Danaë Sheehan: 'Expedition ships are small, so you get to know everyone onboard'
After gaining a PhD in the ecology of migratory birds, Danaë Sheehan spent 16 years at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds before swapping the office for expedition ships. Here she talks about her typical day, dream cruise – and why you might bawl your eyes out in Antarctica
Describe a typical day…
If you had asked me two years ago, I would have given you a different answer. I've gone from being on an expedition ship to managing Seabourn’s interactive webpage, Voyage Tracker.
Each day, the onboard team send me descriptions of activities, photos and videos which I edit then upload to Voyage Tracker so guests’ friends, family and anyone else can gain an insight into what happens on a day-to-day basis.
It’s a phenomenal resource. It answers any questions you might have, from what to wear to where an expedition ship is. And because it’s updated daily, even on Christmas Day, it’s live and accurate.
What do you love most about your job?The amazing experiences you have at sea – one day you might find yourself in a snow-storm of birds; the next you could see a whale breaching.
You share these incredible experiences with like-minded travellers, too. For example, after crossing the notorious Drake Passage and coming up on deck for the first time in Antarctica, people often burst into tears. The air is so clean and pure, Antarctica touches people.
Taking people to places where they experience that depth of feeling is fantastic.
What's your advice for people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Younger people need to be passionate about what you do and have the ability to communicate it. But if, like me, you are changing career late in life, I would say just go for it. Cruise lines are looking for people with experience.
What is your favourite expedition destination?
My favourite parts of the world are northern Europe – I’m biased, of course, but you can’t beat my homeland, Scotland – and Antarctica, where you see large congregations of migratory birds.
What would be your dream expedition cruise?
To follow the migratory journey of a red neck phalarope – yes, I am talking birds again.These little birds breed in the Shetland Islands, cross the Atlantic, North America andCentral America then end up off the coast of Peru. If I had my way, I would follow them!
What makes expedition cruising a unique form of travel in your opinion?Expedition ships are small, so you get to know everyone onboard.The conversation is phenomenal – everyone is excited about what they have seen. It’s such a friendly environment so it’s ideal for solo travellers, families and couples.The destinations are varied too – you can visit places larger ships simply can’t.
What’s the one item you don’t leave home without when you travel?
That's easy: My smartphone. It has a fantastic camera and contains a copy of passport, my boarding passes… it's got everything on it. So it's definitely the one thing I never leave home without.
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About Kaye Holland
Kaye is a London-based wordsmith who has written for a range of publications including The Times, The Independent, The I, Culture Trip, The Sun, and ABTA among others. In June 2022, Kaye joined the Real Response Media where she looks – together with Lucy Abbott – after the World of Cruising website. Want to get in touch? Kaye can be reached at: [email protected]
