Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered

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• Luxury bag designer jailed for wildlife smuggling, making bags from protected species
• Passengers Horrified As Cruise Sails Into 'Distressing' Whale Massacre
• PA Primary Election Day updates in the Lehigh Valley: Polls open with light in-person turnout reported
• Rite Aid to close 6 more PA stores, including Monroe County location
• Rescue efforts made in Tasmania to save more than 200 beached whales

On board our luxury cruise ships, dine on world-class cuisine in elegant restaurants. During your time at sea, embrace the opportunity to relax, recharge, and relish a luxury cruise vacation like no other. They're protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but not currently listed as an endangered species. While the practice has received much criticism from animal rights activists and conservationists, the Faroese government has argued the killings provide food for local communities and are fully regulated by law. “The average catch of around 800 whales a year is not considered to have a significant impact on the abundance of pilot whales, which are estimated at around 778,000,” the government previously said. Long-finned pilot whales live years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Luxury bag designer jailed for wildlife smuggling, making bags from protected species

Whether you go on a vigorous hike or float peacefully, your breath will be taken away with your vacation to enjoy the best of Alaska whale watching and wildlife experiences. The Faroe Islands has a high standard of living today and the distribution of whale meat is completely unnecessary. It is a stretch to claim the residents of the Faroes are desperate for a source of food in their completely modern society today. Princess Cruises encourages it guests to buy tours to the Faroes and advertises the capital as a “pretty town of 20,000 (which) rises gently up the hillside from the water’s edge, dotted with red painted government buildings and charming turf-roofed cottages. Indeed, the sincerity of Ambassador’s newly found regret is belied by the fact that the company’s itinerary reveals that it will return its cruise ships to the Faroe several times within the next year. The cruise line argues boycotting the island wouldn’t make a difference to local attitudes about the mass killing of sea mammals.

Passengers Horrified As Cruise Sails Into 'Distressing' Whale Massacre

Cruise line says sorry after passengers witnessed slaughter of 78 pilot whales - TradeWinds

Cruise line says sorry after passengers witnessed slaughter of 78 pilot whales.

Posted: Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Sip on a welcome glass of champagne as you make your way through this one-of-a-kind venue. Discover the top tips for planning a cruise to Alaska and uncover the best times of the year to spot Alaskas wildlife, locate must-see attractions, find Alaskan cruise deals and more. There's nothing like an amazing adventure during an Alaskan vacation, and if you're looking for things to do then dog sledding is a bucket-list experience. We’ve curated the ultimate guide to visiting some of the most romantic destinations to vacation for couples.

PA Primary Election Day updates in the Lehigh Valley: Polls open with light in-person turnout reported

On our cruise ships, you’ll travel the world while enjoying the height of style, comfort, and service throughout your journey. Ambassador can confirm that the arrival of Ambition in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands today coincided with the culmination of a hunt of 40+pilot whales in the port area. We were incredibly disappointed that this hunt occurred at the time that our ship was in port. These are not far out-at-sea murders by huge Japanese ships away from civilization.

Sip on artisanal cocktails and dance under the stars at the Magic Carpet or the Rooftop Garden. Pamper yourself at The Spa, or squeeze in some exercise at The Fitness Center. Our award-winning ships have everything you could ever ask for—and much, much more. Passengers of the Ambassador Cruise Line had just arrived in the Faroe Islands when a group of small boats drove the whales to shallow water for... For all the beer lovers planning an Alaskan cruise vacation, we’ve curated the ultimate zythophile guide to visiting 5 of the best craft breweries in Alaska.

In addition to pilot whales, Hourston said hunters target other small whales and dolphins, such as orcas, Atlantic white-sided dolphins and Northern bottlenose whales. In September 2021, participants killed more than 1,400 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, an alarming body count that forced the government to cap the number at 500. There is no such quota for the pilot whales, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Over the past 20 years, the group said more than 20,000 marine mammals have perished in these hunts.

In the Faroe Islands, the hunting of pilot whales is known as the "grindadrap" or "grind." The Faroese view the tradition as central to their cultural identity and a sustainable way to gather food, according to a local government website. Long-finned pilot whales, which are technically a species of dolphin, are a medium-sized marine mammal that dwells in the North Atlantic, known for their bulbous head and sickle-shaped flippers. They're not currently listed as an endangered species, but as a sign their population may be on the decline due to human activity, the species is listed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the U.S.. LONDON -- A cruise line has apologized to over 1,000 of its passengers after one of its ships arrived at port in the middle of a whale hunt where dozens of the marine mammals were being slaughtered. Visit Faroe Islands says on its website about 800 pilot whales are killed a year, a number the government claims is sustainable.

