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Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals

Each of our Arctic areas of operation offers its own unique and equally unforgettable feature: Greenland is great for mountainous shorelines and record-setting fjords, Northern Norway is the place to go for the aurora borealis and historic masted schooners, and Svalbard (particularly Spitsbergen) is where you’re most likely to encounter the more common and coveted Arctic animals.

Oceanwide guides dedicate beach cleanup to Sarah Auffret

Last week guides and passengers of an Oceanwide Expeditions voyage to the Arctic cleaned plastic off a Svalbard beach in memory of Sarah Auffret, an environmental agent for the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) who died in Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on March 10.

Islands of the Blessed: Four Things to Do Around Cape Verde

Islands of the Blessed: Things to Do Around Cape Verde

Size Matters: Choosing the Right Expedition Cruise Vessel

Not all expedition operators offer the same experience, and a key differentiator is ship size.

The Arctic’s Most Phenomenal Fjords

Fjords are typically associated with Norway, but they are far from exclusive to that territory and are in fact a relatively common feature of the Arctic

Our New m/v Hondius Makes Its Maiden Arctic Voyage

Today we celebrate the maiden Arctic voyage of our new ship, m/v Hondius. After more than two years from conception to construction, this newest member of our nautical family has finally left home.

Five Reasons Why Snowshoeing is a Perfect Polar Activity

Snowshoeing is one of the most longstanding and popular sports in the Arctic and Antarctica. Here are five reasons why.

50 Years Among the Poles: Interview with Ko de Korte

In a few short weeks, Oceanwide Expeditions consultant Ko de Korte will join 174 passengers aboard the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel, Hondius, when it makes its maiden voyage to the Arctic island of Spitsbergen.

IAATO Votes New Whale Protection Measures Into Effect

On May 3 the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) voted measures into effect that will reduce the incidence of tourist ships striking whales around the Antarctic Peninsula.

Oceanwide Expeditions Donates €620 to Charity Based on Passenger Reviews

Thanks to our passengers, we’re donating €620 to four separate charities: Plastic Oceans International, World Wide Fund for Nature, BirdLife International, and 4Ocean.

The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island

If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.

Why Travel Solo to the Polar Regions?

Travelling solo means you’ll arrive among new friends and fellow adventurers rather than strangers in an unfamiliar group.

Peaks, Fjords, and Auroras: 14 East Greenland Attractions

Nothing against the west coast, but many travelers agree it is more touristic and developed (and hence, less wild and adventurous) than Greenland’s eastern shores.

Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List

It’s a common pursuit among serious travelers to visit all seven continents. And indeed, the term “bucket list,” which became popular (if not overused) since the 2007 movie, fits naturally with this goal.

Higher Ground: Interview with Polar Hiking Guide Philipp Schaudy

Imagine you’ve spent the last hour and change huffing up a rocky Arctic slope, pausing only to pull a drink from your water bottle or wipe sweat off your brow, when suddenly you realize your hiking group has stopped and you’ve reached the summit.

The Arctic Hare: Easter Bunny²

In preparation for Easter Sunday, let’s explore all the ways this so-called polar rabbit (which really isn’t a rabbit at all) might in fact make a better mascot than the traditional Easter bunny.

Five Reasons to Love St. Helena (Even If You’re a Polar Junkie)

Being one of the most remote islands on Earth confers a certain charm. Getting your name from a Roman empress (and the mother of Constantine the Great) also helps. And if you’re in search of a conversation starter, being the site of Napoleon’s final exile doesn’t hurt either.

Port Pastimes: 7 Fun Things to Do in Longyearbyen

Waiting in port to begin an Arctic cruise can be a little like waiting for water to boil or coffee to brew or Game of Thrones to come back: Time seems to defy its own laws and, as life slows to a crawl, you begin to wonder if all of this is really going to be worth it.