brittany ferries sea safari

How to book:

SPECIAL OFFER

Whale & dolphin watching cruises from €279.

REF: SEA SAFARI

Enjoy a Sea Safari cruise to Spain from only €279 per person

Our popular Sea Safari cruises are now available sailing from Ireland. We've teamed up with the wildlife experts at the conservation charity ORCA to bring you guided whale and dolphin spotting cruises for the summer sailing between Rosslare and Bilbao.

Our cruises from Rosslare take you through the Bay of Biscay, a world hot spot for marine wildlife and birdlife, with over one-third of the world’s whale and dolphin species recorded in the Bay. ORCA has been surveying the area for many years - so you'll have the very best guides with you, making sure that you get the most out of your wildlife experience.

What's more, Brittany Ferries will donate €60 to ORCA for every person who books one of this year's cruises.

This cruise includes

Return cruise from Rosslare to Bilbao as a foot passenger

3 nights on board with en suite cabin accommodation

Expert whale-watching and dolphin-spotting advice and presentation

A €60 donation to ORCA to help further the conservation of whales and dolphins

Sea Safari 2024 cruise prices

Cabin upgrades are available - see below. All our cabins are en suite and air-conditioned with bed linen, towels and toiletries provided. If you'd like to find out more about the cabins available on this cruise, visit our  Galicia accommodation  section.

All other cabin types are excluded from this offer. Disabled cabins are available on request, subject to availability.

Sea Safari 2024 cruise dates

This cruise to Spain departs from our Rosslare ferry port on a Friday on the following dates:

All times shown are local time. Passengers are required to check-in at least 45 minutes before departure.

CRUISE ITINERARY

After arriving at the terminal and checking in, you will be able to get on board and get settled down in your cabin for a good night's sleep, ready for an exciting whale and dolphin adventure!

This is the big one, so make sure you set an alarm to get up early. You will be able to meet our team outside on deck 10 at first light - just look for the ORCA uniforms!

During the day we will be crossing some of the most productive waters in Europe, with different species on show ranging from playful common dolphins to giant fin whales. Make sure you spend as much time as possible out on deck with our guides - having a full day in such productive waters is a real treat so be sure to take advantage!

You'll arrive in Bilbao in the morning, giving you a bit of time to go ashore and explore before departing just before lunch.

For the rest of the day we will be sailing over undersea canyons thousands of metres deep, making it the perfect place to look out for elusive beaked whales and sperm whales. As you head north, you'll be travelling back out over the Bay of Biscay and will have another opportunity to spot a myriad of species as you enjoy your last evening onboard.

The final day still allows plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife as you sail north through the Irish Sea. Risso's dolphins, minke whales, harbour porpoises and an array of seabirds are just some of the many different species you might see as you spend your last few hours on board, before bidding each other a fond farewell after three days of exploring the amazing world of whales and dolphins.

GOOD TO KNOW

What you'll see.

Over a third of the world's whale and dolphin species can be found in the Bay of Biscay as well as many bird species. Our route takes us through the Irish Sea and down into the Bay of Biscay, a rich feeding ground and an important migration route for many species.

Shallow waters fall away rapidly to depths of over 4000 metres - an ideal habitat for species such as fin whales, the second largest animal on the planet. Deep underwater canyons attract mysterious creatures such as beaked whales and the enigmatic sperm whale closer to the shores of northern Spain.

We have had close encounters with many of these and have been lucky enough to see orca and even blue whales in the Bay.

When should I go?

With nature, anything can happen at any time. We frequently see a good number of animals and a wide range of species.

July - Trips have often produced a high number of different species. Dolphins are regularly seen in very good numbers, with larger whale species, such as fin and sei whales, also being seen at this time of year.

August - Fin whales are usually present and Cuvier's beaked whales are often encountered, we have even seen blue whales at this time of year!

What to bring

Despite it being the summer, you should be prepared for all weather types! We advise windproof and warm layers as well as waterproofs and sun protection. Don't forget your binoculars! Suggested magnifications are 8 X 40 or 10 x 40. Of course, you'll want to bring your camera and remember your passport too!

Passport (essential)

Binoculars (essential). For sea-watching 8 or 10 X magnification are ideal but not higher

Telescopes and tripods can be useful for the identification of mammals and seabirds in very calm seas, however, these are not essential for good viewing and in reality conditions (weather and boat vibration) often negate the benefits of the additional magnification these provide

Recommended footwear are non-slip deck shoes. If the weather is wet then slippery decks can be a hazard so bear this in mind when you are running around the deck which may happen if a big whale is sighted on one side or the other

Sun hat, sun cream and lip balm. (Don't underestimate the power of the sun at sea! You can become sunburnt quite quickly. Factor 30+ is probably best but then that's down to your own preference and experience.)

Waterproof jacket and over-trousers just in case of inclement weather

Appropriate clothing for both warm & cold weather and that includes a warm hat and a hat to protect you from the sun. Remember though that you could easily lose your hat on a windy deck

A container to carry drinking water

A mobile phone or camera (Don't forget your battery charger and a European electrical adaptor)

Notebook and pen (or pencil)

Getting to Rosslare Euro port

Rosslare Europort has great network links and is easily reached from a wide variety of places in Ireland.

