Blog
OTL03-18, trip log, North Spitsbergen – Polar Bear Special
Turning eastward and then southward into the Woodfjord we reached the Liefdefjord. Zodiacs were launched and we set off for a zodiac cruise
A Diving Dream Fulfilled
Last January, Mark Hatter accomplished a dream he’d been training two years to fulfill. Booking his berth aboard our m/v Ortelius and making
OTL02-18, trip log, Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen North Atlantic Odyssey – Whale
Once the ship docked, we quickly went through passport control on the quayside then boarded the two coaches for a quick architectural tour g
Polar Perfectionism: Interview with Captain Levakov
Turning our attention to the control room, we steal a few informative (and highly entertaining) moments with one of our most seasoned polar
Humpback Whales: the Stars of the Western Antarctic Peninsula
The marine ecosystem of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) extends from the Bellingshausen Sea to the northern tip of the peninsula. The WAP
A New Flag for a Veteran Vessel, Ortelius
Vlissingen, located in the south western part of the Netherlands, has been Oceanwide Expeditions “Homeport” since the company was establish
How Arctic Wildlife Differs from Antarctic
While there are definite similarities between the north and south poles, at the same time, the two regions are vastly different. Though both
PLA35-18, trip log, Atlantic Odyssey 2018
As the day wore on, weather conditions deteriorated. The wind piped up to about 35-40 knots, still from the north, and the sea assumed a mor
PLA31-18, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula - Whale Watching Voyage
This morning we woke to our first sunrise over Antarctic waters as we continued our journey across the Drake Passage. Having crossed the Ant
OTL32-18, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula: Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery & Whale
For those of us who made our way outside in the course of the morning, there were Wandering Albatrosses to be spotted soaring around the shi
Antarctica: the Trip of a Lifetime
Antarctica - The Trip of a Lifetime
PLA30-18, trip log, Polar Circle, Antarctic Peninsula
Today we felt the exquisite new feeling of accomplishment, achievement, and long harboured dream for many of us as we stood upon the Antarct
OTL31-18, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp
As we had crossed the Antarctic Convergence, it was no wonder that the first big birds were spotted sailing around the ship. Is it an Albatr
Steel, Sweat, and Fire: the Forging of Hondius at Brodosplit Shipyard
In a mid-sized city on the rocky Croatian coast, not quite midway between the northern border of Montenegro and the southern shoreline of Sl
Amazing Greenland
If you ever get the chance to take a trip to Greenland, you will be amazed by its coastlines, fjords, ice-covered peaks, and great expanse o
PLA29-18, trip log, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula
We returned to the ship for a quick lunch while Plancius sailed to our next landing site at Grave Cove. Commersons dolphins came alongside
The Oceanwide Edge: Hondius at ITB Berlin
Every industry has its iconic, center-of-the-universe events. Film has its Sundance and Cannes, music its Summerfest, Glastonbury, and Austi
OTL30-18, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula
We awoke to calm seas under an overcast sky. The Drake and it’s swell borne maladies are a thing of memory as the voyage to Antarctica ends
Polar Marine Visitors: the Whales of Antarctica and the Arctic
Whales are the world’s largest mammals, found in the Arctic and Antarctica. This article covers some of the major species you may see on voy
PLA28-18, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula
A day of true expedition cruising, where Plan A becomes Plan B becomes Plan C. And on Plancius, it turns out Plan C is A-OK. We woke up to
Arctic Foxes: Constant Gardeners of the Arctic
The Arctic fox is a circumpolar species found across the Arctic, extending from Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard across Eurasia to North Ame