Caring for the Environment
American Safari Cruises is in a unique position to educate and inform some of the country's and world's most influential business leaders, politicians and public figures that choose to travel on our upscale yachts. We use that platform in a positive manner to educate these guests, who in turn educate others, on the frailties or vulnerabilities of our environment and why that environment needs to be supervised in order for critical natural treasures such as glaciers, rain forests, cacti, shorelines and so much more to remain in balance and for whales and other wildlife to survive and flourish once again.
Regarding our eco-sensitivity or attention to sustainable travel, the most important element we offer to protect the natural world for future generations is the essence of what we do - small group travel. Our few people "leave only footsteps behind," but also they leave with a renewed spirit about how amazing nature and its wild inhabitants can be.
Throughout all of our cruises, American Safari Cruises plans our voyages with flexible schedules so that when whales or other wildlife are spotted, we can shut down the engines to mitigate any possible noise disturbance or any danger to the whales, especially. Guests can then enjoy a natural, quiet experience as the whales display their normal behaviors and "antics." Our Captains and other officers maintain a strict policy of regulatory adherence. Our yachts are equipped with the most recent versions of nautical charts as well as radar, GPS, forward-seeking sonar and portable range finders. In concert, these charts and technologies provide continual information to our vessel operators, allowing them to be in full compliance with stated restrictions. We also display the "Marine Mammal Viewing Code of Conduct" as published by NMFS on the bridges of our yachts, allowing guests to view Federal guidelines and regulations and understand the necessity for respecting wildlife and their habitat.
Our experienced and expertly-trained onboard Expedition Leaders/Naturalists as well as Captains and other crewmembers provide in-depth educational presentations on the wildlife, nature, geology and marine biology throughout the cruising routes. They also answer spontaneous questions from guests on deck. We believe this degree of explanation and informal study of flora and fauna assists in preserving these encounters for future generations as guests traveling on our yachts will impart their knowledge to many other key friends and family members.
Since whales are integral parts of 4 of our 5 destinations (Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest/San Juan Islands), many of our onboard staff have had extensive training and background in the various species of whales we experience, the dangers they face and what we, as custodians, can do to protect them. Backgrounds of some of our Expedition Leaders/Naturalists include a Masters Degree in Environmental Management specializing in Marine Conservation, and service as Co-Director of Environmental Education at the Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii. Another concentrated on whale research in Washington State’s Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Australia, California and Alaska's Inside Passage. A third Naturalist has served as Senior Research Naturalist at the Pacific Whale Foundation. One of our Captains operated research vessels for Jean-Michael Cousteau and explorers representing National Geographic.
In the remarkable cultural world we travel in, we also give back to residents whenever possible. For instance, less than 25 subsistence fishermen live on a tiny island called Isla Coyote (the most isolated village in Mexico's Sea of Cortés). They exclusively welcome the crew and guests of the 12-guest Safari Spirit between November and April each year. Our small complement of visitors are welcome, but larger groups would overwhelm them. In exchange for their hospitality, the Safari Spirit provides fresh potable water. The families' only alternative is to travel over 35 miles by small panga boat to retrieve huge containers of water from the city of La Paz.
Wherever we sail, we visit towns with populations not much greater than the capacity of our yachts. Meyer's Chuck, Tenakee Springs, Elfin Cove, Pelican - all in Alaska, for example. Besides the positive impact to the local economy, the cultural awareness and sharing of ideas reaps great dividends for locals and visitors alike.
From a practical standpoint, we employ conservation measures onboard our vessels such as providing guests with reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic bottles. We encourage guests to request laundering of linens less frequently, use eco-friendly toiletries/amenities and go beyond the minimum regulatory requirements for disposal of black water, waste and garbage.
Looking ahead, once we start cruising in the Hawaiian Islands in November, 2011, we intend to donate funds to a local charity on the island of Molokai. We also chose to use the Mauna Lani Resort on the Big Island as our pre- or post-cruise hotel choice partly due to its being one of the most advanced "green" hotels on the planet. They have been recognized by international organizations as one of the top environmentally and culturally progressive hotels anywhere. They operate mostly off the grid as they have a big investment in solar panels, work with local zoos and scientific bodies to rehabilitate and protect green turtles, employ a full-time Hawaiian cultural advisor/guide/kahuna (Danny Akaka) and more.
It is one of the key components of our company's mission statement to aggressively participate in environmental protection through education and action, to promote sustainable travel and to not just leave footprints as the only impression of our travels through sensitive lands, but to also leave a positive and impassioned impression on high-powered travelers and partners as well.
We are also proud members of Sustainable Travel International which focuses on promoting responsible travel and ecotourism, supporting sustainable development, and helping travelers and travel providers protect the cultures and environments they visit. To learn more about this organization, please click on their logo.