M11/N11 & M1 from Dublin & the North

N24 & 25 from Cork, Limerick and southern counties

N80 from the Midlands & the West and via the M9 from Southwest Dublin

The nearest bus stop (Rosslare Harbour) is within the harbour. Buses Bus Eirann (routes 40, 132, 370 and 379) and also the Local Link Wexford bus (route 387) stop there.

The nearest train station is at the port, a 10-minute walk from the terminal. The line covers the route from Dublin Connolly to the port. Trains run up to 5 times a day and the journey to Dublin takes less than 3 hours.

Parking at Rosslare Europort

The car park inside the port is operated by  APCOA  and has 335 spaces. For more information visit our Rosslare port guide .

Visit the ORCA website

Did you know that the waters of the uk and europe are home to over a third of the whale, dolphin and porpoise species worldwide.

For much more detailed information on the wonderful wildlife you may see and why the Bay of Biscay is such an important place for whales and dolphins, visit the ORCA website at www.orca.org.uk

Terms and conditions

New bookings only. Offer subject to availability. Amendments are charged at €25. Bookings or amendments cannot be made within 24 hours of departure time. Time ashore is subject to sailing schedules and weather conditions. Foot passengers only. Price includes ETS surcharge . Promotional terms and conditions apply. Brittany Ferries will donate €60 to ORCA (Charity No: 1141728) for every person who books on one of these Sea Safari cruises.

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Wexford Weekly

Wexford's Sports, News, And Entertainment

Brittany Ferries announce return of ‘Summer Sea Safari’ from Rosslare

Brittany Ferries has announced the return of its highly anticipated ‘Summer Sea Safari’ package for voyagers on its Rosslare-Bilbao route, with a choice of four mini-cruise departures available. Departing on a Friday evening, the three-night round trip to Bilbao starts from just €279 per person.

Offering passengers the unique opportunity to watch whales and dolphins around the Celtic Sea & Bay of Biscay, Brittany Ferries promises an unforgettable experience on waters that almost a third of cetacean species call their home. As shallow waters fall rapidly to depths of over 4,000 metres, it makes Biscay Bay one of the richest locations in the world for whale and dolphin spotting. While it is rare, there have also been sightings of majestic blue whales, the largest creatures to ever roam the planet.

Guests will be accompanied by experts from whale and dolphin-watching charity, ORCA, to ensure the best possible experience. While views are best enjoyed from deck 10, guests will also have the opportunity to discover and learn all about whales and dolphins, when not on deck with binoculars. 

Brittany Ferries’ Sea Safari trips are scheduled to depart Rosslare Europort on the following dates: 12th July, 26th July, 9th August and 23rd August. Having worked closely with ORCA for the last 20 years, Brittany Ferries is committed to continue supporting the organisation’s conservation work, with €60 from each ticket purchased being donated to the charity. 

Beyond the excitement of cetacean spotting, passengers can enjoy a wide range of services and activities onboard Brittany Ferries cruise-ferries including a choice of dining options, comfortable well-appointed cabins, video-on-demand entertainment, great value shopping and live entertainment.    

Offering a twice-weekly service connecting Rosslare with Bilbao in Spain, as well as direct routes from Cork to Roscoff in Brittany and Rosslare to Cherbourg in Normandy, Brittany Ferries offers a variety of destinations and unparalleled comfort on its fleet of modern ships. For more information visit  brittany-ferries.ie . 

Full details of the 2024 Sea Safari cruises are available at  www.brittany-ferries.ie/promo/whale-and-dolphin-watching-cruises-with-orca  

From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.

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FERRIES TO SPAIN

Plymouth to santander.

Our partnership with ORCA

Brittany Ferries team up with one of Europe's leading whale and dolphin conservation charities, ORCA, to give our passengers the life-changing opportunity to see a whale or dolphin in the wild.

ORCA are dedicated to the long term protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) and their habitats in UK, European and adjoining waters. ORCA freely shares their extensive data with governments and other research institutions.  

ORCA hopes to not only raise awareness about the need for conservation, but to inspire passengers to spot whales and dolphins. By spotting whales and dolphins, passengers will be helping ORCA protect these magnificent marine mammals.

WILDLIFE OFFICER PROGRAMME

ORCA has Wildlife Officers on board Pont-Aven who deliver engaging and informative presentations about the whales and dolphins that passengers are likely to see on their journey. They also carry out deck watches to help passengers spot whales and dolphins and are on hand to give advice and answer questions about marine mammals. ORCA's Wildlife Officers are on board every March to September to enthuse and educate passengers about the wildlife in the Bay of Biscay. They also share their news of what they've seen en-route by keeping a  blog  which can be viewed on the  ORCA website .

UK and European waters are home to over a 1/3 of the world's whale, dolphin and porpoise species - collectively known as cetaceans. Over 23 different species ranging from the smallest - the tiny harbour porpoise to the enigmatic, shy Cuvier's beaked whales to the very flamboyant acrobatic striped dolphin have been sighted in and around UK waters. Even the largest animal ever to have lived, the blue whale, visits our European waters. ORCA's Wildlife Officers regularly see many different species of dolphins and whales and have been lucky enough to spot the second biggest animal on the planet - the mighty fin whale.

