Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Course · 300 h · 5 modules
Port Tourist Guide Course
This is your passport to discovering the best-kept secrets of the world's most fascinating maritime destinations. Learn to plan unforgettable itineraries, identify authentic local attractions, and connect with the port culture of…
Duration300 h
FormatOnline
Starts21 December
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
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Programme overview
What is the Port Tourist Guide Course?
This is your passport to discovering the best-kept secrets of the world's most fascinating maritime destinations. Learn to plan unforgettable itineraries, identify authentic local attractions, and connect with the port culture of each location. This course provides you with the tools and expert knowledge to become an exceptional tour guide, capable of offering unique and enriching experiences to your travelers.
Key Benefits
- In-depth Knowledge: Master the history, geography, and unique characteristics of each port.
- Expert Planning: Learn to design optimized and personalized tour routes.
- Effective Communication: Hone your skills in connecting with tourists from diverse cultures.
- Valuable Resources: Access a comprehensive database of tourism providers, activities, and services.
- Career Opportunities: Boost your career in the tourism sector with a recognized certification.
Programme type
Course
Study mode
Online
Duration
300 hours
Modules
5
Start date
11-12-2026
Programme highlights
- Discover the secrets: Master the keys to creating unforgettable tourist experiences in port environments.
- Become an expert: Learn about the history, culture, and unique characteristics of each port, highlighting its unique attractions.
- Plan engaging routes: Design itineraries that capture the essence of each destination, optimizing time and resources.
- Exceptional customer service: Develop communication skills to connect with visitors and exceed their expectations.
- Career opportunities: Boost your career in a booming sector with a high demand for guides specializing in port tourism.
- Dare to transform every visit into a memorable adventure.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 5 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Fundamentals of Port Tourist Guide, Maritime Heritage and Visitor Experience
- Ports tourist guide concept and differences between heritage tour, sightseeing tour, cultural interpretation and nautical experience
- Ports typologies: historic, sporting, fishing, commercial, industrial, cruise ship and tourist marinas
- Items of interest: Docks, Lighthouses, Markets, Shipyards, Warehouses, Boats, Cranes, Docks and Port Neighborhoods
- Relationship between port, city, trade, fishing, navigation, local culture and maritime memory
- Visitor profile: tourists, cruise passengers, families, students, cultural groups, sailors and international public
02
Maritime history, port culture and interpretation of local heritage
- Historical evolution of ports as centres of trade, defence, fishing, migration, industry and territorial connection
- Port trades: fishermen, stevedores, riverside carpenters, pilots, sailors, grids, shipowners and merchants
- Material and immaterial heritage: traditional boats, oral stories, gastronomy, festivals, archives and coastal traditions
- Patrimonial interpretation techniques to transform historical data into clear, close and memorable stories
- Adaptation of the discourse according to age, language, level of knowledge, motivation and available time of the group
03
Route design, tour planning and logistics management of port visits
- Design of itineraries by port areas, viewpoints, promenades, fish markets, museums, lighthouses and nearby urban areas
- Selection of interpretive stops according to historical interest, accessibility, security, visibility and pace of the tour
- Planning of times, distances, meeting points, breaks, bathrooms, shaded areas and alternatives by climate
- Management of groups, reservations, tickets, coordination with port authorities, museums, operators and local businesses
- Adaptation of routes for cruise passengers, schoolchildren, families, elderly people, visitors with reduced mobility and private groups
04
Oral communication, touristic storytelling and professional visitor care
- Clear communication techniques, voice, rhythm, body language, eye contact and group management in open spaces
- Storytelling applied to ports through stories of travel, shipwrecks, trade, fisheries, migration, innovation and coastal life
- Use of visual resources: old photographs, maps, objects, QR codes, audios, models and digital support
- Management of questions, interruptions, distracted visitors, cultural differences and diverse expectations
- Visitor service, professional treatment, resolution of incidents, local recommendations and memorable closure of the visit
05
Ports Tour Guide Applied Project
- Case definition: historic port, fishing, sports, commercial, cruise ship, tourist marina or port neighborhood
- Diagnosis of heritage, target audience, accesses, risks, attractions, services and opportunities of the port environment
- Itinerary design with stops, times, main story, interpretive resources and logistics alternatives
- Elabouration of the visit script with introduction, storytelling, key data, questions to the group and experiential closure
- Development of the security plan, sustainability, visitor service, accessibility and coordination with local actors
Workload
Study Time and Workload
300 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Travel lovers who want to transform their vacations into unique experiences, discovering the essence of each port.Tourism students who want to acquire specialized knowledge to stand out in the sector and offer distinctive tours.Active tour guides who want to expand their offerings with innovative and attractive port itineraries.Maritime professionals interested in learning about the tourism
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Managing group logistics in port environments
- 02Effectively communicate relevant information about the port and its surroundings
- 03Implement security and emergency protocols in port facilities
- 04Design attractive and personalized port tourism experiences
- 05Promote sustainability and respect for the cultural and natural heritage of the port environment
- 06Interpreting local history and culture to enrich the tourist experience
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Local Tour Guide: Offering walking, cycling, or bus tours of the city and its surroundings.
02Cruise Cruise Guide: Accompanying cruise ship passengers on shore excursions.
03Tourist Information Officer: Providing information and assistance to visitors at ports and resorts.
04Tourist Entertainer: Organizing activities and events for tourists in the port area.
05Tourism Promoter: Working to promote the tourist destination and attract more visitors.
06Tourism Content Creator: Developing content for blogs, social media, and websites about the port area and its attractions.
07Cruise Cruise Travel Agent: Advising and selling cruise packages to clients.
08Tourism Consultant: Advising companies and organizations on how to improve their tourism offerings in the port area.
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Questions
Entry Requirements
To provide information and assistance to visitors to a port, highlighting points of interest and local history to enrich their experience.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
To provide information and assistance to visitors to a port, including details about attractions, transportation, restaurants and other local services.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/professional profile:Tourist Guide Qualification; or specific training in tourism and cultural heritage.Language competence:Proficiency in local language; and at least one foreign language (English, German, French) at a conversational level.Specific Knowledge:Maritime history, port heritage, local flora and fauna, port safety regulations.Skills:Effective communication, group management, problem-solving, first aid (desirable).Documentation:Updated CV, copy of Tourist Guide certification (if applicable), language certificate, liability insurance.```
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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