The Polar Routes Blog
Lidia enjoys HX Hurtigruten’s next-generation expedition ship Our new ship review series Beyond The Bow takes a closer look through the porthole at the world’s finest expedition cruise ships, as experienced from the perspectives of our polar specialists. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious traveller yearning for an extraordinary adventure on the polar seas, our features are designed to be your go-to resource for first-hand expert ship reviews. HX Hurtigruten’s sister ship to the MS Roald Amundsen is MS Fridtjof Nansen, and together, they are the first hybrid expedition ships to operate in the polar regions. The ship’s hybrid technology and other efficiency improvements will reduce fuel consumption by approximately 20% and CO2 emissions from the ships by 20%. Our polar specialist, Lidia Stranc, shared her experiences after her Antarctic voyage onboard this fantastic vessel. What was your first impression of the Fridjtof Nansen? The ship is very…
…with Elite Polar Specialist, Charlie The latest edition of our popular polar travel series takes us to awe-inspiring Antarctica, where our elite polar specialist, Charlie Mason, completed his full continental set on a sun-drenched voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Charlie was treated to a record-quick Drake Passage crossing and some super landing sites for wildlife spotting! WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? The main focus of this trip was to visit the 7th continent, Antarctica (with a good amount of time in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia before and after). HOW DID YOU GET THERE? We flew directly from London with British airways to Buenos Aires. We then spent some time there before flying on down to the end of the world, Ushuaia, where we embarked onto our expedition cruise. FAVOURITE LOCATION? The whole continent! Honestly, it’s too hard to choose a specific landing site, as they all vary so much, from…
Lucy sets sail on Hapag-Lloyd Cruise’s newest expedition ship Here at Polar Routes, we are excited to launch our new ship review series Beyond The Bow, a blog aimed at taking a closer look through the porthole at the world’s finest expedition cruise ships, as experienced from the perspectives of our polar specialists. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious traveler yearning for an extraordinary adventure on the polar seas, our features are designed to be your go-to resource for first-hand expert ship reviews. We’re kicking things off with a thoroughly modern classic in the shape of Hapag-Lloyd’s formidable vessel, the HANSEATIC inspiration. Our senior polar specialist, Lucy Yeoman, let us know her thoughts after her Antarctic voyage on this ship. What was your first impression of the HANSEATIC inspiration? We arrived in Ushuaia and boarded the ship that afternoon, where we were greeted by the Expedition Team and…
…with Senior Marketing Manager, Felipe The latest edition of this polar travel series takes us to gorgeous Greenland, where in the summer months when the sun hangs low on the horizon, this wild place comes alive with a burst of colour. Our senior marketing manager Felipe Francisco had quite a spectacular trip, taking in glaciers, cultural visits, and incredible fjords from the air! WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? East Greenland, South Greenland, and West Greenland on Quark’s Essential Greenland itinerary. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? I flew from London to Reykjavik in Iceland, and then from there, I boarded Quark’s fantastic Ultramarine ship and sailed across the Denmark Strait towards East Greenland. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? First time in Greenland and my first time crossing the Arctic Circle! FAVOURITE LOCATION? It’s hard to pick favourites as each area in Greenland is so beautiful and unique. Southern Greenland blew me…
We spoke to Expedition Leader for HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, Torstein Gaustad. He has a strong bond with the sea, having grown up on the Norwegian coast. Travelling has always been a source of immense joy, as he loves exploring new destinations, immersing himself in the local culture, and gaining knowledge about the history and environment of each place he visits. In his role, he makes sure the guests get the best experience possible by sharing his knowledge and expertise. It is absolutely his dream job! How does a typical day start for you? With coffee! And a walk out on deck to check the conditions and take a moment to enjoy the view, while thinking of the day’s expeditions. After that, I go to the bridge to talk to the captain and the officers, to get the latest update on timings, conditions, and position and see if the operational plan…
It was a case of when Lucy met Lucy when, during another big trip to Antarctica, our Senior Polar Specialist Lucy Yeoman sat down to speak with Lucy Bruzzone, the Education Program Director at Cambridge University who spent a season in Antarctica working in the world’s most southerly Post Office at the historic Port Lockroy Station. Located on the scenic island of Goudier on the Antarctic Peninsula, the site has been open to visitors since 1966 during the Antarctic summer (November to March) and is now managed by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which runs the site as a ‘living museum’ with a popular gift shop. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what attracted you to work in this part of the world? Lucy B: I am a geographer by training and so I have always had an interest in the natural world, but also the human connection…
…with Senior Polar Specialist, Kasey The latest edition of this polar travel series offers a look into a fantastic fjord-filled expedition cruise with our Senior Polar Specialist Kasey Green, who enjoyed a polar bear-spotting 12-day Svalbard Odyssey voyage with AE Expeditions. WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? The Svalbard Archipelago. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? I flew to Oslo and then onto Longyearbyen, we then cruised throughout the Svalbard Archipelago, reaching areas that only polar class ships could travel. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? This was my first time travelling to Svalbard. FAVOURITE LOCATION? I enjoyed being in Storfjorden and the attempts to travel up through the icy fjords. MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Carving through the ice was certainly one of my most memorable moments, as well as seeing the elusive polar bear! We also made an ice landing where the captain stopped alongside the ice and allowed all the guests to…
On her wonderful trip to the Antarctic this year, our Senior Polar Specialist Lucy sat down to speak with Swan Hellenic’s Polar Guide, Richard Simpson, to learn more about his working life of outdoor pursuits and expeditions to Antarctica. After a full career in the British Army where he was awarded numerous awards for exemplary service, Richard moved on to the military’s adventure training foundation wing where he worked instructing and leading small groups, before joining Swan Hellenic in his current role guiding passengers from ship to shore. Lucy: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what attracted you to work in this part of the world? Richard: I am a two-time Antarctic explorer, and I was given the opportunity to work with Swan Hellenic after they helped evacuate me and seven other teammates in the Antarctic Peninsula on our last expedition. When I was given this…
We delve into the ship highlights of AE Expedition’s brilliant new vessel AE Expedition’s newest ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 – this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia’s long-standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle’s dedication and passion for the oceans have made her a leading figure in the field of marine science and a tireless advocate for ocean conservation. Her work continues to inspire people around the world to appreciate and protect our planet’s precious marine environments. Cutting Edge Technology The ship’s design incorporates the Ulstein X-BOW, which cuts through swell to decrease vibrations and turbulence, whilst reducing fuel consumption by up to 60%. The X-BOW shape also provides expansive windows…
…with Senior Polar Specialist, Lucy The latest edition of this series offers personal insights into an adventurous expedition cruise by our Senior Polar Specialist Lucy Yeoman, who enjoyed a penguin chick-filled 13-day voyage with Swan Hellenic sailing from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula. WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? A 12-day Antarctic Circle expedition with Swan Hellenic on the SH Vega HOW DID YOU GET THERE? I flew to Buenos Aires and spent a couple of days there exploring the city. Swan Hellenic arranged a charter flight to take the guests from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia where we boarded our ship, the SH Vega and set sail that evening across the Drake Passage, heading towards the Antarctic Circle. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? This was my fourth expedition to Antarctica; previous ones were in November and December. There was less sea ice, the chicks had hatched although further south towards the circle many of the…