The incredible conservation work ORCA does on our ships | Brittany Ferries

The Bay of Biscay is a great location for seeing whales and dolphins. Reaching depths of 4000m, the Bay provides habitats for a range of different species. If you're lucky enough to cross the Bay on a calm day, you're almost guaranteed to see a whale or dolphin. Here are some of the animals that you are more likely to see:

Common dolphins are the most numerous species likely to be seen with their yellowish figure of eight side markings, followed by striped dolphins, a similarly sized, but a more active animal with grey striping. Bottlenose dolphins also frequent the Bay and our Wildlife Officers have also seen some Risso's dolphins. Pilot Whales are regularly seen, appearing glossy black, slow moving and with a distinctive rounded dorsal fin.

During the mid-summer period, larger whales can often be seen - for instance fin, sei and minke whales. Although fairly elusive, beaked whales are frequently seen in the southern Bay of Biscay area - Cuvier's beaked whales being the most commonly sighted.  Other deep diving species include the sperm whale, which has been sighted diving for prey in the deep waters of the southern Bay of Biscay.  If you are interested in identifying the whales and dolphins you see from Pont-Aven, the ORCA Wildlife Officers will be happy to help. There is also an excellent identification book - "Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic". You can buy a copy of this from the Wildlife Officer on board.

Marine Mammal Survey Teams

In addition to our Wildlife Education Programme on board Pont-Aven, ORCA seeks to involve as many people from all walks of life to become engaged in cetacean science and have a direct impact on protecting whales and dolphins in our local waters. For more than five years, ORCA has been training volunteers to become qualified Marine Mammal Surveyors who are monitoring whale and dolphin populations in UK, European and adjoining waters. This kind of citizen science approach is incredibly effective in engaging people and helping them understand the true value of the oceans and the marine mammals which live there. Our compassionate citizen science programme ensures that the information we collect has a direct conservation benefit for whales and dolphins. Simply put, members of the public can, via ORCA, play a key role in the future protection of whales and dolphins.

Brittany Ferries Commitment to ORCA's Aims

Brittany Ferries support ORCA's whale and dolphin surveys, particularly the Plymouth to Santander survey, which has been operating for over eleven years. The information collected from ORCA surveys is combined with other European ferry based surveys under the heading, European Cetacean Monitoring Coalition, with the data being available to conservation organisations and Government bodies.

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• Vacational Trip Reports

Bay of Biscay Sea Safari with ORCA and Brittany Ferries - Aug '18

• Thread starter MK90
• Start date Aug 17, 2018

More options

Always learning

• Aug 17, 2018

Yesterday I returned home from a three day Sea Safari cruise from Portsmouth to Santander and back to Plymouth with ORCA and Brittany Ferries. In planning this trip I read several trip reports from when these cruises were run by Company of Whales but very few from the new route so I thought I'd write a up a report from my trip to inform people in the future. This is my first trip report so bear with me. Day 1 (14/08/18) We met the ORCA guides at Portsmouth Harbour around 1530 and checked-in for the 1715 departure. The accommodation was a little cramped for three people but considering we would only be using the room for sleeping this didn't really matter. Once the ferry set sail we met the ORCA guides on the top deck for an introduction to the trip where they outlined what we could see where. The sun was now setting so we had dinner in the restaurant before having an early night. Day 2 (15/08/18) We were on deck for sunrise around 0600. As soon as we arrived the sightings started with a pod of Common Dolphins swimming with the ferry for several minutes as well as a group of distant Great Shearwaters. Around 0620 we had the first whale sighting with a very close Fin Whale blowing on the port side. A group of Common Dolphins were bow-riding the whale too which made for a great sight. Ten minutes later we had our second species of whale as a Minke came up in the wake of the boat. However, as the whale was already behind the boat when it was spotted we didn't get the best views. Small pods of Bottlenose and Risso's Dolphins were also seen distantly around 0700. The cetacean sightings then dropped off for an hour or two but frequent bird sightings ensured it wasn't a dull period. The first Cory's Shearwaters were spotted in among the more numerous Great Shearwater flocks and a large raft of around 40 European Storm Petrel was seen close to the ship. Attempts to find a Wilson's in among them were fruitless though. As well as the expected seabirds we also saw a number of migrating species. A Pied Flycatcher was seen several times throughout the day, presumably hitching a ride south on the ferry. Yellow Wagtail and an unidentified Leaf Warbler were also seen on board by other passengers. Two small groups of Whimbrel were also seen migrating south, low over the water. We were now approaching the edge of the continental shelf where the sea depth drops from around 200m to over 4000m over the course of an hour's sailing. We were told this would be a very productive area but even so I wasn't prepared for the shear number of sightings over the next hour or two. I was on the starboard side when a cry of "Beaked whale!" went up on the port side. I ran over to see a pair of Cuvier's Beaked Whales about 500m from the boat. No longer then 5mins later did we have another pair of Cuvier's; this time even closer to the boat. These two showed incredibly well and allowed those with cameras to get some great pictures. (I wasn't one of these people so apologies for the lack of photos on this report.) As we made our way over the continental shelf drop-off we started to see more and more fin whales blows on the horizon. One of these blows was picked out directly in front of the ship and as we got closer our views got better and better until we were right alongside the animal. Two more individuals were then seen close on the starboard side followed straight away by another individual on the port side. This was the best views we got of a Fin Whale the whole trip. It couldn't have been more than 50m from the ship and, even though we were on deck 10, you could see the enormous size of it! Unfortunately things then got very quite for several hours as we passed over the deep water canyons leading to Santander. We had been told this would be the most productive part of the cruise which just goes to show how unpredictable wildlife can be. Eventually things picked up again with a pod of around 100 dolphins joining the ship for several minutes. This pod was made up of both Common and the much more acrobatic Striped Dolphins. Having docked in Santander we found a nice tapas bar not far from the harbour where we had dinner and a few beers before boarding the ship again for the return journey. Day 3 (16/08/18) Due to the evening departure time of the return sailing we had passed most of the productive area by the time we were on deck at 6am the following morning and we were now off the coast of Brittany. The weather had also turned for the worst; dramatically reducing visibility and creating several white horses which made spotting cetaceans much harder. The birding this morning was good though with several Great Skuas seen; one of which was harassing a group of Great Shearwaters. In among a small group of Manx Shearwaters two Balearics were picked out, moments before a pair of Harbour Porpoise broke the surface of the water. It was now raining heavily which had forced us to take shelter at the bow of the ship. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we then had a Minke Whale come up right beneath us. The whale was so close to the ship it was lucky not to be hit! It quickly dived back down again and was then later picked up again in the wake of the boat a few minutes later. This sighting turned out to be the last cetacean we saw on this, a very enjoyable, trip. I never did the Company of Whales tours so can't compare the two. However, I'd fully recommend this trip to anybody considering it; the ORCA volunteers are very knowledgeable and incredibly skilled at spotting cetaceans. We were very fortunate with the weather on the first day with an almost completely calm sea but our luck ran out into the second day. Despite this we still manged a good number of sightings - these are listed below. Cetaceans Fin Whale Minke Whale Cuvier's Beaked Whale Common Dolphin Striped Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin Risso's Dolphin Harbour Porpoise Birds Fulmar Great Shearwater Cory's Shearwater Manx Shearwater Balearic Shearwater European Storm Petrel Gannet Great Skua Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black-back Gull Great Black-backed Gull Yellow-legged Gull Mediterranean Gull Common Tern Sandwich Tern Cormorant Shag Whimbrel Pied Flycatcher Woodpigeon Other Bluefin Tuna (corrected re: comments below) Ocean Sunfish Leatherback Turtle  

