6 KEYNOTE Antarctica has long been a destination that has caught the imagination of explorers. For the adventurers of the early 20th century, the continent was an untouched frontier, filled with both danger and potential for discovery. It was their stories which inspired Conrad Combrink, now Silversea’s senior vice president of expeditions, destination and itinerary management, to embark on his first expedition cruise for an adventure of his own. “Astonished by the stories of those explorers, I started looking for ways to experience the White Continent for myself,” he says. “I realised my love for expedition cruising after just a few days of being onboard the ship and I haven’t looked back. The polar regions offer an experience unlike any other. I always find them incredibly emotional and captivating – for me, few other experiences or destinations compare.” Although Combrink has sailed across the world to a variety of spectacular destinations on expedition ships since that first voyage, Antarctica was the setting for a moment he describes as one of his most unforgettable. The experience happened on a visit to Neko Harbour, an inlet of the Antarctica Peninsula. “We were on a Zodiac cruise with our guests when we saw a group of humpback whales in the bay,” says Combrink. “Drifting along the calm waters in the Zodiac with the engine off, we were approached by a mother and her calf. The pair began swimming beneath our Zodiac, playfully circling us in a way that was both humbling and exhilarating. It was one of the greatest wildlife encounters I’ve ever had – a moment that will live with me for the rest of my life.” That encounter took place during a voyage onboard a Silversea ship and Combrink is The spirit of adventure Silversea’s Conrad Combrink speaks with Alex Smith about his love of expedition cruising and how the brand’s itineraries are designed to deliver unforgettable moments of discovery “ A Silversea expedition itinerary always resonates with those looking for offthe-beaten-track travel and self-enrichment”
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