EXPEDITION GUIDE ACADEMY
Expedition Leading Course
This five-session online course is designed to build and strengthen the leadership capacity of current and emerging Expedition Leaders (ELs), Assistant Expedition Leaders (AELs), Cruise Managers (CMs), and other senior expedition staff. It extends beyond operational execution to help participants develop consistent, sustainable leadership practices that support team well-being and exceptional guest experiences.
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At the heart of the course is a simple idea:
If you look after the team, they can look after the guests.
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Drawing on more than 15 years of real-world experience with expedition vessels, teams, and guests, this course delivers practical tools that feel familiar, relevant, and immediately applicable.
Course Highlights
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Five live Zoom sessions (2–4 hours each)
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Includes self-directed learning between sessions
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Group size limited to 10 participants
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Practical, experience-based content for real expedition settings
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Delivered by a highly experienced instructor with leadership backgrounds across the polar and expedition cruise industry
Location: Online
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Language: English Proficient
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Age: 18+
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Who is the course for? Current and emerging Expedition Leaders (ELs), Assistant Expedition Leaders (AELs), Cruise Managers (CMs), and other senior expedition staff.
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Previous experience: Must have some relevant expedition operational experience.
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Course minimum: 6 participants​
Course maximum: 10 participants
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Certificate: Certificate of Learning from the Expedition Guide Academy upon completion​
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Price: USD $599
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Course Outline
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1. Leading the Voyage: From Vision to Execution
How expedition leaders plan with intent, communicate clearly, and empower the team to deliver in dynamic conditions, balancing flexibility with shared goals.
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2. Delivering Exceptional Guest Experiences
Connecting staff strengths to guest moments, maintaining quality and intent across the voyage, and avoiding micromanagement or burnout.
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3. Navigating Uncertainty: Risk, Readiness & Decision-Making
Understanding risk appetite, enabling confident field decisions, and maintaining clarity and calm when plans shift due to weather, wildlife, or group dynamics.
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4. When Things Go Sideways: Crisis Response & Incident Leadership
How to lead through incidents with professionalism, managing team reactions, internal comms, external perception, and the return to normal operations.
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5. The Onboard Ecosystem: Leading People, Setting Culture
Practical strategies for managing morale, energy, and trust across the team. Explore tone-setting, feedback, and how a leader’s behaviour shapes culture and performance over a season.
Delivery
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All sessions are delivered live via Zoom and supported by self-directed learning between sessions. Participants will receive a welcome information with session dates, times, links, and recommended preparation once enrolled.