StuartReeves

Local rarity.

Sounds like a great trip. Are you sure that the tuna species that was seen was Yellowfin? That's a tropical species so would be pretty unlikely in that area, whereas Albacore & Bluefin tuna are regular there.  

Yes, my mistake, it was Bluefin  

MK90 said: Yes, my mistake, it was Bluefin Click to expand...

Farnboro John

Well-known member.

I haven't, I still need Cuvier's Beaked Whale and Leatherback Turtle. Nice that such trips are possible again, I enjoyed the two I did on the old route! What are the odds if you do this trip independently, or does special access (is there special access?) make the difference? John  

Andy Adcock

Worst person on birdforum.

Does anyone see Blue Whale these days, I remember reading that there had been a small breeding population discovered in Biscay?  

• Aug 18, 2018

Farnboro John said: I haven't, I still need Cuvier's Beaked Whale and Leatherback Turtle. Nice that such trips are possible again, I enjoyed the two I did on the old route! What are the odds if you do this trip independently, or does special access (is there special access?) make the difference? John Click to expand...

Mike Kilburn

• Aug 20, 2018

A great list - thanks for the write-up! The nearest I've come is ferry trips between Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan, which have few cetacean species (I'v had Minke and Bryde's Beaked whale and dolphin sp), but the added bonus of two expected species of albatross (Black-footed and Laysan). I've also just seen a report of another regular ferry route in S Japan recording an amazing array of seabirds including the ultra local Bannerman's and Boyd's Shearwaters: http://seabirdsjapan.zohosites.com/aug-27-29-2018-tokyo-chichi-jima-ogasawara-is.html . This trip also produces Short-tailed Albatross as well as Matsudaira's and Band-rumped Storm Petrels. Cheers Mike  

tittletattler

MK90 said: Being on the ORCA trip gives you the benefits of having the upper deck to yourselves and a group of spotters to point out things that you may otherwise have missed. However, you could definitely do the trip independently and see plenty. Click to expand...

It was £210 per person. More info can be found here: http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/offers/mini-cruises/whale-dolphin-cruise  

• Aug 22, 2018

MKinHK said: I've also just seen a report of another regular ferry route in S Japan recording an amazing array of seabirds including the ultra local Bannerman's and Boyd's Shearwaters: http://seabirdsjapan.zohosites.com/aug-27-29-2018-tokyo-chichi-jima-ogasawara-is.html . This trip also produces Short-tailed Albatross as well as Matsudaira's and Band-rumped Storm Petrels. Cheers Mike Click to expand...

leonardo_simon

• Aug 11, 2019

Hello -- I'm about to do the same trip Portsmouth to Santander --- would be interested to hear other's reports of their recent sightings on this crossing and any tips would be most appreciated. we leave portsmouth 08:45am, arriving Santander 14:45 the following day so timings a bit different to above thanks  

Stephen Dunstan

Registered user.

interoception said: Hello -- I'm about to do the same trip Portsmouth to Santander --- would be interested to hear other's reports of their recent sightings on this crossing and any tips would be most appreciated. we leave portsmouth 08:45am, arriving Santander 14:45 the following day so timings a bit different to above thanks Click to expand...

rollingthunder

• Aug 12, 2019

Just out of interest what does the £210 pp include - is it the ferry trip, overnight accommodation and the services of the guides or is any evening meal included? Laurie:t:  

• Aug 21, 2019

Sounds a great trip which I'd love to do at some point. We spoke to the ORCA guys at Birdfair at the weekend. Possibly our daughter may do their ID course with a view to becoming a research volunteer in the future, to run alongside her (hopefully) future Marine Biology degree course.  

