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  2. Our Destinations
  3. Caribbean and Central America
  4. Expedition Team in the Caribbean and Central America
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Expedition Team in the Caribbean and Central America

Our experts are here to safeguard both explorers and the pristine environment. They serve as your invaluable hosts throughout your expedition cruise.

"Kayak adventures are some of my favourite activities. I love seeing our guests react when we encounter dolphins, whales or other animals." 
- Tessa van Drie, Expedition Team Leader

Unmatched expertise

Expedition Teams at Hurtigruten represent the best of the best. The Expedition Team Leader and Assistant Expedition Leaders are experts on safety and sustainability, making sure your exploration of these destinations is done right.

Together with guest lecturers and scientists, they will enhance your voyage with first-hand knowledge and fascinating insights, ensure your complete safety during landings and guarantee the lightest possible footprint in the environment.

Leading and teaching

During your discovery of the Caribbean and Central America, your Expedition Team will lead the way on hikes, museum visits, food and wine tasting, urban exploration, local cultural performances, small boat cruising and (where possible) kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and beach cleanup activities.

Briefings occur before each landing, making you aware of any potential risks and of strict protocol regarding local wildlife. Both on and off the ship, lectures are held on a wide variety of specialist topics that cover:

  • history and human geography (local culture and history)
  • climate and geology
  • exploration biology (marine biology, birds)
  • photography and storytelling

Expedition Team members in the Caribbean and Central America

Get to know some of the Expedition Team members you may encounter on a cruise to the Caribbean and Central America:

Tessa Van Drie

Expedition Leader Netherlands

Originally from the Netherlands, Tessa finished a one-year course as an Arctic nature guide in Spitsbergen, Norway, in June 2011. She has a master’s degree in Physical Geography from the University of Utrecht.

Since 2011, Tessa has worked as a lecturer on board MS Fram in both Antarctica and the Arctic

"Starting when I was a little girl, I always went camping out in nature with my parents. Hiking in the mountains has been my biggest passion since I was a teenager."

Pål Ranheim

Assistant Expedition Leader Norway

Pål grew up in Tromsø, northern Norway and loves all outdoor activities. His fascination for Arctic nature led Pål to study geography at NTNU, Trondheim.

He is certified as a hiking guide in the Norwegian Tourist Association (DNT), and has worked at the meteorological station on the remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen.

Holly Hogan

Lecturer and bird biologist Canada

Holly’s passion for wildlife has always been present. For her MSc degree, she studied Forest Songbird Ecology.

Holly has been involved in various aspects of seabird research, conservation and management for over 30 years. In recent years, she has spent long periods of time at sea conducting surveys.

Helga Kristiansen

Assistant Expedition Leader and Biologist Norway

Helga took her master’s degree in biology on Svalbard, and today works as a guide for hiking groups, leading snowmobile tours, doing city guiding and serving as a manager for Camp Barentz.

Helga works as an environmental agent for Hurtigruten and is an environmental advocate at large.

"Cruising with Hurtigruten really helps our guests understand why it is so important to preserve our planet.”

Herb Meyer

Geologist United States

Herb received his PhD in Palaeontology from the University of California at Berkeley.

His interests include geologic history and fossil plant evidence for climate change during the past 40 million years, and he does ongoing research work in Peru. He is the author of several books about palaeontology and geology.

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The leopard seal is named for its spotted fur coat. Famous for their fierce nature, these animals are one of the primary predators in Antarctica, using their powerful jaws and long teeth to hunt fish, squid, penguins, and even other seals.  Fascinatingly, leopard seals have no ear flaps, but rather hear from the inside.
📷: @fotografkalvig /Hurtigruten
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#hurtigruten #weexplore #antarctica #wildlife #seal #leopardseal We agree with @nytimes—there are so many places to love on earth, and Svalbard is definitely one of our favorites, too. What's one place you hope to visit in 2021? Read the article at nytimes.com. 
📷: Espen Mills / Hurtigruten
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#svalbard #weexplore #hurtigruten #nytimes #newyorktimes Deception Island is a distinctive ring-shaped volcanic caldera, a portion of which has collapsed and created a navigable opening into the flooded interior. The natural harbour within includes Whalers Bay, home to an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor, as well as a derelict British base. Do you have Deception Island on your bucket list?
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