66 mammals including whales and dolphins. “Crew members are trained to observe and log sightings during voyages to the Marquesas and Austral Islands, and the data is shared with both Mata Tohora and the local environment department,” says Romina Wong, director of marketing, communication and operations for Aranui Cruises. “This consistent reporting helps researchers track migratory routes and monitor species’ health in an otherwise challenging-to-access region.” Meanwhile, Metropolitan Touring contributes to marine conservation in the Galapagos Islands by working with the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, the University of San Francisco of Quito and the Galapagos National Park Directorate to protect whale sharks in the area. “This project takes an ambitious yet focused approach,” says Paulina Burbano de Lara, CEO of Metropolitan Touring. “Its goals include mapping the whale shark’s migratory routes, decoding their movement patterns, and exploring the connection between the archipelago and the South American continental coast. These initiatives generate critical data and open new doors for conservation. For example, through techniques such as photo identification and satellite tagging, researchers can track the individual journeys of these sharks. This allows them to analyse how the species interacts with various ecosystems, from the waters surrounding Darwin Island to more distant areas.” The fragile ecosystems of the Arctic and Antarctic are a key focus for climate research, glaciology and wildlife conservation. For example, the European Commission reports that climate change is warming up the Arctic four times as fast as the rest of the world, which will affect the rest of the planet through rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and marine biodiversity loss as species struggle to adapt to shifting temperatures. Several cruise lines are actively contributing to this knowledge base through citizen science and research partnerships. Ponant Explorations Group has taken a particularly ambitious approach with its Ponant Science Program, which integrates formal research into expedition cruising. Its polar-class vessel Le Commandant Charcot was designed from the outset to function as both a luxury ship and a mobile research laboratory, equipped to host scientists conducting fieldwork in remote and understudied regions. “In 2024, we welcomed 20 scientists from seven different nationalities aboard Le Commandant Charcot for a first-ever west-to-east crossing of the Arctic Ocean,” says Megan Clampitt, head of science at Ponant Explorations Group. “Beyond scientific support, the Ponant Explorations Group seeks to engage and educate its passengers. Onboard, researchers share their work, present their tools and methods, and demonstrate how science is conducted in the field outside the traditional lab setting. These exchanges help to forge a direct connection between exploration, understanding and environmental protection.” Ponant supports POLARIN, a platform that coordinates logistics for scientific teams conducting high Arctic research, and plans to expand its science programme to more vessels and regions, including the Kimberley in Australia, the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean, and Polynesia. In addition, three of the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions ships will serve as the home base for 10 projects led by visiting scientists during 11 voyages to the Arctic in 2025. Scientists include researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the University of Porto’s Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, and the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory at San Jose State University. Projects will focus on monitoring coastal temperatures and biodiversity patterns, measuring changes in oceanographic properties on the FEATURE “ It’s education that sticks, because it’s felt” Nina Jolink, Bark Europa Close encounters with unique species are part of Metropolitan Touring’s expeditions in the Galapagos Islands
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