Seabourn Encore’s exclusive Ventures by Seabourn program will offer deeper exploration and knowledge of Alaska, led by a team of scientists, naturalists, and explorers.

Seabourn, the leader in luxury cruising and expedition travel, will elevate exploration in Alaska this summer with an Expedition Team set to inform guests onboard Seabourn Encore about the endless wonders of Alaska and British Columbia. From May to September 2026, a world-class team of populated naturalists, scientists, and experts in wildlife, history, and watercraft will lead immersive experiences in Alaska. Through exclusive Ventures by Seabourn programming, guests will gain deep insights into the region’s geology, ecology, and culture.

“It takes a vibrant team of experts to bring one-of-a-kind adventures in Alaska to life for our guests, and the Expedition Team on board Seabourn Encore is uniquely suited to the task,” shared Robin West, Seabourn’s Vice President of Expedition. “The passion of the naturalists, scientists, historians, and seafarers we have assembled for the ship’s maiden season to Alaska is as compelling as the experiences they’ll lead. They are eager to share their expertise and offer guests a deeper connection to the region. Through their knowledge and enthusiasm, guests will gain an understanding and appreciation for ‘the Great Land’.”

The 2026 Expedition Team sailing on Seabourn Encore’s maiden season in Alaska will lead Ventures by Seabourn, offering expedition style hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac cruises on voyages between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Juneau, Alaska. These adventures bring guests to regional highlights including Hubbard Glacier, Tracy/Endicott Arm, the Inian Islands, Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), Alert Bay, and more, with sample itineraries such as the 15-Day Alaska Fjords, Canadian Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Cruise and the 7-Day Glaciers & Alaska Inside Passage Cruise. Throughout the season, the Expedition Team will share insights into the region’s history, ecology, and culture through complimentary Seabourn Conversations, along with informal interactions, shared meals, and guided outings on land and at sea.

Hand-selected for their expertise in bringing the region’s wonders to life, Seabourn Encore’s Expedition Team for the upcoming season features:

Expedition Leaders
Lead Expedition Leader – Seán Bercaw
Since circumnavigating the globe with his family on a 38 foot ketch at age 13, Seán Bercaw has pursued adventure across the world’s oceans. A commissioned U.S. Naval Officer who trained with Navy SEALs, served aboard a submarine, and logged nearly 200,000 nautical miles under sail, he considers himself a teacher first and sailor second. His passion for exploration has led him to a range of scientific forays, including navigating remotely operated vehicles for deep ocean research.

Second Expedition Leader – Brian Mahoney
A former professor of geology with more than 25 years of field experience, Brian Mahoney brings a comprehensive “whole earth” perspective to global exploration. His work has taken him across the western United States, Baja California, Argentina, and Honduras, supported by a distinguished record of collaborative research. Recently retired from academia, he now dedicates his expertise fully to expedition leadership, sharing the geology and natural history of Alaska with Seabourn guests.

Assistant Expedition Leader – Chris Clarke
With two decades of experience in expedition travel, Chris Clarke pairs deep knowledge of marine environments with a love of mountain, forest, and countryside exploration. Born and raised in the UK, she seeks tranquility in nature wherever she goes—whether running, hiking, or exploring remote landscapes around the world.

Kayak Team
Lead Kayak Guide – Patricio Conconi
A lifelong devotee of nature and adventure from Buenos Aires, Patricio Conconi has guided in Argentina Patagonia, New Zealand, and Greenland, and has explored every continent—including Antarctica. His leadership has shaped expeditions ranging from overland truck journeys to kayaking routes across South and East Africa and South Greenland.

Lead Kayak Guide – Rob Egelstaff
Named one of the world’s top 20 canoeists by Paddler Magazine in 2020, Rob Egelstaff brings extraordinary expedition credentials to Alaska. His achievements include crossing the Bering Strait by kayak (1989), circumnavigating Wales by canoe (1992), and descending Canada’s Wilberforce Canyon by canoe (2005).

Assistant Kayak Guide – Laura Colgan
Scottish born and Seattle raised, Laura Colgan has always been drawn to the ocean. With academic training in environmental sciences and marine ecology, she has worked as a marine biologist in the Red Sea, a SCUBA instructor in Mexico, and an outdoor educator in Oregon. She is now deeply connected to the exploration focused experience aboard vessels such as Seabourn Encore in Alaska.

Lecturers & Naturalists
Lecturer – Lori Snyder
An earth scientist specializing in igneous petrology and economic geology, Lori Snyder brings an extensive background in oceanography, meteorology, energy studies, and climate science. Recently retired from teaching at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, she continues her work with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada, often joined by graduate researchers.

Lecturer – Ely Allred
Growing up in his family’s Alaskan river rafting business, Ely Allred learned boating, birding, fly fishing, and bush craft from an early age. Now a Hawaii resident, he works aboard a variety of vessels and leads talks and whale watching tours professionally. His knowledge of Alaska’s flora, fauna, and Indigenous cultures enriches every voyage.

Lecturer – Brent Houston
With three decades of global wildlife research and more than 400 expeditions to 100 countries, Brent Houston is a leading voice in conservation. He works with the World Wildlife Fund on prairie ecosystem restoration and has contributed photography and prose to numerous field guides, including The Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the South Oceans. His scientific writing spans subjects from mountain lions to Adélie penguins, complemented by features for National Geographic Traveler.

Lecturer – Mara Unkefer
A wildlife biologist, science writer, and expedition guide, Mara Unkefer has conducted research for the Smithsonian and National Institutes of Health, studying animals across the world’s most extreme environments. Her work in polar Alaska focused on freeze tolerance adaptations, deepening her passion for species that thrive in the planet’s harshest regions.

Lecturer – Sarah Sinn White
A lecturer and trained botanist, Sarah Sinn White, has spent more than a decade leading programs from Alaska to Antarctica, interpreting the ecology of some of the world’s most dynamic coastal regions. Her early fascination with California’s tidepools and kelp forests continues to shape her work today along the rugged shorelines of the Pacific Northwest.

Lecturer – Amy Venema
An educator, research captain, and marine conservationist, Amy has spent more than three decades studying and interpreting Hawaii's coastal ecosystems, including co founding the Keiki Kohola Project to protect humpback whales. Her work has supported peer reviewed research and major documentary productions, and she continues her marine science and education as a senior captain on Maui.

For more details about Seabourn, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn voyages, contact a professional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.