Did cruise passengers see whales killed?

Cruise Passengers Witness Gruesome Whale Hunt, Prompting Apology. A cruise line has apologized to its passengers after one of its ships arrived in the Faroe Islands in the middle of a whale hunt. The passengers witnessed a bloody scene in which 78 pilot whales were killed.



In 2024 and 2025, several high-profile incidents occurred where cruise passengers witnessed the "Grindadráp" (pilot whale hunt) in the Faroe Islands. In one notable 2024 event, passengers on an Ambassador Cruise Line ship arrived in the harbor of Tórshavn just as a pod of over 70 pilot whales was being driven onto the beach and slaughtered by locals. Because the hunts are traditional and unscheduled, cruise ships can inadvertently dock during the blood-soaked finale of the drive. The incident sparked international outrage and led to formal apologies from cruise lines to their "distressed" passengers. In 2026, many major lines have adjusted their itineraries or issued warnings to guests about the possibility of witnessing these traditional hunts. While the Faroese government defends the "Grind" as a vital part of their food culture and history, the visual of "red bays" filled with dead whales has become a significant point of tension for the multi-billion dollar tourism industry that brings thousands of eco-conscious travelers to the islands each summer.

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78 pilot whales were killed in front of cruise ship docked in the Faroe Islands Passengers of the Ambassador Cruise Line had just arrived in the Faroe Islands when a group of small boats drove the whales to shallow water for killing, part of a long-standing local tradition.

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Ambassador Cruise line apologises after passengers see dozens of whales being slaughtered.

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Collisions with vessels can be fatal. When a whale or sea turtle is hit by a ship or another vessel, these gentle creatures are likely to die or suffer a horrific injury. Ship collisions have been identified as a significant human cause of baleen whales (mysticete) mortality [1].

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3. Whales. If you sail on an Alaskan cruise (which you absolutely should), you can definitely expect to see a variety of whales during your sailing. These are the largest mammals, and Alaska is their natural habitat.

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You'll find whale-watching excursions on offer in every port, but you'll also, with luck, see marine mammals from the ship. The bridge officers keeping extra watch will make an announcement if there's a particularly impressive pod in the vicinity.

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A 2022 study found that out of 49 attacks that year, whales damaged ships in about 73% of interactions. And 25% of those had to be towed back to port. The study's author told Live Science that whales target about one out of every 100 ships passing around the peninsula.

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Somewhere between very few and zero. Cruise ships move far too fast for sharks to follow them. Yes, a shark may have a burst speed that could match a ship, but not one that it could sustain.

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When a dolphin swims in the wake of a boat, its body is carried along on the waves making them move even faster than usual. They burn less energy while achieving a higher speed. In a way, when dolphins follow boats, they are getting a free ride!

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Underwater noise created by shipping can stop whales from being able to communicate with each other and can interfere with their navigation, causing them to be disoriented or isolated from the rest of their group. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds may even result in hearing loss or injury.

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Experts agree that a cruise ship sailing out over a body of water is not likely to feel any impacts from a tsunami's waves. “Generally, if you're in deep ocean, there's no way that you can perceive a tsunami from a ship,” Heaton said.

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