Wildlife on the waves

May 10 2009 by Amy Hunt, Sunday Sun

HOLIDAYS can be educational as well as relaxing. AMY HUNT had a whale of a time – almost – on a North Sea wildlife cruise . . .

The next morning, after a night in our small but adequate en-suite cabin, we explore the different vantage points from the various decks on the ship with Rosie and try our hand at identifying some of the birds circling as the boat enters the harbour at Ijmuiden.

From the ferry port in Holland a free coach takes you into Amsterdam, where you can stay on board for a half-hour sightseeing tour, or climb out and make the most of the five-or-so hours in the Dutch capital.

There’s not time for much sightseeing, but we manage to fit in a visit to the Amsterdam History Museum, before catching the bus back to the ship.

Leaving Amsterdam, there’s another deck watch before Rosie gives an entertaining talk to families on the ship about what they could see from the deck. She explains more about why the North Sea is an important eco-system for wildlife, what Orca is doing to try to preserve it and how we can all help.

Representatives from the charity regularly conduct surveys from the DFDS ferries as part of a major ecological study of the North Sea and its wildlife, and it’s exciting to think that our spotting of species will be part of that research.

The following morning, we rise early to keep an eye out for what we might see, as we arrive back in Newcastle at nine.

Sadly, there are no whale sightings this time, but it’s still a buzz to think of what is swimming below us and humbling to realise we are not alone on these seas.

Fact file

:: ORCA Wildlife mini-cruise package is available on all sailings every other day from April 3 until September 28, 2009. Depart at 5pm and arrive in Amsterdam at 9am. Included in the package is a pre-departure greeting, two nights on-board ship, presentation and welcome pack, a deck watch, activities for kids, information for adults, including latest sightings and news, and an exclusive bridge visit.

:: PRICES start from only £84 per person, based on two adults sharing, or from £74 per person, based on four sharing. Wildlife cruises are also available from Harwich to Esbjerg. For more information on the ORCA wildlife cruises and to book, go to www.dfds.co.uk/orca For more information on ORCA, go to www.orcaweb.org.uk

5 things to do

1 - TAKE a boat tour around the city’s famous canals.
2 - SAMPLE some of the local lager at the Heineken Museum.
3 - BROWSE the Masters’ works of art at the Rjiksmuseum.
4 - LEARN more about the famous Dutch painter at the Van Gogh museum.
5 - VISIT Anne Frank’s House for an insight into life as a Jew during the Second World War.