Expanding its reputation for immersive travel experiences, Holland America Line has launched “National Geographic Day Tours” in the Mediterranean. The exclusive shore excursions were developed with National Geographic, a world leader in geography, cartography, and exploration.

The tours are designed to enable guests to connect more deeply, and in a more sustainable way, with the destinations visited on their cruise, while also exploring historically and culturally significant sites throughout Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Italy.

Beginning this summer, guests sailing on Oosterdam and Nieuw Statendam can participate in the tours, which include such experiences as meeting powerful female figures in Kusadasi, Turkey; experiencing a day in the life of a marine biologist in Naples, Italy; learning about organic honeybee farms in Rhodes, Greece; and meeting local families in Santorini, Greece. Each tour is led by a National Geographic trained guide.

Guests on select sailings in the Mediterranean can now book National Geographic tours online or through a travel advisor.

Tours include:

• “A Day in the Life of a Marine Biologist” (Naples, Italy): Visit the oldest aquarium in Europe along with the Darwin Dohrn Museum (DoDaM), the world’s first marine biodiversity research laboratory, where more than 20 Nobel Laureates studied and work on marine biology conservation projects in Naples, and learn about preserving marine turtles and the grey sharks of Lampione Island.

• “Meet the Locals in Santorini” (Santorini, Greece): Spend a day in the homes of two Santorini families and hear their stories of life on the island while tasting regional wine, cheese, vegetables and more. See the iconic, blue-domed church Panagia Kalamiotissa and visit Santo Winery to taste and pair Santorini’s unique wine while enjoying panoramic views of the caldera.

• “Influential Women in Turkey: From Past to Present” (Kusadasi, Turkey): Explore powerful female figures who have influenced the local Turkish society through the ages, from ancient civilizations to modern times with visits to the Temple Artemis and House of the Virgin Mary on the hill above Ephesus. Finish the tour with a culinary journey guided by a local chef during an exclusive pairing menu at Yedi Bilgeler, a winery that has cultivated 2,000-year-old vines.

• “The Fascinating World of Bees” (Rhodes, Greece): Discover why honeybees are among the most important living organisms on the planet. Uncover eye-opening ecological facts, sample local honey varieties, and try your hand at honey extraction at the Bee Museum of Rhodes.

The new National Geographic Day Tours are available on seven-day to 14-day itineraries departing from Trieste (Venice), Italy; Piraeus (Athens), Greece and Barcelona, Spain with stops in Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Santorini and Naples.