For 40 years, Heritage Expeditions has pioneered voyages to some of the most wild and biologically rich regions on the planet. Our mission is to increase awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel.

Our team of naturalists, historians, biologists and ornithologists bring an enormous wealth of experience, knowledge and passion to our expeditions, both in the field and onboard our ship during our lecture series.

Our new flagship, the 140-guest Heritage Adventurer, combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating with an international flair and luxury amenities. Guests enjoy spacious suites, elegant common areas and cuisine prepared by top chefs.

Heritage Adventurer, formerly known as MS Hanseatic, is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Originally designed for 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 travellers ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, and with a fleet of 14 Zodiacs to maximise the adventure. Savor daily international gourmet cuisine from talented chefs across two lavish restaurants, and settle into spacious and well-appointed accommodations each night. Enjoy 360-degree views and comfortable sun loungers on the Observation Deck, relax in the Observation Lounge with library, bar and panoramic views, and reinvigorate in the heated salt water pool, well-equipped gym, hot tub, sauna and steam room. 

Year Built: 1991

Shipyard: Rauma, Finland

Classification: Lloyds 1AS, GL E4

Accommodation: 140 guests

Length: 124 metres

Cruising Speed: 12 knots

Zodiacs: 14

Dr Neil’s passion for Antarctica spans more than 30 years in the field of developing environmental and health and safety systems. His career highlights include 6-and-a-half years at Signy Island with the British Antarctic Survey, being Deputy Head of the Polar Regions Section with the British Government, Environmental Manager with Antarctica New Zealand and chair of the Antarctic Treaty System's Committee for Environmental Protection. He is editor of the Antarctic Environments Portal, a director of Antarctica New Zealand board and involved across a diverse and wide ranging number of research initiatives on Antarctic environmental management and policy.

Al has spent the last 18 years dedicated to conserving Antarctica’s cultural heritage as the Programme Manager for the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project. Instrumental in conserving Ernest Shackleton’s base at Cape Royds, Robert Falcon Scott’s bases at Hut Point and Cape Evans, he looks forward to sharing these incredible slices of history and stories of their conservation with you. Al first visited Antarctica in 1987 and since then has worked for Antarctica New Zealand, the US Antarctic Program, the UKAHT and as a NZ government representative.  

Captain Andy is an industry leader in sustainable fishing and instrumental in creating and maintaining sustainable fishing in New Zealand, the Southern Ocean and Ross Dependency. During a maritime career spanning more than 35 years, Andy’s extensive experience in Antarctica sees him regularly advising governments and fishing industries around the world on best practice sustainable fishing. He has been attending and contributing to CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservations of Antarctic Marine Living Resource) meetings since 1997, among others, and was called in as an expert witness during an Australian federal court case on illegal fishing.   

An avid interest in Antarctica, its history and wildlife saw Samuel spend 15 months overwintering at the French base Dumont d'Urville as a marine biologist studying seals, petrels, skuas and both Adélie and Emperor Penguins for the French Polar Institute. With a book on his experiences with the Emperors in the wings and the 15 years since guiding, lecturing and leading voyages in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica and other polar regions Samuel’s experience is as extensive as his passion is infectious. Samuel is happiest when he is travelling on board ships sharing his knowledge for this amazing part of the world.

With more than 100 voyages sharing Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands with intrepid travellers under her belt, Robyn has no shortage of experience and passion for the Southern Ocean and the Ross Sea. Robyn’s Antarctic experiences also include spending a summer living and working at Davis Station as a field assistant and overwintering at Mawson Station where she worked on an Emperor Penguin project with the Australian Antarctic Division. A published author, she and her seabird biologist partner spent 10 months by themselves as volunteer caretakers and weather observers at Tasmania’s Maatsuyker Island, a windswept outpost on the edge of the Southern Ocean.

Cheli is one of Australasia’s most experienced Antarctic expedition leaders having led more than 100 voyages to the Antarctic in the last 20 years. Her passion for Antarctica’s nature and wildlife is matched by impeccable Antarctic adventure, diving and conservation credentials with roots in a career spent on and in the water. Cheli has worked as a field assistant for the TVNZ Natural History unit on a number of documentaries including identifying New Zealand’s resident Orca population as well as being part of the team funded by the Discovery Channel which recorded the second ever known sighting of Antarctic orca in New Zealand waters. 

Full time expedition leader and guide, Christian has been exploring and sharing the Ross Sea’s unique wilderness, wildlife and history since 2014. Inspired and awed by Antarctica’s minimalistic landscape and quietness, wildlife encounters, and heroic history, his entertaining and informative lectures and presentations on Antarctic history, whales and cetaceans, glaciers, and sea ice are the definition of crowd pleasing. An avid kayaker, when he’s not exploring the polar regions you will probably find him in his kayak off the Norwegian coast.

Renowned BBC wildlife filmmaker Neil counts himself lucky to have travelled and worked in many of the wildest corners of our planet sharing his passion for the natural world with millions of people around the world through his films. The former Head of the BBC’s prestigious Natural History Unit, responsible for television, radio, online and cinema productions, has filmed from the polar regions to the tropics. As Creative Director of BBC Earth, Neil led the production of multiple wildlife films for cinemas and 3D giant screens.

Karen is a multi-award-winning television director and producer passionate about travel and natural history. In a career spanning more than 20 years at the BBC Natural History Unit, she has made wildlife films in almost every environment on the planet. Her BBC TV series include Andes to Amazon, Jungle, Wild Caribbean, and Nature’s Great Events – the latter highlighting spectacular wildlife events, from the poles to the equator. Karen also spent several years working with National Geographic, producing series including the Emmy award-winning Untamed Americas and Wild Yellowstone. At every opportunity, Karen pursues her passion to explore the world and its wildlife. 

Agnès has been sharing her passion for and knowledge of the Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica by guiding since 2008. With a background in Environmental Law and Management and as a proud naturalist, she is passionate about travelling in the polar world and has devoted herself to helping others discover nature and support its conservation. A keen photographer, Agnès uses her pictures to share the beauty of the regions she explores and raise awareness. She is also one of the authors of the 2012 photographic book Journey to Antarctica.

History came early to John as his hometown Concord, Massachusetts, is famous as the site of the first battle of the American Revolution and early American literary culture. After a career in software development, which allowed him to travel the world, John turned to guiding in 2017 with voyages to the Antarctic. John's voyages south feature amazing wildlife and wild places - plus the remarkable human history of exploration. John's approach to history and anthropology concentrates on the unique stories of the world's special places and the people inhabiting them and the history of polar exploration is filled with remarkable sagas of adventure, perseverance, triumph and defeat. 

Andy’s keen interest in the natural world and birds has seen him extend his classroom through guiding in Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands during three seasons. Completing an Honours degree in Biology he has studied the breeding behaviour of Brown Skua on the Chatham Islands, which led to a PhD on the evolution and population genetics of gull species with field work in the US, New Zealand and New Caledonia. A biology teacher, he also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies through Gateway Antarctica (University of Canterbury) and loves sharing his vast knowledge of seabirds and Antarctica with our guests.