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Antarctica cruises & Arctic cruises

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $10500 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

1 Feb - 20 Feb, 2025

Tripcode: HDS28-25

This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

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from: 11400 USD

Remote Weddell Sea Explorer incl. South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Neuschwabenland - Larsen Ice Shelf - Paulet and Devil Island - Elephant Island, incl. helicopters

11 Feb - 10 Mar, 2025

Tripcode: OTL30-25

This adventurous expedition explores one of the least-visited areas on Earth, Antarctica’s amazing Weddell Sea. After visiting some of the same sites legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton’s charted in South Georgia, we’ll enjoy the Weddell’s exotic wildlife...

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

13 Feb - 25 Feb, 2025

Tripcode: PLA29-25

The Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle
Up to $10200 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

20 Feb - 14 Mar, 2025

Tripcode: HDS29-25

This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

Go to cruise page

from: 10000 USD

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop
Up to $5700 OFF

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

25 Feb - 9 Mar, 2025

Tripcode: PLA30-25

The Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.

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Latest blog and customer story

News & blogs

The Conquering of the Frozen Continent: Hillary, Fuchs, and the Crossing of Antarctica

Sir Edmund Hillary made his mark on Antarctic history when, on 3 January 1958, he reached the South Pole, leading a team as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-58, becoming the third team in history to do so.

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Customer story

Around Spitsbergen, in the Realm of the Polar Bear & Ice

There are journeys and there are journeys. This trip is one that falls in the latter category. I look back on a fantastic experience, during which the awareness of human behavior on this vulnerable planet (and especially the Arctic) became very clear to me.

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Antarctica & Arctic cruise reviews

by Deborah K Chen
This trip far exceeded my every expectation. We picked this company for the access to adventure activities (we got to do them all, with a combination of good luck with weather and the tireless work of the expedition leader Sara and her entire staff to maximize everyone's experiences with the locations/weather available to us on a day by day basis) and cost, and was so pleasantly surprised to find that the entire ship was operated with a priority placed on safety, wildlife, education, conservation, and fun! Guides for every activity (especially Zet - kayaking, Chris/Owain - mountaineering) were clear in instructions for safety, monitored guest compliance closely, and gave real-time feedback. I really enjoyed the celebratory BBQ and dance out on the helipad at the end of the trip - truly a magical night. Every staff member was sure to prioritize safety of guests and fellow staff, as well as animals during landings and zodiac cruises (which I had not realized, prior to going on the trip, occur whenever you are not scheduled to do an excursion -- meaning almost all day every day you are out in the water or on land in Antarctica!). A lot of my pre-trip reading on Antarctica in general mentioned limitations on time spent on land to accommodate all guests, but on a smaller ship like this, guests could always maximize time off-ship, sometimes with hours on land and timed in such a way that it was the right time to return to the ship for food/water/bathroom anyways. In between activities and while at sea, there were a plethora of targeted talks and structured question-answering, which was highly educational and informative (a sampling of the lectures include life on the sea floor, history of women in Antarctica, talks on the specific wildlife we saw, discussion of tracking whales through happywhale.com, the background of specific sites we went to, krill fishing, and the effects of plastics/microplastics on Antarctica among many more!). The whole staff is so impressive and everyone was clearly an expert in their field and loved being out there. I only missed one lecture (accidentally), that's how good they were! Captain Per also had a 24/7 open bridge policy which was fascinating and added an additional layer of education to my experience... his skillful navigation and calm hand made the entire ship a delight for all passengers (it was also a great place to watch for wildlife, which seemed to be never-ending). By the end of the trip, I did feel like I had a new appreciation for Antarctica and our planet, as well as a new eye for the damage that we do both as tourists and as consumers in the wider world. Some suggestions for the company to really ensure that the learning and messaging from this perfect trip are in line with the company's practices and all guests' day to day... 1) Minimize or get rid of daily plastic garbage bags in all the rooms - likely not worth it or necessary, and would reduce so much waste. 2) Consider meatless Mondays, minimizing availability of salmon - it would reduce our footprint considerably and possibly cost, while opening the door for more conversation on how acting in moderation can allow us to still consume while making a big conservation impact on the beautiful world we are living in and admiring during this trip. It is clear that conservation is a big part of Oceanwide's mission, and it would be great if the daily life on ship felt a little more in line with that.
by Rocky Schuster
We are so happy about that trip. The chef and the food was excellent. We had every day 3 meals lunch and dinner also has 3 course. The staff is every time friendly and helpful. You can ask everything. The leader try to find the best spots for weather conditions. So it's not always the same way. We had 2 landings or zodiac rides every day and every stop was between 2 and 3 house. It was worth every cent.
by Marjolein Moens
Now a few weeks back home and I still look back on this fantastic trip with a big smile on my face. The entire crew from below the waterline to above....thank you for the wonderful experience. With passion and love for the area, you have sought a balance between tourism and respect for the vulnerability of nature. Thank you.
by Ellen de Jonge
A fantastic trip! A wake up to the beauty of Antartica. The rawness to get there, the serenity when you arrive. It showed me how important the present moment is and how beauty can be overwhelming and unable to catch by a camera. The love, knowledge and respect the leaders are equipped with is fantastic to see.
by Michael Ortiz
Breathtaking beauty, unreal experience, attentive crew, knowledgeable staff, well-planned, well-fed, all on a journey like no other
by Youngchan Moon
Everyone was really nice and kind most of all professional! Thanks to all the staffs and I could make happy experience.
by Bernadette Elliott
Absolutely awesome holiday and journey! Inspiring staff, incredible people, lifelong friends, and empowering experiences ❤️ sadly came to an end although I feel these experiences and bonds formed will last forever and this educational hands on expedition has enriched me in appreciating our amazing earth even more for which we are caretakers for 🥰❤️
by Monica Collins
We had an exceptional Basecamp expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula with the Oceanwide team of experienced guides. The whole trip, from the activities, to the lectures, to the food and fellow travelers was a highlight. Continuously changing weather meant the daily plans and schedules had to be fluid and flexible, which the team did with grace and ease under the expert leadership of Sara and Captain Per. Expedition leaders were knowledgeable experts in their fields and were always happy to share and impart their knowledge. The food was outstanding, and the staff were just incredible - nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with a smile. I would unreservedly recommend this trip - it was a great balance between being on the boat, Zodiac cruising looking for wildlife, activities on land and sea, and loads of fun and laughs. Truly the experience of a lifetime.
by Mallory Bergum
Amazing staff and amazing adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

