Later that evening, we attended the mandatory safety briefing followed by the evening welcome cocktail where we met the SH Vega crew
It was so exciting to meet the key members of the crew and get to engage directly with our Captain, our Expedition leader and the Hotel Director
From the start of her presentation, our expedition leader demonstrated such deep knowledge and passion for her role. As she shared, she made us feel excited and involved in the decision making
But as with life, some things are within our control and some things are not . . like the waves, the wind and the weather!
Our expedition leader then gently but firmly broke the news that our 2 day journey to Antarctica via the Drake passage was going to be rough!
She emphatically reminded us that we have embarked on what will be an expedition not a cruise! (you could have fooled me with all the luxury ☺️ but the coming days brought that phrase to life for us!)
The windspeed for the night was forecasted to be 59 knots which is considered very high and close to hurricane force winds (64kt) and falls within the violent storm category on the Beaufort scale. Such winds create massive waves and challenging conditions. Our wave height was projected to be up to 3.2m!
Our expedition leader shared this and other forecasts along with lots of tips on how to keep ourselves safe during the period
We left the meeting with a mix of excitement and some apprehension, trusting that we were in very capable hands for the adventure ahead!
Leadership nuggets:
⛴️ Clarity & Transparency – Our expedition leader prepared us for the reality of the journey ahead. The Drake Passage would be rough, but she didn’t sugarcoat it. Leaders must set clear expectations, even when the news isn’t easy to hear
⛴️ Adaptability – She reminded us that while some things are in our control, others, like the seas and weather, are not. In business and life, resilience comes from focusing on what we can control and preparing to navigate what we cannot control
⛴️ Empowerment & Inclusion – By involving us in the journey, she made us feel like active participants, we were fellow explorers not just passengers
⛴️ Mindset Matters – She reframed the experience: “This is an expedition, not a cruise.” That simple shift in perspective made all the difference. Challenges feel different when we embrace them as part of the adventure
⛴️ The vision – She reminded us of our mission and the destination. It was important to keep this at the core, especially knowing that we were about to face rough seas
How do you lead your teams through uncertain waters? 🌊 ⛴️
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ANTARCTICA 2025 🌍❄️ CRUISE DAY 🚢 -Part 2
