you’ll begin your afternoon with a leisurely horseback ride through two of the island’s oldest sugar plantations, where you’ll experience the region’s rich colonial past, before unleashing your free spirit with a gallop through the Caribbean Sea. You and your horse will coast through the crystal blue waters along the beach. Feel free to splash through the waves and soak in the warm tropical air in this invigorating ride.

4. Teeter On the Rooftops of Sweden

Grab a harness and experience the city of Stockholm from a bird’s eye view. This is not your average walking tour: after suiting up with a helmet and safety gear, you’ll hike across the sloping rooftops of the small neighboring island city of Riddarholmen. Look out across one of Europe’s most historic sites while climbing between colorful roofs and archways. Norwegian’s “Stockholm & Roof Top Walk” outfits adventurers with everything they need to traverse the city from several stories up. Views of the sweeping port city’s palaces, historic architecture, and cruise ships will have your head in the clouds in no time. 

3. Race an America’s Cup Yacht along the Caribbean Coast

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or an aspiring first mate, Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup winning Starts & Stripes and True North IV yachts can be yours for the afternoon.  Take the helm during your Caribbean cruise while sailing on one of Norwegian's newest ships, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, with the “12 Metre America’s Cup Regatta” tour. You’ll learn sailing basics or brush up your skills with the crew before boarding the yacht as a crew member on a fast pace, rushing 12 Metre Regatta race course. Winning never felt so exhilarating. 

2. Swim with Sharks in Jamaica

Although Jamaica’s breathtaking reefs and ship wreck dives promise a world of underwater mystery and excitement, imagine the unparalleled thrill of wrapping your arms around a live shark. During Norwegian’s “Shark Encounter & Dunn’s River Falls,” you’ll hike the famed 600 foot waterfall in Dunn’s River, Jamaica before taking the ultimate plunge at the top. After a safety briefing, you’ll dive in with live sharks – with no bars or nets between you and some of the fiercest creatures on earth. Under careful supervision, you’ll feed, touch, hold and swim with these giants before returning to the calming comforts of your cruise ship. 

1. Climb Inside an Active Volcano in Iceland

Although cruising through the Nordic landscape of Norway, Finland and Iceland promises breathtaking views of medieval castles and untamed wilderness, Reykjavik Peninsula offers the most adventuresome travelers something special. The glacial peak of Eyjafjallajökull is an active volcano situated amid thermal springs, black sand beaches and colored ice famous to the region. Debark from Norwegian Star on the “Let’s Go Volcano” tour to experience this unique paradox between fire and ice. You’ll suit up with a helmet and hiking gear before crossing the lava fields and into a lava-tube cave, carved into the side of the peak. Witness the raw beauty of the thermal fields, bubbling hot springs, and glacial peaks amid one of the world’s most awe-inspiring displays of nature.