#orca – Cruise Ship Profiles

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines teams up with marine conservation charity ORCA for 2020

Inaugural nine-cruise whale-watching programme announced as part of the partnership

fiw7aqjczx247gp5aa5s — Image: Richard Lovelock

Anyone that knows me will be aware that I have a special fascination with Cetaceans e.g. Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. I am totally against the captivity and exploitation of these intelligent social creatures in marine parks around the world, and firmly believe that the only place they should be seen is swimming free in the wild. I live on the South Coast of the UK and a few miles away in Portsmouth the charity ORCA is based. The charity is entirely dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises in the UK and European waters, I have attended a number of their functions and hoping to complete the Marine Mammal Surveyor course later this year. The charity already works with a number of ferry and cruise companies around the UK but I am pleased to see the news regarding their latest partnership this time with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed a nine-cruise whale-watching programme as part of its first official year in partnership with marine conservation charity ORCA in 2020.

The cruises will enable ORCA to collect vital data on the number and species of whales and dolphins sighted and identify marine wildlife hotspots, feeding directly into the charity’s Cruise Conservationist Programme and its conservation work.

ORCA volunteers will be on board for all nine sailings, who will feed into Fred. Olsen’s onboard enrichment programme with wildlife watching opportunities, lectures, workshops and a host of other activities, including trips on Fred. Olsen’s rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs).

gkppninclvqsht8jsuc4 — Image: Richard Lovelock

Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “All of us here at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are incredibly proud of our partnership with ORCA. Our organisations share similar values and both parties are committed to working together to preserve and protect our oceans, and the wildlife within them, for future generations.

“These cruises will be mutually beneficial for both ORCA, Fred. Olsen and our guests. We know that whale-watching is a real highlight for those taking their holidays with us, and having ORCA on board not only supports the collection of vital data, but also enables our guests to learn more about the marine wildlife that they see on their travels, and further enriches their cruise experience.”

Steve Jones, Head of Partnerships at ORCA, said: “ORCA and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines share so many common values, and our burgeoning partnership has shown that the two organisations have a strong cultural fit.

“We’re continually amazed at how seamlessly we’ve been welcomed into the Fred. Olsen family, both on land and at sea, and everyone we’ve met, from the guests to the staff, have fully embraced our mission to protect whales and dolphins.

“We’re looking forward to a promising future working together, both through the great itineraries we have announced for the rest of 2020 and the incredible adventures we are planning for 2021 and beyond.”

zwhmiwme0u2f5z0vuxmt — Image: Richard Lovelock

Features of the ORCA cruise programme include:

Black Watch’s 16-night W2018 ‘A Voyage to Remote Spitsbergen’ cruise, departing from Liverpool on 25^th June 2020. Prices start from £2,599 per person.

Ports of call: Liverpool, UK – Ålesund, Norway – Cruising Rørvik, Norway – Cruising Torghatten, Norway – Cruising Seven Sisters mountain range, Norway – Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway – Djevelen Tanngard, Norway – Honningsvåg, Norway – Longyearbyen, Norway – Cruising Tempelfjorden, Norway – Cruise by Nordenskiöldbreen, Norway – Pyramiden, Norway – Tromsø, Norway – Bodø, Norway – Lerwick, UK – Liverpool, UK

For more details: Visit W2018 ‘A Voyage to Remote Spitsbergen’

Boudicca’s 16-night D2021 ‘Fjords & Icebergs of Remote Greenland’ cruise, departing from Dover on 11^th August 2020. Prices start from £2,199 per person.

Ports of call: Dover, UK – Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight stay) – Cruising Prins Chrustian Sund, Greenland – Cruising Torssukatak, Greeland – Narsarsuaq, Greenland – Qaqortoq, Greeland – Nanortalik, Greenland – Cruising Tasermiut Fjord, Greenland – Scrabster, UK – Dover, UK

For more details: Visit D2021 ‘Fjords & Icebergs of Remote Greenland’

For further information on ORCA sailings with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/our-ships/activities-and-entertainment/orca Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm), or visit an ABTA travel agent.

To find out more about ORCA, visit www.orcaweb.org.uk

Thank you for reading my latest blog post

Crystal Cruises Eliminates Plastic Straws Across Its Entire Fleet

cc-ocs-ocy-ships-exterior1840 — Crystal Symphony & Crystal Serenity Image: Crystal Cruises

Miami, FL, June 07, 2019 Luxury cruise brand Crystal Cruises have announced as of today, June 8, 2019, all plastic straws will be eliminated across the entire Crystal fleet. The company announced the initiative as the latest part of its Crystal Cares program, which comprises a broad spectrum of environmental efforts and sustainable practices. Paper straws will be available throughout the dining venues aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity as well as aboard the company’s yacht, Crystal Esprit, and the Crystal River Cruises fleet. New ships will never carry plastic straws. The move coincides with the annual observance of World Oceans Day, also on June 8, designed to increase awareness of the need to preserve and protect the oceans.

“Crystal has always recognized that the world we travel is precious and deserving of our utmost care, and that all measures contributing to the preservation of our marine environments can make a significant impact,” said Crystal’s president and CEO, Tom Wolber. “This initiative, as well as the others under our Crystal Cares program, ensure that we are continuing our focus of caring for our world in meaningful ways.”

