North and Central America Expedition Team
Our experts are here to safeguard both explorers and the pristine environment. They serve as your invaluable hosts throughout your expedition cruise.
"Kayak adventures are some of my favorite activities. I love seeing our guests react when we encounter dolphins, whales or other animals."
- Tessa van Drie, Expedition Team Leader
Unmatched Expertise
Expedition Teams at Hurtigruten represent the best of the best. The Expedition Team Leader and Assistant Expedition Leaders are experts on safety and sustainability, making sure your exploration of these destinations is done right.
Together with guest lecturers and scientists, they will enhance your expedition cruise with first-hand knowledge and fascinating insights, ensure your complete safety during landings and guarantee the lightest possible footprint in the environment.
Leading and teaching
During your discovery of North America, your Expedition Team will lead the way on hikes, museum visits, food and wine tasting, urban exploration, local cultural performances, small boat cruising and (where possible) kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and beach cleanup activities.
Briefings occur before each landing, making you aware of any potential risks and of strict protocol regarding local wildlife. Both on and off the ship, lectures are held on a wide variety of specialized topics that cover history, human geography (local culture and history), climate, exploration biology (marine biology, birds), geology, photography and storytelling.
Expedition Team members in North America
Get to know some of the Expedition Team members you may encounter on a cruise to North America:
Tessa Van Drie
Expedition Leader // NetherlandsOriginally from the Netherlands, Tessa finished a one-year course as an Arctic nature guide in Spitsbergen, Norway, in June 2011. She has a master’s degree in Physical Geography from the University of Utrecht.
Since 2011, Tessa has worked as a lecturer on board MS Fram in both Antarctica and the Arctic.
Pål Ranheim
Assistant Expedition Leader // NorwayPål grew up in Tromsø, northern Norway and loves all outdoor activities. His fascination for Arctic nature led Pål to study geography at NTNU, Trondheim.
He is certified as a hiking guide in the Norwegian Tourist Association (DNT), and has worked at the meteorological station on the remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen.
Holly Hogan
Lecturer and Bird Biologist // CanadaHolly’s passion for wildlife has always been present. For her MSc degree, she studied Forest Songbird Ecology.
Holly has been involved in various aspects of seabird research, conservation and management for over 30 years. In recent years, she has spent long periods of time at sea conducting surveys.
Helga Kristiansen
Assistant Expedition Leader and Biologist // NorwayHelga took her master’s degree in biology on Svalbard, and today works as a guide for hiking groups, leading snowmobile tours, doing city guiding and serving as a manager for Camp Barentz.
Helga works as an environmental agent for Hurtigruten and is an environmental advocate at large.
Herb Meyer
Geologist // United StatesHerb received his PhD in Palaeontology from the University of California at Berkeley.
His interests include geologic history and fossil plant evidence for climate change during the past 40 million years, and he does ongoing research work in Peru. He is the author of several books about palaeontology and geology.
