8 independent reviews for Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Reviews for Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Leah Reilly review 17 Aug 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing Sperm Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Turtles, Stripey Dolphins, a beaked Whale…2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The living quarters on the boat are small and not luxurious - pack lightly and carefully look at the weather before setting off. This is a volunteer research project and you are expected to help and contribute on all fronts. This is not a cruise and not a vacation it is a citizens research project. Be prepared to work hard both on the research side (shifts sighting animals, helping with measurements like water temperature) and also cooking & cleaning duties. There is not much free time. This trip is suited to people who are interested in studying marine sciences (biology, oceanography etc…) or adults who have a passion for sea mammals or conservation. It is not suited to people who want a cruise yacht vacation.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The project (I repeat this is not a vacation) supports conservation and the environment.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Hila Weiss review 10 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The crew were kind, considerate and helpful.Katherine Morris review 8 Aug 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The insights gleaned from being part of the research.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be mindful that is a citizens research project which means you are an active member of the crew also sharing bunks in cabins, helping to prepare meals, etc.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely, a core element of the research project is public awareness and collecting data to support conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great crew, great insights, great experience.Carolyn Edwards review 7 Jun 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
See the mammals up close.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring non-slip socks, high factor ocean-friendly sunblock, and a good hat. Good ear plugs as the boat is noisy. Learn some basic Italian as there are times where the conversations were all in Italian.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It supported research for the mammals which improves education. They were very sustainable.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic. I got sick and they took care of me exceptionally well.Naomi Alesworth review 5 Sep 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
All the marine life I saw, followed by the educational lectures. Sighting a sperm and a firm whale, after searching for them using the hydrophone and visual searches, was incredibly rewarding. Seeing dolphins swim along the boat, be playful and the pods of pilot whales by the boat. It felt unreal.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It’s an experience of a lifetime.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Mostly, yes. I’d only suggest that the merchandise (for sale) at the end of the trip be packeted in something other than plastic.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I would rate this 4/5.Read the operator's response here:
Regarding Naomi review we really appreciate your input and we fully agree with you, unfortunately an alternative packaging is not available yet and we always try to re-use plastic packaging when possible. We are working to find a solution in order to try to move to a more sustainable packaging for the next season.
Have a nice day
Adriana
Esteve Marie review 14 Aug 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
A spermwhale unexpectedly breaching in front of the reserach boat.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don' t forget to bring enough sunscreen for a week on deck and your binoculars.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Being a paying guest can help fund the research boat's going out. It supports cetecean conservation.You can help4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A wonderful way of discovering and seeing more of the Mediterranean cetaceans - and other too rarely seen inhabitants (a mola mola, a blue shark, many more turtles than expected.) Sharing life on board with the research team is a great way of understanding research and conservation issues.Caroline Corkery review 21 Jul 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing dolphins for the first time2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Seriously, pack light. Especially if traveling in warmer months.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No obvious benefit to local people or environmental impacts, but certainly appeared to support conservation4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Living conditions are certainly not luxurious, but if willing to rough it a little and help out, it is a greatly enjoyable vacation. You get very close to a group of strangers very quickly.Ian Hunt review 6 Jul 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing species of Whales that I had not seen before2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Travel light3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not sure4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
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