Antarctica Expedition Leaders Announced for Atlas’ 2022-23 Season

Atlas Ocean Voyages, a specialist in expeditions to remote destinations and yacht-style cruises to the world’s most sought-after ports, has unveiled its Antarctica expedition leaders. The line has doubled the number of expeditions for 2022-23 with the addition of a second Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified ship. World Traveller, which launches November 21, is a sister to World Navigator, which debuted last year.

Jonathan Zaccaria has been named expedition leader for World Traveller. A native of France, Zaccaria graduated as an engineer trained in spectrometry, a technique for measuring the distribution of light across the optical spectrum. His work brought him to Antarctica’s Dumont d’Urville Station, best known for its role in “March of the Penguins,” a 2005 National Geographic documentary depicting the annual migration of emperors – the tallest and heaviest of all penguins. Later, Zaccaria made another overwinter at the only international station in the Antarctic. For the past 10 years, he has led expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic.

Gerard Baker, the expedition leader for World Navigator, is a seasoned polar veteran, having worked in polar regions for the past 30 years. In fact, he has spent over 4,000 nights on the White Continent, including four winters, and his Arctic career has brought him to Svalbard and East Greenland. A native of the UK, Baker earned undergraduate degrees in both botany and zoology and a master’s degree in environmental management and international politics. A true renaissance man, he enjoys cooking and singing, breeds Fox Red Labrador Retrievers, keeps honeybees, and tends a large permaculture garden.

Expeditions to Antarctica are planned during the Austral summer, which is the best time to visit this remote and bucket-list destination. The exact itinerary and landing sites will be determined by the ship’s captain in consultation with the expedition leaders, based on ice conditions, weather and wildlife. Scenic highlights may include Deception Island, a volcanic caldera, where hearty souls have been known to swim in the steam-heated waters; spectacular Paradise Harbor, dotted with floating icebergs; majestic Neumayer Channel; and the gentoo rookery at Port Lockroy, crowned by soaring mountains.

“Visitors to Antarctica will no doubt see massive ice formations, plus penguins, seals, seabirds, and other fascinating wildlife,” said James Rodriguez, the line’s president and CEO. “And with less than 184 on Antarctica voyages, our guests enjoy a special camaraderie and bond with their fellow explorers.”

For information and reservations, call a travel advisor or 1.844.44.ATLAS or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. You can also follow Atlas on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.com/AtlasOceanVoyages or www.instagram.com/AtlasOceanVoyages.