Expedition Leader, Robin West
Seabourn has added more lecturers and naturalists to the expedition staff on the line’s “Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia” cruises, rounding out an experienced team that will offer guests insights and knowledge of the White Continent during its series of four 21- to 24-day voyages aboard Seabourn Quest beginning in November of 2013. Collectively, the 15-member expedition team represents more than 100 years of work, research and involvement in Antarctic matters.
The combined experience of the senior team alone, which includes Captain Bjarne Larsen, Program Manager Victoria Wheatley, Expedition Leader Robin West, and Assistant Expedition Leaders Jarda Versloot-West and Chris Srigley, amounts to more than 225 Antarctic expeditions. In addition, Wheatley currently serves on the U.S. delegation to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), and four of the lecturers have also been involved with ATCM.
New additions to the team include Dr. Roger Hewitt, who has lead expeditions and surveys in Antarctica for more than 15 years; Dr. Jason Hicks, a geologist who will discuss the geology and glaciology of South America and Antarctica; Meriwether Gill, who will share her passion of marine wildlife; Pat and Rosemarie Keough, award-winning photographers who will provide expert photography tips and advice to guests; and many more.
“We are pleased to have an expedition team with as much experience, knowledge and passion of Antarctica as this team,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn president. “Experience really counts on an Antarctic voyage because daily activities are planned around changing conditions, and changeable wildlife patterns. A team such as ours, with such broad-based expertise, will help ensure that Seabourn’s guests get the most out of every day in Antarctica.”
Seabourn Quest, one of the most luxurious ships ever to take guests to Antarctica, will carry an expedition team including six lecturers, four naturalists, three expedition specialists and two award-winning photographers, who will share their knowledge, guidance and passion for Antarctica during each cruise. The team will accompany guests during landings to add valuable insights to the adventure, and the photographers will offer digital photography coaching to help guests capture exciting wildlife images and the visual splendor of the White Continent.