Holland America Line has partnered with a renowned research group that will bring new, exciting experiences to guests traveling on its ships in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2023. The program is offered on two ships, Oosterdam and New State Dam.
Line Announces National Geographic Partnership
This summer, immersive experiences on two Holland America Line ships will reach new heights thanks to a partnership between the cruise line and National Geographic.
New shore excursions led by National Geographic-trained experts will allow Mediterranean cruise guests to connect more deeply with local people and habitats.
The program, called National Geographic Day Tours, is available on 1,964 tours Oosterdam and 2,106 visitors New State Dam.
Four tours are offered on itineraries of 7 to 14 days from Trieste, Italy; Athens, Greece, and Barcelona, Spain, and ports in Rhodes and Santorini, Greece, Kusadas, Turkey, and Naples, Italy.
“We are constantly looking for enriching and transformative experiences for our guests and the new National Geographic Day Tours are not only immersive, but also provide access and experiences,” said Carole Biencourt, vice president of cruises at Holland America Line.
“We are happy to offer guests who have passed through our Mediterranean cruises visiting these ports and we want to expand this program in the near future,” he added.
In-depth Experiences Are Essential to Programs
National Geographic tours include: “A Day in the Life of a Marine Biologist,” in Naples, “Meet the Locals in Santorini,” “Famous Women in Turkey: From Ancient Times to the Present,” in Kusadasi, and “The Fascinating World of Cattle,” in Rhodes.
On a Santorini tour, for example, guests will spend a day in the homes of two Santorini families, learning about their lifestyle on the island and enjoying local wine and food. Visitors will also visit the island’s famous blue-domed church, Panagia Kalamiotissa, and tour the winery.
On another day trip, in Kusadasi, tourists will learn about the women who have influenced Turkish society from ancient times to the present day. The gallery shows the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary, in Ephesus.
Also, during the tour, a local chef will guide you to the Yedi Bilgeler winery, which still grows vines that are said to be 2,000 years old. The winery is included in the wine tour.
In the Mediterranean summer, Oosterdam and New State Dam provide a variety of tours. On the 12-day Adriatic Dream of Oosterdam, from Rome to Trieste on July 26, ports of call include Naples, Santorini, Iraklion, in Crete, Athens, Kusadasi, and Kotor, in Montenegro, among other places.
A History of Enhancing the Guest Experience
Holland America Line, to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023, in recent years, has grown a series of deep events.
The Alaska Up Close line program was has been extended this summer including new events such as workshops, lectures, and Exploration Central Talks featuring Alaskans, as well as local events such as an Alaskan-inspired brunch. Tours also feature the Huna Tlingit people.
Also, earlier this year, Carnival Corporation unveiled a new line of long-haul, inbound cruises. Famous Tourswith multiple cycles ranging from 25 to 59 days.
Tours are offered to Australia and New Zealand, the Amazon and South America, the South Pacific and Hawaii, Greenland and Iceland, Asia, Alaska, and the Arctic Circle.
Highlights include extensive research while in port, along with in-depth cruise programs that explore the culture and history of the destinations the ships are visiting.
Certain special cruises, offered on Holland America Line ships around the world, do not participate in culinary events offered in partnership with Food & Wine Magazine. These outlets offer experiences such as learning to make authentic pizza in Naples, and shopping with chefs in Barcelona and cooking with a chef.
