With an abiding fascination for Exploration history, Orly Orlyson artfully weaves tales that span the ages, from the Vikings, to polar explorers, and onward to the Moon and Mars. Orly has given talks at venues and events around the world, including the halls of New York’s esteemed Explorers Club, onboard Celebrity cruise ships Reflection, Summit, and Silhouette, with Windstar onboard Star Pride, with Oceanwide Expeditions onboard Rembrandt van Rijn, for Olivia Travel chartered cruises, as well as at XFEST, and in universities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Profile Overview: Orly Orlyson, born in 1983, is an Icelandic documentary filmmaker, museum director, and storyteller, with deep passion for exploration and vivid narratives.

Notable Achievements:

• Founder of The Exploration Museum in Húsavík, Iceland, sharing the stories of explorers and expeditions.
• Led several expeditions with Apollo astronauts, unveiling Iceland’s connection to the Moon landing between 2013 and 2019.
• Led a North Pole return expedition onboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot with families of Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary in 2025.
• Member of the Explorers Club, a hub for scientific exploration and field study, since 2020.
• Orchestrated a grassroots campaign for “Húsavík,” a song from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, securing an Academy Award nomination in 2021.
• Hired by Netflix to produce the performance of the song “Húsavík” for the Academy Awards Broadcast on ABC.
• Selected by the US Department of State to represent Iceland in the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders program in 2018.
• Awarded by JCI as one of Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Iceland.
• Served as President of the Húsavík town council and director of Visit Húsavík.

Key Topics:

• The Moon and Exploration of Space
• Heroic Age of Polar Explorers
• Vikings and the History of Iceland and Greenland
• A tiny Icelandic fishing village’s unlikely road to the Oscars

Contact: For inquiries, bookings, and collaborations, please email orly@husavik.com or call +354 848 7600.

2025 talks

Talks onboard Windstar’s Star Pride:

• “How a Tiny Town in Iceland Almost Won an Oscar” In this talk, Orly Orlyson tells the captivating story of Húsavík, a charming fishing village that suddenly found itself at the center of a worldwide media frenzy when the song “Húsavík” from the Netflix film Eurovision was nominated for an Academy Award. From the first Viking settlement all the way to the Oscar stage, Húsavík’s story is full of surprises and unlikely events.
• “Where Earth Meets the Moon: Astronaut Training in Iceland” Iceland’s rugged landscapes played a vital role in preparing NASA’s Apollo astronauts for their missions to the Moon. In this talk, Exploration Museum director Orly Orlyson uncovers the fascinating story of the Apollo astronauts exploring Iceland’s volcanic terrain, which closely resembled the lunar surface. 50 years later, the Museum invited the moonwalkers back to Iceland to revisit their old training ground and share their stories. This talk includes short clips form Orly’s documentary film Cosmic Birth where he interviewed the astronauts about their time in Iceland, and their experience on the Moon.
• “Small Steps & Giant Leaps” Beneath the headlines of history lie the quieter, more personal tales of the world’s greatest explorers, stories of risk, resolve, and remarkable humanity. In his talk, Exploration Museum director Orly Orlyson takes guests onboard Star Pride on an inspiring journey through rarely shared moments from the lives of legendary adventurers who pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. From icy frontiers to lunar footprints, this talk shines a light on the lesser-known chapters of exploration that still have the power to surprise, move, and inspire.
• “Iceland & the Explorers” Iceland’s landscapes have long inspired explorers from around the world. From Viking Explorer Leif Erikson to arctic explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Jean Baptiste Charcot, the island has been a key point in many pioneering journeys. In this talk onboard Windstar’s Star Pride, Exploration Museum founder Orly Orlyson delves into Iceland’s critical role in the history of exploration.

Presentation onboard Ponants’s Le Commandant Charcot:

• “Neil & Ed at the North Pole” The story of how the two greatest Explorers of modern times, Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary ended up together on an expedition to the North Pole, told onstage with Neil’s son Mark and Ed’s son Peter, for guests onboard Ponant’s Icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot at the North Pole.

