Oceanwide Expeditions Blog | Antarctic & Arctic Cruise Blogs.

Short hikes, medium hikes, and long hikes - what's the difference?

Our range of hiking activities is not just carefully planned, but also inclusive of different levels of physical fitness and hiking experience.

The Flight of the Örnen: Andrée's 1897 Arctic Balloon Expedition

Andrée's balloon, the Örnen, would carry equipment for scientific observation and photographic studies.

The Acoustics of the Arctic: Interview with Ashleigh Kitchiner

We spent some time talking to Ashleigh about her work as an expedition guide, what got her into biology, and why bowhead whale sounds are so interesting.

12 Things to Do in Antarctica

There are numerous things to do in Antarctica that might help sharpen your focus, ensuring you get an experience tailored to your personal tastes.

The Seasons of Antarctica: When to Visit and Why

What are Antarctica's travel seasons, and when is the best time to visit? The answer is simpler than you might think.

Circumnavigating Spitsbergen

Our Around Spitsbergen voyage circumnavigates the principal island of the ruggedly beautiful Svalbard archipelago.

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.

What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen?

Though eastern Svalbard does not differ dramatically from the rest of the island group, the itineraries we follow there give you a different experience than our other Svalbard options.

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.

Oceanwide’s First Female Captain: Interview with Miia Holma

Miia Holma captained her first Oceanwide voyage to Svalbard in July. Nothing too exceptional about that until you consider she’s our first female captain to make the voyage.

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

Whales, South Georgia, and Bill Smith

Bill frequently raises money for SGHT through his drawings, which are focused on South Georgia and polar expedition travel.

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.

Ignition Nature Moment: Interview with Hubert Neufeld

Sounds of the South delivers scene after scene of stunning landscapes and exotic wildlife encounters.

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.

Antarctic Endurance: Ultramarathon in Earth’s Largest Desert

Sixty ultramarathoners will join us in Antarctica during the 2024-25 season.

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.

Antarctic Inspired: Interview with Ruben Hein

While we love when our guests are inspired by our trips, we rarely hear of them making a nature documentary, musical album, and biodiversity website as a result. But such was the case with Dutch musician Ruben Hein.

Charting Flanders Bay

Until then, this spot in the northwestern Antarctic Peninsula had only been charted three times since 1898, when it was roughly mapped by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. This activity, which involved our expedition leader, second mate, and other members of our onboard staff, was accomplished using the OLEX depth mapping system.

Ortelius Staff Spot Type D Orca

Taking our guests to beautiful polar areas to see exotic polar animals is what we’re all about. Whether we’re spotting polar bears or penguins, humpback whales or leopard seals or whole harems of walruses, it’s the wildlife that really fuels our passion for the polar regions.