Who Actually Makes an Expedition Work?
Updated: Oct 2
The People Behind the Expedition
An expedition ship can take you into remote parts of the Arctic, but the people on board determine much of what happens once you get there. The expedition leader coordinates the operation from the passenger perspective. Daily plans, shore operations, guides, lectures, wildlife searches, Zodiac activities and communication with the bridge all come together through that role. Weather decisions and changes to the programme are also part of the job.
In polar regions, plans can change quickly. The expedition leader has to keep the experience moving while working within the conditions. The rest of the team brings another layer.
Naturalists, historians, scientists, photographers and local guides each see something different in the same landscape. Their knowledge gives passengers a way into what they are looking at.
When a Whale Becomes More Than a Whale
We experienced this ourselves during a Zodiac whale-watching trip in Madeira.
The knowledge of the naturalists was remarkable. They explained the whales we were seeing, but also talked about sustainability, what is allowed, what is recommended and what constitutes good practice.
They also shared their own encounters and experiences.
One moment might involve seeing a sperm whale with its mother, with the mother waving goodbye with her enormous fluke. A naturalist can give that moment context while you are actually watching it happen.
That is very different from simply being told that there are whales in the area.
The same principle applies in the Arctic. A naturalist can explain why a whale is in a particular fjord at a particular time of year. A scientist can explain what is happening to a glacier. A historian can put an abandoned settlement into the wider story of exploration and trade.
The information does not need to be complicated.
In fact, one of the strongest qualities in a guide is the ability to explain something extremely complex in language that anyone can understand. If someone really knows their subject, they should be able to explain it simply.
History and Science Need People
The Arctic is full of history.
Svalbard has the exploration history associated with Willem Barentsz, whose name also lives on in the Barents Sea (and yes, I am proud to say that he, like me, was a Frisian!). Greenland has its Inuit history and the development of communities in an extreme environment. The Northwest Passage carries the story of centuries of exploration, including Franklin's disastrous expedition and Amundsen's eventual successful passage in 1906.
A historian can take a place that appears empty and explain what happened there.
An archaeologist can point to physical evidence that remains in the landscape. A scientist can do something similar with the natural environment.
Take a glacier as an example:
Someone without specialist knowledge may see beautiful blue ice. A glaciologist can explain accumulation, compression, movement, crevasses, melting, calving and the geological history contained within the ice.
The glacier becomes something you can understand rather than simply photograph.
Trusting the Team in the Field
The Zodiac team has a particularly demanding responsibility.
They have to understand currents, wind, waves, ice, landing beaches and wildlife while also watching passenger movement and maintaining communication with the ship. In polar environments, conditions can change very quickly.
From my own cruising experience, I have seen how seriously these teams take safety. It can look almost frantic at times, but that level of attention is necessary when weather can change suddenly, whales can appear unexpectedly and polar bears may be present.
I have a great deal of respect for the people who take on that responsibility.
This is also why local expertise matters so much to us at DeSalvio Travel and Sarasota Cruise Agency. I have spent around twenty years travelling to different places professionally not just as a Travel Agent, but also as a concert pianist, and working with specialists throughout Europe and the United States. Again and again, local experts have shown me things I would never have found on my own.
The same principle applies to the Arctic.
A strong expedition team listens to the traveler, understands what interests them and explains what they are seeing. The ship gets you there. The expedition team determines how much you understand.
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Choosing the Right Expedition Team
When we evaluate an expedition operator, we look at credentials, experience and feedback from our clients. We also consider what the traveler actually wants from the journey. Someone focused on wildlife needs different expertise from someone fascinated by polar history or photography. The right team should match those interests while providing the knowledge and safety required in a remote environment.
From polar landscapes and wildlife to science, history and local communities, discover how we approach Expedition Travel.
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