- Seabourn Cruises will use its ship Seabourn Quest to lead all expeditions in Antarctica and Patagonia during the 2019-2020 season.
- Seabourn Quest’s 21-day trip to Antarctica and Patagonia will start on November 28.
- The Antarctica-bound team will consist of wilderness experts, scientists, historians, Zodiac operators, kayak guides, and photographers, who will also be part of the ship’s Seabourn Conversations programme to interact with guests and share knowledge about the history, ecology and culture of the region. The cruise line will also be fitted with equipment such as binoculars from Swarovski Optik.
- “There is so much waiting to thrill Seabourn guests in Antarctica and Patagonia, and this season’s expedition team will be there with them heightening the excitement of every kayaking paddle stroke, Zodiac ride, and shore excursion along the way. As always, our expedition team members will support the onboard experience of Seabourn Quest, ready for edifying, knowledgeable and compelling conversation with guests at many times of day throughout their fascinating journey,” Robin West, Vice President of Expedition Operations for Seabourn said.
- Seabourn will return to Australia and New Zealand in December with several new ports around the country. Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Sojourn will make 40 calls across Australia this summer, along with a number of port calls across New Zealand.
PRESS RELEASE
It will soon be the height of the spring and summer travel season in the southern hemisphere, and Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is ready for adventure with a world-class and very experienced expedition team assembled to lead all expeditions through the wilds of Antarctica and Patagonia from Seabourn Quest.
The ship’s latest voyage to Antarctica will set sail with a 21-Day Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia itinerary on November 28, 2019. The hand-selected expedition team is set to accompany travelers to pristine Chilean lakes, volcanoes, fjords and glaciers in Patagonia, and six unforgettable days in Antarctica.
“There is so much waiting to thrill Seabourn guests in Antarctica and Patagonia, and this season’s expedition team will be there with them heightening the excitement of every kayaking paddle stroke, Zodiac ride, and shore excursion along the way,” said Robin West, vice president of Expedition Operations for Seabourn. “As always, our expedition team members will support the onboard experience of Seabourn Quest, ready for edifying, knowledgeable and compelling conversation with guests at many times of day throughout their fascinating journey.”
The season’s first journey will also feature acclaimed Antarctic explorer Colin O’Brady as part of the ship’s complimentary Seabourn Conversations onboard enrichment program. O’Brady made headlines around the world on December 26, 2018 when he became the first person ever to cross the landmass of Antarctica solo, unaided by kites or resupplies.
As on every exploration choreographed by Seabourn around the world, the expedition team bound for Antarctica is made up of experienced wilderness experts, scientists, historians, Zodiac operators, kayak guides, and photographers focused on enhancing travelers’ time amid the remote beauty and fascinating wildlife of the region. Guests will also be able to enjoy Ventures by Seabourn optional, for-charge kayak excursions scheduled throughout the season which can be booked in advance of departure.
Along with their roles off the ship, expedition team members will be part of the ship’s Seabourn Conversations program, and will regularly interact with guests throughout each sailing, sharing keen insight and in-depth knowledge about the history, ecology and culture of the region. Their valuable insights are offered both in complimentary formal presentations on a variety of topics and in more casual conversations on deck, over meals or at leisure. In addition, the team chronicles their adventures with stories and photos via Seabourn’s Voyage Tracker.
The expedition team to Antarctica & Patagonia will be equipped with high-quality binoculars from Swarovski Optik. Through the line’s unique partnership with Swarovski, Seabourn Quest’s expedition team and bridge staff will utilize optics widely regarded as some of the finest available to search for wildlife and view the stunning landscapes from on board the ship and ashore. Premium suite guests will also find a pair of Swarovski binoculars in their suite to use onboard during their sailing and Swarovski products are also available for purchase in The Shops adjacent to Seabourn Square.
Select members of the handpicked 18-person expedition team that will be onboard each voyage for Seabourn’s 2019-2020 season in Antarctica & Patagonia include:
Ignacio “Iggy” Rojas, Expedition Leader – Iggy has 20 years of experience in expedition travel, nearly all of it including cruising in Antarctica where he shares his expertise and knowledge of the natural history of the “White Continent” with fellow travelers. Since the beginning of his career in expedition cruising, Iggy has spent at least twenty uninterrupted seasons in Antarctica, including the Peninsula, Ross Sea and sub-Antarctic Islands in the South Atlantic, Australia and New Zealand.
Chris Srigley, Expedition Leader – Chris spends up to nine months a year on expedition ships, with full seasons in Antarctica and the Arctic among them. His deep interest in natural history developed in his youth, and he is well-versed in all of the regions he travels, taking joy in conveying his passion and knowledge to fellow travelers as they experience stunning settings and incredible adventures.
Professor Sean Todd Ph.D., Lecturer – A professor at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, Sean has been researching marine mammals for three decades and first visited Antarctica in 2001. He returns to guide and research, including collecting data for the Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalog he manages for a marine research facility. He recently used his experiences to create a video series, “Life in the World’s Oceans,” co-produced by The Great Courses and Smithsonian Institute.
