jaspersmycat
May 8th, 2009, 02:44 PM
Saw this was announced on 5/6/09 - not yet on HAL website though:
Holland America Line Launches Cruise With Purpose(SM)
Program to Feature Volunteer Opportunities with Local Alaska Non-Profit
Organizations
SEATTLE, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line's innovative pilot
program, Cruise With Purpose(SM), enables cruise guests to participate in
meaningful community volunteer work and scientific data collection on
specially designed tours. Beginning in Alaska this summer, select tour
operators, partnered with local non-profit organizations, will offer guests
the chance to contribute some of their time to assisting with projects.
These unique excursions build traditional tour content around volunteer
and 'citizen science' opportunities provided by association with the
non-profit partners. The first Cruise with Purpose(SM) tour will be offered in
Juneau, Alaska from May through September 2009.
"By combining a tour experience with a volunteer opportunity, guests are
experiencing the destination in a different, rewarding way," said Richard D.
Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.
In Juneau, local tour operator Gastineau Guiding has created the first
Cruise With Purpose(SM) shore excursion in partnership with the Alaska Sea
Grant's Marine Advisory Program and the Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance.
Designed especially for Holland America Line, the Marine Wildlife Research
Exploration takes guests on an exploration vessel out of Auke Bay to look for
and help document individual humpback and orca whales. Guests will identify
individual whales by their tail "fingerprints" and record their songs using an
underwater microphone called a hydrophone. Participants will also collect
water samples, trawl for plankton and record ocean temperature readings. Since
plankton is a significant indicator in predicting the success of Alaska's
salmon runs, this data will help manage this precious wild resource. All
collected data and water samples are contributed to the body of research
maintained by Alaska Sea Grant's Marine Advisory Program.
The beach landing vessel will then make a one-hour stop at a secluded
cove or shoreline where guests then turn into volunteer beachcombers. A
naturalist-guide provides interpretation on the flora and fauna of the area as
guests help pick up any non-native debris in support of the Alaska Marine
Conservation Alliance's efforts.
The cost of this Cruise With Purpose(SM) offering is $219 per person. At
the tour's conclusion, guests receive a Cruise with Purpose(SM) VolunTour pin,
and will be able to track the projects they contributed to at the program's
web page
http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ShoreExcursions.action.
Click on the Cruise With Purpose(SM) tab.
Holland America Line has been leading tours in Alaska for more than 60
years and has eight premium ships offering a total of 158 cruises and 29
CruiseTours ranging from 10 to 20 days in length. Cruises depart from Seattle,
Vancouver B.C. and Seward, Alaska. For more information about booking, contact
a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit
www.hollandamerica.com.
- www.hollandamerica.com -
Holland America Line Launches Cruise With Purpose(SM)
Program to Feature Volunteer Opportunities with Local Alaska Non-Profit
Organizations
SEATTLE, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line's innovative pilot
program, Cruise With Purpose(SM), enables cruise guests to participate in
meaningful community volunteer work and scientific data collection on
specially designed tours. Beginning in Alaska this summer, select tour
operators, partnered with local non-profit organizations, will offer guests
the chance to contribute some of their time to assisting with projects.
These unique excursions build traditional tour content around volunteer
and 'citizen science' opportunities provided by association with the
non-profit partners. The first Cruise with Purpose(SM) tour will be offered in
Juneau, Alaska from May through September 2009.
"By combining a tour experience with a volunteer opportunity, guests are
experiencing the destination in a different, rewarding way," said Richard D.
Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.
In Juneau, local tour operator Gastineau Guiding has created the first
Cruise With Purpose(SM) shore excursion in partnership with the Alaska Sea
Grant's Marine Advisory Program and the Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance.
Designed especially for Holland America Line, the Marine Wildlife Research
Exploration takes guests on an exploration vessel out of Auke Bay to look for
and help document individual humpback and orca whales. Guests will identify
individual whales by their tail "fingerprints" and record their songs using an
underwater microphone called a hydrophone. Participants will also collect
water samples, trawl for plankton and record ocean temperature readings. Since
plankton is a significant indicator in predicting the success of Alaska's
salmon runs, this data will help manage this precious wild resource. All
collected data and water samples are contributed to the body of research
maintained by Alaska Sea Grant's Marine Advisory Program.
The beach landing vessel will then make a one-hour stop at a secluded
cove or shoreline where guests then turn into volunteer beachcombers. A
naturalist-guide provides interpretation on the flora and fauna of the area as
guests help pick up any non-native debris in support of the Alaska Marine
Conservation Alliance's efforts.
The cost of this Cruise With Purpose(SM) offering is $219 per person. At
the tour's conclusion, guests receive a Cruise with Purpose(SM) VolunTour pin,
and will be able to track the projects they contributed to at the program's
web page
http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ShoreExcursions.action.
Click on the Cruise With Purpose(SM) tab.
Holland America Line has been leading tours in Alaska for more than 60
years and has eight premium ships offering a total of 158 cruises and 29
CruiseTours ranging from 10 to 20 days in length. Cruises depart from Seattle,
Vancouver B.C. and Seward, Alaska. For more information about booking, contact
a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit
www.hollandamerica.com.
- www.hollandamerica.com -