Cruise & Cruise Line

Holland America Line Announces New Shore Excursions From National Geographic

Image: PHOTO: Holland America's MS Oosterdam. (Photo by Susan Young)
Image: PHOTO: Holland America's MS Oosterdam. (Photo by Susan Young)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:15 AM ET, Fri June 23, 2023

Holland America Line announced a new series of exclusive shore excursions developed with National Geographic.

The cruise line revealed it would start operating National Geographic Day Tours this summer that allow travelers to connect more deeply and in a more sustainable way with destinations in the Mediterranean.

Passengers sailing on Oosterdam and Nieuw Statendam can participate in National Geographic Day Tours that allow them to discover powerful female figures in Kusadasi, Turkey; experience a day in the life of a marine biologist in Naples, Italy; learn about organic honeybee farms in Rhodes, Greece; and meet local families in Santorini, Greece. 

“We are continually looking for enriching and transformative experiences for our guests and the new National Geographic Day Tours are not only immersive, but provide exclusive access and hands-on experiences,” Holland America Line vice president Carole Biencourt said.

“We are pleased to offer them to guests across our Mediterranean itineraries that visit these ports and will look to expand the program in the near future,” Biencourt continued. 

A National Geographic-trained guide leads each tour. Guests on select sailings in the Mediterranean can now book National Geographic tours online or through a travel advisor.

Holland America Line’s nearly 6,500 unique shore excursions are designed to help guests make the most of each port and deeply connect with the places they visit.

Earlier this month, the cruise line unveiled its 2024-25 Asia itineraries, including 10 countries, 49 port calls, nine one-of-kind 14-day itineraries combining multiple countries and two longer Legendary Voyages. The sailings will depart from Hong Kong, Yokohama (Tokyo) and Singapore.


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