Trevor Potts, Lecturer – A retired teacher who has long enjoyed teaching outdoor skills to children, Trevor knows his way around down south. In the early 1990s, he was on a team that re-created Ernest Shackleton’s epic 1916 rescue mission from Elephant Island to South Georgia, and 2001 he joined another team completing Shackleton’s mountain crossing from King Haakon Bay to Stromness. Trevor has sailed and kayaked to remote regions, including paddling the Bering Strait and in Arctic Norway and Arctic Canada.
Brent Houston, Lecturer – Over the past 30 years, Brent’s wildlife research has taken him on over 450 expeditions visiting 100 countries. His ship-based expertise includes seabirds, penguins, polar bears and whales, and he is a contributing editor and photographer for field guides, as well as for The Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans. In 1995, he sailed with the British Royal Navy using helicopters to photograph and document every known penguin colony on the Antarctic Peninsula, discovering two. He has traveled to Antarctica more than 120 times.
Luciano “Luqui” Bernacchi, Lecturer – Luqui has abundant experience in adventure travel and eco-tourism, including leading, guiding and lecturing to groups. He has worked as a mountain guide, ski guide, naturalist guide, and birding guide throughout Argentina, including expeditions across the Patagonian Ice Field and ice walks on the Perito Moreno Glacier. While birding and glaciers are his main passions, his diverse interests have taken him to destinations and wilderness areas around the world.
Jennifer Fought, Lecturer – Jennifer’s love for the natural world dates from her youth spent camping, canoeing, and riding horses. With a graduate degree in structural geology, she has conducted research from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico to the glaciers of Greenland where she was a field guide on camping trips to the Greenland Ice Sheet. An avid outdoorswoman, Jennifer is passionate about building her knowledge and understanding of Earth’s processes and experiencing its wonders.
Dr. Saskia Coulson, Photographer/Videographer – Internationally acclaimed for her research and imagery, Saskia uses her diverse experience to explore complex global issues through visual communication and storytelling. Passionate about photography since her youth, she traveled the globe with her photographer parents and later studied fine art photography at Glasgow School of Art. Widely published, she loves discussing how photography can communicate great wonders and complex challenges of the world.
Dr. Anton Wolfaardt, Lecturer – Over decades as a conservation scientist, Anton has focused on seabirds and island ecosystems, basing himself everywhere from Marion Island in the Southern Indian Ocean to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. His interest and experience in the conservation of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments is broad. He lives in the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountain of South Africa, where he enjoys outdoor activities including surfing, trail running, botanizing, and bird watching.
Will Wagstaff, Lecturer – A birder since age 5, Will has led wildlife walks around the Isles of Scilly southwest of Cornwall, UK for over 30 years. During the off-season he leads wildlife holidays elsewhere and works on expedition vessels in the Arctic and Antarctica. His favorite spot is the Falkland Islands, of which he wrote the Bradt Guide, and he has also led trips to destinations in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Deep into geology and history, he is quick to share his knowledge with anyone interested.
Kara Weller, Lecturer – Kara’s passion for wildlife biology led her to global exploration for research, expeditions, and enjoyment. Raised in the woods in central Alaska, she earned a graduate degree in biology and has studied whales in the Bering Sea, eiders on the Arctic coast, river otters in Europe, and raptors in her home state. She has been an expedition leader for the past 15 years, guiding to remote locations including over 180 trips to Antarctica and 100 to the Arctic with 6 visits to the North Pole along the way.
The expedition team will rotate throughout the season, and additional team members will join select sailings periodically, opening guests’ eyes and minds to the wonders of the natural world in this coveted travel destination.
Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury travel with intimate ships offering key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas and all oceanfront; superb dining in a choice of venues; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home on board. The ships travel the globe to many of the world’s most desirable destinations including marquee cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and lesser-known ports and hideaways. The line is also the Official Cruise Partner of UNESCO World Heritage, aiding its mission of safeguarding and promoting the world’s unique cultural and natural heritage recognized for its outstanding universal value
Regular guests of Seabourn will continue to find a number of innovative offerings and programs, including partnerships with a select group of companies and individuals whose dedication to superior quality, exceptional service and consistent customer satisfaction matches Seabourn.
Such programs include ‘An Evening with Tim Rice’, the new evening entertainment experience created exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative Productions; ‘Shopping with the Chef’ excursions in select ports, with an expert Seabourn chef as guide to learn about regional markets and see how the freshest ingredients are selected; ‘Seabourn Conversations’ with special guest speaker including knowledgeable historians, naturalists, marine biologists, destination experts and more; Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 50’s and 60’s. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of iconic dishes. Guests will be treated to table-side preparations of Caesar salad and ice cream sundaes, as well as a range of other favorites like premium steaks, whole roasted chicken, and Lobster Thermidor, presented à la carte.
