Expedition Team in Iceland

Our experts are here to safeguard both explorers and the pristine environment. They serve as your invaluable hosts throughout your expedition cruise.

“Some of my favourite experiences on expedition cruises are getting sprayed by a humpback whale and sighting polar bears from a close but safe distance.”
- Steffen Biersack, 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 remote destinations is done right.

Together with guest lecturers and scientists, they will enhance your voyage with first-hand knowledge and fascinating insights, ensure your complete safety during landings, and guarantee the lightest possible footprint in this pristine environment.

Leading and teaching

During your discovery of Iceland, your Expedition Team will lead the way on short hikes and guided landscape explorations, flora and fauna spotting, cultural site visits, community walks and small boat cruises.

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 specialist topics. These may include:

local culture and folktales
Viking history and storytelling
biology and geology
sea ice and glaciers
photography

Expedition Team members in Iceland

Get to know some of the Expedition Team members you may encounter on a cruise to Iceland:

Steffen Biersack

Expedition Leader // Germany

Steffen used to be a police officer in Berlin, Germany. He went back to school and studied geology and with a fresh degree, applied to Hurtigruten as a ship lecturer.

Ever since, Steffen’s bond to the polar regions and Hurtigruten have grown stronger. When he sees that sparkle in the eyes of departing guests, he knows the team’s efforts were well spent.

“I´ve crossed Scotland on foot and hiked over the Pyrenees, and each experience reminds me that awareness and knowledge add to the love of nature.”

Ralf Westphal

Germany // Expedition Leader

Ralf gained a PhD in outdoor education at Edinburgh University and has since worked in a range of diverse roles such as ranger, Outward Bound instructor, lecturer as well as trekking and sea kayak guide in national parks in Svalbard and North-East Greenland.

“In 8th grade, our class constructed Inuit-style kayaks. It took four months, but it really planted the seeds that led me to want to explore new frontiers.”

Sabine Barth

Lecturer in history // Germany

Sabine has worked as an editor for two literature and cultural magazines and is today working as a freelance journalist. Her work focuses on culture, literature and travel, mainly in Iceland and Greenland.

For two years she was in charge of the Goethe Institute in Reykjavik. Her topics are mainly culture, social development and the history of Iceland and Greenland.

Marie Klopstadt Hernar

Lecturer // Norway

Growing up on the western coast of Norway, Marie became fascinated with the sea and the earth itself, which resulted in a master’s degree in earth science where she focused on sea level changes after the last ice age.

During her studies, Marie became both concerned and very interested in how climate change affects our planet and especially the impact of raised sea levels.

Colin Taylor

Lectuer and Marine ecologist // Scotland

Born in Scotland, Colin has degrees in marine biology, oceanography and estuarine ecology.

He has worked as an ecologist, oceanographer and coastal geomorphologist for 40 years, published many scientific papers and is a fellow of the prestigious Linnean Society of London.