Women Explorers: Heidi Norling

Don’t regret the opportunities you didn’t take—at least try. No dream is too big and you can do so much more than you think!

Heidi Norling, Captain, National Geographic Orion

A series of firsts

Heidi is the first woman to captain a Lindblad Expeditions’ ship. Her CV is a series of firsts, including her first encounter with Lindblad Expeditions. While working to get her Master’s Certificate in 2005, she served aboard National Geographic Endeavour for six weeks, cruising the British Isles and the Norwegian coast. She “absolutely loved” being close to wild and remote nature, and she was entranced with the idea that the ship anchored while the guests were shuttled ashore in Zodiacs. Get Inspired By Photos, Videos, Webinars, Stories, And Exclusive Offers. Sign Up

Heidi’s connection to the sea began in the Stockholm archipelago, where, as a young teenager, she sailed a 25-ft. boat with her father. She studied the charts. Her father told her it wasn’t necessary since they were in familiar home waters. And then they ran aground. When her father subsequently attended an evening course for basic navigation (good role-modeling of humility, Heidi’s Dad!!), Heidi joined too.

After training at the Merchant Marine Acadamy in Kalmar, 400 km south of Stockholm where lives today, Heidi spent time as a cadet aboard Swedish cargo ships. Sailing into a variety of ports, from the Mediterranean to the Mexican Gulf and beyond, offered opportunities to go ashore and feed her desire to explore even more.

Heidi's first opportunity to be Captain was on a ferry charter in the Northern Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. The charter afforded challenges like navigating in ice, since none of the harbors had any ice-breaker assistance—clearly essential for her eventual polar exploring. When she discovered the joys of cruising after being a guest on a small sailing ship in French Polynesia, the transition to expedition-style travel was inevitable.

She worked on the Hanse Explorer for three years in cold waters, then transitioned to warm waters aboard the cruise ship Tere Moana, where she got to transit the Panama Canal 22 times. Between engagements, she consistently returned to Gotland—where one day she saw National Geographic Orion at the dock in Visby. She thought: that’s my dream ship.

As evidence that dreams do come true, Heidi received a call from Captain Martin Graser a few months later asking if she would be interested in a short contract as Staff Captain/Chief officer for Lindblad Expeditions, sailing from Bordeaux to Lisbon, and then repositioning the ship down to Punta Arenas for a few cruises to Antarctica.

That contract, another in the South Pacific—and soon, Heidi scored a big first: as the proud, and very capable, Captain of National Geographic Orion and Lindblad Expeditions' first international fleet female Captain.

The thing she loves most is sailing unknown waters. Each time she heads out she looks forward to the discoveries that can only happen when navigating into the far-reaches of Alaska, Polynesia, the Arctic, and more.

After things came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, Heidi is thrilled to be back on the high seas. This past November she was honored to christen the brand-new National Geographic Resolution. "To be the Captain of this ship is really special," she said during the christening ceremony. "It’s a custom-made ship for polar regions. We will be able to do things that we have not been able to do before and discover new places that I’m really looking forward to."

We asked Heidi Norling:

Why do you explore?

I never traveled much as a child, just sailing with a childhood friend in the Stockholm archipelago in the summers. When studying to be a navigational officer, I loved visiting different countries, meeting other people and cultures, seeing different landscapes, hearing other languages, eating other foods. And I still do. It’s fascinating and exciting! And the more you see, the more there is to discover.

What is your favorite Lindblad Expeditions destination?

Antarctica. For the bright nights, stunning ice formations, and amazing wildlife. The ever-changing ice and weather conditions always makes this place exciting.

What is the dream exploration you haven’t done…yet?

As much as I love the sea, my dream exploration is a safari in Africa. The wild animals fascinate me and I would love to see them at a closer distance.

What’s your advice for the next generation of women explorers?

Go for it! If you have a chance to follow your dream— do it! Don’t regret the opportunities you didn’t take—at least try. No dream is too big and you can do so much more than you think!