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Ferry from Ireland to Spain to offer whale and dolphin-watching along the way in weekend trips

Calling all sealife enthusiasts! Brittany Ferries has announced the highly anticipated return of its Summer Sea Safari package.

Voyagers on its Rosslare to Bilbao route are offered the unforgettable experience of whale and dolphin-watching around the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay.

As shallow waters fall rapidly to depths of over 4,000 metres, Biscay Bay is the home of almost a third of cetacean species. It is undeniably one of the richest locations in the world for spotting whales and dolphins.

Although it's rare, there have also been sightings of majestic blue whales, the largest and arguably most magnificent creatures to ever roam the planet.

Guests who opt for the Summer Sea Safari package will be accompanied by experts from whale and dolphin -watching charity ORCA to ensure the best possible experience.

While views are best enjoyed from deck ten, guests will also be given the opportunity to discover everything there is to know about whales and dolphins when not on deck with a pair of binoculars.

Departing Rosslare on a Friday evening, the three-night round trip to Spain's Bilbao starts from just €279 per person. Brittany Ferries' Summer Sea Safaris are scheduled to leave the Wexford Europort on July 12, July 26, August 9 and August 23.

Brittany Ferries has worked closely with ORCA for the past 20 years and is committed to continue supporting the organisation's important conservation work with €60 from each ticket purchased donated to the charity.

Beyond the unique whale and dolphin-watching experience, passengers can enjoy an array of services and activities onboard- including a range of dining options, comfortable well-appointed cabins, video-on-demand entertainment and live entertainment.

Why not set sail on one of the most awe-inspiring trips of your life this summer, you can book it here.

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•    And there we have it...the end of the Brittany Ferries season   

And there we have it...the end of the Brittany Ferries season

And there we have it...the end of the Brittany Ferries season. And what a fin-tastic season it has been! Magical sightings, fascinating conversations, brand-new talks and activities all of which combine to inspire passengers about the wonders of our waters and help bring everyone together.

Most whale activity in the Northern part of Biscay, ranging from minke whales to the migrating fin whales and their youngsters. And of course numerous pods of Cuvier’s beaked whales spotted over the canyons. The Bay of Biscay continues to be a fantastic place for cetaceans to thrive.

We spoke to this season’s ORCA Ocean Conservationists to see what their favourite and quirkiest moments were, and this is what they had to say:

Chris, Galicia .

Favourite moment:

I didn’t think anything could surpass the sight of two Cuvier’s beaked whales with a calf, breaching close to the ship. I went to tell passengers on the other side, only to find two more breaching on that side as well! This was an amazing sight which brought excited screams from the many watching passengers. Still, it didn’t end there because my favourite moment came soon afterwards when a pod of 6 Cuvier’s, including another calf swam along the port side. It was magical.

Quirkiest moment:

I was giving my presentation in the bar area and had been explaining what to look out for on our crossing; in particular identifying common dolphins and to look out for splashes. Whilst doing so I could actually see splashes through the window opposite the presentation area. Not only could I refer to the slide, but I could also point to live examples as well! It was a pod of 50 plus common dolphins appearing as if on cue.

Andy, Galicia .

There was nothing quite like making the trip for a small child who had not seen a whale before. A couple of crew members and I pointed out a whale spout to a child and his family who had been looking out for them all night. The child's face went from sad to filled with wonder and excitement within seconds!

During a deck watch, I observed a whale slap its tail against the sea. As this happened, another smaller cetacean jumped out of the water! It was almost as if the larger whale's tail slap propelled the smaller animal out of the sea!

Ray, Salamanca .

What a wonderful ending to a 12yr career as a Marine Biologist, here onboard Salamanca (5 Star Hotel at Sea); truly a luxurious way to "Bow" out (excuse the pun). I would like to thank Kate & the team at ORCA for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

My highlight of this adventure with ORCA has to be that my faith has been totally restored in the youth of today. The high standards from my little ‘Mermaids & Pirates’ have been truly mind-blowing, with us having wonderful out-of-the-box chats during the class/talks on deck 8.

Tiago, Salamanca .

It has to be when I spotted my first fin whale! It was a beautiful sunny day, the sea was mirror-calm and I was about to finish my deck watch to go in and prepare the talk. Sure enough, in the distance popped a tall spout, followed by the back slowly rolling out. It blew 3 more times after that, which gave me a good chance to take it all in. It was an amazing sight, but even more impactful was knowing that the whale season was upon us, and it would only get better from then on.

This happened during a conversation with one of those especially dedicated passengers that stay out on deck with you for the whole crossing, and he was well equipped – a long-range scope set on a tripod, a scribbled notebook. After a long time talking to someone I assumed was a knowledgeable wildlife enthusiast, I realised I had been talking to a senior professor of zoology at a renowned British University. You can bet the old jitters from the classroom days came back! I ended up learning a lot about land mammal acoustic monitoring and bats’ bio-sonar.

Holly, Pont Aven .

