Ambassador Cruise Line has renewed its partnership with marine conservation charity ORCA to launch 21 new no-fly itineraries for the 2025/26 season

Sailing on Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience and Ambition ships, the new itineraries will visit ports that are essential to ORCA’s research, helping the charity fill crucial gaps in sea life population monitoring in order to provide essential data that can help further protect marine life animals.

A team of ocean conservationists will be on board each sailing, with guests having the opportunity to help them collect scientific data aimed at protecting a range of sea life, including whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Itinerary highlights include the Iberian Multigenerational Adventure, sailing from 10-22 August 2025, where guests will be able to spot fin whales migrating through the Bay of Biscay. Meanwhile, the Land of the Northern Lights, sailing from 22 March to 4 April 2026, offers guests the chance to watch orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and white-beaked dolphins swimming off the Norwegian coast.

Christian Verhounig, CEO, Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “We are exceptionally proud to be continuing our partnership with ORCA, a charity that shares our deep commitment to ocean conservation, as we think ahead to our 2025/26 season.

“Working alongside ORCA has been incredibly rewarding, as it has allowed us to not only support vital research but also to raise awareness among our guests and crew about the importance of protecting marine life.”

Partnership with Ambassador “critical” to habitat safety

Guests sailing with Ambassador will be invited to learn more about ocean conservation through an interactive education programme. Onboard activities will range from lectures and Q&As with the conservationists to spending time on deck spotting marine life, with both Ambassador and ORCA hoping to improve on the impressive 8,062 sea life sightings that were recorded in the previous sailing season.

Meanwhile, Ambience and Ambition will feature dedicated enrichment areas and a range of educational materials focussed on whales and dolphins. These include the ORCA Ocean Watchers app, which allows guests to try their hand at being an Ocean Conservationist, and information about ORCA’s conservation programmes detailing how they are working to protect sea life around the world.

Steve Jones, director of fundraising & operations at ORCA, added: “Our partnership with Ambassador over the past three years has allowed us to extend our reach to more critical habitats and engage with more guests than we ever could have imagined.

“Operating aboard Ambience and Ambition provides our Ocean Conservationists with invaluable opportunities to gather crucial data on vulnerable ecosystems worldwide, all while educating guests on how they can contribute to the protection of whales and dolphins.”

Last week Virgin Voyages rolled out a range of astronomy-inspired itineraries as part of its newest collection, Marvelous Voyages, following increased demand for stargazing experiences.