These cruise ships are saving ocean wildlife

While the cruise industry strives to build more sustainable vessels, they're also turning their attention to conservation and protecting the wildlife that inhabits some of the world's most pristine landscapes.

Celebrity Cruises has been recognised by Ecuador’s Secretary of Tourism for its environmental stewardship in the Galapagos Islands.

While cruise lines are taking innovative steps to build more sustainable vessels with the aim to achieve net-zero carbon cruising, conservation practices on and off land remain a key focus. Foremost is the protection of the very reason many of us sail in the first place – wildlife. We want to see critters in their natural habitat and know that cruise operators are taking measures to protect them.

One of the cruise lines leading the way is Norwegian expedition cruise company Hurtigruten. Its itineraries focus on deep exploration, with shore excursions including Whale Watching in Arctic Silence aboard a specially designed, hybrid-electric boat, ensuring minimal disruption while watching for orcas and humpback whales. The line has also set up the Hurtigruten Foundation to support initiatives in the areas it operates, including protecting critically endangered petrels on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos.

Another cruise line sailing the Galápagos, Celebrity Cruises, has been recognised by Ecuador’s Secretary of Tourism for its environmental stewardship ensuring the pristine nature of these islands. On each cruise aboard the 100-guest Celebrity Flora there are naturalists certified by the Galápagos National Park guiding the way. The cruise line has also set up The Galápagos Fund, giving expedition cruisers the opportunity to have a direct impact on the preservation of such animals as Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas and giant tortoises.

One of the cruise lines leading the way is Hurtigruten. Its itineraries focus on deep exploration, with shore excursions including Whale Watching in Arctic Silence.

The beauty of expedition cruising is that there is often the opportunity to learn about animal conservation from the experts. This October, Coral Expeditions has a 14-night Citizen Science on the Great Barrier Reef expedition exploring the outer reefs and unique marine ecosystems with on-board guest lecturer Adam Smith from Reef Ecologic. The small expedition ship Coral Discoverer sets sail from Cairns for Fitzroy Island, where cruisers will learn about marine conservation work at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. There’s also the chance to log species of marine life on guided snorkelling surveys to assist in biodiversity monitoring databases, and meet with resident scientific researchers at Lizard Island Research Station to learn about projects that are making a difference.

Australian cruise company Aurora Expeditions’ Citizen Science Program allows cruisers to get involved in seabird surveys done at sea or at landing sites to help provide data for long-term monitoring of seabirds in the Southern Ocean and on the Antarctic Peninsula, guided by the cruise line’s expert ornithologists and naturalists. 

Aurora Expeditions is also working with Happywhale by getting expeditioners to help take identification photographs of whales – notably humpbacks in Antarctica – and a variety of other marine mammals. Happywhale can then track marine life globally, helping scientists learn about migratory movements, population and even an individual whale’s survival rates. These sorts of experiences foster a lifelong vested interest in animal conservation.

Originally published as These cruise ships are saving ocean wildlife