Andrea Strand | Expedition Team Leader
From listening to her aunt talk of far-flung adventures to meeting the Gentoo penguins of Antarctica, for Expedition Leader Andrea Strand it's a dream come true for her to be on board MS Maud.
A childhood dream realised
Growing up in Bergen - the spiritual start of the Coastal Express - Andrea would spend evenings listening to her aunt talk of adventures to Antarctica and exploring the world onboard expedition ships. Some years later, she stepped onboard MS Fram as part of a school trip and her eyes were opened to the possibilities of a life at sea, as a member of the Expedition Team, could bring - since that day it was her dream to join us onboard.
She joined the Hurtigruten family onboard MS Trollfjord (Sister ship) as part of the Restaurant and Housekeeping team. Sailing the Original Coastal Express gave her a deeper understanding and passion for nature and wanderlust, inspiring her to explore destinations further afield. In 2020, she moved to Hurtigruten Expeditions and joined MS Fridtjof Nansen on her inaugural voyages around the British Isles. Then in December 2021, she ticked the second thing off her 'Hurtigurten bucket list' with a visit to Antarctica, getting to meet some of the estimated 20 million penguins that call the continent home.
Moving across to join the Expedition Team onboard MS Maud she has stayed a bit closer to home exploring the British Isles, Norway, and Svalbard. Whilst she has a passion for exploring the world, she takes great comfort in showcasing the very best of the British Isles to our guests and helping them discover the natural beauty that can be found on your doorstep.
Best part the job | Our guests
This is Andrea's dream job, allowing her to explore the wonders of the world! However, the best bit of her job is sharing this with our guests and bringing people outside to experience something new and understand how amazing nature really is.
Dream destination | Galapagos Islands
Andrea has a passion for going off the beaten track, which is why her dream destination is the Galapagos Islands. This treasure trove of endemic wildlife, pristine waters and rugged landscapes offers the ultimate nature thrill.
Favourite destination | St Kilda
For Andrea, these small islands - over 60km off the West Coast of Scotland are the definition of expedition cruising. From the raw element of the landscapes and changing weather, to the uncertainty of being able to get ashore and reverting to Plan B or even Æ.
