Interview with Stefan Kredel, Senior Director of Expedition Product and Itinerary Development at Silversea Cruises.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 65 – June 2023
Silversea Cruises is the luxury cruise line of the Royal Caribbean group. Its concept of luxury has made it a success among the most discerning travelers, whether on its classic cruises or its expedition cruises, which arouse particular interest.
This company's expedition cruises sail to all seven continents, allowing you to experience everything from the lush rainforests of the equatorial Pacific to the polar extremes with all the comforts a luxury cruise should offer.
Not everyone knows exactly what an expedition team does. A team is usually made up of several people from different countries. Silversea has Spanish speakers on its expedition teams, which facilitates interaction with passengers and, of course, enhances their enjoyment. Stefan is one of them. We spoke with him aboard the Silver Wind.
Tell us a little about your background, your previous work, and your role at Silversea Expeditions.
I'm German and I lived in Argentina for 20 years, learning Spanish and studying geology and paleontology at university. Back then, in 1998, I wanted to go to Antarctica, but my finances didn't allow it; I couldn't afford it. Since I couldn't buy a ticket, my goal was to work on a ship. In 2001, I moved to Buenos Aires, but the local economy was tough at the time. I started working as a tour guide on ships in Germany, speaking English. And well, little by little, it became my profession, and today I'm working on planning new trips and new products, and helping to build the teams.
We've put a lot of effort into planning this season and making sure everything goes according to plan. There are many new ideas and a lot of advance planning. We have a large team working in the office beforehand; it's a very strong department, and I think that's something that characterizes Silversea's expedition. We're about 28 people on the expedition team, from many different nationalities, and at least six of us are native Spanish speakers. Chileans, Mexicans, and Argentinians.
It's a fascinating job that many don't even know exists, a job that combines your passion with your profession, even though there are no weekends.
Have you noticed an increasing number of Spanish-speaking passengers? Is demand really growing? Which countries are most interested in expedition cruises?
Our guests are mainly from the United States, and also from the United Kingdom, but yes, we almost always have Spanish-speaking passengers. It's certainly growing, but still significantly less than English-speaking passengers.
I think many people still don't know that you can visit these remote regions on a luxury cruise ship. Marketing a luxury expedition is no easy task. It's casual luxury, with experts in every area providing guidance both on and off the ship, without compromising on comfort, high standards of service, and a truly immersive experience in these remote and rarely visited destinations.
Tell me a little about the exact job of the expedition team on a ship.
The expedition team consists of a leader, lecturers, guides, and so on. But the work really begins in the office with preparation. Because if you're going to a region for the first time, you have to study it, do research. You have to know, for example, what time of year the wildlife is present and what kind. For instance, we're in Finland right now, and it's the time when many birds are migrating north. Many of these birds can't be seen at any other time of year. So, the expedition team's job, on the one hand, is safety—making sure everyone arrives safely and avoiding any accidents—and on the other hand, accompanying the guests ashore and showing them everything they've come for. They also interact with them on the ship, joining them for meals, talks, wildlife viewing from the boat, and so on.
I understand you'll have experts in different areas.
Of course, we usually have experts in birds, marine life, geology, and plants, depending on the place you're visiting. For example, if you're going to Antarctica, we don't bring plant experts. Here, we bring historians. We always have a geologist, and sometimes experts in volcanoes or glaciers.
Which destination would you say has left the biggest impression on you, or which one you hold most dear in your memory?
There are several. One is obviously my first trip, to Antarctica. The first time I went, I was on a ship where there was no internet, and therefore no connection or contact with land. That was normal back in '98. I always imagined it would be wonderful, but reality surpassed all expectations. I've been back many times, every year since that first trip, and I hope to keep going. The last time was in December. You may have seen photos, documentaries, whatever, and it always surprises you. The reality is quite different. I don't think I'll ever get tired of going.
Like Stefan, there are other members on Silversea Cruises expedition teams who speak Spanish.
The other is Melanesia, you know, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, that area. The people there live in another world; the culture still has a distinct identity. In the sea, the coral reefs, the volcanoes, and so on. Its people, its colors, everything is special. This has always been the main motivation for my work: to travel and get to know the world and its different cultures in depth.
What's your next destination? Do you already know?
Well, right now I'm at sea, and after that I'm going to the Miami office. Then in July I'm going to Kimberley, on the north coast of Australia, a destination Silversea goes to every year, and I've never been, even though I'm a geologist. And I'm thrilled because it's one of those places that was blank on my map and that I've always wanted to visit. I'll definitely study it thoroughly.
And what other places are left for you to visit? What's on your bucket list?
I don't mean to sound pretentious, but there aren't many more because I'm truly happy to have been able to see almost the entire world. Kimberley was one of the places I hadn't yet visited. Perhaps some remote island.
Exploring the most remote places on the planet with Silversea
- The Galapagos Islands, where they are exploring with the brand-new Silver Origin, are an archipelago belonging to Ecuador, and the National Park guides therefore speak Spanish.
- Antarctica, the frozen continent, is a super exclusive destination that amazes with its pristine landscapes and the fabulous feeling of "isolation from the world".
- The Arctic and Greenland, practically forgotten regions of the world, but which hold incredible experiences, such as seeing polar bears, visiting Inuit communities, or the glaciers of the Svalbard islands.
- Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand's landscapes are well known worldwide, but those of the Kimberley are not far behind.
- Canada and New England. A region full of colors and idyllic buildings.
- South Pacific islands. White sand beaches next to lush jungles, some would call it paradise.
- South America, Alaska, Northern Europe and the British Isles, etc.
