For anyone considering an expedition cruise, the polar regions represent some of the most exciting journeys on the planet. The Arctic and Antarctic also involve some of the most challenging logistics a cruise line crew will ever face. From unpredictable weather at the extremes to maintaining rigorous safety standards, working on high-end expedition cruise ships demands so much more than making sure pillows are fluffed and cappuccinos are served steaming.
What does it take to be a successful expedition guide for a cruise line that sails to the back of beyond? For Karin Strand, the route to such a coveted position was unusual.
On This Page
- How do you become an expedition guide; how did you get started with Hurtigruten?
- Where do you want to go over and over?
- What expedition destinations are we going to be hearing more about in the next year or two?
- Is there a trend in the cruise industry to become more sustainable?
- What are some of the other trends you see happening in expedition cruising?
- What distinguishes the Hurtigruten expedition experience from other expedition cruises?
- Last question! Can you just chill out and relax on an expedition cruise?

How do you become an expedition guide; how did you get started with Hurtigruten?
My background is law, and I finished my law degree and said, 'Nah, I don't think that's going to fit me.' I did a 180 in my late 20s. Starting in 1998 I was originally part of Hurtigruten's coastal product in Norway, which has been going on for more than 100 years. In 2002 Hurtigruten decided to expand, to go abroad, and I was behind the scenes as chief purser. I've grown into my current role over 15 years, without really wanting it. It just happened, but I'm really glad it did -- it fits me.What kind of skill sets and training are needed for expedition guides?You need a field of expertise. The industry is becoming much more focused on what skill set you bring in. More than the usual guide, you need a background in biology, geology, glaciology or you're a trained historian in-depth. Or, I would ask if you have any activity guide skills -- certified kayak guide or certified mountaineer, for instance. I staff as well, and when I look for people I would like them to have a formal education within these fields.Where do you want to go over and over?

What expedition destinations are we going to be hearing more about in the next year or two?
I think Greenland, for one. Maybe Alaska and maybe the Northeast Passage the sea route to the Pacific Ocean along Norway and Russia's Arctic coasts. There are more ships making their way into the Northwest Passage the sea route from the Arctic Ocean -- along North America's northern coast to the Pacific Ocean. It's still quite a low number but I think that will increase in the years to come.**What's putting Greenland on the map?**It's a perfect destination to go by ship. The flight connections to Greenland are becoming better, so there's easier access, which of course makes a difference. Greenland itself is putting a lot of effort into using tourism as a future branch of growth to employ people, and Visit Greenland the country's official tourism bureau is quite aggressively trying to promote Greenland as a go-to destination.
Is there a trend in the cruise industry to become more sustainable?
Absolutely. We see that across the industry, that companies are getting rid of single-use plastics and batteries, trying different fuel formulas. Because we operate in these very fragile areas, we should be at the top of our game and be on the edge of technology as well. We try to be at the forefront, leading the way as a company, and hope that it trickles through and gives us a competitive edge.We serve as an ambassador for polar regions, and for climate change, because it's so visible in the Arctic. The cruise industry thinks of sustainability more than the normal commercial shipping industry, and I think we have a place there to put forward an even more balanced view of the situation. There's a limit on the ships that can enter these pristine places. In Antarctica, you're not allowed to land with ships of 500 passengers and over. International regulations control the amount of people coming. Because humans, we trample -- we trample all over the place. If you take a plane and look out, you see how much humans have changed the landscape over the last thousand years -- there's hardly anywhere around where you can find unspoiled nature anymore.**After the polar bear incident a colleague of mine asked, "Why are cruise ships going to the Svalbard Archipelago?"**(A polar bear was shot and killed after attacking a cruise ship guard in July 2018).I'm not going to pass judgement on any of my colleagues at another company. I really think there is value to the human presence in these areas, like anywhere else in the world. But there's a fine balance between us being predators rather than being observers. The safety and security of our guests has to be of the highest priority. It was not a good thing that this bear was killed, but I think it needs to be put a bit more in perspective before we pass judgement. Three bears that we know of have been killed over the time that tourism has been conducted in Svalbard. In Arctic Canada and Greenland, where there is a legal hunt of polar bears, thousands have been killed over the same period. I have nothing but respect for my colleagues on the ship where this occurred, and I know they did what they could. This was an unfortunate event and we might go 10 or 15 years before we see anything of this sort again, if ever.What are some of the other trends you see happening in expedition cruising?

What distinguishes the Hurtigruten expedition experience from other expedition cruises?

Last question! Can you just chill out and relax on an expedition cruise?
Some of these regions, like Svalbard, you get a digital detox whether you like it or not, because there is no connection. They force you into it. In East Greenland or around Thule Air Base -- you have no choice. The first day, you have these jitters where you can't cope. It's like a heroin addict -- you get spasms almost, because you cannot update your Facebook profile every day. When that first day has ended, you start to get used to not having your face in your phone or the computer all the time. The relief in people's heads and minds is quite staggering and that says something about how addicted we've become. They find, "Fine. I can survive without updating my Instagram today."This is one of our strong suits actually, for people who want to go off the grid. This can also apply to crossing the Atlantic, from Canary Islands over to Brazil -- toss your phone and everything digital away, and just be. Meditation and yoga and things like that are popular. Just go off and be, and have the ocean as your detox temple.*A native of San Diego, David Swanson has been awed by Alaska on more than 10 separate trips, including land-based journeys, one of which ventured north of the Arctic Circle. His writing and photography has been featured in the pages of National Geographic Traveler, American Way, and the Los Angeles Times for more than 20 years, and he has served on the Board of Directors for the Society of American Travel Writers since 2009.*
Updated October 10, 2019
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