Nearly eight years after making history as AIDA Cruises first female Captain Nicole Langosch-Thormann has taken on a new leadership role as Director of Expeditions at BSM Cruise Services.
The newly created role reflects BSM’s growing focus on the rapidly expanding expedition cruise sector, where technical expertise, regulatory compliance, and operational precision are increasingly critical. As Director of Expeditions, Langosch-Thormann will help strengthen the company’s presence in expedition ship management beyond its existing partnership with HX Expeditions.
Langosch-Thormann first entered the spotlight in March 2018, when AIDA Cruises promoted her to captain. She served aboard AIDAsol, earning respect from both crew and passengers before stepping ashore in May 2019 to pursue management opportunities on land.
Since then, she has steadily built a strong reputation in maritime leadership roles, gaining experience with Carnival Maritime, Hurtigruten Expedition Technical Services, and HX Expeditions. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of the Hamburg-based joint venture between HX Expeditions and BSM Cruise Services, established in 2021 to oversee the technical management of HX’s fleet of four modern expedition vessels operating on polar and global exploration routes.
Her background in polar operations and expedition fleet management made her a natural choice for the newly established position.
In announcing the appointment, BSM Cruise Services Managing Director Frank Oertel highlighted the growing complexity of expedition cruising.
“The expedition cruise market continues to grow rapidly, accompanied by increasing demands for regulatory compliance, safe polar navigation, and sustainable operations in remote areas,” Oertel said. “With Capt. Langosch-Thormann’s proven expertise in technical and marine leadership, we are well positioned to offer tailored ship management services that meet the sector’s specific challenges.”
Langosch-Thormann said she looks forward to helping BSM expand its specialized services in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
“Expeditions operate in some of the world’s most challenging regions,” she said. “I’m excited to work with the BSM Cruise Services team to further develop management solutions that meet the highest operational and safety standards.”