The company also recently announced a partnership with ORCA – a leading conservation organisation dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises – which will bring Cruise Conservationists aboard select Alaska voyages for training, research and data collection as part of its OceanWatch program.

Under its comprehensive Crystal Cares program, Crystal applies stringent “green” standards across its ships including energy efficiency and water conservation protocols and dedicated recycling programs. Additionally, the company has used a state-of-the-art water filtration system for six years in all its dining venues, producing still and sparkling drinking water reducing the use of plastic bottles. Crystal also prioritises partnerships with organisations and vendors around the world who adhere to responsible environmental and sustainability practices.

The company is also committed to extending its extraordinary service to the communities it explores and the planet. The line invites guests and crew to participate in complimentary excursions ashore that assist organisations in the communities its voyages call on in its “You Care, We Care” Crystal Volunteerism Adventures.

End

Additional Information:

What is not entirely clear from the press release is whether the ban includes all single use plastic items or just plastic straws. I hope to clarify this and will update in due course.

About Crystal

Only the world-renowned Crystal Experience offers an unwavering, unparalleled standard of excellence and luxury across fourdistinct cruising options: Crystal Cruises, the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line; Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line; Crystal Yacht Cruises, offering boutique luxury and bold adventure in the world’s most elite harbours; and Crystal Expedition Cruises, taking Crystal’s acclaimed elegance to the farthest reaches of the world. Crystal has been recognized with top honours in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for a record 25 years; voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure for 20 years; and won the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Virtuoso for four years (2014, 2015, 2016 & 2018). Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the advisors of ASTA.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel advisor, call 888.799.2437, or visit www.crystalcruises.com. Join the hundreds of thousands who subscribe to the Crystal Insider blog, follow Crystal Cruises’ Facebook page and @crystalcruises on Twitter and Instagram, and engage in the conversation with #crystalcruises and #WhereLuxuryisPersonal.

About ORCA

With our unique take on marine conservation, ORCA is a charity that’s entirely dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises in the UK and European waters.

We work to identify and protect critical whale and dolphin habitats in our waters and beyond. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters we help to create safer places for whales and dolphins ultimately promoting the health of our seas.

By getting members of the public to join our team, we’re not just helping to save whales and dolphins – we’re also giving people from all walks of life an opportunity to be close to these amazing animals in the wild, while collecting vital information that helps us work towards solving the problems they face.

Our aim is to enable local communities to become stewards of local whales and dolphins and the marine environment in which they live.

You can find out more about the work of Orca here:

https://www.orcaweb.org.uk/

Why I want to visit Alaska

In a follow up from my previous post about princess Cruises 50th Alaska season I thought I would would do something different ans share with you why visiting Alaska is definitely at the top of my bucket list of places to visit.

As a keen photographer, I know the scenery would just astound me and I would have to apologize to my wife for constantly being distracted by it! From the high peaked snow-capped mountains to glaciers, slowly edging their way towards the sea and the tree covered landscape and numerous picturesque islands what is there not to like; it is surely a photographers dream.

I would be utterly mesmerized by its scenery but Alaska is also renowned for its amazing nature, and it is one element of this that is the main draw for me personally.

It is obvious to anyone that knows me or follows me on social media that in addition to my passion for photographing and writing about ships I have another one also linked to the ocean. It is no coincidence that my favorite livery on of any cruise ship currently afloat is that of Norwegian Bliss!

If it is not immediately obviois my other passion is whales, in particular killer whales or orca’s. To call them whales is in fact incorrect, as they are actually the largest members of the dolphin family, which together with whales are all collectively called Cetaceans.

Top of my excursion list on a cruise around Alaska would be a whale watching tour, and there are numerous ones available. Due to its location, Alaska is considered one of the world’s whale watching meccas and many tours offer the near guaranteed chance to see whales. Humpback, grey and beluga whales and dolphins in addition to killer whales.

The best time to cruise to Alaska is between May and September as daytime temperatures are in the mid 60’s and rainfall is at its lowest, on average 3.52 per month.

During the summer months a number of whale and dolphin species can be found Alaska’s coastal waters these include grey, humpback, fin and beluga whales together with numerous species of dolphin.

: Adult orca and baby

Unlike the migrating species of whales orca’s live all year round in the waters surrounding coastal Alaska outside Seward near Kodiak, in Prince William Sound, in Glacier Bay, Icy Straight and Alaska’s inside passage.

Although all orca’s have the same beautiful black and white coloration, Alaska is home to no less than three different types with the most commonly seen type known as “residents”.These noisy and sometime gregarious pods are so called because they remain in the inland or nearby coastal waters all year round feeding on the abundant fish. There are two resident subgroups. Northern residents range from Vancouver Island north to SE Alaska while Southern residents occupy greater Puget Sound.

The second type are the more elusive mammal hunters known as “transients” These secretive orca’s move north and south along the coast from Southeast Alaska and British Columbia as far south as Southern California, but they frequently make forays into the Salish Sea.

The third group known as “offshore orca’s inhabit the ocean well beyond the coast. Far less is known about these and you are unlikely to see this type on any whale watching tours.

© NOAA

I am truly in awe of these majestic animals, and seeing them swim in the wild would be my ultimate dream and a cruise adventure I would really enjoy sharing with you…

One day perhaps…

Have you cruised in Alaska? did you go whale watching I would love to hear about it?

As always thank you for taking the time to read my blog