In recognition of World Oceans Day, which took place on Friday, Azamara Club Cruises has introduced a new conservation-centered educational experience, “World Wildlife at Sea.” The new program is a continuation of the company’s partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
As part of this new program, Azamara plans to relaunch its WWF Speaker Series. Nancy Labbe, Aaron McNevin and Amy Smith are among some of the speakers Azamara has slated to talk with guests.
Labbe, manager of Ranching & Conservation at WWF, will speak about the environmental impact of food production. McNevin, director of Sustainable Seafood at WWF, will talk about the origins of the seafood people eat. Smith, manager of Wood Sector Engagement, will cover the regulating role rainforests play in the global ecosystem.
WWF speakers will also join guests on related land tours. Labbe, for example, will accompany guests to an Italian dairy farm in Campania and talk about how farms can decrease their environmental impact. Then, back on the ship, she will discuss the global demand for food and how to produce more food with less resources.
Every ship’s environmental officer will also lead a WWF Crew Ambassador program. Through this, the officer will inform guests on Azamara’s work to protect the environment. It will also be the ambassador’s job to help the crew organize activities on land with local groups who support the WWF’s goals.
As part of its work with the WWF, Azamara plans to eliminate plastic straws from all its ships by the end of 2018, replacing them with paper ones. The company will then focus on other single-use plastics like condiment packets, cups and bags. Azamara is conducting a full plastic audit, to be complete by 2020.
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