Government officials said its hunting techniques have improved over the years, though animal welfare groups disagree. The standard practice involves securing a hook in the blowhole, dragging the animal onto the beach, severing its spinal cord and blood supply, and cutting its neck with a whaling knife. Long-finned pilot whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family, second in size to the killer whale. The highly intelligent animals measure 19 to 25 feet long and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ambassador Cruise Line said it was "incredibly disappointed" that the hunt unfolded near the ship and that it continues to "strongly object to this practice." The company asks their guests not to support the hunters by purchasing local whale and dolphin meat.

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Once they reach the shallow waters, whales are driven onto the beach where waiting hunters kill them using knives and hooks. But a record single-day killing of more than 1,400 white-sided dolphins in 2021 brought the practice into intensified scrutiny. The chairman of the Faroese Whalers Association told the BBC that the size of that killing was purely accidental.

"It defies belief that the Faroese authorities allowed this activity to take place in clear sight of a cruise ship packed with passengers sitting in dock," ORCA CEO Sally Hamilton said. "On one hand, they promote their pristine environment and spectacular wildlife while simultaneously wielding gaff hooks and lances to kill whales and dolphins. It's almost as if they are flaunting the hunt and taunting the tourists." Among those passengers were conservationists with ORCA, a marine life advocacy group that seeks to protect whales and dolphins in European waters. Since 2021, Ambassador has paid for ORCA staff to join their cruises in order to educate tourists on marine wildlife and collect data on the animals. Eight years ago (July 2015), a reader of Cruise Law News asked me what I thought of cruise lines sailing to the Faroe Islands where they routinely slaughter pilot whales.

A British cruise line has apologized to passengers who witnessed the slaughter of nearly 80 pilot whales in the Faroe Islands on Sunday. Ambassador Cruise Line guests arrived to the port in the capital of Torshavn, where a traditional hunt had turned the sea red. Hunters used motorboats and a helicopter to corral the whales in a beach nearby before dragging them with hooks and butchering them with knives.

"Pilot whaling continues to be a non-commercial, community-based activity. Catches are distributed among participants and local communities free of charge and are utilized for food," said Magnason, in defense of the practice. Ambassador Cruise Line works in partnership with whale conservation charity ORCA, and two of their ocean experts were on deck at the time as over 40 boats and a helicopter herded and killed whales, including small calves, leaving the water blood red. Though the carnage caught the cruise line by surprise when it pulled into Torshavn, the company had been aware of the annual event. In a 2021 letter to Faroe’s prime minister, chief executive Christian Verhounig expressed his dismay over a dolphin hunt that had occurred in September. That same year, the company teamed up with ORCA, a marine conservation group based in the United Kingdom, on an anti-whaling and dolphin hunt campaign. A group of fisherman drive pilot whales towards the shore during a hunt in the Faroe Islands in May 2019.

Most people tend to focus on the Caribbean for summer cruises, but an Alaska summer vacation can be a great option, too. Often spotted hunting, circling high in the sky or perched in a tall evergreen, keeping watch over the area, the majestic bald eagle owns the Alaskan skies. Near the port of call at Sitka, tour the Alaska Raptor Center, where injured eagles and other raptors such as owls, hawks and falcons are rehabilitated.

Enjoy the sights including a scenic sailing to the natural mangroves, Starfish Point, and the world-famous Stingray City Sandbar, where a crew member will provide a feeding demonstration, providing guests with a wonderful photo opportunity. All while enjoying a selection of alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. Join Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge on June 23 for the ultimate 6-night Caribbean escape aboard Celebrity BeyondSM. Sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, you’ll visit Royal Caribbean’s private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay, fun-filled Grand Cayman, and tranquil Bimini. You’ll also enjoy exclusive tours, events, and the chance to connect with fellow Captain’s Club members. The rocker will be setting sail on the second Soulshine At Sea cruise aboard Norwegian Pearl for a voyage complete with community wellness activities and exclusive performances (the 2023 lineup will be announced soon!).

Subsequently, the CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line sheepishly acknowledged the incident on Twitter and professed some degree of remorse that the guests were “upset” by the gruesome carnage. But Ambassador’s expressions of “disappointment” seem to be limited to the fact that the horrific slaughter occurred while the ship was in port in Torshavn. In other words, Ambassador was upset that the customers saw the gruesome truth of the local port’s so-called traditions. It doesn’t appear that Ambassador was concerned enough with the fact that terrorizing and killing these sensitive mammals is, in itself, inherently evil as to lose any profits by not cruising to Torshavn.