ORCA CEO Sailing see Chief Executives of Ambassador and ORCA join guests onboard Iceland itinerary
- Iceland's Land of Ice & Fire cruise from London Tilbury on 7 July 2023 one of 14 ORCA itineraries confirmed for 23/24 season
Following news that it has renewed its partnership with its nominated partner, ORCA, the charity dedicated to marine conservation, Ambassador Cruise Line is delighted to announce that its CEO, Christian Verhounig, and ORCA’s CEO, Sally Hamilton, will join guests onboard Ambience for the operator’s very first CEO-themed ORCA itinerary.
Guests sailing on the 12-night ‘Iceland's Land of Ice & Fire’ sailing departing London Tilbury on 7 July will have a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with Christian and Sally, who will host 'in conversation with' and FAQ sessions, offering travellers the opportunity to learn more about their journeys in sustainable travel & tourism and conservation.
Sally will share insights into her fascinating career, from protecting seals in the Canadian Arctic to her role at ORCA, while offering guests the chance to learn more about ORCA’s history, future endeavours and initiatives. These include a joint Anti-Whaling Campaign with Ambassador, first launched in 2022 to encourage change, which positions the cruise line as the industry leader on the issue of commercial whaling and unnecessary dolphin hunts.
With over 25 years’ experience in the industry, Christian will shed light on what it takes to launch a new cruise line at a time when the sustainable actions of any operator are under scrutiny. Guests will hear him explain how sustainability is and will remain a core value for Ambassador, which operates two small to mid-size ships whose environmental upgrades make them IMO Tier III compliant and place them in the top 10-15% of environmentally sustainable ships worldwide. Christian’s talks will also offer exclusive insights into Ambassador’s future plans, including fleet expansion, new destinations and more.
In addition, the sailings will offer guests the chance to meet Christian and Sally in a relaxed setting during Ambience’s onboard meet-and-greet cocktail parties.
The ORCA CEO Sailing is just one of 14 dedicated ORCA cruises that will sail under the premium-value, no-fly cruise brand’s colours this season. Ocean Conservationists will be joining guests onboard Ambience for seven itineraries sailing from Ambassador’s home port of London Tilbury, with her sister ship, Ambition - which entered service in May* - set to host a further seven departing ports around the UK.
These itineraries include ‘Ambience’s Grand Round the World Cruise’ in January 2024, which will see the charity visit parts of the globe for the very first time over the course of a 120-day itinerary - the longest time ORCA has ever committed to any cruise line for a single sailing. Incorporating important whale and dolphin habitats including some critically endangered populations that are in dire need of better protection, ports of call will include Blue Whale migratory routes around Australia and the East Indian Ocean; threatened Pygmy Blue Whale habitats in Sri Lanka; the nursery grounds of Southern Right Whales in South Africa; migratory routes for the endangered Oceania subpopulation of Humpback Whales near the Cook Islands; and the Panama Canal, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world where animals are at high risk of ship strike
Ambassador’s 2023/24 ORCA itineraries will total almost 500 days at sea, taking in a host of destinations and itineraries including the cruise line’s multi-generational cruises. The sailings will see ORCA’s experts collect important scientific data aimed at protecting sea life including whales, dolphins and porpoises as well as inviting guests to learn more about ocean conservation while onboard.
Each ORCA itinerary features an interactive education programme aimed at offering guests the opportunity to learn more about the marine environment, ranging from lectures and Q&As to simply spending time on deck to help travellers spot and identify the incredible range of life that can be seen at sea. Both ships are home to dedicated enrichment areas featuring a range of activities and educational materials focussed on whales and dolphins. These include the ORCA OceanWatchers app, which allows guests to try their hand at being an Ocean Conservationist, and information detailing how ORCA’s conservation programmes are working to protect sea life around the world.
Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire – ORCA CEO Sailing - 7 July 2023 - London Tilbury - 12 Nights
The ‘Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire’ sailing will take guests north to discover some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes on earth, from lush valleys, ice caps and active volcanoes to lively geysers, bubbling mud pools and hot springs. It will include a visit to Reykjavik, Iceland’s quirky and cosmopolitan capital city, with ports of call in the Faroe Islands, with their unique Viking culture and stunning land and seascapes.
