Blog

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The Science of Sustainability: Interview with Nathalie Steins

Can polar travel be made more sustainable? This question was part of a research project by scientist Nathalie Steins, and we were eager to hear her findings.

Expedition at its Greatest: Interview with Sara Jenner

We talked to Sara Jenner about how she got into this work, what she loves about polar travel, and why having a home base isn’t on her agenda right now.

Wanny Woldstad: First Female Hunter on Svalbard

Wanny Woldstad was the first female trapper on Svalbard, but she preferred to think of herself as simply a trapper

Svalbard vs. the Canadian Arctic

Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic vary in terms of what they offer expedition travelers. They offer similar scenery, but their remoteness and populations are exceedingly unique.

Oceanwide Expeditions donates €1060 to nature charities

This year we will donate €1,060 to the following conservation charities based on guest reviews: World Wildlife Fund, BirdLife International, 4Ocean, and the Falklands Conservation.

Unearthing the Arctic: Interview with Dr. Louis Beyens

We’re thrilled to have Dr. Louis Beyens join us as a guest lecturer on several trips this summer. We talked to him about what he’ll be discussing and why the polar regions are unlike any other area on the planet.

Keeping the Arctic Clean: Interview with Eelco Leemans

We spent some time talking to Eelco Leemans about what got him started in the project of waste removal and analysis on Svalbard.

Arctic Cruises Compared: Around Spitsbergen vs. North Spitsbergen

Around Spitsbergen or North Spitsbergen – which cruise is for you? The most distinguishing feature of these cruises is the areas they visit.

Secrets of the Stone: Restoration of Svalbard’s 1878 Memorial

Verheul's goal was refreshingly simple: make the 1878 stone legible again so that future visitors can continue to enjoy it.

Falling into Place: Iris van Zalinge’s Arctic Expedition

Iris van Zalinge, a native of the Dutch province of Zeeland where our headquarters is based, took the nine-night voyage on Plancius in July. And fortunately for us, she had much to say about this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Wahlbergøya beach cleanup results in 250 kg (600 pounds) of waste collected

“There was so much rubbish collected that we couldn’t fit it all in the white bags he had brought. Instead, we put the larger bits of rope, fishing gear, and plastic directly into the Zodiac. We filled a whole Zodiac with plastic!

Svalbard’s Texas Bar

Texas Bar is one of the historic areas we visit on certain Svalbard trips, and it always proves to be a cherished landing site among both our guides and guests.

Insider’s Expedition: Interview with Toto Vermue

As part of our reservations department, one of Toto’s responsibilities is helping book our guests on the many Antarctic and Arctic cruises we offer, so firsthand experience of these trips is highly relevant to her job.

World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line 2022

It is with great delight that we announce we have been nominated for World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line at the second annual World Cruise Awards.

Oceanwide participates in fourth annual Cleanup for Sarah

During Cleanup for Sarah, we encourage our staff and followers on social media to join us in removing litter from nature areas. These efforts are meant to continue the spirit of Sarah’s work with Clean Seas, a campaign she led to remove plastic waste from the Arctic as well as reduce the use of plastics aboard Arctic cruise vessels.

Book Recommendations for Your Polar Cruise

We’ve reached out to our followers on social media, most of whom are former (or future) passengers, to find out what polar-related books they recommend. We were quite happy with the results, which we’ve summarized below in no particular order.

Hondius begins her Arctic season, with other ships to follow

Oceanwide’s Polar Class 6 vessel Hondius set sail from her homeport Vlissingen in the Netherlands on Sunday, delivering passengers to her first Arctic voyage of the season.

Oceanwide Expeditions Continues Charity Donations Based on Passenger Reviews

Some years ago, we made an offer to our former passengers: For every review they left on our website, we would donate €5 to a charity of their choice. This resulted in donations to four excellent nature conservation organizations, and we were happy to continue the tradition this year.

Kite Skiing the Greenland Ice Sheet

Laura, a French Canadian from Quebec City with a Master’s in Geophysics and Glaciology, will make the journey in April with her dad two other team members, kiting roughly 1,700 km (1,050 miles) across the Greenland ice sheet from north to south.

Franz Josef Land Sites, Species, and Experiences

The archipelago of Franz Josef Land is to Russia what Svalbard is to Norway: Both island groups offer excellent Arctic scenery, adventurous outdoor activities, and a good chance of seeing iconic species like polar bears and walruses - alongside a wide range of marine mammals and seabirds.

Introducing our new Science Basecamp program

For polar travelers with a particular bent for science, we have designed an all-new Science Basecamp program that explores such fascinating topics as geology, marine biology, glaciology, and macro-photography.