• Cruise specialist Panache to develop expedition trips with polar skier Sue Stockdale
• Trips will include ski touring excursion options on many trips to Norway, the Arctic and The Antarctic
• Panache is growing its expedition cruise offering, aiming to become the UK’s leading distributor of luxury cruises by 2027

Sue Stockdale, the first woman from the UK to ski to the Magnetic and Geographic North Poles, has been made an Ambassador of Panache Cruises. The move signals the growing importance of expedition cruising in the adventure travel market.

In her role as Ambassador, Sue will help the Panache Cruises team develop its programme of expedition cruises. In addition, Sue will attend various Panache Cruises events led by the company’s founder James Cole.

Sue Stockdale became the first woman from the UK to ski to the Magnetic North Pole in 1996 and has since been on expeditions to the Geographic North Pole and Antarctica. She has also skied across the Greenland ice sheet and was recognised in 2005 as a ‘Pioneer to the Nation’ by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Commenting on the announcement, James Cole, Founder and Managing Director at Panache Cruises said:

“The opportunity to make lasting memories on ‘once in a lifetime’ trips has become more important in the post-pandemic world. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly boosted people’s wanderlust and we’re seeing much more interest in expedition-style cruise itineraries across all global regions. With her vast knowledge of the polar region, we’re delighted that Sue is joining us as an Ambassador for our expedition cruise programme. Her influence will extend far beyond the polar regions and our collective goal is to inspire people and to nurture a desire for adventure generally.

The team at Panache Cruises has worked really hard to create some fantastic expedition packages, meaning you can not only follow in Sue’s ski tracks but the seldom trodden paths of other great explorers like Scott, Amundsen, Hillary, Cousteau and Shackleton. We welcome Sue to the team, and we look forward to learning more about her incredible adventures.”

Commenting on the appointment, Sue added:

“I have been closely involved with the cruise industry for some time now and regularly speak about my skiing adventures on cruise ships visiting the Arctic and Antarctic circles. My objective in recounting my experiences is always to inspire others to do something extraordinary, whatever that might be. I look forward to working closely with the Panache Cruises team and meeting some new budding explorers along the way. If I can encourage people to release their ‘inner explorer’ as part of this new journey, I will be truly delighted.”

A 14 night expedition cruise to the Arctic Circle in January 2024, costs £2892pp.

Sue Stockdale’s appointment brings the total of Panache Cruises ambassadors to seven.

Sue Stockdale

Sue Stockdale is an executive coach, TEDx speaker, and podcaster, with over 20 years’ experience helping CEOs, and leaders worldwide to maximise their potential. In 2021 Sue delivered a TEDx talk, ‘Transformation Begins in the Mind’ and is co-founder and host of the Access to Inspiration podcast series recognised in the top 10% of most popular podcasts worldwide.

In addition to being author of EXPLORE, Sue is also co-author of several other books including Risk, Cope with Change at Work and Motivating People and her articles have appeared in many publications including The Times and The Guardian.

Sue holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Stirling and an MSc in Quality management from Nottingham Trent University. She is the first UK woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole and has travelled to over 70 countries on various expeditions and adventures and represented Scotland in athletics.