Ida Olsson

Expedition Leader, Kayak Guide & Lecturer

Ida hails from northern Sweden, where she always embraced the robust winters regardless of the ice and snow they brought. She began her career in travel as a tour guide and has worked in this industry for 15 years. About leading travelers through rugged terrain, she says, “These conditions are both challenging and unique. It’s the thrill of an adventure that keeps me on my toes, and if I can take guests with me, even better!”

Ryan Hope-Inglis

Expedition Leader, Kayak Guide & Lecturer

Ryan is from England Now an accomplished polar guide and expedition leader with over 1500 days in the polar regions and 50+ voyages in Antarctica alone. Ryan is a Senior Polar Guide for the PTGA (Polar Guides Tourism Association) and a Svalbard Authorised guide for the Arctic. Ryan has a very keen interest in glacial dynamics, geology and general nature.

Rustyn Mesdag

Expedition leader, Equipment manager

Rustyn grew up in the mountains in US and at a young age discovered his love for snow and ice which led to climbing and travelling. He relocated to Patagonia where he started a guide service in the national park. For 18 years he has been leading climbers, travellers, trekkers through the most extreme terrains. Rustyn now finds himself working around the world and helping others to explore these incredible regions.

Thijs Holkers

Equipment manager, Expedition Leader

Thijs is Dutch and an outdoor fanatic. He is a lecturer in Psychology and coach young entrepreneurs in their business- and personal development. His passion for traveling became his main focus and started working on expedition vessels, being in charge of the outdoor equipment.

Meru Ferrari

Expedition Guide, Assistant Expedition Leader

Meru was born in Argentina and studied Tourism at university. She has over 12 years of experience in the tourism industry: working for the Argentinean Tourism Board, being a local guide in Buenos Aires and leading adventures in South America. After working with Expedition ships to Antarctica from the operational side, she finally joined onboard as Expedition Guide.

Norma Sieweke

Cruise Director, Concierge

Norma was born and raised in Germany, and worked for AirProducts in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Vantage Expedition Team as a Project Lead for journeys in Europe, she gained experience in the area of team management and took on a new role as onboard International Guest Relations Manager for Cunard. She brings her extensive knowledge and expertise to as a Shore Excursion Manager and Cruise Director for our Expedition Voyages.

Dalibor Smajic

Concierge, Expedition Staff

Dalibor is from Croatia and received a master’s degree in Tourism and Gastronomy in 2015. During the years that followed, he gained a lot of experience while working in the tourism and hospitality industry. Having worked in the areas of Guest Relations, Food & Beverage, and as a Concierge, Dalibor has extensive knowledge of shore excursions, tour dispatch, private hire bookings, and consultations. Among his many passions is a love of world history.

Emily Clarke

Expedition Guide, Lecturer

Emily grew up by the ocean and has always found it a source of inspiration and wonder. Emily has over 15 years’ experience working with wildlife, both in their natural habitats and in rehabilitation. Emily also works onboard seismic vessel as a Marine Mammal Observer or travelling, and taking part in conservation focussed projects across the world.

Sarah Pingel

Expedition Guide, Lecturer

Sarah Pingel is a travel enthusiast from the north-west of Germany working on different cruise ships, where she works in the expedition team, as a shore- excursion manager or cruise director. She graduated from university with bachelor’s degrees in Cruise Tourism Management in 2018 and since then she has been exploring the oceans of the world.

Gustav Jonsson Länne

Expedition Guide, Entertainer

Andy Wenzel

Expedition Guide, Lecturer

Andrew is Canadian and comes from Vancouver, British Columbia. During the past several years, when not working on a ship Andrew has been spending his off time in China learning Mandarin. Andrew has been working as a lecturer on expedition vessels in the Antarctic and the Arctic since 1993.

Anne-Sofie Rath

Expedition Guide, Lecturer

Mark Evans

Expedition Guide, Lecturer

Dani Urriza

Kayak Master

Dani grew up in the Delta of Tigre, Argentina, the perfect place for developing a passion for water sports and the environment. This love for nature and adventure led him, from an early age, to explore class V whitewater rivers in kayak, in America, Africa and Europe. Since 2016 he has been working in Antarctica as a sea kayak guide and Zodiac driver.