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September 20, 2025

In an issue where we devote ample space to Expedition cruises, we could not but remain fully on theme by dedicating our regular women’s interview to a great expert in expeditions. I have had a special friendship with Thess Appelberg for a long time, even though we have not yet managed to travel together.

She is a member of the crew who has built her career precisely on this type of itinerary, learning to know a world largely unknown and little frequented both by cruise tourism and by tourism in general.

I believe that the crews of expedition ships must not only undergo even longer and more complex training compared to other, more classic cruise ships, but also possess a spirit of adventure and a natural inclination for a particularly challenging role, where one must adapt every day and be able to build new frameworks and new paths.

But let’s take it step by step, and try to discover Thess’s role little by little, letting her explain it to us in her own words. First of all, let’s take a step back. Thess, tell us about your background and what first brought you to cruise ships—and to expedition vessels in particular.

Has your passion for adventure, for extreme lands, for these remote corners of the world been nurtured by your role on board? Or, on the contrary, was it your passion that brought you on board so that you could fully experience it?

I will try to make a long story short! My siblings and I were fortunate enough to be traveling with our parents starting at a young age. They introduced their children to differences in cultures and languages early on, while staying at Camp sites with our Camper van all over Europe, even Russia in the 70’s! And for this I will always be grateful. In my early 20’s, I knew that I wanted to work within the Travel industry, and my main passion has always been, and still is, learning about and “breathing” different cultures, the hidden paths and also languages along the way.

I left my native Sweden for studies and work abroad; in Greece, France, Germany and finally ended up in San Diego, California. I made a life for myself, while working in the Airline and Travel Agent Industry for many years. As the 2008 financial recession hit California hard, my career was also affected. I was then in my early 40’s and decided to return to Europe in hopes to be able to start over. Staying with my sister and her family in Norway at this time I had never heard of Hurtigruten! Early 2009, while working as a Corporate Travel Agent in Oslo, I was offered to join Hurtigruten’s Coastal Ship MS Kong Harald, on a “Fam Trip” and my “Love Story” with Hurtigruten began!

Still struggling to find my place in yet a new country; I fell in love; with the Ship, the Journey, the whole concept and also Norway! My passion for Travel and exploring new places definitely played a role, and after 4 days on board I knew this is what I had to do if I were to stay in Norway. I applied for the job as an Assistant Tour Leader/ Tour Leader and hoped for the best! After 5 months I got a phone call; and here I am, 16 years later!

In 2016, I transferred to Hurtigruten Expedition (now HX) and MS Midnatsol as an Expedition Coordinator. Fast forward, I was assigned to MS Fram for a few years, and since 2022 I work on MS Spitsbergen. Come April 2026, I will be working on board MS Roald Amundsen, working in Alaska and the North West passage for the first time. My excitement is still as new after many years and I continue to learn with each new destination!

Before talking about your position on board, tell us a little about yourself when you’re not on a ship. What are your passions? Where do you live? How long do you stay at home after each embarkation? Do you have plans for the future that involve leaving this world of seafaring?

I have lived in Spain for the past 7 years, a bit inland from Alicante. After 10 years in Norway, I missed living in a warmer climate, and I also needed a change of scenery. As most people in this kind of profession, we spend at least 6 months of the year on board, and my schedule is 6-8 weeks on / 6-8 weeks off.

On Expedition Ships we all work every day during our rotation, with no days off. Once at home, I need to not only recharge and relax, but spend time with family, friends, and also do all the things that make me happy! I used to travel a lot all over the world, but now that has somewhat changed. I do visit my family in Sweden and Norway more, and also spend a lot more time nurturing new friendships in Spain. Attending music events, Fiestas, motorcycling and traveling quite a lot locally as well. I live a very well-balanced life, including all the exploring we do while on board.

