Category: A Day In The Life Of
Our senior polar specialist, Lucy, joined Jaakusaaq Sørensen, a Greenlandic Inuit guide from Tasiilaq, East Greenland, aboard Le Commandant Charcot during their 10-day expedition through the region. This fascinating way of life shows Jaakusaaq discussing the local community’s role in encountering polar bears and whales, the cultural differences between his community and the wider world, and the challenges of living and working in a changeable and challenging environment. Lucy: What attracted you to work in this part of the world within this role with PONANT? Jaakusaaq: Well, firstly, I did not look for this work. The work found me. The company PONANT telephoned the Tourism Office in Tasiilaq. The Tourism Office contacted me by phone and asked if I wanted to work on a tourist ship. Since she said I would be working as an Inuit representative, it would be perfect because I have an extensive knowledge of the stories…
We spoke with Dr. Verena Meraldi, the Chief Scientist of HX Hurtigruten Expeditions. She began working with HX in 2007 as a biology lecturer on Antarctica voyages, fuelled by her passion for the polar regions and the incredible species that inhabit them. In 2019, she took on the amazing challenge of becoming the cruise industry’s first Chief Scientist and designing the Science & Education programme for all HX vessels. Her extensive background working on expedition cruise ships has given her a thorough grasp of operations as well as the possibilities to integrate science into the voyages. This way, not only can she keep sharing her enthusiasm for microscopic life, but developing captivating onboard research projects that will enhance the experience of the guests while they’re away. How does a typical day start for you? Days are busy on board the ships, but for me they start with a cup of…
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…
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 spoke to Expedition Leader for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Arne Kertelhein. Since his childhood, Arne has been fascinated by the stories of brave explorers in the dark and cold polar regions. As a student, he started collecting old volumes of expedition reports and 20 years ago was a guest onboard a small vessel for the first time to Svalbard. After working in a museum, Arne started as a lecturer about polar history on various expedition vessels and icebreakers. And for the last 15 years works as an expedition leader, mainly for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, leading expedition cruises to the polar regions. Arne photographing near a glacier in Svalbard How does a typical day start for you? Normally I get up between 5.00 and 6:00 am, make myself a strong cup of tea and go to the bridge. The Chief Officer is on watch and we talk about the weather conditions – mainly…
We spoke to Photography Guide Michelle Sole to find out how she spends her time snapping wildlife on her many trips to the polar regions. From the age of thirteen Michelle spent 10 years chasing winters around the world and competed for Great Britain as a downhill ski racer. Having always had a love for animals and the outdoors, in 2011 Michelle moved to South Africa to learn the ropes as a safari guide and wildlife photographer. In 2017 Michelle swapped elephants and lions for penguins and polar bears and started working for Quark Expeditions. She now divides her time between the icy Polar Regions and the African sun. Michelle’s photographic work has been published in Africa Geographic and The Guardian. How does a typical day start for you? Being British a typical day starts with a good cup of tea! Each morning we monitor the weather and the ice…
Port Lockroy is based on Goudier Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. Since 1966 the site has been open to visitors 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. All profits from the shop go towards the renovation of other historic sites in Antarctica. Port Lockroy is also the world’s most southerly public post house – affectionately known as the Penguin Post Office. We spoke to Field Operations Coordinator Vicky Inglis for her thoughts on living and working there. How does a typical day play out for you? We’ll get up around 7 am, to the sound of the day’s duty cook heating water for tea and coffee. Breakfast is usually something like muesli or homemade bread and jam, maybe porridge if it’s looking like a cold or wet day. The Base Leader…
