Poseidon Expeditions Blog

Sofia Grigorieva // March 17, 2020

Ice is Nice: Part 3 - Sea Ice

In parts 1 and 2 of our “Ice is Nice” series, you learned about icebergs and glaciers. They are both formed on land and created by the continuous accumulation of snow and calving. In contrast, a rather simple ice feature at first glance – sea ice – forms, grows and melts in the ocean from salty water. It covers about 7% of the world's surface, or 25 million square kilometers, most of it being enclosed in the polar regions – the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean. This floating ice has a profound influence on climate and wildlife.

Sofia Grigorieva // August 22, 2019

Exploring Antarctica with Shirley Metz

Expedition cruises are about much more than simply spending time in remote and wonderful wild places. They are about deepening our understanding of the world we live in. When you travel to Antarctica for the first time, you are awestruck by the enchanting landscapes, tidewater glaciers and rugged mountains. The panoramic views can be a humbling reminder of just how big our planet actually is.

Chantel Loura // July 31, 2019

Arctic Conservation with Don Perovich

The Arctic is a diverse and extraordinary travel destination: an expedition cruise to the northernmost reaches of the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Poseidon Expeditions invites you aboard the comfortable Sea Spirit, where you will join our team of experts and esteemed crew in a journey into the icy wilderness. Tidewater glaciers, polar bears and whales, northern lights and majestic scenery are some of the wonders you’ll get to see.

Poseidon Expeditions // September 27, 2018

Life in the Arctic: Polar Biodiversity with #WWFVoices

Juvenile Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

Are polar bears really as threatened by climate change as the news would have us believe?

Why are most Arctic species found nowhere else?

What is the impact of human activity in the Arctic on species that live there?

These are just some of the questions about polar biodiversity that came flooding into the Facebook Live event we hosted recently in Svalbard, for WWF’s #WWFVoices. We had viewers from Sri Lanka to Sierra Leone, tuning in to see the mystery and the majesty of Arctic wildlife which undoubtedly captivated audiences all around the world.

Poseidon Expeditions // May 16, 2018

How To Leave a Smaller Footprint When You Travel

We travel because we love seeing the world and all its splendor.

Poseidon, like many of our friendly competitors within the expedition ship segment of the cruise industry, is always looking for ways to be more eco-friendly. Poseidon is also a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which advocates and promotes the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.

Poseidon Expeditions // May 10, 2018

South Georgia is rodent-free: How they did it and why it matters

South Georgia's birds are a bit safer this week after a years-long project to rid the island of invasive rodent species was complete.

The Scottish-based South Georgia Heritage Trust Habitat Restoration Project (SGHT) announced on May 9 the long, narrow, mountainous and glaciated island located in the southern Atlantic Ocean was free of rodents for the first time in at least 200 years.

Poseidon Expeditions // March 14, 2018

Polar Bears – An Insider's Perspective

A quick browse of the internet brings plenty of information about the king of the Arctic region – Ursus maritimus – commonly known as the polar bear or ice bear. But what are the thoughts and anecdotes of someone who’s worked in polar bear territory for more than a decade? What can she tell us that you won’t find in Wikipedia?

Meet Anja Erdmann, one of Poseidon’s expedition leaders who can tell us plenty of stories about polar bear encounters. Growing up in Werder/Havel, in the eastern zone of Germany near Berlin prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain, she adopted the Arctic as her second home as a young adult, one she would quickly grow to love. We had a chance to catch up with her shortly before she was heading to Antarctica, to finish the current season as expedition leader of the 114-passenger Sea Spirit before the ship makes its way north to begin the 2018 Arctic season in late May.

Lauren Farmer // October 23, 2017

Citizens Science Project "GLOBE Observer" – Passengers Measuring Data at the North Pole

Part Two – Observing the Atmosphere and Melt Ponds in the High LatitudesGuest blog post by Poseidon expedition team members Lauren Farmer and Alex Cowen.

(Note: in our last blog post, we covered how we enlist the assistance of our passengers to help measure and observe sea ice and meteorology during our voyages to the North Pole.)

Scott Wasserman // August 31, 2017

How IAATO protects the magnificence of Antarctica

Tourism to the seventh continent has expanded in popularity over the years, but the perception that there is little regulation of the industry has persisted. When larger cruise ships started to arrive and, specifically, after the sinking of the GAP Explorer in November 2007 (thankfully, everyone was safely evacuated) some commentators feared catastrophic accidents and the potential for environmental damage.

Antarctica is governed by an international treaty that came into force in 1961 and which is now signed by more than 50 nations. While the treaty is very good at ensuring the continent is maintained as a natural reserve, and has the intention of preserving the last unspoiled continent in the world, the treaty system works on a consensus basis. Decision making can be an arduous process.

Scott Wasserman // August 28, 2017

James Balog's evolving view on climate change

Imagine using dozens of time-lapse cameras placed in 16 glacial locations around the world, such as in Alaska, Greenland and the Antarctic. All to see if the landscape was changing and if climate change was living up to its reputation as the cause of this.