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Seabourn assembles crack team of expedition pros for Alaska

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Ventures by Seabourn kayak and Zodiac excursions will be led by experts
Wilderness experts, scientists, historians and photographers will join this summer's Seabourn Alaska cruises, which include Ventures by Seabourn, expert-led kayak and Zodiac tours.

From exploring Alaska's Rudyerd Bay in Misty Fjords National Park via Zodiac to hiking on Davidson Glacier, from Haines, Ventures outings are available for an extra charge and can be booked in advance.

Award-winning photographers will offer digital photography coaching. Team members will also lecture on topics including whale identification, brown and black bears, cetaceans of Alaska, history and tribal culture, forestry conservation and glaciers. In addition, the expedition and bridge team will be equipped with high-quality binoculars from Swarovski Optik to facilitate wildlife-spotting

Heading the team is Robin West, Seabourn's director of expedition operations. A veteran of more than 40 Antarctic voyages, he led the expedition team during Seabourn's first Antarctica season in 2013.

Among the dozen team members is Richard Sidey, an environmental filmmaker and international nature photographer who has spent more than a decade photographing the polar regions. His nature documentary, 'Speechless - The Polar Realm' (2015) won multiple awards and was hailed as a 'transcendent cinematic experience.' Award-winning photographer and videographer Aliscia Young has worked on expedition vessels from Antarctica to the Arctic, and her photography has been featured in galleries worldwide.

Rachel Sullivan-Lord, a marine biologist, scuba diver and sailor, has vast experience in research labs and as a whale watch naturalist. A marine mammal researcher for nearly 30 years, Dr. Sean Todd's focus areas are human-marine mammal interactions. He has worked 10 seasons in the Antarctic and 10 years in the Canadian sub-Arctic.

Peter Damisch, historian and lecturer, has written about ancient civilizations, sailing, navigation, weather, leadership and world explorers. A former president and ceo of several publicly traded corporations and a retired US Navy captain, he is a licensed master.

Greg Horn, naturalist and Zodiac driver, started a scuba diving center along South Africa's Garden Route and ran a bush camp and dive resort in Mozambique. A certified diving guide, he has completed more than 5,000 dives in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

Kayak guide and Zodiac driver Paul Lazarski has 30 years of experience as a wilderness and wildlife guide, outdoor educator, historian, naturalist and wilderness first aid instructor.

Juan Carlos Restrepo, expedition leader, holds a graduate degree in geology and is a certified dive master who spends three months of the year in the Arctic and three months in Antarctica.

Researcher Kirstie Yeager has spent more than two decades studying and working in natural resource management and wildlife research, including with steller sea lions in Alaska.

Seabourn Sojourn will operate 11-, 12- and 14-day cruises sailing from Vancouver, BC, and Seward between June and September. The season begins with the 11-day 'Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn' from Vancouver on June 1, with fares starting at $3,999 per person.