One of the things first-time expedition cruisers quickly discover is that these ships operate very differently from a traditional ocean cruise.
Yes, you still begin with a muster drill.
But before long, you’re also learning about Zodiac procedures, biosecurity, waterproof gear, expedition briefings — and the place that may become one of the busiest spots on the entire ship:
The mudroom.
While sailing around Iceland aboard Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle, I spent some time with Reza, the ship’s Mudroom & Shop Manager, to learn more about his role onboard.
And if you’ve never taken an expedition cruise, you may be wondering:
What exactly is a mudroom on an expedition ship?
What Is an Expedition Ship Mudroom?
Think of the mudroom as expedition headquarters at water level.
It’s where you suit up before heading ashore, collect boots and gear, prepare for Zodiac excursions and return after exploring beaches, remote coastlines, wildlife sites and places where there may be no dock at all.
It is practical.
It is busy.
It is sometimes wet.
And it is absolutely essential.
The mudroom is also where much of the invisible choreography of expedition cruising comes together.
Guests need to be ready. Equipment needs to be organized. Zodiacs need to be loaded and boarded safely. Boots and clothing may need to be cleaned between landings to help prevent the transfer of seeds, soil or other biological material from one location to another.
And everyone needs to understand the procedures before stepping into a Zodiac.
The Muster Drill Is Only the Beginning
That’s why the muster drill at the beginning of an expedition cruise is really only the start.
Throughout the voyage, safety briefings, expedition updates and instructions become part of the rhythm of the experience.
That isn’t because expedition cruising needs to feel intimidating.
Quite the opposite.
Good procedures are part of what makes it possible for travellers to comfortably experience extraordinary and sometimes very remote parts of the world.
You’re travelling to places where weather can change quickly, where there may be no pier waiting for you, and where getting ashore might mean climbing into a Zodiac and making a wet landing on a beach.
A little preparation — and a lot of teamwork behind the scenes — makes those experiences possible.
Meet Reza
During my sailing aboard Sylvia Earle, I interviewed several members of the expedition team and ship’s crew.
I asked each person the same four questions:
What’s your name?
What do you do onboard?
What do you love most about your job?
And why should someone take an expedition cruise?
Reza’s answers gave me another glimpse behind the scenes of a style of travel I’ve come to appreciate more and more.
Because the destinations may be what initially draw us to expedition cruising — Antarctica, the Arctic, Iceland, Greenland, the Galápagos, the Kimberley and beyond.
But the experience depends enormously on the people onboard.
The Zodiac drivers.
The naturalists and specialists who help us understand what we’re seeing.
The expedition leaders watching weather and conditions and constantly adapting plans.
The bridge team.
The crew preparing equipment and keeping everything moving behind the scenes.
And people like Reza, working in the mudroom to help make every departure — and every return — run smoothly.
The Part You Don’t See in the Brochure
That’s something you don’t necessarily see when you look through an expedition cruise brochure.
We see the polar bears, penguins, glaciers, whales, dramatic landscapes and Zodiac landings.
And, of course, those experiences are extraordinary.
But once you’ve travelled this way, you begin to realize that expedition cruising isn’t simply about where the ship takes you.
It’s about the entire operation — and the people — that make it possible for you to safely step off that ship and experience places most travellers will never reach.
It’s one of the reasons I think meeting the people behind an expedition cruise is so interesting.
They are part of the story, too.
And very often, your next great adventure begins in the mudroom. ❤️