Robin West: 'With our expedition ships we combine the most beautiful adventures with the greatest luxury experience'
- Monday June 20 2022
- 12:03
- Door: Mical Joseph
Seabourn's expedition ships combine the most beautiful adventures with the greatest luxury experience. Together with the expedition team on board, you will discover the most remote areas, spectacular wildlife, indigenous cultures and breathtaking landscapes and enjoy all the luxury and comfort on board that Seabourn is known for. Robin West, Vice President General Manager Expeditions Seabourn, tells.Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer
Image: John van Helvert
Online editing: Mical Joseph
“I was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. With the ocean on my doorstep, I developed a passion for water sports from an early age. I absolutely loved diving. After my studies, I started a diving company with a partner and we also organized outdoor adventures such as canoeing, kayaking and abseiling. One day a man walked in looking for someone who wanted to be a zodiac pilot for two months on an expedition ship across the Pacific Ocean from Santiago via Easter Island to Guam. I left the company in the hands of my partner and started the adventure. There were many divers among the guests on the cruise ship, so my Dive Master certification also came in handy. That's how I got into the forwarding business. I had never heard of it, didn't even know it existed, but it turned out I had all the qualifications for it. And… it is the best job ever! I sold the shares in my company to my partner and started working as a freelancer on superyachts and expedition ships.”
“I chose the cruises to places I had not seen before or wanted to return to. Highlights? Aldabra, an atoll of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. It is completely uninhabited, except for a handful of scientists. The nature there is as it would be anywhere in the world if humans had not been there. A paradise! If you sail through the lagoon on a zodiac, you will see turtles, rays and reef sharks. The island is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises, huge colonies of seabirds and endangered species such as the red flamingo. If you go snorkeling, you don't know what you will experience: the coral, the parrotfish, giant trevallies as big as a door that rise from the depths. The water bubbles with life. Early in the morning, frigate birds and red-footed boobies leave their nests in the mangrove forests to look for food at sea. What a visual spectacle! As if a squadron of planes is flying over you! Another highlight is Antarctica. That area has such an impact, it changes you as a person. Walking among the penguins, whale watching, looking for seals in a zodiac… Ideally you can combine it with a visit to South Georgia, which offers the benefits of the nutrient-rich cold sea water without being enclosed by ice. Thousands of nesting king penguins stare at you when you go ashore.”
“In 2013 I was approached by Seabourn. My first expedition was to Antarctica on the Seabourn Quest. There were also executives on board, including Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation to which the cruise line belongs. The program we ran on that expedition was a huge success. This led to me being offered a permanent position and becoming responsible for developing the Ventures by Seabourn program. We rolled that out to the other ships so that they could offer a similar experience to the Seabourn Quest. An advantage of Seabourn is that its own expedition team carries out the program and not a third party. So we have full control over the quality. A fascinating academic program is offered in an informal setting. Because the staff knows everything about wildlife, climatology, geology... On the cruise ships, guests can opt for expeditions as an option, on the two expedition ships that will be launched in the next two years - the first, in April, the Seabourn Venture - are the expeditions included and it's all about adventure. Both expedition ships are recognizable as a Seabourn ship in everything, but have a brand new design and a design according to PC6 Polar Class standards, which also makes them suitable for heavy ice conditions. They are extremely autonomous, can spend long periods of time in remote areas, are built in such a way that they perform optimally everywhere and can maneuver extremely well.”
“There is room for 24 zodiacs on board the expedition ships, enough to transport all guests at the same time. Because we want everyone to have the same experiences and be able to share them with each other. Both ships also contain two submarines, built in the Netherlands by U-Boat Worx, which can go to depths of up to three hundred meters. A first! The submarines are named 71/1 and 71/2. Why? Because the Earth is 71 percent covered with water. With our submarines we will explore 71 percent of the earth. We recently trained our pilots in Curaçao and I also descended a few times myself. As soon as you are underwater, you feel one with the deep sea world. The deeper, the darker. Hidden sea life is visualized with spotlights. Six people can travel per submarine and several dives can be carried out per day. So everyone gets a chance. Seabourn guests want to discover the world, but in luxury. When I first started working at Seabourn, I was struck by how loyal our guests are. They only go to a destination when Seabourn goes there. What also struck me is the involvement of the staff. I dare say that our crew is the best in the world at dealing with guests. You feel welcome on board Seabourn, you are welcome.”
The spring issue of MASTERS celebrates regained freedom after two years of corona. The value of this is underlined by developments in eastern Europe, where the freedom of an entire people is at stake. We live in a new reality, but we can make plans again, go out for dinner, meet people. The world is turning again! Only: which way? Time for new bridges, new initiatives. What this edition of MASTERS offers inspiration for.
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