Blog
Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer
Polar bears are found throughout the Arctic region in 19 subpopulations, including Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. In these a
16 Conversation-Starting Svalbard Facts
It might seem odd that an icy, snowy, bear-packed cluster of islands at the edge of the world could be such a hotspot (so to speak) of outdo
10 Tried-and-True Bird Photography Tips
It’s easy to understand our fascination with birds: They’re beautiful, graceful (usually), and most of them have the power of flight. But ho
10 Weather-Fueled Facts about Antarctica
Most of us have at least a vague notion of what makes the North and South Poles so brutally, bone-chillingly cold: They receive less sunligh
Taking Chances: a New Lesson from the Arctic
Some days just don’t get off to a good start. Today was one of them. Our vessel, m/v Plancius, had spent the night sailing toward Phippsøya,
10 Bountiful Blue Whale Facts
We could write a book filled with fun and fascinating facts about blue whales, but here we will select the 10 most interesting blue whale fa
A Guide’s Guide: Interview with Michael Ginzburg
For adventure lovers, a common reaction to meeting polar expedition guides is that they have the coolest job on the planet.
Puffins: Clown Birds of the Atlantic
Puffins belong to a family of 22 species of seabirds called Auks, pigeon-sized birds that live on a diet of small fish and crustaceans. Puff
17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands
You’ve seen the colossal penguin colonies of South Georgia. You’ve sailed among the plunging seals of the Antarctic Peninsula. You’ve watche
10 Popular Bird Watching Binoculars
Binoculars are so common a companion of outdoor enthusiasts that many pack them with hardly a second thought. They’re tossed into a backpack
10 Illuminating Facts about the Northern Lights
According to Roman mythology, Aurora was the goddess of the dawn. The word “borealis,” however, is Greek for “wind.” The combined phrase “au
Oceanwide Finalist in Adventure in Motion Film Contest
The new corporate commercial for Oceanwide Expeditions, “Walk into the Waking Dream,” has just been nominated as a finalist in the Adventure
Penguins, Albatrosses, Petrels: The Winged Wildlife of South Georgia
South Georgia’s location south of the Antarctic Convergence gives the island more of an Antarctic climate than other terrain of the same lat
Inside the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Literature, cinema, even video games have given us no small supply of global disaster scenarios. These often come in the form of annihilatin
Behind the Scenes with Plancius Hotel Manager Sebastian Duma
A pleasant June evening, mild and warm – for the Arctic. Outside the panoramic windows of the m/v Plancius observation lounge, peaks and gla
A Bug’s Life in Svalbard
When you think about Svalbard wildlife, you might imagine reindeer, Arctic foxes, polar bears – the primary animal attractions that draw pas
Polar Cruises: The Ultimate Icebreakers
Travel is one of life’s great eye openers. It brings you into contact with new people and perspectives, challenges old assumptions you haven
5 Life Lessons You'll Learn in Antarctica
Whether you’re climbing mountains, buying lunch in a foreign city, or taking an Antarctic cruise, you’re not only learning more about the wo
A Thankful Tradition: Interview with Captain Nazarov
It takes a village to run a polar cruise. The guides show us the terrain, the serving staff keeps us fed, and the passengers make sure the b
10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland
During the last ice age, most plants and animals vanished from Greenland as a thick sheath of ice coated the landscape. Once this ice starte
15 Fantastic Photos of Antarctica
It's often said that it is impossible to take a bad photo in Antarctica. We'll say it again.
Remembrance of Expeditions Past
Today I sit in the sun, thinking back on the years I spent with my Oceanwide family since my retirement in 1997. My first trips were on a li