Zanzibar

Zanzibar, sometimes referred to as the “Spice Islands,” is the name for an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa, which is part of Tanzania. The capital of Zanzibar, located on the island of Unguja, is Zanzibar City. The city's old quarter, known as Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site. Zanzibar's main industries are spices, raffia, and tourism. Zanzibar is a conservative, Sunni Muslim society. Its history was influenced by the Persians, Arabs, Indians, Portuguese, British and the African mainland.

The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.

Sultan Heritage
Tour Code: ZZB-008
Duration: 4 hours
Retail Value: $79.00
Price: Free

Explore the history and sultans of Zanzibar during this half-day visit to Stone Town, and a unique look at local village life.

Depart the pier for the drive through Stone Town. Along the way, you will visit the City Market, or Sultana Market, to experience the hustle and bustle of morning activities.

From here, you will proceed to the Anglican Church. Built in 1874 by Bishop Steer on the site of the Great Slave Market, this church was once the hub of slave trade for all of East Africa. Upon arrival, you will have an opportunity to visit the underground chambers where slaves were once held before being sold on the market.

Next, your drive will continue along the seafront of Stone Town to see where sultans once lived with their families. You will then pass by the House of Wonders National Museum, a former ceremonial palace, and the Old Fort. A stop will then be made at the Sultan's Palace Museum, where the last sultan ruled over Zanzibar prior to the 1964 revolution.

You will then proceed to the center of the island to the village of Kizimbani. Here, you will learn about the importance of nutmeg and cloves, the island's two main spices. The villagers will also show you how they construct their mud houses, and live their traditional lives in the village.

Your tour will conclude with a visit to a Muslim Koranic school, or matrassa, before re-boarding your coach for the return drive to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves approximately 2 hours of easy walking. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

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Terms & Conditions:

Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.