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, Besides, they will identify marine wildlife hotspots, feeding directly into ORCA'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. These include trips on Fred. Olsen's Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs).
Thomas Rennesland, hotel operations director at Fred. Olsen, said: "These cruises will be mutually beneficial for ORCA, Fred. Olsen and our guests. We know that whale-watching is a real highlight for those taking holidays with us. 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 enriches their cruise experience."
Commending ORCA and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines? partnership, Steve Jones, head of partnerships at ORCA, said that the two organisations share common values and the partnership is all set to build 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."
Features of ORCA's Cruise Conservationist Programme include:
Black Watch's 16-night 'A Voyage to Remote Spitsbergen' cruise, departing from Liverpool on June 25, 2020 - Prices start from ?2,599 per person. Ports of call include Liverpool, the UK ? ?lesund, Norway ? Cruising R?rvik, Norway ? Cruising Torghatten, Norway ? Cruising Seven Sisters mountain range, Norway ? Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway ? Djevelen Tanngard, Norway ? Honningsv?g, Norway ? Longyearbyen, Norway ? Cruising Tempelfjorden, Norway ? Cruise by Nordenski?ldbreen, Norway ? Pyramiden, Norway ? Troms?, Norway ? Bod?, Norway ? Lerwick, the UK ? Liverpool, the UK.
Boudicca's 16-night 'Fjords & Icebergs of Remote Greenland' cruise, departing from Dover on August 11, 2020 - Prices start from ?2,199 per person. Ports of call include Dover, the UK ? Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight stay) ? Cruising Prins Christian Sund, Greenland ? Cruising Torssukatak, Greeland ? Narsarsuaq, Greenland ? Qaqortoq, Greeland ? Nanortalik, Greenland ? Cruising Tasermiut Fjord, Greenland ? Scrabster, the UK ? Dover, the UK.
For more information, go to www.fredolsencruises.com/agent
To find out more about ORCA, visit www.orcaweb.org.uk
