Press release -
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines guests make nearly 3,500 wildlife sightings with marine conservation charity ORCA
Nearly 3,500 marine animals were spotted by guests on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships in 2023.
With help from marine wildlife charity ORCA as part of its Cruise Conservationist programme, a total of 3,431 wildlife sightings were made.
The most frequent species spotted was the common dolphin with 1,409 sightings, with the total number of individual dolphins being seen at 2,312.
Other sightings included 135 harbour porpoises, 11 orca, 84 humpback whales, 44 grey seals and seven Cuvier’s beaked whales: known as the deepest diving animal.
A blue whale, a bearded seal and an ocean sunfish were among the rarest sightings.
James Moss, Itinerary Product Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“Our guests are nature lovers, so spotting native wildlife while on board our smaller-sized ships is something that they truly cherish.
“As a cruise line, we are fortunate to be able to have ORCA representatives on board many of our sailings to help guests look out for marine mammals from the deck.
“We look forward to another year of working with ORCA to learn more about the wildlife sighted, while playing a part in capturing key data.”
The ORCA Cruise Conservationist programme is a unique whale and dolphin monitoring project, which uses the data collected during these cruises to identify and monitor whale and dolphin populations around the world.
Steve Jones, Director of Fundraising and Operations at ORCA, said:
“Five years after our first itinerary with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, we’re still amazed by the incredible level of engagement that we get from guests and crew on Borealis, Bolette and Balmoral.
“Not only do we have the opportunity to inspire people about the wonderful world of whales and dolphins, but the data that we collect gives us vital insight into the amazing animals we see during our voyages.
“Understanding these animals better is the only way we can protect them for future generations, and we are incredibly grateful to the entire Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines team, on land and at sea, for welcoming us on board.”
ORCA will be on board a selection of cruises including:
Balmoral’s 15-night L2409 ‘Springtime Canary Islands and Portugal’ cruise, departing from Newcastle on 2nd April 2024. Prices start from £1,899 per person.
- Capture views of Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs
- Explore volcanic Canarian landscapes and Madeiran gardens
- Enjoy visits to the Portuguese cities of Oporto and Lisbon
Itinerary: Newcastle, UK – Leixões, Portugal – Funchal, Portugal – Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain – Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain – Arrecife, Spain – Lisbon, Portugal – Newcastle, UK
For more details: Visit L2409 ‘Springtime Canary Islands and Portugal’
Bolette’s 14-night T2408 ‘Natural Wonders and Wildlife of the Azores and Madeira’ cruise, departing from Liverpool on 19thApril 2024. Prices start from £2,199 per person.
- Marvel at the wonders of beautiful Portuguese Islands
- Explore volcanic sites in the Azores
- Go in search of whales with ORCA on Bolette
Itinerary: Liverpool, UK – Praia da Vitoria, Portugal – Ponta Delgada, Portugal – Cruising by Santa Maria, Portugal – Cruise by Cabo Girao, Portugal – Funchal, Portugal (overnight port) – Lisbon, Portugal – Leixões, Portugal – Liverpool, UK
For more details: Visit T2408 ‘Natural Wonders and Wildlife of the Azores and Madeira’
Borealis’ 11-night S2410 ‘Whales and Volcanic Landscapes of Iceland’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 14th May 2024. Prices start from £1,299 per person.
- Experience some of Iceland’s remarkable wonders of nature
- See spurting geysers and thundering waterfalls
- Spot whales and other cetaceans from the decks of Borealis with ORCA
Itinerary: Southampton, UK – Reykjavik, Iceland – Ísafjörður, Iceland – Cruising by Hornbjarg, Iceland – Akureyri, Iceland – Cruising Eyjafjörður, Iceland – Cruising by Hrísey, Iceland – Cruising Grimsey, Iceland – Crossing the Icelandic Arctic Circle, Iceland – Cruising by Mykines, Faroe Islands – Tórshavn, Faroe Islands – Southampton, UK
For more details: Visit S2410 ‘Whales and Volcanic Landscapes of Iceland’
Balmoral’s eight-night L2420 ‘Wildlife and Traditions of the Scottish Isles’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 4thJuly 2024.Prices start from £1,399 per person.
- Enjoy birdwatching as Balmoral sails past Sumburgh Head
- Search for whales with help from ORCA
- · Marvel at the Isle of Skye’s scenery
Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Lerwick, Scotland – Cruising by Sumburgh Head, Scotland – Kirkwall, Scotland – Cruising Pentland Firth, Scotland – Portree Isle of Skye, Scotland – Cruising by the Small Isles, Scotland – Cruising Loch Hourn, Scotland – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap (Bac Mor), Scotland – Cruising by Fingal’s Cave, Scotland – Cruising by Iona, Scotland – Stornoway, Scotland – Cruise by Troup Head, Moray Firth, Scotland – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2420 ‘Wildlife and Traditions of the Scottish Isles'
Balmoral’s 10-night L2434 ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ cruise, departing from Newcastle on 9th November 2024.Prices start from £1,299 per person.
- Have a chance to see the Northern Lights in Alta
- Connect with the Sami people and learn of their cultures
- Sail through the Tjeldsundet Strait, accessible only to small ships
Itinerary: Newcastle, UK – Alta, Norway (overnight port) – Tromsø, Norway – Narvik, Norway – Bodø, Norway – Newcastle, UK
For more details: Visit L2434 ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’
For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ORCA cruises, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/life-on-board/orca
Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
