Chris Commisso
Expedition Expert
- Signature Travel Expert
About Glacial Expeditions
Where Exploration Begins.
We know what it takes to go beyond the ordinary.
Expedition travel specialists, not a general travel agency.
Glacial Expeditions specializes in expedition cruises and immersive journeys to the world's most remote and extraordinary places. We help travelers choose the right ships, destinations and experiences through firsthand knowledge and expert guidance. Founded in 2022 and based in Appleton, Wisconsin, we work across every major expedition line rather than a single preferred supplier.
We Don't Just Sell Expeditions. We Experience Them.
Choosing an expedition cruise is different. You aren't simply booking a ship and a cabin — you're choosing how you'll experience some of the most extraordinary places on Earth. We've spent time onboard expedition ships, exploring destinations and learning from the people who make these journeys possible. That firsthand knowledge lets us look past the brochure and explain what actually matters.
Our job isn't to sell you an expedition. It's to help you find the right one.
How this started.
It started with a five-night “Wild Escape” in Alaska with Lindblad Expeditions. We had no idea what to expect. We assumed it would be a cruise — what we got was a pivot point.
Erika came back telling anyone who would listen that it felt like a five-day, full-time whale-watching tour, with hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac cruising squeezed in whenever the wildlife decided to take a break. We genuinely felt for the culinary team onboard; the moment someone yelled “WHALE!”, napkins went flying and the dining room emptied in seconds.
We learned it the only way that counts.
Webinars and supplier training helped, but the only way to understand expedition cruising is to do it. So we invested in our own education: a circumnavigation of Iceland, a sailing through the Galápagos, and a dedicated ship tour of HX in Boston. The trips kept going from there.
Why we created Glacial Expeditions.
Expedition travel became our favourite way to see the world, and we found that selling it takes a different approach than traditional cruising or custom land trips! Travelers arrive with real questions: what is a Zodiac, and what are wet and dry landings? Is this too physically demanding? What is actually included, and why is the price higher? What happens when the schedule changes? Which operator is right for me?
Glacial Expeditions exists to answer those questions properly. A general travel feed gets cluttered; keeping this separate lets us share penguin photographs, whale tails, gear notes, and raw adventure stories without burying anyone who just wants a beach.
Why this matters to you.
Travelers need more than brochures. They need to know the person advising them knows the difference between the Drake Passage and the Inside Passage. We have sailed on ten ships and toured seven more. When you plan with us, you are talking to someone who has personally:
- Felt the difference between a standard ocean cruise and a nimble, research-grade expedition vessel.
- Worn the gear, so we can tell you which boots you need and which ones will just take up space in your luggage.
- Navigated a rough Zodiac landing, and knows how much that should shape the itinerary you choose.
- Compared the nuances between operators — the food, the lecture programs, the guiding styles — so we can match you to the one that fits.
We don’t just book trips. We use firsthand experience to take the guesswork out of planning a big one, so that when you step aboard you feel prepared rather than hopeful.
What only firsthand experience teaches.
You can know a vessel’s specifications without appreciating what it is like to step into a Zodiac surrounded by icebergs, or how an expedition team adapts an itinerary to seize an unexpected opportunity.
The nuances are the rhythm of the days, the personality of the expedition team, the onboard atmosphere, and how it all feels from a guest’s perspective. Those are the things no deck plan will tell you, and they are what we bring back from every voyage.
Featured in: press and features.
Ten ships sailed. Ten places. One opinion each.
Ships we've sailed
- National Geographic Sea Lion
- Ocean Diamond
- Seabourn Odyssey
- Evolution
- World Navigator
- Trollfjord
- Greg Mortimer
- Spitsbergen
- Santa Cruz II
- National Geographic Resolution
Where we've been
- Antarctica
- Svalbard
- Eastern Greenland
- Iceland
- Norway
- Alaska
- Galápagos
- Scottish Hebrides
- French Polynesia
- Churchill
Every recommendation we make comes from a ship we've been aboard or a place we've stood. Where we haven't been, we say so.
Who you'll work with.
Erika Commisso
Travel Experience Architect
- CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor
- ASTA Verified Travel Advisor
- Signature Travel Expert
Call 920-659-2960
How this works.
- A 30-minute call, no obligation.
- We come back with two or three real options — ships, cabins, dates, and what's actually included.
- You decide. Payment goes directly to the cruise line.
- We stay with it through departure and while you're away.
There are no planning fees, and you pay the same as booking direct with the cruise line.
Affiliations and credentials.
Each of these can be verified in the relevant public directory.
Certifications
- CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor — CLIA's highest level of individual certification, held by Erika Commisso.
- ASTA Verified Travel Advisor — held by Erika Commisso, reflecting ASTA's standards of ethics and consumer advocacy.
- Signature Travel Expert — held by both Chris and Erika Commisso through Signature Travel Network.
Network
- Oasis Travel Network — our host agency since December 2021, which gives us access to negotiated fares and amenities.
- Signature Travel Network — our consortium. Erika is a Signature Travel Expert, specializing in expedition cruising and active and adventure travel.
Industry
- IAATO Associate Member — we follow the association's visitor guidelines on every Antarctic voyage.
- Arctic Ambassador — advocating for responsible exploration of the Arctic.
- Corporate sponsor of the Expedition Cruise Network, which keeps us close to ship updates, destination briefings, and operator events.
- ExplorEarth Approved Partner — see how the referral works.
As an IAATO Associate Member we follow the association's visitor guidelines on every polar voyage. Read our responsible travel guidelines.
Every designation and affiliation, with the issuing body and a way to verify it, is listed on Credentials and Affiliations.
Glacial Expeditions is a registered trademark of Journey with Erika LLC, based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Journey with Erika LLC also operates Journey with Erika, a hosted group travel brand.
Written by your expedition advisors
Chris Commisso · Expedition Expert
Signature Travel Expert
Erika Commisso · Travel Experience Architect
CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor · ASTA Verified Travel Advisor · Signature Travel Expert
Chris and Erika have sailed ten expedition voyages and toured seven more expedition ships. Favorite explorations so far: Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, the Galápagos, the Scottish Hebrides, Churchill and French Polynesia.
Last updated .
Not Sure Which Expedition Is Right for You?
Thirty minutes on the phone, no obligation. We'll narrow the destinations, ships, and departures worth considering — and tell you if now isn't the right time to book.