American Queen Voyages taps Alaska expedition team

The 186-passenger ship will sail between Vancouver, BC and Sitka on 12 and 13-day cruises beginning May 7.

The team, led by previously announced Director of Expedition Peter Szyszka, will create experiences working closely the American Queen Voyages shore excursions experts, researchers from California Polytechnic State University, naturalist interpreters and Alaska Native and First Nations leaders. 

Pamela Navis

Expedition Manager Pamela Navis brings more than 40 years of maritime industry experience. She has overseen expedition operations and product development in the waters of Southeast Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Hawaii and Central America. She is a US Coast Guard-certified 100-ton boat captain whose adventures include fishing from an Alaskan troller, restoring vintage vessels, sailing around the Hawaiian Islands and guiding/captaining small expedition vessels in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska. She is an avid sailor, surfer, sea kayaker, scuba diver and the captain of a 15-food vintage runabout.

Jessika Picinich

Expedition Leader Jessika Picinich has delivered wilderness experiences for visitors in Southeast Alaska, Hawaii, Moab, Arches National Park, Zion National Park and the Sea of Cortez. She has a passion for Alaska, where she has led shipboard expeditions over multiple seasons including sea kayaking, bushwhacking, snorkeling and skiff tours with an emphasis on geology and natural history. She holds a master of science degree from the University of Miami and is a skilled photographer with special interests in underwater stills and drone photography.

Liz Gifford

Expedition Leader Liz Gifford is an environmental educator and photographer with extensive expedition experience in Alaska, Antarctica, Greenland, the high Canadian Arctic and Svalbard. She has served as lead naturalist for a nonprofit outdoor educational program in Juneau since 2016 and as a sea kayak guide and expedition photographer in Antarctica since 2012. In addition, Gifford has worked as a US Forest Service wilderness ranger in Southeast Alaska, a sea kayak and yoga instructor and an expedition guide. A graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast with a master's degree in teaching and a certificate in Outdoor Leadership Skills, she enjoys hunting, harvesting, backcountry skiing and kayaking.