Aquilafying the World by Igniting the Spirit of Discovery
Aquilafying the world isn’t just a motto; it’s how we show up every day- for our people, our communities, and the global cruise industry. We are a company that cares deeply about doing the right thing, and that belief is woven into our values.
As both a tour operator in Saint John, New Brunswick, and a global leader in cruise industry training, we are driven by the goal of creating a positive impact at every level of cruise tourism. At Aquila, sustainability is not simply a promise; it is part of who we are and is reflected in everything we do.
“Each of us has the power to make a difference and help to create the world we want to live in. We strive to be a workplace where people love what they do, and also feel supported, included and safe. We work to nurture a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment in who we are, how we think, the values that guide our decisions, the actions that we take and the plans that we make.”
Danielle Timmons – Vice President, Cruise Operations
Guided by Purpose, Driven by Excellence
Whether we’re delivering unforgettable, locally rooted shore experiences through Aquila Tours or empowering destinations and tour operators through the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, our approach is anchored in the pillars of:
- Excellence with Purpose: We deliver quality tours and training that create meaningful impact and elevate experiences responsibly.
- Community & Destination Stewardship: We champion local stories and businesses, and support growth of the communities and destinations we work with.
- People-Powered Excellence: We invest in our team’s growth and nurture an inclusive culture and motivate others to do the same.
- Collaboration Across the Cruise Ecosystem: We connect stakeholders to share, innovate, and build a cruise industry that benefits all.
Aquila’s Impact Stories
Aquila’s impact reaches all over the world. Our team has trained in 140 destinations (and counting!), touching all seven continents, supporting destinations and operators in enhancing their performance, helping them create and deliver better experiences for guests and stronger benefits for local communities.
In our local community we operate over 40 different tours that visit and benefit many communities in Southern New Brunswick, Canada. Each cruise season, we welcome 60,000 guests on Aquilamazing shore excursions, employ over 100 local staff, and support more than 60 local businesses, including attractions, restaurants, retailers and non-profit partners in the Saint John region.
We strive to lead by example in responsible and inclusive tourism in our city and gobally, as members of the GSTC, Rainbow Registered, and signatories of the Sustainable Tourism Pledge through Greenstep.
Here’s a Look at Some of Our Impact Stories
Different tour operators and port agencies from Aruba recently joined the 'Excellence in Sustainable Destination Experiences' workshop by Aquila. It was a truly transformative experience. The insights and strategies shared were useful, greatly improving our sustainability efforts. The expert guidance and collaborative environment encouraged deep learning and creative thinking. We highly recommend this workshop to any destination looking to improve their sustainability practices and offer great experiences.
