AIDA Cruises, the leading company in the German cruise industry, has introduced new half-day and full-day excursions for its guests during the summer of 2023 and winter of 2023-2024. These unique tours, known as National Geographic Day Tours, have been specially crafted by National Geographic experts to focus on education and sustainable tourism.
AIDA places significant importance on providing memorable and responsible vacation experiences for its guests, and sustainability is a crucial aspect of its product offerings. With a continuous commitment to enhancing shore excursions, AIDA aims to cater to various groups and age ranges, emphasizing local immersion and environmental protection. The addition of National Geographic Day Tours to their portfolio is a testament to this dedication.
The new excursions provide cruise guests with exceptional opportunities to explore selected destinations in-depth, uncovering their cultural treasures. These tours are deliberately conducted in small groups, led by local guides trained by National Geographic. The destinations covered include regions in France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. Alongside the region's natural beauty, the focus of these tours is to connect with the local people and their culture.
Some of the fascinating National Geographic Day Tours include a geologist-led hike to the sacred Montserrat mountain in Barcelona, a captivating tour of Rome's mysterious underworld with an archaeologist offering unique insights into the city's ancient architecture and heritage, and an opportunity in Ibiza to discover the island's true nature with an herbalist and a beekeeper, who explains the significance of bees for the ecosystem and food stability.
In Kusadasi, the terraced houses of Ephesus come to life through special demonstrations, such as pottery and tile painting workshops. Athens offers guests a chance to walk in the footsteps of the birth of democracy through historical and educational storytelling. Santorini provides an in-depth exploration of the excavation site of Akrotiri, often referred to as the "Greek Pompeii."
All National Geographic Day Tours meet the criteria set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, focusing on sustainable management, socio-economic impact, cultural impact, and environmental impact. Furthermore, by booking one of these tours, guests also contribute to research and sustainability programs worldwide, as a portion of the proceeds is donated to the non-profit National Geographic Society.
Currently, AIDA offers 5750 shore excursions globally, with ~780 of them emphasizing sustainable tourism. These excursions are selected based on uniform criteria developed in collaboration with the sustainability initiative Futouris e.V. Each qualifying offer is marked with a tree symbol, indicating compliance with social, ecological, and cultural standards.
The criteria for certification include aspects such as transportation services to reduce CO2 emissions and the content or focus of the excursion, such as culture, nature, or social commitment. Additionally, the evaluation considers the regional gastronomic offerings and the sustainability commitment of local partner agencies. In some cases, AIDA even provides electric buses for certain tours, exemplified by their use of electric buses in the port of Bergen.
Guests can now book National Geographic Day Tours on all AIDA voyages in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. Bookings can be made in advance through the itinerary planner of the line or directly on board at the excursion counter.