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Meet the Team – Grace

July, 2021 | Meet Our Polar Guides & Staff

The staff that make up the Polar Latitudes expedition and home teams are much more than a team – we are a tight knit family. Most of us voyage together year after year, sharing a deep love for Antarctica. We take immense pleasure in making sure your trip is one you’ll never forget, and are proud of how highly experienced and synced to our guests needs each staff member is.

Here’s a chance to get to know some of the members of our amazing team a little bit better.

Meet GRACE!
Expedition Leader Hannah
GRACE CORDSEN
What is your name and title/position at PL? Grace, Passenger Service Manager (PSM)
Where do you live? New York City
What is your background/education/field of study? My background is in Art History, Archeology, and Food Studies.
How did you first get interested in Antarctica? I first got interested in Antarctica when I was doing research on food in the Arctic. I was working alongside people who had also done work in the Antarctic and after hearing about their amazing experiences I knew I wanted to get involved.
What’s your favourite thing about Antarctica? I love how vast Antarctica is. The expansiveness of it is awe-inspiring. The jaw dropping landscapes, immense glaciers, and fields of icebergs make me feel dwarfed in a very humbling, human way.
What is your favourite Antarctic animal? Elephant seals. I not only think they are great simply because they are fantastically goofy looking, but I also love that despite their unathletic build they are one of the deepest diving mammals and can hold their breath for over 100 minutes. They are at once both couch potatoes and olympic swimmers.
Tell us about your job at PL As PSM I am responsible for the overall passenger experience. I am your go-to person for guest services and satisfaction concerns. I also run the gift shop onboard.
What do you love about your job at PL? There are so many things I love about my job at PL! First and foremost, the people with which I get to work. I am so energized by how passionate everyone is about their respective fields and interests. I find the PL staff truly inspiring.
What are your favourite hobbies? I am an avid runner, hiker, and rollerblader. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t do the New York Times crossword.
What do you do to explore? One of my favorite ways to explore is to explore through food. I love living in New York City because I get to experience all sorts of cuisines and culinary traditions on a daily basis. Whether I am cooking them myself or going out to eat the possibilities are truly endless. Another way I explore is by visiting the U.S. National Parks! Road tripping around the United States is one of my favorite things and I have been lucky enough to have visited 28 of the country’s national parks so far.
What is your favourite place you have travelled? One of my best friends used to live in Mongolia and I was lucky enough to go camping with her in the Gobi Desert. The experience was unbelievable– from the diversity of landscape that we encountered, to the amazing nomadic people we got to meet. Plus, I got to try some truly crazy foods.
If you could explore anywhere right now, where would it be? Besides Antarctica? Obviously!
I have never been to Peru and would really love to go. I did a lot of my undergraduate work on Peruvian art as well as on the Incas. Plus Peruvian food is simply delicious.