Naturama Tours & Adventures Named Carnival Cruise Line's 'Tour Operator of the Year'
MIAMI (June 1, 2017) – Naturama Tours & Adventures – which each year provides thousands of Carnival Cruise Line guests with memorable and exciting experiences ashore in Mexico – has been named the cruise line's "Tour Operator of the Year."
Naturama Tours & Adventures was selected from hundreds of tour operators that work in tandem with Carnival to offer guests unforgettable excursion offerings throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
Twenty-six tour operators were also recognized with Carnival's Leading Tour Operator Award and nine shore excursion operators were honored with the line's Best Innovative Tour Awards for developing and conceptualizing excursions that showcase the unique attributes of their particular destination.
All of these awards are based on nominations by shoreside tour operations personnel in the company's Miami headquarters and shore excursion managers on board Carnival's ships, as well as guest ratings and feedback. Tour operators are evaluated on innovation, creativity, quality, professionalism, communication and overall guest reviews.
Naturama Tours & Adventures was recognized for their diverse and creative shore excursion offerings throughout Playa del Carmen (near Cozumel) that include thrilling adventure parks such as Xenses, Xcaret, Xel-Ha and Xplor. Each of these attractions offers fun for the entire family with exhilarating zip lines, underground rivers, splash-tastic water parks and inventive culinary and cultural experiences.
"We work with hundreds of highly qualified tour operators who deliver exceptional shoreside experiences for our guests and we're delighted to honor Naturama Tours & Adventures as they truly go the extra mile in helping our guests create wonderful memories that last a lifetime," said Erika Tache, Carnival's director of product development - shore excursions. "From the moment guests depart the pier until they arrive back on board, Naturama Tours & Adventures provides a fun, high quality experience in terms of product, service and hospitality. They are certainly most deserving of this recognition," she added.
The Caribbean's Leading Tour Operator recipients include:
Aruba: De Palm Corporation N.V.
Bonaire: Fiesta Tours N.V.
Barbados: Foster & Ince Cruise Services
Costa Maya: Grupo Cacum
Freeport: Freeport Bahamas Adventures, Ltd.
Curacao: FBTT Travel B.V.
La Romana: Luna Tours dba Runners Adventures
San Juan: Get Shopped PR, Inc.
St. Lucia: Elite Shore Excursions Foundation
St. Maarten (2): Out Island Charters N.V., and Xaro N.V.
St. Thomas (2): Cruise Ship Excursions, and Aqua Adventures LLC dba BOSS Underwater
Nassau (2): Bahamas Experience Tours and Transfers, and Island Hotel Company
Key West: Fury Catamarans
Grand Turk: Chukka Caribbean Adventures
Belize: Exotic Eco Adventures, Ltd.
Montego Bay: Chukka Caribbean Adventures
Mahogany Bay (2): Total Gusto and Anthony Keys
Ocho Rios: Elite Shore Excursions Foundation
Cozumel (4): Caribbean Sun Fun, Lisandra SA, Tripping Cool Excursions SA de CV, and Peninsula de la Passion SA de CV
Progreso: Via Yucatan SA de CV
Cabo San Lucas: Aventuras y Expediciones de los Cabos SA de CV
Puerto Vallarta: Vallarta Adventure SA de CV
Grand Cayman (2): Nautilus Cayman, Ltd., and Cayman Segway Tours
Ensenada: Explora Caribe Tours SA de CV
Amber Cove: Go Caribic
Best Innovative Tour recipients include:
Cozumel (2): VIP Exclusive Tulum & Cenote Swim with Mayan Lunch operated by Caribbean Sun Fun, and Give Back with a Purpose – Community Tour operated by Tripping Cool Excursions SA de CV
Progreso: VIP Chichen Itza & Cenote Ikkil with Lunch operated by Via Yucatan SA de CV
Montego Bay: Traditions and Local Flavors of Jamaica operated by Calico Sailing and Undersea Tours, Ltd.
Cabo San Lucas: Intimate Oceanside Dinner Experience operated by Aventuras y Expediciones de los Cabos SA de CV
Nassau: Tropical ATV Adventure and Beach operated by Exite Excursions Limited
Amber Cove: Waterfalls of Damajugua/Adreneline Adventure operated by Caribbean Adventure Tours, Ltd.
Ensenada: Baja Off Road Buggy Adventure operated Explora Caribe Tours SA de CV
Belize: Lamanai Mayan Ruins & River Boat Safari operated by Exotic Eco Adventures Limited
In addition to providing more than 1,200 shore excursion choices in more than 60 ports of call, Carnival offers such one-of-a-kind programs as the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee. With the program, guests who find the same tour offered by another operator at a lower price than their booked excursion either before or during their cruise can receive 110 percent of the difference in the form of a shipboard credit, providing peace of mind knowing they are getting the best price available.
Carnival has also dramatically expanded its shore excursion offerings, adding exclusive new landside experiences and customized private tours, as well as new family-friendly enhancements, including fun complimentary beachside activities, value pricing and free tours in select ports for children under age five.
To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on Twitter at twitter.com/CarnivalPR.
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About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" with 25 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Two 133,500-ton Vista class ships are currently scheduled for delivery - Carnival Horizon in 2018 and an as-yet-unnamed vessel in 2019. Additionally, two new 180,000-ton ships are scheduled to enter service in 2020 and 2022.