During my first Sea Safari, our incredible sightings had already left us in awe, but we all held out hope of reaching the satisfying milestone of 950 animals. Leading up to our arrival in Plymouth, everyone's attention remained fixed on the sea. We just needed 7 more animals. Finally, several dorsal fins broke the surface. “Common Dolphins…and there’s 8 of them!” We all rejoiced! This was a moment of sheer delight and accomplishment that perfectly crowned this unforgettable Sea Safari experience. Shortly after, more common dolphins arrived, boosting our final count to 958.

Passengers and I eagerly waited for our morning's first sighting. An hour had passed, yet our excitement continued to mount with every passing moment. Then…dolphins! “5 common dolphins” I cheered. A passenger chuckled and echoed my words, singing them in the melody of "5 gold rings" from The Twelve Days of Christmas. Another passenger added, “4 breaching fin whales”. This ends precisely as you are thinking! We then created a whole parody titled “The Twelve Sightings of Cetaceans.” My favourite line had to be…”and a porpoise is never porpoising.” A fact from my presentation that had clearly stuck!

Daisy, Pont Aven.

As much as I thoroughly enjoyed watching marine life myself, meeting passengers on board who have never seen cetaceans before in their life and being with them for their first sightings of these animals in in the wild is one of the best feelings for an Ocean Conservationist; thank gooodness for the Short-Beaked Common Dolphins who always put on a wonderful show!

Quirkiest Moment:

Working on the Pont Aven overall has been an opportunity of a lifetime, filled with quirky moments. But the one that stands out to me the most was getting passengers to lie down on Deck 10 so they could be measured compared to the size of a cetacean. If there were a variety of similar species, I let them choose their favourite! Was entertaining yet informative!

Dawn, Santona

Favourite moment

I was always delighted by the support that we got and touched by the number of people that stood out on deck with me, in all weathers, daring not to leave less they missed something magical – and magic happened a lot! Whales and dolphins are without doubt some of the most charismatic creatures on the planet, and seeing them can be quite a profound experience. Beaming smiles and squeals of delight would turn to excited chatter following any encounter and on more than one occasion, I was informed that this had been the best moment of someone’s life. Need I say more?

Quirkiest moment

It was about 9.45pm and despite the fading light a handful of passengers had remained on deck with me. We were all buzzing after a wonderful evening of whale sightings and a flawless sunset.

A voice rang out “What’s that, there? A bird?”

Just 10 feet below us something was flying alongside the ship.

“No, it’s a bat” I muttered in utter amazement “and there’s two”

We were smack bang in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, miles from the coast and you could have knocked me over with a feather. To slightly misquote quite a famous saying ‘Wildlife is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get’ and never a truer word was said.

Hannah, Santona .

Within an hour of being in the beautiful Bay of Biscay, Santona was surrounded by over 300 dolphins; three different species! It was wonderful experiencing such a magical moment with such excited passengers who were just as mesmerised as I was. A mixed pod of 120+ common dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins, followed by a feeding frenzy of 80+ common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. There were dolphins in every direction – a magical moment that will stay with me always.

I was super excited thinking I’d spotted something; I was jumping up and down like an excited child in a sweet shop, gathering nearby passengers to share said excitement. However… it turned out that what I was excited over, was in fact the reflection of my shoe. ‘Embarrassing’ doesn’t quite cut it! It became a little story that I’d include in my talks. What I was not expecting was for a small boy, no older than 10-years old, to prank me out on deck.

Filled with excitement, he goes, “ooooh what was that? Did you see that?....oh wait, it was just your shoe”.

Word of advice: if you do ever see anything, shout it out! It’s always better to call out and it be a shoe, then to not call out and it actually be a dolphin - it’s the enthusiasm and excitement that counts!

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Travel from Rosslare to Bilbao in Spain with Brittany Ferries

29 May 2024 By Elaine Murphy [email protected]

Brittany Ferries has announced the return of its highly anticipated ‘Summer Sea Safari’ package for voyagers on its Rosslare-Bilbao route, with a choice of four mini-cruise departures available. Departing on a Friday evening, the three-night round trip to Bilbao starts from just €279 per person.

Offering passengers the unique opportunity to watch whales and dolphins around the Celtic Sea & Bay of Biscay, Brittany Ferries promises an unforgettable experience on waters that almost a third of cetacean species call their home. As shallow waters fall rapidly to depths of over 4,000 metres, it makes Biscay Bay one of the richest locations in the world for whale and dolphin spotting. While it is rare, there have also been sightings of majestic blue whales, the largest creatures to ever roam the planet.

Guests will be accompanied by experts from whale and dolphin-watching charity, ORCA, to ensure the best possible experience. While views are best enjoyed from deck 10, guests will also have the opportunity to discover and learn all about whales and dolphins, when not on deck with binoculars.

Brittany Ferries’ Sea Safari trips are scheduled to depart Rosslare Europort on the following dates: 12th July, 26th July, 9th August and 23rd August. Having worked closely with ORCA for the last 20 years, Brittany Ferries is committed to continue supporting the organisation’s conservation work, with €60 from each ticket purchased being donated to the charity.

Beyond the excitement of cetacean spotting, passengers can enjoy a wide range of services and activities onboard Brittany Ferries cruise-ferries including a choice of dining options, comfortable well-appointed cabins, video-on-demand entertainment, great value shopping and live entertainment.

Offering a twice-weekly service connecting Rosslare with Bilbao in Spain, as well as direct routes from Cork to Roscoff in Brittany and Rosslare to Cherbourg in Normandy, Brittany Ferries offers a variety of destinations and unparalleled comfort on its fleet of modern ships. For more information visit brittany-ferries.ie.