Leaving this very special kind of work will take preparation and adjusting, and I AM slowly planning for my retirement. Most likely in 2029, after 20 years as a Coordinator at Sea. As long as I am able to, I don’t think I’ll stop exploring the world around me, and I can see myself putting on my Tour Guide hat again from time to time! Let’s see what the future brings!

I believe your role on board is more complex than a simple passenger might think. Excursions on expedition cruises are not something that can easily be scheduled far in advance, and I presume they require a great deal of improvisation. What exactly are your duties on board?

My Job duties as an Expedition Coordinator are too many to mention. All of us on board work in a constantly changing environment, which means we ALL also pitch in where needed. But in general; I coordinate Embarkation, Disembarkation, make arrangements for Shore Excursions, etc together with our Shore Teams, 3rd party vendors and Port Agencies. For our Nature landings in the Arctic, Antarctica and in between, I coordinate activities such as Zodiac Cruising, Kayaking, Hikes, Snowshoeing, Camping, etc and dispatch from our Tender pit. …the list goes on. The Coordinator is part of the Management Team on board, which at HX also consist of the Expedition Leader, Assistant Expedition Leader and Science & Education Coordinator. Our Itineraries are planned by a large Team on shore, far in advance, before they become reality, and the whole crew on board make it all come alive for our Guests!

Loving nature and animals does not necessarily mean having the ability to want to show and explain them to guests. On the contrary, from my small experience on expedition cruises, the relationship that develops with faraway islands and places isolated from the world is often so intimate that one prefers silence and solitude. Are you inclined to share all your knowledge and passion with the guests? Was it difficult to adjust to having to do so? Also, I believe that the passion of those who guide cruise passengers on excursions is truly decisive in leaving them with a wonderful and fulfilling memory of the places they visit.

On an Expedition Ship, the crew is made up of people from all walks of life, each passionate about what they do and they all choose to be here. In the Expedition Team, each member is an expert in their field. Everyone was definitely happy and prepared to share knowledge with our Guests, whatever it might be about! And the most amazing thing about Expedition cruising is that WE also learn a lot from our Guests! In areas where we have 3rd party Excursions, we depend on local knowledge for the best Guest experience, thus we of course use local Guides, This does not differ from larger Cruise companies; we just operate on a smaller scale.

Speaking of expeditions, we cannot help but ask you which are the most remote places you have visited, and which ones impressed you the most. I have always loved studying maps and charts, searching for those small, almost invisible dots that sometimes sit at the edges of the globe. You have done it in real life… what does it feel like?

At HX, our itineraries to South Georgia/ Antarctica, and the far north in the Arctic are of course the furthest away. But when it comes to the most remote, and maybe even LESS visited, I will have to say the Bissagos and small islands in South America. Here is where we really learn about lives VERY different from ours and these visits are some of my favorites. Since we now no longer have itineraries in these areas, I am very grateful I got to experience this for a few years.Still within the concept of expedition cruising: do you think guests know, before experiencing it, what they should really expect on board? In general, do you notice that guests are pleasantly surprised, that the reality exceeds their expectations? Or would you suggest that greater information about this product is necessary? I’m not referring to your brand, but to the expedition sector in general, so as to gather an important insight for us, who provide information on a daily basis.

To be completely honest, I personally feel that the Internet and “fingertip access” to most destinations, also in remote places, has somewhat “dulled” the WOW factor. In all travel sectors. Online pages are filled with pictures, reviews and information that we didn’t have when I started to travel a long time ago. At HX we provide Travel Documents, on line information and also Webinars for Guests who wish to attend before their journey, so yes, I do believe Guests are prepared. It is of course our wish that every Guest feels satisfaction and the wish to continue exploring after a journey.

What do you think is the most unforgettable element of an expedition cruise? The sense of adventure? The discovery of faraway places? The direct contact with animals and nature?

I think all of the above! When I get asked the question “where should I go/which destination is the best. I always ask “What are you looking for and what do you wish to see/experience?

