Crystal Expedition Cruises has announced its team of expedition guides and experts for Crystal Endeavour's inaugural voyages in Iceland. The luxury expedition yacht will embark on a round-trip journey from Reykjavik on July 17, 2021, the first of five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland. Naturalists Boris Wise and Maria Cashin will lead the expedition, with Eva Molin Westerholm serving as expedition assistant, along with a cadre of notable scientists, naturalists, photographers, and more on board.
Wise and Westerholm have assembled an impressive cast of expedition guides, including ornithologist Joe Cockram, marine biologist Lisa LaPoint, glaciologist and geologist Bob Gilmore, historian Captain Ken Burton, photographers Roger Pimenta and Bruno Cazarini, and artist Bruce Pearson, to enrich the experiences of passengers aboard Crystal Endeavour's inaugural voyages in Iceland, where rich marine and bird life presents fascinating studies against a backdrop of stunning land and seascapes.
“Having such a diverse and experienced team of experts guide guests on small-group expeditions to provide insights into the wildlife and landscapes of Iceland’s rare and remote locations is at the heart of the true expedition experience we want to offer our guests,” said Walter Barinaga, Director of Destination Experiences at Crystal. “Crystal Endeavour was designed to provide unique experiences and close encounters with the natural world, and this incredible team will undoubtedly enhance that experience.”
Both Wise and Westerholm are veteran Arctic and Antarctic explorers with extensive experience leading expeditions in the polar regions. Wise, an accomplished photographer with a background in horticulture, spent a decade sharing his expertise in Southeast Alaska before venturing into Greenland, Iceland, the Northwest Passage, Baffin Island, the Svalbard archipelago, Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. Cashin has always felt a deep connection to the natural world, from his geology studies and work as a geoscientist to his adventures with National Geographic and as a tour operator for Canada's leading mountain guide and instructor school. Since 2012, he has combined his skills to work as a lecturer and expedition leader in the Arctic and Antarctic. Westerholm has a background in social anthropology and a passion for nature, having led expedition trips for over 13 years, guiding travelers through the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as Iceland, Central America, eastern Canada and the British Isles.
The expedition team for Crystal Endeavour's first Luxury Expeditions to Iceland includes:
- Captain Ken Burton, Historian – Author and decorated member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- Bruno Cazarini, photographer – As a photographer and filmmaker, he has traveled to 130 countries.
- Joe Cockram, ornithologist – 15 years keeper and researcher in the Isles of Scilly, the Farne Islands, Blakeney Point and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust reserve in Steart Marshes.
- Robert “Bob” Gilmore, glaciologist and geologist – North Pole and South Pole Expedition Guide.
- Lisa LaPoint, marine biologist – Accomplished photographer, naturalist, and ship captain, with expeditions on all seven continents and oceans. Expert in polar regions, marine mammals, and marine ecology.
- Bruce Pearson – Professional artist, ornithologist and field naturalist, author and illustrator of books on seasonal migration and seabirds.
- Roger Pimenta, photographer – Freelance photographer and member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, has traveled across six continents on reportage and adventure trips.
With its own fleet of kayaks, 18 Zodiacs, and a helipad, the Crystal Endeavour was specially built to offer a true expedition experience. Exploration equipment includes a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for viewing the sea at a depth of 300 meters and a mast-mounted Gimble long-range camera that can zoom in to view wildlife and scenery from over a mile away.
The camera system records 4K video that will be streamed directly to HD TVs throughout the ship, including public areas and guest suites, and to the large 65-inch screens in Palm Court, the 86-inch screens in the Expedition Lounge, and the video wall in Cove, with a huge 218-inch central screen and two 145-inch side screens.
All ports of call on board the Crystal Endeavour's Iceland voyages include complimentary explorations - from kayaking to zodiac excursions or walking - all led by expert naturalists from the ship's expedition team.
The Crystal Endeavour, built in Germany, is the ninth ship in the cruise line's fleet, the fastest and most powerful expedition ship in the industry, and has a PC6 classification that allows it to sail in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
The Crystal Endeavour's maiden voyage from July 17 to 27, 2021, kicks off a series of 10-night immersive cruises circumnavigating Iceland from Reykjavik. This series will be followed by the 10-night Viking Voyage: Iceland and Norway, from Reykjavik to Tromsø, departing on September 5, 2021. Other autumn sailings include the 13-night Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Isles Exploration from Tromsø to London, departing on September 15, 2021, which includes Norway's fjords and UNESCO World Heritage sites with an overnight stay in Edinburgh, and the 11-night Breton, Bordeaux and Beyond from London to Lisbon, departing on September 28, 2021, which features two nights in the heart of Bordeaux and an overnight stop in London.
