Blog

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Vote for World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line 2021

We are delighted to announce that we have been nominated for the World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line 2021 award at the inaugural event of the World Cruise Awards

The Return to Franz Josef Land

Franz Josef Land used to be a classic part of our northern program until 2012, when we stopped visiting the area due to various difficulties involving bureaucracy and distance. But now that restrictions are beginning to lighten, we’re looking forward to returning to one of our all-time favorite destinations for Arctic wildlife and history.

Trips for All Birders: Interview with Martin Berg

Martin Berg is a marine biologist and expedition leader, and his love of birds runs deep. This year he will join us on some of our most bird-focused trips.

The Music of Antarctica: Interview with Cellist Jörg Berning

We interviewed German cellist Jörg Berning about performing Ralph Vaughan Williams's Sinfonia Antarctica with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Northeast Greenland National Park

Northeast Greenland National Park is the world’s largest national park and the ninth largest protected area on Earth. It should come as little surprise, then, that it’s also bigger than most countries, covering an impressive 972,000 square km (375,300 square miles). This epically proportioned park not only boasts some of the best geological formations on the planet, it’s also one of the most ecologically attractive areas in all of the Arctic. In fact, you’re more likely to spot a polar bear here than perhaps any other area in Greenland.

Greenland: East vs. West

East and West Greenland are very different in terms of climate, wildlife, habitation, and geology. This means visiting them yields different experiences.

The Arctic Theater: Interview with Hans Beelen

When it comes to Arctic marine history, Hans Beelen has done his research. He has published books on the East India Company of the Netherlands as well as historic Dutch trading, and most recently has also written a study on the whaling industry of Greenland and Spitsbergen.

Matthew Henson: First to the Top of the World?

Though for years American Navy engineer Robert Peary claimed the credit for being first to the North Pole, studies assert that it was actually his associate, Matthew Henson, who got there ahead of him.

Third Time’s a Charm: The Last Voyage of Willem Barentsz

A Dutch cartographer and navigator, Barentsz lived from about 1550 to 1597 in the region that eventually became the Netherlands.

What to Pack for Your Expedition Cruise to the Arctic or Antarctica

It’s easy to get confused about what to pack for a polar cruise. Some gear is provided by the expedition company and some is not, and it’s not always clear which is which.

Rebuilding the Historic Vessel of Willem Barentsz

During lockdown, many of our expedition guides are making use of the extra time by preparing new lectures for the Arctic and Antarctic travel seasons to come.

Polar Travel Tips from Field Operations Manager Adam Turner

Adam Turner has many years of experience as an expedition leader. Here are his words of wisdom on what to do and not do during your Arctic or Antarctic adventure.

Polar Travel Tips from Expedition Leader Ali Liddle

Ali Liddle - one of our expedition leaders - adds her own pearls of polar wisdom to our growing blogs of expedition travel tips.

Polar Travel Tips from Our Office Staff

While our guides and expedition leaders certainly have the most in-field experience when it comes to polar travel, many of our office staff has also experienced enough of the Arctic and Antarctica to impart some highly useful polar cruise tips.

Oceanwide Removes Local Waste in Memory of Sarah Auffret

Oceanwide Expeditions joined numerous people around the world in the AECO-organized waste removal effort known as Cleanup for Sarah on June 16, her birthday

Svalbard or Spitsbergen: What’s the Difference?

Outside the world of geopolitics or even polar travel, it’s probably not common knowledge that Svalbard and Spitsbergen are one in the same.

Six Arctic Seals

Owing to the large landmasses that populate the Northern Hemisphere, the Arctic has the most diverse wildlife of the planet’s polar regions. But some of the most attractive Arctic animals are the marine mammals we spot just offshore.

Hondius Photography and Video Workshops

There’s no shortage of great things to say about a Hondius expedition cruise, but among the best are the free video and photography workshops offered during some of this ship’s voyages.

Arctic on Foot: Hiking and Snowshoeing the Far North

The emphasis of our voyages is always getting you off the ship and into the action as often as possible. Although we travel from site to site on ice-strengthened vessels, our expeditions are specifically designed to give you the maximum firsthand experience of the polar regions and their exotic wildlife.