Elite Traveler Spring 2022

etr li at ve eler SPRING 2022 51

Dutch are known for that) when I’m on the ship so once I’m at home, I take my bike and disappear into the forests. My work is… Busy. I open my eyes (usually at 5:30am) and look outside, and I’m switched on! From there onwards it’s just one big 16-hour roller coaster: Organizing and adjusting the plan for the day, going out with my team to set up the activities, heading on outings with our guests, coming back on board, and starting organizing again. In the meantime, my team does recaps and lectures, and I prepare the brie fi ng for the activities of the following day. We also organize citizen science activities on and o ff the ship with our guests. While we’re sailing, we watch out for wildlife, and if we see whales or bears we invite all guests to observe from the outside decks. For me and my team, the days are fi lled from beginning to end. We are super- fl exible on a daily basis because, in these regions, nature decides — full stop. I come up with a plan, but nature has the fi nal say… and in all humility, nature usually has something better to o ff er! I am usually wearing… A lot of layers. On cold and windy days I look like the Michelin Man. With the expedition team, we often spend six hours outside without the option to warm up on board, so we need to be prepared. But we also visit the polar regions in the summer season, so we can also have quite nice weather. For me, it’s nice when there is hardly any wind and a bit of sunshine. Our guests can even, when they’re active, get hot. Imagine that! The most di ffi cult bit is the hands and feet. You can’t really put on many layers of socks or gloves so yes, I have to be honest, my team and I do get cold every so often. But we’re tough! We have gala evenings on board and everybody

dresses up. All crew and passengers put on their fancy clothes and high heels and look stunning. I remember once in the Arctic we were all dressed up in our evening dresses when the Northern Lights were announced. That is such a spectacular phenomenon and not to be missed. So we all abandoned the cocktails and went outside, lightly dressed with a glass of champagne in hand, to watch the sky go magical! Unforgettable. I always fi nd time to… On board I have no time for hobbies. And, to be honest, the polar regions are my passion; that is even better than a hobby. I retreat to a quiet place where I can ‘have’ the landscape, the ice, the lights, just to myself, by myself. This is how I reload my battery. Along with a very small but very necessary item: A cappuccino!

all sorts of choices they’ve made. Lots of our guests say that they enjoy the enthusiasm that shines from the expedition team; it’s a very contagious ener g y and it inspires. Personally, I have always liked adventure. In my previous life where I managed big social innovation projects, I was adventurous in a di ff erent way. I drastically switched when the opportunity was there, knowing that choosing is losing. Everything comes at a price. So I gave up all certainties I had, fi nancially, professionally and privately. I had no idea what it would bring me but I knew that the elements ‘adventure,’ ‘outdoor’ and ‘polar regions’ were deeply felt passions and thus going to be a winning combination. That was 10 years ago. I’m still doing this, and I’m still smiling a big smile! So, to cut it short: Do what you love, even if it costs you, because you will gain more. What does sustainability mean to you, and is there any advice you could share? Going to these regions makes you experience the beauty of our planet. The polar regions are overwhelming; it is impossible not to connect. And once you’re attached to something — connected to it — you become inevitably involved. Antarctica is an accelerator. For many people this is a life-changing adventure. The change is always positive, and can be a personal one or a more environmental one. Lots of people leave the ship saying they want to take care of nature, in whatever way they can. Some start an NGO or donate, others start buying local and organic food, others do talks for children; they become big or small ambassadors for our planet. It makes my job very rewarding because we, the expedition team and myself, are all very aware of the importance of taking care of our planet, and if our passion translates into action by our passengers, we've succeeded twice: We gave people an amazing trip and contributed to the ambassadorship of our guests.

What is something you would tell your younger self?

People have to listen to themselves. Younger people are better at that because they are not yet trapped in

Ponant’s The Ross Sea expedition ventures as close to the South Pole as possible aboard the new Le Commandant Charcot. On this 26-day adventure, you will visit some of the most isolated regions of the globe and encounter some of the rarest marine wildlife. From $32,810 per person. Contact reservation@ ponant.com, +44 808 234 3802, ponant.com

Photos StudioPONANT/Olivier Blaud, Studio PONANT/Nathalie Michel