This article is part Crews on Cruise, a bimonthly column spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.
Seb Coulthard was a young man when his thirst for adventure began. Born in Worcestershire, EnglandHis dad was a frequent traveler for his work in the oil and gas industry. Coulthard would hear stories of exotic destinations such as the Amazonian jungle The Sahara desert. “I grew wanting You can also find out more about us here. Coulthard said, “I have never been happier in my life”.
Coulthard learned about the aerospace industry while serving with the Royal Navy. Sir Ernest Shackleton. He was promoted to Petty officer and deployed with nine engineers to South Georgia, Shackleton’s final resting spot, in the South Atlantic Ocean. A single Lynx helicopter was also sent. He returned to the Southern Ocean in 2013 on a nearly exact replica of Shackleton’s lifeboat. James Caird, The re-enactment was the subject of a three-part Discovery Channel documentary titled “Sailing 830 Nautical Miles”. Participants wore period clothing and ate starvation food while using a sextant for navigation. The three-part Discovery Channel documentaries titled Shackleton: Death or Glory.
After 19 years of service, Coulthard retired from the British Armed Forces and made the leap to cruising—re-training as a polar historian, wilderness medic, and expedition guide for Polar LatitudesSmall-ship cruise specialists like,, and,,, and. AdventureSmith Explorations The most extreme journeys on the planet. The 10-day journey is one example. Antarctic Latitudes The round trip from Ushuaia is a great option. ArgentinaThe Southern latitudes are represented by. this epic 20- to 23-day expeditionVenture deeper into the Falkland islands and South Georgia.
Coulthard, a man of many trades, has also worked for a luxury cruise line as a submarine driver Seabourn. “There is more life below the surface of the ocean than on land” the Antarctic He says that there are more creatures below the surface of the water than above. Submersibles for seven passengers can dive as deep as 300 meters. They may find sea slugs or sea stars. Sea spiders of two feet diameter and sponges that are 15,000 years old could be found at this depth. “It feels like you’re on Mars.”
The way Coulthard views it, an expedition leader’s job isn’t just to interpret the landscapes and wildlife—it’s to connect the dots for travelers so they don’t feel numb to issues like climate change. “This type of expeditionary traveling is the best,” says Coulthard. It gives people the chance to be inspired, informed, and enlightened, so they can return home with a fresh perspective.
Coulthard, who lives in the West Midlands, was our guest at his house last summer. He talked about penguins and making a 12-ton submarine go underwater.
Why did you choose to work on a cruise ship?
“After years in the Royal Navy, I fancied a career change—and just happened to be part of an expedition that visited the Antarctic as part of a re-enactment of Ernest Shackleton’s journey across the Southern Ocean. Polar Latitudes asked me to be a guest speaker on their ship after the documentary aired. That turned into a permanent job. “I was transformed.”
