By
Rebecca Gibson |
UN Patron of the Oceans, maritime lawyer and pioneer swimmer Lewis Pugh is to join two Hurtigruten voyages this year.
Appointed as UN patron in 2013, Pugh was chosen as National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year and the Hurtigruten Foundation’s first ambassador in 2015. He was also the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean in the world.
Pugh will join guests on Spitsbergen’s 12-day ‘Classic Round Voyage’, which departs Bergen, Norway on 19 May and calls at 34 ports along the Norwegian coastline on the way to Kirkenes before returning to Bergen. During the cruise, Pugh will lead beach clean ups, participate in a number of Hurtigruten excursions and onboard activities, and give presentations about protecting coastlines to guests and local communities.
On the second voyage in December, Pugh will join Midnatsol on her 16-day ‘Discover Patagonia and Antarctic’ expedition, which starts on 6 December and explores the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn before reaching Antarctica. He will give lectures about his conservation work, lead kayak excursions and undertake a series of pioneering swims off Antarctica. Guests will also be able to participate in experiments in the onboard science lab, go hiking and meet some of penguin colonies.