2024 talks

Talk onboard SV Rembrandt van Rijn:

• “Neil Armstrong on the North Pole” The story of how the two greatest Explorers of modern times, Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary ended up together on an expedition to the North Pole.
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2023 talks

• “Nicolas Buch and the first Ski School in the World” Orly Orlyson tells the curious tale of the man who founded the first Ski School in the world, reflecting how leading with passion can change the world.
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2022 talks

Talks onboard CELEBRITY SUMMIT:

• “How a tiny town in Iceland almost won an Oscar” Orly Orlyson’s amusing and heartwarming narrative about Húsavík’s bid for an Academy Award shines through in this captivating presentation.
• “Explorers of Iceland and Greenland” Delve into Iceland and Greenland’s exploration history as Orly Orlyson shares tales of intrepid adventurers who pushed boundaries.
• “From Iceland to the Moon” Bridging Iceland’s unique landscapes with lunar exploration, Orly Orlyson captivates audiences with tales of cosmic connections.
• Scenic viewing of Prince Christian Sound Narrated from the bridge by Orly Orlyson, this visual feast offers an immersive experience of Greenland’s awe-inspiring fjords.
• “Small Steps & Giant Leaps” (Private Lecture for guests of The Retreat Lounge) In an intimate setting, Orly Orlyson crafts a personalized journey through space exploration’s triumphs and challenges.
• “Flags in the Field: The story of the Explorers Club” Dive into the rich history of the Explorers Club as Orly Orlyson highlights the audacious explorations undertaken by its members.

Talks onboard CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE:

• “Iceland and the Explorers” Orly Orlyson explores Iceland’s exploration legacy, from Vikings to modern-day adventures, captivating audiences aboard Celebrity Silhouette.
• “How a tiny town in Iceland almost won an Oscar” Orly Orlyson recounts the heartwarming story of Húsavík’s Academy Award bid, leaving a lasting impression on passengers.
• “From Iceland to the Moon” Orly Orlyson’s tales of lunar connections bring an element of cosmic wonder to passengers aboard Celebrity Silhouette.
• “Flags in the Field: The story of the Explorers Club” Delve into the incredible adventures of the Explorers Club’s members as Orly Orlyson shares their audacious explorations.
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2020 talks

• “115 Years of Exploration” – Rotary Iceland, 2020. Tracing the 115-year history of the Explorers Club, Orly Orlyson highlights the groundbreaking achievements of its members.
• “Leif led the way” – Iceland Naturally, 2020. Uncover the Viking exploration of North America led by Leif Erikson as Orly Orlyson paints a vivid picture of ancient journeys.
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2019 talks

• “Cosmic Birth” – The Explorers Club, New York, USA. Screening of the documentary “Cosmic Birth” followed by a Q&A with Orly Orlyson about the film and the human experience of going to the Moon. Moderated by Richard Garriott, astronaut and President of the Explorers Club.
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2018 talks

• “Life in extreme environments” – University of Akureyri, Iceland. Exploring Iceland’s geothermal pools reveals insights into potential microbial life on Mars and other extreme environments.
• “Iceland’s Role in the Exploration of Space” – University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. Discover Iceland’s pivotal contributions to space exploration, from Apollo astronaut training to the potential for future rocket launches.
• “Training the next generation of Space Explorers” – University of Denver, USA. The story of the Iceland GeoSpace project where young women from around the world get to follow in the footsteps of the Apollo astronauts, learning vital skills for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Talks on CELEBRITY REFLECTION:

• “The Moon Challenge” Orly Orlyson delves into the incredible story of the unsung heroes who made President Kennedy’s challenge of reaching the Moon before the end of the 1960s a reality.
• “Training for the Moon” Explore the essential skills and training of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts, shedding light on the daring individuals who ventured to the Moon.
• “12 days in Iceland – 12 days on the Moon” Orly Orlyson unravels the tale of 32 astronauts who honed their skills in Iceland for the Apollo lunar missions, revealing the scientific breakthroughs that followed.
• “Viking expansion and the first Europeans in America” Father and son, Orly Orlyson and his father Orly Jonsson, trace the Viking expansion from Iceland to North America, uncovering the stories of the first Europeans to set foot there.
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2017 talks

• “lceland and the Explorers” – Rotary Iceland, 2017. Iceland’s history of exploration, from Pytheas to the Vikings and Polar Explorers to Apollo astronauts, comes alive in this engaging talk.