An ice-strengthened ship is a ship made of steel. These ships are built to navigate the Antarctic and Arctic ice. Today, most ships that cruise to Antarctica and the Arctic are ice-strengthened vessels. Hondius, Ortelius, and Plancius are all ice-strengthened ships. Both Ortelius and Hondius have the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A-Super for Ortelius, and Polar Class 6, equivalent to 1A-Super for Hondius), making them suitable for navigation in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions. Plancius has an ice-class notation of 1D.

Icebreakers are needed if there is a trade route to keep ice-free, if there are military reasons for patrolling in areas with heavy sea ice, or if you need to work in heavy ice conditions, particularly in winter. Icebreakers are expensive to build and fuel-intensive to run (sometimes powered by gas turbines or a nuclear generator). These ships, constructed for function, are uncomfortable to travel in on the open sea.

All guests are required to wear a waterproof jacket and trousers (the clothing must be fully waterproof – water resistant or repellant is not suitable sufficient) while in our Zodiacs. This is for safety reasons owing to the increased risk of exposure related illness if you get wet. In Norwegian waters this is also a legal requirement – any person not properly dressed will not be permitted to leave the vessel.

Apart from that, our advice is to take warm, windproof clothes that you can easily add or remove in layers. Multiple layers of medium-warmth clothing provide more insulation than single heavier articles. This is due to warm air getting trapped between the layers and acting as further insulation. Look for clothing made of wool, silk, and new synthetic fibers, all of which retain heat better than other materials.

Layers give you the flexibility to control your temperature. The most important layer is the outer waterproof and windproof shell. More information about this can be found in our expedition manual, which you will receive at time of booking.

Our trips can best be described as expedition-style cruises. The emphasis is on viewing wildlife, visiting interesting locations, and participating in activities. For example, we may go to places where there is a good chance of seeing penguins or polar bears, or we may visit culturally significant sites or research stations, or we might embark on a kayaking trip or shoreline snowshoeing hike.

The aim is always to give you the utmost firsthand contact with the polar world. This is why we keep our program flexible, so that we can take the best possible advantage of local ice, weather, and wildlife conditions as they occur. No two voyages are the same. There is always an element of the unexpected in our trips.

When packing for an expedition cruise, avoid weighing yourself down with too much gear. Select informal, practical attire that can be worn in layers. Please ask for our expedition manual with detailed information on clothing lists, what to pack, and what to expect on our voyages.

Yes, we provide all passengers lightweight life jackets that inflate automatically on contact with the water. It is mandatory to wear these life jackets at all times while cruising in the Zodiac boats.

All promoted Arctic and Antarctica cruise itineraries are for general guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. The expedition leader and captain make these decisions in order to provide you the safest and most exploratory experience. Landings may also change due to site availabilities and environmental regulations per IAATO or AECO.

We follow the protocol advised by IAATO. Before leaving for your voyage, please make sure anything you bring that may come into contact with the environment (clothes, equipment, etc.) is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. We ask that you do not sit, kneel, or lay down during our landings. Please also do not place anything on the ground. You will receive a document with further information after booking.

On this page you find all information you need to know about the avian influenza outbreaks, including biosecurity protocols.

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About Oceanwide Expeditions

Passionate

Taking you closer to the heart of the polar regions has been our driving passion at Oceanwide Expeditions for over twenty years. Our knowledgeable cruise leaders, committed staff, and thoroughly outfitted vessels are our way of expressing what we care about most: making your cruise to the Arctic and Antarctic truly unforgettable. When you sail with us, you experience a part of the world that is unlike any other. Mountainous glaciers, snow-swept shores, whales and polar bears and vast colonies of penguins make up this world, and they are all part of the surreal ecosystem you can watch unfold before you on your future Oceanwide expedition.

Adventurous

Providing you a travel experience that inspires (and is inspired by) you, that’s what taking you closer to the heart of the polar regions means to us. We get you away from the vessel and into the action as fast as possible: up to two landings per day in the morning and afternoon, with a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs ready to shuttle you past the ice floes and onto the shore. We keep our programs flexible so that you get the most out of whatever surprises nature has in mind. When you sail with us, the cruise is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Pioneering

So what exactly is beneath the tip of that iceberg? The pioneering spirit, which all travelers to the polar regions (regardless of age and background) have in common. Guiding our expeditions with passion, tapping into the desire for inspiration and beauty, and always taking you closer to the heart of the Arctic and Antarctic – at Oceanwide Expeditions, that is our promise to you.

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