Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrate over 9,500 wildlife sightings in 2024 with marine conservation charity ORCA
©Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Words by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Covered by World Encounter and Conker Nature Magazine
First published 10th January 2025 at 12:00 PM GMT
Guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet of three smaller ships have made over 9,500 wildlife sightings together with ORCA’s Ocean Conservationists in 2024 as part of their marine wildlife conservation work.
The ORCA Ocean Conservationist programme is a unique whale and dolphin monitoring project, which uses the data collected during cruises to identify and monitor whale and dolphin populations around the world.
The data collected contributes directly to the conservation of marine wildlife by helping to establish important protected areas, such as those in the Bay of Biscay and the Hebrides. ORCA’s continued monitoring in these hard-to-reach areas is crucial for creating safe habitats for whales and dolphins around the world.
Across Fred. Olsen’s fleet, 9,539 sightings were made over a distance of 44,873km, with the most frequent wildlife spotted being the common dolphin, sighted 4,367 times and a total of 189 humpback whales. Other sightings included 307 tuna, 75 beluga whales, 11 orca, 5 blue whales and 16 of the deepest diving animals known, the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whales, which can dive to depths of nearly 3,000m.
OCRA marine wildlife sightings from Fred. Olsen Vessels in 2024 | ©Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
“Last year was extraordinary for marine life encounters aboard our ships, thanks to our partnership with ORCA. As we’ve sailed across the globe, ORCA’s expert teams have been on hand to record remarkable wildlife sightings and share their knowledge with our guests.
It’s a real privilege to work with ORCA, as we know that for our guests, spotting native wildlife is something that makes a cruise truly unforgettable, while also learning more about the wildlife they spot, and playing a part in capturing important data too.
We’re looking forward to another successful year working together in 2025.”
“Our collaboration with Fred. Olsen goes from strength to strength every year, and once again we have a stunning set of itineraries in 2025 that will take us to all kinds of exciting destinations. Our Ocean Conservationists will onboard giving guests unforgettable wildlife experiences and teaching them about the amazing world of whales and dolphins - but most importantly, they will also be collecting important data to help us study and understand these animals better and help to protect them for the future. Every Fred. Olsen guest who comes and joins our teams out on deck will be helping us in our conservation mission and we can’t wait to work together for another amazing year in 2025”
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be welcoming ORCA on a range of cruises throughout 2025, highlights include:
Balmoral’s 14-night L2505 ‘Easter Escape to Portugal’s Unspoilt Islands’ cruise departing from Southampton on 10th April 2025. Prices start from £1,559 per person.
Discover the legend of Sete Cidades crater lakes on Sao Miguel Island
Embrace Portuguese traditions, like thermal bathing in Furnas Valley
Spot a variety of marine life from Balmoral with wildlife charity ORCA
Itinerary: Southampton, United Kingdom – Praia Da Vitoria, Portugal – Horta, Portugal (overnight port) – Cruising by Santa Maria, Portugal – Funchal, Portugal - La Coruna, Spain – Cruise by Tower of Hercules Lighthouse, Spain – Southampton, United Kingdom
For more details: Visit Balmoral's 'Easter Escape to Portugal's Unspoilt Islands' cruise
Bolette’s 5-night T2508 ‘Scenic Scottish Isles in Five Nights’ cruise, departing from Liverpool on 2ndMay 2025.Prices start from £949 per person.
Explore the rugged coastlines of the Hebridean Islands
Discover the traditions of the Western Isles
Get closer to nature with the help of ORCA
Itinerary: Liverpool, United Kingdom – Portree, Ilse of Sky, Scotland (anchor port) – Stornoway, Scotland (anchor port) – Cruising by the Small Isles, Scotland – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap, Scotland – Cruising by Fingal’s Cave, Scotland – Liverpool, United Kingdom
For more details: Visit Bolette's 'Scenic Scottish Isles in Five Nights' cruise
Borealis’ 12-night S2519 ‘Whales, Waterfalls and Geysers of Iceland’ cruise, departing from Dover on 17th July 2025. Prices start from £1,679 per person.
Witness the splendour of Iceland's volcanic landscapes
See puffins before they head south for the winter
Discover how Iceland turns its natural power into energy
Itinerary: Dover, United Kingdom – Cruising Nordfjardarhorn and Gerpir, Iceland – Cruising Borgarfjordur Eystri, Iceland – Cruising Eyjafjordur, Iceland – Akureyri, Iceland – Isafjordur, Iceland (anchor port) – Reykjavik, Iceland – Heimaey, Vetmannaeyjar, Iceland (anchor port) – Cruising by Ellidaey Island, Iceland – Pass Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Iceland – Torshavn, Faroe Islands – Cruising Pentland Firth, United Kingdom – Cruising by Old Man of Hoy, United Kingdom – Cruising by The Needle, United Kingdom – Cruising by Duncansby Sea Stacks, Scotland – Dover, United Kingdom
For more details: Visit Borealis' 'Whales, Waterfalls and Geysers of Iceland' cruise
For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ORCA cruises, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/orca. Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
Find out more from World Encounter
TUI has announced the addition of two stunning new Spanish destinations, Sitges and Malaga, to its ever-growing city break portfolio.