Eric Holst

Eric Holst brings more than two decades of experience aboard expedition vessels, having served as a bridge officer, small boat operator and Naturalist. His connection to water began in childhood along the shores of Lake Superior, where Minnesota’s boreal forest meets one of North America’s great inland seas. Time spent exploring docks, ports and wild landscapes set the trajectory for a life shaped by nature and maritime travel.

Eric began working on boats at 17 and was captain of a 250-passenger excursion vessel by age 23. As a teenager, he undertook extended canoe expeditions across the Canadian Shield, deepening his comfort in remote environments. After college, he spent months at a time exploring North America’s backroads, further fueling his interest in far-flung landscapes and the systems that shape them.

He is particularly drawn to earth sciences, especially where oceans, landforms, climate and deep geological history intersect. Eric finds meaning in places where Earth’s processes are visible—whether subtle or dramatic—and enjoys helping others recognize patterns that transform curiosity into clarity.

When not at sea, he continues to travel widely and, whenever possible, borrows other people’s pets.