Full details of the 2024 Sea Safari cruises are available at www.brittany-ferries.ie/promo/whale-and-dolphin-watching-cruises-with-orca

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Wildlife Watching Trips

Falmouth, cornwall.

"an adventure of a lifetime"

A shorter version. The 1 Hour Bay Discovery is a great taster of the area. Although we can't cover as much ground it's perfect for a boat ride.

Our most popular trip! Join us for 2 Hours onboard Seaquest of Falmouth on the hunt for wildlife while simultaneously exploring the natural beauty of Cornwall's coastline and history.

New for 2024! Bring a pasty, wrap up warm and join us on an evening of exploration. Look for wildlife and admire the sunset on your way home.

2 HOUR COASTAL EXPLORER

1 HOUR BAY DISCOVERY

What do we do, experience wildlife in their natural habitat.

Orca Sea Safaris has been operating from Falmouth since 2006 making us the longest standing wildlife operator in the area. This has given us the experience, knowledge and insight into searching for our local wildlife giving you the opportunity to explore the life of the sea through safe and responsible boat trips & tours.

some of the wildlife you might see

recent sightings

A bit choppier today but Common's and a few Rissoe's thrown in!

Lots more dolphins today on both trips!

"WITHOUT DISTURBANCE"

We pride ourselves in not just finding the wildlife, but acting responsibly and respectfully around them.

It is really important to us here at Orca Sea Safaris that we respect our local wildlife. All of our skippers are at minimum WiSe Accredited  with some being WiSe Masters.​ ‍ We are not only trained to operate vessels safely around wildlife, but also to monitor their actions to know what they want.

Unforgettable memories

How to find us.

Orca sea safaris, Falmouth Haven, North quay, falmouth, tR11 3HH

We are located at the top of Falmouth Haven Marina, directly next to Custom House Quay. (w3w Location ///small.remind.full)

We recommend that you park in 'The Dell' long stay car park which is a 5 minute walk from our departure point. If you have trouble finding us, give us a call!

By Phone: 01326 755 517 By Email: [email protected]

Please note that we are a small business and although we try our best to answer all calls, we do spend most of our time out on the water so we struggle to take them all. For a quicker response, please email us. Thank You!

Take a look at our instagram

Brittany Ferries eyes zero-emission, sea-skimming ‘flying ferries’

New all-electric craft concept foils like a hydrofoil and flies like a plane – all with the comfort and convenience of a ferry

Brittany Ferries is exploring the potential for a new high-speed, sustainable and more efficient form of ferry travel called a seaglider. The concept, an all-electric, wing-in-ground effect vehicle (WIG), is under development in the United States through Boston-based start-up REGENT (Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport).

Brittany Ferries has signed a letter of intent which could see seagliders with a 50-150 passenger capacity sailing between the UK and France by 2028. REGENT expects the first commercial passengers to travel on smaller electric craft by 2025.

Seagliders combine the convenience of passenger ferries with the comfort of hydrofoils, the aerodynamic efficiency of hovercraft and the speed of aircraft. With the potential to connect existing ferry ports, the craft are expected to fly at speeds of up to 180 mph – six times faster than conventional ferries – with a battery-powered range of 180 miles.

The voyage from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, for example, could be covered in as little as 40 minutes.

They work by harnessing a concept well-known to pilots – ground effect. This is the cushion created by high-pressure air trapped between wings and the ground or water while flying at low altitude. Seagliders are therefore akin to a hovercraft with wings, rather than a skirt.

Following departure from port, the craft rises on foils insulating passengers from wave discomfort. In open waters, it takes off, riding the air cushion all the way to its destination. Wing-mounted propellors provide the thrust to take to the air at low speeds,  while electric motors regulate air flow over wings while riding the air cushion.

It’s a highly efficient mode of transport, capable of moving significant loads over long distances at high speed. Power will come from batteries rather than fossil fuel.  Flight safety comes courtesy of redundant propulsion and flight control systems, with next-generation sensor suites detecting and automatically avoiding traffic at sea.

Energy transition is a priority for forward-looking companies like Brittany Ferries and is key to its recovery post-Covid. Based in Roscoff France, the company has already invested in the delivery of two new LNG (liquefied natural gas) ships for delivery in 2022 and 2023 called Salamanca and Santoña*.

Its partnership with REGENT goes one step further. It is a visionary project which offers an exciting glimpse into the future, the kind of vehicle never before seen in Franco-British waters.  Brittany Ferries is contributing to development discussions, as the company has a track record in operating fast ferries such as Normandie Express (currently chartered to Condor Ferries).

“Seaglider is an attractive and exciting concept and we look forward to working with REGENT in the months and years to come,” said Frédéric Pouget, ports and operations director for Brittany Ferries. “We are particularly pleased to contribute now because it means we can bring real-world challenges and potential applications into the company’s thinking at an early stage. We hope this may help bring commercial success in the years that follow. Who knows; this could be the birth of ferries that fly across the Channel.”

Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT, added “REGENT is excited to partner with Brittany Ferries to bring the future of maritime transportation to market.  Brittany Ferries offers world-class operational experience which will help REGENT ensure that our seagliders will be the most convenient and comfortable form of cross-Channel travel.”