Does your company’s clientele include many repeaters? Do you think the familiar atmosphere that quickly develops on board is an incentive for guests to return on another cruise with the same line? Or do you believe the choice of itineraries and the wide range of ships in the fleet is a stronger determining factor?

Yes, we certainly do have many repeaters. I usually recognize at least a face or two while on board. Some Guests have their favourite Ship, and at times also their favourite Crew! Personal preference definitely plays a role when choosing a smaller, more intimate setting as on MS Fram and MS Spitsbergen. Others prefer the newer and bigger Hybrid Ships; MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen.

From your extensive experience in this field, what would you recommend to travelers for their very first expedition experience? Which itinerary, which approach, which mindset should they embrace to embark on unforgettable adventures, often described as “once in a lifetime”!?

It is indeed for many a once in a lifetime journey & experience, especially travelling to Antarctica. As a traveller we all have to determine what we are looking for when making any journey. That in itself will determine what trip is best! For some people the abundance of wildlife will be the most important, others landscapes, photography or cultural exchanges. For others, the sense of adventure or simply ticking off a box having been to a certain place! In any case however, you need to be open minded and definitely expect last minute changes in this kind of travel.

If someone is planning to go BOTH to the Arctic and Antarctica -I would go to the Arctic first, simply because the wildlife usually is lesser than the vast number of penguins and seals we see in Antarctica.

My personal favorite destination further south is hands down South Georgia! A feeling of a “Jurassic Park”, with King Penguins and fur seals hiding in the Tussock grass! Going ashore at Salisbury Plains or St Andrews Bay surrounded by fur seal pups and King penguins… honestly it puts me in tears! I cannot explain. But with my background in cultural and language studies, I do get most excited when we visit smaller communities. My experiences in Ecuador, Peru and Chile, and especially the Islands in Cape Verde, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, Bissagos and Arctic Canada is something that will stay with me forever.

Since we are read by many young people and enthusiasts of ships and tourism, what advice would you give to those who wish to pursue a career at sea? The expedition sector is growing, but it is certainly not the easiest place to begin one’s career. I believe it requires a lot of training and many sacrifices. What do you think?

Most Expedition Coordinators come with a background in the travel industry: be it other Ships or from the Excursion/ guiding side. Language skills also play a role here. As far as the Expedition Team as a whole; everyone is here because of their specific skills and knowledge. We all have to go through mandatory Maritime Safety courses before being able to work on board. For someone wishing to start out, the best way is to reach out to an Expedition company or maybe someone they know who works on board?

Is this a dream job? Yes, for me it is, I worked very hard in the US, within the Travel industry and also in an office environment and little vacation for many years before I found myself here. I could not be happier, but yes – there is a price to pay – something not easily seen from the outside. We are away for long periods at the time, in a rotation that is usually quite set for the year. It is not a matter of IF but WHEN, it will put a strain on those with a family life, not to mention relationships. All the amazing experiences at fantastic destinations are also combined with long days and hard work. I always say “It is not a job, but a lifestyle” and it will not suit everyone. But for me it has been, and still is, absolutely fantastic! Not a day goes by when I do not feel gratitude and humbled by this opportunity.

Thank you for your time, Thess. We have truly learned a lot from your words. I believe that every member of a cruise ship’s crew plays a fundamental role—not only in the operation of the ships themselves, whether on the bridge or in the hotel department, but also in transforming the guests’ stay on board into an unforgettable experience. Certainly, in the case of expedition cruises, the itineraries help make the experience truly incredible, but many natural wonders do not explain themselves to the guests’ understanding, and would not be the same without the passion and dedication of those who present them each day to the fortunate guests aboard the fleet.

So thank you also for what you do in your role—surely a true “experience” for you as well, since when one is in Antarctica or Greenland the surprises and the sense of wonder must certainly also affect the crew. But figures like you make the overall experience of expedition guests something truly unforgettable.

I have had only one expedition experience so far, and I will certainly never forget it. But I am already ready to sail again… see you on board!

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Gabriele Bassi

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