UNLOCK THE HEART OF THE ARCTIC WITH OUR PIONEERING POLAR EXPERTISE

Bernardo Alps is the Adjunct Research Scientist at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro and a member of the West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Team. His formal education was in journalism before transitioning to the fields of seabird and marine mammal research. His love of exploring faraway places and the wonders of discovery and adventure has led him to Silversea.

Lea McQuillan has an honours degree in Environmental Management, she worked on various international research projects including coral reef habitat mapping on the second biggest barrier reef, in Belize. Lea has worked all over the world on expedition ships and is passionate about the marine environment and the natural biodiversity.

Alex (Sasha) Frel is a US and Czech national who graduated from Moscow State University with a Master’s degree in Russian literature. Alex is an avid traveller with a keen interest in desert environments. Alex enjoys sailing, bird watching, visiting historical and archaeological sites, and working as a historian on Silversea expedition cruises all over the world.

Andy Webb is a Zoology graduate from Durham University who worked as a seabird ecologist for the UK Government to survey the distribution and abundance of seabirds at sea in north and west Scotland. Andy works for Silversea Cruises as a wildlife guide and ornithology lecturer in the South Atlantic and Antarctica and in north and west Scotland.

Victoria Salem has travelled extensively in Northern Europe, the Arctic and Antarctica for the past 21 years. She has worked in expedition cruising for 38 seasons at both ends of the earth and many places in between; she has held several different positions within the expedition team, but her main role has been as a lecturer - on history, culture, and exploration.

Hedda Andersen was born and raised in the countryside outside Oslo, Norway and now lives on Svalbard in the Arctic. She graduated from the University Centre in Svalbard and University of Oslo with a master’s degree in glaciology in 2023 after completing her undergraduate in Geology in 2021. Hedda is an experienced nature guide in the polar regions.

Mila Lassuy has enjoyed and respected the outdoors well before she knew she could make it a career. During her time studying archaeology at the University of Oregon, she had the privilege to visit and conduct research on a variety of Pacific Islands, including Rapa Nui (Easter Island), where she conducted her thesis research on small stone tools on the island.

Chris Harbard is a well-known British ornithologist and conservationist who lives in Cambridgeshire. After working for 24 years with the world’s largest bird conservation organisation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Chris has worked as a naturalist lecturer on board ships for over six years in the Arctic, Antarctic, North Atlantic and North Pacific.

Margaret Bertulli has worked in the Canadian Arctic (Nunavut and the Northwest Territories) for over 35 years. Formerly, the Arctic Archaeologist with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife and Senior Archaeologist with Parks Canada she conducted projects in cultural resource management and participated in research projects in Canada’s Northern National Parks as well as many other remote locations.

Kevin Morgan carries out wildlife surveys in the UK, has lead whale watching trips since 1987 and has worked regularly on expedition cruise ships since 2004, completing over 240 cruises and 2,600 days of exploration. Over this time, he has observed most of the world’s cetaceans and seabirds, with the knowledge of where to lookout for them - such as the ‘drop off!’

Michael Callaghan studied in Tourism at Concordia University and Outdoor Leadership at College Mérici in Quebec, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in all polar regions, as well as the Caribbean, Alaska, and Mexico. Having Michael’s easy-going style combined with his love of the natural world will help ensure that your experience is unforgettable.

Kristian Pedersen is an academic at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland whose in-depth research covers maritime adaptations in northern Europe from the Stone Age to the Viking Age. He has investigated the development of commercial fisheries and the whaling industry. Kristian is keen to give talks to Silversea guests and answer questions on archaeological subjects.

Alexandra Hansen enjoys inspiring guests by sharing extraordinary natural and cultural experiences on the ship, zodiac, and ashore. She is certified as a Senior Polar Guide and Assessor, a Wilderness First Responder, and a Snorkel Instructor. Alexandra is multi-lingual and has worked extensively across all seven continents with Silversea Expeditions.