Former Imagineer Joe Rohde will join guests on an Adventures by Disney Arctic Expedition Cruise this summer.

The Arctic Expedition Cruise will be from July 10 to July 19. Rohde is known for his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Aulani, and more. During the cruise, he will share some of his sketching strategies from years of extensive field research and exploration.

Read more information about the Adventures by Disney Arctic sailings below.

Nature and Wildlife are the Stars on the Adventures by Disney Arctic Sailings 

Adventures by Disney offers seasonal sailings to the Arctic, and on each trip, nature takes center stage. This awe-inspiring adventure includes gliding through the Svalbard archipelago glaciers and fjords, visiting Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement in the world, admiring the breathtaking landscape of icebergs, ice floes and the Arctic tundra, hiking on land or taking small boat excursions through the glacial waters, and of course spotting wildlife in their natural habitat. The Arctic is home to polar bears, whales, walruses, reindeer, puffins and more. Daily activities are often “in the moment” and determined by the weather — no two adventures are the same. 

Here’s a fun fact about polar bears. Each strand of their outercoat hair is transparent, meaning it has a hollow core (and no pigment). The outer hair protects the undercoat which is colorless but not hollow. So why does a polar bear look white? The physics of light. The undercoat hair reflects light and creates some pretty awesome optics, especially as the skin of a polar bear is black!

Adventures Guides, Expedition Leaders and Naturalists  

The itinerary begins in Oslo where guests will be met by our amazing Adventure Guides who attend to every detail during this trip (we think they are legendary, too!). The following day, guests will fly to Svalbard and board a luxurious PONANT expedition cruise ship, their home for the next seven days. Once onboard, they will meet the Expedition Leaders and naturalists who will guide guests on daily excursions to encounter and become immersed in nature all around. This trip is all about discovering the beauty of the Arctic and learning about the natural world with your family and friends. 

During his sessions, Joe will share stories from his illustrious career, including his passion for conservation and nature. In fact, he was instrumental in the creation of the Disney Conservation Fund, which supports organizations worldwide working to save wildlife and inspire positive change.  

There are a few spots remaining for this Arctic expedition cruise, and details can be found here. To learn more about exciting trips with Adventures by Disney, including expedition cruises, river cruises, and land excursions, visit www.adventuresbydisney.com or call 833-ABD-0103 (833-223-0103). 

Are you hoping to join Joe Rohde on this Adventures by Disney Arctic Expedition Cruise this summer? Let us know in the comments.

Rohde retired from Walt Disney Imagineering in 2021 before going on to work for Virgin Galactic.

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