Norwegian Cruise Line introduces new South African shore excursions

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed several new shore excursion options for the coming cruise season, including ‘Go Local’ destination immersion experiences in South Africa.

The new shore excursion concepts, which range from architectural-focused city tours and gourmet extravaganzas to photography and intimate small-group excursions, cover Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Go Local experience being introduced in South Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America, enables guests to experience the everyday rythms and cultural life of select cruise destinations.

The shore excursions offer authentic cultural experiences that connect guests to locals in a meaningful and memorable way, while showcasing how the locals live, work, eat and play. Examples include: A Day at the Farm in Kusadasi, Turkey; Lisbon Soul in Lisbon, Portugal; and Explore Florence Like a Local in Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy.

“We are committed to delivering unparalleled experiences across our fleet and the over 400 destinations we visit,” said David Herrera, President, Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Travellers are looking for more immersive vacations, from longer itineraries to more authentic experiences, which is why together with our destination partners we’ve created a collection of new onshore offerings designed to create unforgettable moments for our guests,” he added.

Norwegian Cruise Line recently introduced its first-ever South African cruise season, with Norwegian Jade homeporting in Cape Town during the South African summer between December and February in 2022/23.

For the coming cruise season, Norwegian Dawn will homeport in Cape Town, sailing 12-night roundtrip itineraries on the South African and Namibian coasts.

Other shore excursions concepts introduced globally include:

Beyond Blueprints: A bespoke selection of 15 tours that uncover the design secrets and stories of some of Europe’s most iconic architectural landmarks, including those in Barcelona, Lisbon, Belfast, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki.

Examples include: La Villa Mediterranée and MUCEM in Marseille, France; Victoria Square and Titanic Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Riverside Museum and Glasgow Science Museum in Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland.

Gourmet Tours: Designed for the foodie-driven traveller, this suite of experiences takes guests behind the scenes to uncover the secrets behind local cuisine of some of Europe’s most iconic culinary destinations.

Guests will taste their way from port-to-port with cooking classes led by a local artisan, authentic dining experiences at a family-owned homestead and more. Examples of shore excursions that offer a true taste of travel include:  Castello Di Siza & Sicilian Luncheon in Palermo (Sicily), Italy; Folkloric-Gastronomical Experience in Olympia (Katakolon), Greece; Seasonal Gastro-cultural Experience in Barcelona, Spain.

Let’s Take a Selfie: Already proving very popular, these excursions deliver the ultimate destination photos in worldwide locations. A knowledgeable guide will share the perfect angles and most picturesque spots to capture unforgettable moments: Santorini, Greek Isles; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Cartagena De Indias, Colombia.

Small Group Tours: With no more than 16 guests per group, these tours provide a more intimate experience of some of the most popular Norwegian Cruise Line excursions available in idyllic destinations like Italy, Greece and Spain.

Small Group Tours are available to book by calling NCL. Examples include: Captivating Malaga in Spain; Highlights of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy; Best of Corfu, Greek Isles.

Design Your Day: These bespoke experiences are curated for the individual traveller, from private wine tastings to a five-course dining experience at a Michelin starred restaurant. Design Your Day experiences are available to book by calling NCL.