· Saver Fares start from just £599 per person, based on two people sharing an inside standard twin cabin, with upgrades to the Ambassador Fare, which includes the Expedition Drinks Package, from just £1,009pp.
To book, visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com or call 0808 1028701.
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Note to Editors
*Ambassador Cruise Line launched its second lady of the sea, Ambition, at an official Gala Event on Thursday 11 May 2023. Her first guests sailed from Newcastle on Friday 12 May 2023, travelling on Ambition’s maiden voyage up to Dundee before heading to sunnier climes during the 14-night Hidden Gems of France and Spain inaugural sailing.
The launch of Ambition will see Ambassador welcome guests onboard from eight different UK departure ports for the first time - the cruise line’s home port of London Tilbury and Newcastle Tyne, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Falmouth, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast.
Ambassador’s ORCA itineraries - 2023/24
A list of Ambassador’s ORCA itineraries for 2023/24 can be found below. Guests interested in finding out more can find further details on www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/cruise-types/orca.
Ambience
Arctic Voyage to Spitsbergen, North Cape & Land of the Midnight Sun
17 nights, sailing 20 June 2023 from London Tilbury
12 nights, sailing 7 July 2023 from London Tilbury
Summertime Fjordland - Multi-Generational Sailing
7 nights, sailing 5 August 2023 from London Tilbury
Summer Balearics Getaway - Multi-Generational Sailing
14 nights, sailing 12 August 2023 from London Tilbury
Grand Canada & Greenland Experience
34 nights, sailing 12 September 2023 from London Tilbury
32 nights, sailing 16 October 2023 from London Tilbury
Ambience's Grand Round the World Cruise
120 nights, sailing 6 January 2024 from London Tilbury
Ambition
14 nights, sailing 3 June 2023 from Newcastle/4 June 2023 from Dundee
Scottish Islands, Highlights & Faroes
8 nights, sailing 29 June 2023 from Newcastle/30 June 2023 from Dundee
11 nights, sailing 6 July 2023 from Belfast/7 July 2023 from Liverpool
13 nights, sailing 20 August 2023 from Belfast/21 August 2023 from Liverpool
Canary, Madeira & Morocco Winter Escape
16 nights, sailing 25 October 2023 from Bristol Royal Portbury
Highlights of Brazil and West Indies
42 nights, sailing 18 January 2024 from London Tilbury
11 nights, sailing 15 March 2024 from London Tilbury
About ORCA
ORCA is one of the UK’s leading marine conservation charities with a mission to give everyone who cares about whales and dolphins an active role in safeguarding their future. They have coordinated a national network of volunteer citizen scientists since they were founded in 2001, using ferries and cruise ships as platforms of opportunity to collect critical data about whales, dolphins and porpoises. ORCA’s research is used by governments to inform UK & European marine conservation policy and they are a key voice in the UK marine conservation sector. To find out more, visit https://orca.org.uk/.
About Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador Cruise Line launched in 2021, offering premium-value, no-fly cruises to the UK market. Based in Purfleet, Essex, Ambassador provides authentic adult-only experiences combined with a selection of multi-generational itineraries to multiple destinations including the Nordics, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Africa. The cruise line’s first ship, Ambience, entered the fleet in April 2022, operating from her home port of London Tilbury. From the 2023/24 season, guests will sail onboard Ambience as well as Ambassador’s second ship, Ambition, which joined the fleet in May 2023.
Ambassador’s extremely experienced management team is led by Chief Executive Officer, Christian Verhounig, and its principal shareholder is Njord Partners LLP, London. Ambassador is a member of ABTA, the UK’s leading travel trade association widely acknowledged as the mark of trust and reassurance associated with travel brands. Consumer funds are protected by means of a financial failure insurance policy managed by TMU Management Limited and underwritten by Accelerant Insurance Europe SA, who are regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA 3193). The scheme is fully compliant with the Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018. For more information, visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com