The Polar Routes Blog
We put our pertinent polar questions to Senior Polar Travel Specialist, Lucy Lucy Yeoman has been a senior specialist at Polar Routes for over half a decade, and has had the incredible opportunity to visit the polar regions more times than most people could imagine! Rather impressively, Lucy’s grandfather visited Antarctica in 1926 as a deck-hand onboard Admiral Byrd’s expedition to the southern-most continent. She also grew up in Mexico, and so has been passionate about travel from a very young age. Lucy started selling cruises to the polar regions in the early 2000’s and on her first trip to Antarctica was truly mesmerised by its beauty and wildlife. Lucy recently celebrated winning Best Individual Expedition Cruise Seller/Travel Advisor at the inaugural Expedition Cruise Network Ltd. Awards! We asked her more about her passion for all things polar. When was your first time in Antarctica? In December 2003 I was lucky…
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…
…with Senior Polar Specialist, Lidia The latest edition of our popular polar travel series takes us through a classic Antarctic Peninsula voyage. Our senior polar specialist, Lidia Stranc, loved meeting Neko Harbour’s “adorable” penguins and having her dining accompanied by amazing whale sightings from the comfort of HX’s modern ship, the Fridtjof Nansen. WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? The Antarctic Peninsula. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? I flew from my home in the Azores to join the Hurtigruten flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires, and then the next day, we all joined a charter flight to Ushuaia. The same day we embarked the ship. FAVOURITE LOCATION? Neko harbour. The Gentoo penguins hanging out along the shore are just adorable, and hearing the ice crack and break off the glaciers is something I won’t forget. The whole place feels so peaceful and untouched. MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Eating dinner with 3…
‘Beyond the Poles’ is the pinnacle of expedition cruising, taking you to the world’s most extraordinary destinations beyond the polar regions. Delve into remote and isolated cultures in the South Pacific, Polynesia, Micronesia, Hawaii, Asia, and Australia and immerse yourself in each port of call’s rich history and vibrant life with captivating shore excursions. Read on to discover our five favourite expedition cruises across these tropically tantalising regions. Magical Encounters in the Soloman Islands & Micronesia by PONANT PONANT offers a 14-day exploration cruise aboard the Le Jacques Cartier. Explore the magnificent Pacific archipelagos and have amazing experiences with native cultures. The adventure begins in Honiara and takes you through distant and untamed locations of amazing beauty. Leisurely activities in the Solomon Islands include swimming and snorkelling on Njari Island, as well as immersion in the vivid ambience of traditional markets on Ghizo Island. Le Jacques Cartier will sail to Papua New Guinea, an intriguing area…
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…
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…
