New India Travel: Saving Our Oceans & Marine Life

Each Thanksgiving, we all take stock of our lives and remind ourselves of what's important and what we're actually thankful for. I've been blessed with the necessary health, wealth, and desire to travel the world. I've fallen in love with the quiet moments when discovering a new hidden cove or beach, seeing the sun rise, or watching endangered animals fighting to retain their their little bit of Earth.

Cruise travel is a huge part of my life and it's brought me a greater understanding of our ocean and river ecosystems and marine life. This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for that and am hopeful that together, cruise passengers and cruise lines can band together to reduce their impact on our ocean ecosystems so future generations can enjoy the beauty and serenity I've already discovered.

Here are some organizations that are safeguarding our precious marine resources:

Alaska Whale Foundation
Mission: Committed to research, conservation, and public education about marine mammals in Southeast Alaska.
Membership: When you donate $25 or more, you'll receive the AWF newsletter periodically.
501(c)(3) status: Yes. The Alaska Whale Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and your donation will be U.S. tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donate to the Alaska Whale Foundation.

Galapagos Conservancy
Mission: Dedicated exclusively to the long-term protection of the Galapagos Islands.
Membership: Donations of $25 or more entitle you to a one-year membership that includes a subscription to Galapagos News.
501(c)(3) status: Yes. The Galapagos Conservancy is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and your donation will be U.S. tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donate to the Galapagos Conservancy.

Oceanites: The World's Antarctic Resource
Mission: To foster the conservation of the world's oceans, islands, and their wildlife, as well as a better appreciation of the sensitive connections we humans have to our watery globe.
Membership: There is no formal membership. Everyone who donates will automatically be added to the "Opus-O-Gram" e-mail list.
501(c)(3) status: Yes. Oceanites is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and your donation will be U.S. tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donate to Oceanites.

Pacific Whale Foundation
Mission: To promote appreciation, understanding, and protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs, and our planet's oceans.
Membership: The Pacific Whale Foundation offers a variety of excellent ecotours and kids' camps in Hawaii. If you'll be booking any of those adventures, membership in the Foundation will save you money. Members receive discounts and priority boarding on all ecotours, 15% off their Ocean Store, and a free gift (T-shirt, DVD, or ecotour ticket). Membership is $35 for students and seniors, $40 for individuals, and $55 for families.
501(c)(3) status: Yes. The Pacific Whale Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and your donation will be U.S. tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donate to the Pacific Whale Foundation.

What are your favorite organizations devoted to protecting our river and ocean ecosystems? I'd love to hear about them. Happy Thanksgiving!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com