66 tour delays and unexpected changes,” says Molina. “They collaborate with us to grow the volume of excursions, exchange information, evolve initiatives and continuously improve the overall guest experience.” Guests taking part in a cruise line’s shore excursion benefit from the security and convenience of being guided by local experts, allowing them to immerse themselves in the culture and natural beauty of destinations, rather than having to navigate the challenges of exploring independently. “Carnival’s excursions are hassle-free, allowing guests to fully enjoy the experience without worrying about planning,” says Molina. “In vast destinations like Alaska, our expert guides make exploration easy. For example, the Neets Bay Bear Watch excursion eliminates the need for long travel, letting guests take in the scenery without the stress of navigation, while our bilingual guides provide insight and answer their questions.” Local experts working in partnership with cruise lines can also find places off the beaten path, which can help breathe new life into popular destinations. “Some guests might have been to an iconic destination like Rome 10 times,” says Manjencic. “So, our experts search for things which aren’t trending as a typical highlight but will give our guests a new view of the city. I take it as a challenge to find the experiences guests might never have done before.” Partaking in shore excursions developed in collaboration with local partners also enables guests to support sustainable tourism. “Wherever I’ve been, I’ve felt the pride locals have in their heritage,” says Manjencic. “We want to be a cruise line which showcases that heritage, and the only way to do that is by connecting with the locals themselves in raw, real experiences. For example, our operator in Greece found a fisherman to take guests fishing on his boat. When I received the pictures of that first tour, I wondered whether it was the right thing to do, but both the guests and the captain loved it! It convinced me that we were doing the right thing in connecting with local communities in a way that helps them and our guests.” “ Guest insights enable us to offer exclusive, tailored experiences” Priscilla Molina Carnival Cruise Line FEATURE: SHORE EXCURSIONS Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line
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