Nicki D'Souza

Nicki D’Souza was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, and developed an early interest in languages, travel and cross-cultural exchange. She holds a university degree in languages, with training as a translator and interpreter, a foundation that would shape her career in expedition travel.

Nicki began working at sea in 1997 aboard the World Discoverer as an Assistant Expedition Leader on a voyage to Easter Island. That first expedition marked the start of a long career spanning the South Pacific, the Russian Far East and Alaska, where she built experience in expedition operations and destination-focused interpretation.

Her career later expanded into the luxury cruise sector, where she worked in shore excursion development and management, overseeing global operations, maiden calls and destination programming. This operational background strengthened her approach to guest experience and logistics across diverse regions.

In 2008, Nicki returned to expedition cruising as an Expedition Leader. She has now spent nearly three decades working at sea, including more than 16 years within the expedition industry. She is a certified Senior Polar Tourism Guide and holds an RYA license as a Zodiac driver.

Nicki has guided voyages on all seven continents, from the Arctic and Antarctic to tropical and remote regions worldwide. As an Expedition Leader, she brings extensive field experience, operational knowledge and a thoughtful approach to guiding, supporting guest engagement through exploration, context and shared discovery.