REGENT is working on several different sizes of passenger-carrying seagliders, all of which operate on the same principle. Operating a few meters above the water’s surface, they combine the high speed of an aeroplane with the low operating cost of a ship. It has the potential to serve routes of up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, and routes up to 500 miles with next-generation batteries.

Both Brittany Ferries and REGENT understand that many technological, practical and regulatory milestones lie ahead. However, both companies say that caution should not stand as an impediment to the development of a promising concept that already has a history in military applications and smaller leisure craft operating around the world. Both companies look forward to the promise of cross-channel services, reduced emissions, and seagliders becoming commonplace.

For like electric cars, seagliders automatically become greener as more source electricity is generated from renewable sources. And thanks to the inherent efficiency of travelling above water, speed need not be sacrificed to help lower emissions, slow-steaming being one of the solutions proposed for traditional sea-going vehicles to limit environmental footprint.

*investment made in years before current Covid-19 crisis

For images please visit: https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/image_category/seaglider/ For video please visit: https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/video-gallery/

About Brittany Ferries

In 1967 a farmer from Finistère in Brittany, Alexis Gourvennec, succeeded in bringing together a variety of organisations from the region to embark on an ambitious project: the aim was to open up the region, to improve its infrastructure and to enrich its people by turning to traditional partners such as Ireland and the UK.

In 1972 BAI (Brittany-England-Ireland) was born. The first cross-Channel link was inaugurated in January 1973, when a converted Israeli tank-carrier called Kerisnel left the port of Roscoff for Plymouth carrying trucks loaded with Breton vegetables such as cauliflowers and artichokes. The story therefore begins on 2 January 1973, 24 hours after Great Britain’s entry into the Common Market (EEC). From these humble beginnings however Brittany Ferries as the company was re-named quickly opened up to passenger transport, then became a tour operator.

Today, Brittany Ferries has established itself as the national leader in French maritime transport: an atypical leader, under private ownership, still owned by a Breton agricultural cooperative. Eighty five percent of the company’s passengers are British.

Simple Flying

Wow: brittany ferries eyes sea skimming "flying ferries".

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Low-Cost Carriers Make Up Just 34% Of US Airline Capacity

Voepass atr-72 blackbox: crash came 1 minute after pilot noticed steep altitude loss, singapore airlines group adds capacity as traffic keeps growing.

The waters between the UK and France are set to see an exciting new addition to their current ferries. French shipping company Brittany Ferries has announced a plan to introduce an all-electric high-speed seaglider by 2028. This will fly at 180 miles per hour just above the surface.

Introducing a 'seaglider'

Brittany Ferries announced on June 15th that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase new seagliders, currently under development in the US. These new concept aircraft will glide over the sea at just a few meters altitude. Brittany Ferries explains the concept:

"Seagliders combine the convenience of passenger ferries with the comfort of hydrofoils, the aerodynamic efficiency of hovercraft and the speed of aircraft."

The seaglider will have a capacity of between 100 and 150 passengers and will be able to operate from existing ports. It will be battery-powered, with a range of up to 180 miles (290 kilometers). And it will fly at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour). Brittany Ferries says the crossing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg could take just 40 minutes, compared to three hours on a high-speed ferry (and around nine hours overnight).

Low-altitude high-speed flying

The new aircraft works using the principle of 'ground effect.' This refers to the reduced drag and increased lift generated by a fixed-wing aircraft close to a surface. Air pressure on the wing's lower surface is increased close to the water (or ground), improving the aircraft's lift to drag ratio. Obstructed wingtip vortices also reduce drag.

The result is a lower angle of attack needed to produce lift and less thrust. Hovercraft work using the same ground-effect principle, with a skirt rather than wings.

This will allow the seaglider to achieve high-speed flight but with less power than a traditional aircraft. When leaving and entering the port, it will move on foils, which will provide stability in open water. It will then take off at low speed and use the 'air cushion' to cruise across the sea - at all times just a few meters above the surface.

Built in the US

The concept of sea gliders has been experimented with for some time, but they have not yet been commercially developed. The Soviet Union developed one during the Cold War - known as the Caspian Sea Monster .

The Brittany Ferries craft will be manufactured by Boston-based startup REGENT (Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport). It hopes to be the first company to develop a commercial sea glider.

REGENT expects the aircraft to be operational by 2025, and Brittany Ferries hopes to have them in service by 2028. Billy Thalheimer, co-founder, and CEO of REGENT explained the importance of the deal, saying,

"REGENT is excited to partner with Brittany Ferries to bring the future of maritime transportation to market.  Brittany Ferries offers world-class operational experience which will help REGENT ensure that our seagliders will be the most convenient and comfortable form of cross-Channel travel."

Zero-emission future

The appeal of the seaglider is not just its high-speed channel-crossing ability. It promises zero-emission operation - an area of growing interest to all transportation companies. This is achieved with electric-powered engines and onboard batteries. Current battery technology will limit the initial range to 180 miles (290 kilometers), but REGENT expects this to increase to 500 miles (805 kilometers) with next-generation batteries.

Brittany Ferries, and other operators, have already committed to LNG (liquefied natural gas) ships (Brittany Ferries expects two of these in 2022 and 2023). Smaller, electric craft will be an impressive next step.

A cross-channel seaglider in an exciting introduction. There are many other possibilities and routes such an aircraft could operate, especially as the technology improves. Feel free to discuss this further in the comments. 

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