Commentaires
Overall rating based on 1 184 votes
Overall rating based on 1 184 votes
Région
Destination
-
Afficher plus
Navire
Activités de plein air
-
Afficher plus
Expériences
La faune
-
Afficher plus
Année
-
Afficher plus
Absolutely awesome holiday and journey! Inspiring staff, incredible people, lifelong friends, and empowering experiences ❤️ sadly came to an end although I feel these experiences and bonds formed will last forever and this educational hands on expedition has enriched me in appreciating our amazing earth even more for which we are caretakers for 🥰❤️
We had an exceptional Basecamp expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula with the Oceanwide team of experienced guides. The whole trip, from the activities, to the lectures, to the food and fellow travelers was a highlight. Continuously changing weather meant the daily plans and schedules had to be fluid and flexible, which the team did with grace and ease under the expert leadership of Sara and Captain Per. Expedition leaders were knowledgeable experts in their fields and were always happy to share and impart their knowledge. The food was outstanding, and the staff were just incredible - nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with a smile. I would unreservedly recommend this trip - it was a great balance between being on the boat, Zodiac cruising looking for wildlife, activities on land and sea, and loads of fun and laughs. Truly the experience of a lifetime.
Amazing staff and amazing adventure.
Impresif
Words have not been invented to describe the beauty and perfection of Antarctica, to also get to do the activities there was fabulous, Kayaking with penguins, Zodiacing with Orcas, camping with seals - all beyond belief - the staff on the ship (not boat - I have learnt my lesson) were fabulous - above and beyond on every level - I could spend hours telling you how fab the crew were and it still wouldn't touch the sides. This is a very expensive trip but the staff make sure it's worth every penny and more. I thought my travel company were crazy when they told me the suggested tip was £140, by the end of the first day they'd totally earned that and by the end of the trip I literally gave them all the cash I had - happily. If you want to push yourself, learn something new and meet fabulous new people, there's no better way to do it - if there's any way you can get the money together, just do it - you can't be disappointed.
The trip I never knew I needed until I heard it exists, a place I didn't know would capture my heart until I came home and realized how much I missed it. Originally planned as a once in a life time trip, I've accepted there's no way I can only visit once in a lifetime. This is the ultimate way to disconnect with the transactional world we live in today and reconnect with nature, science, discovery and the human spirit.
A birding excursion organized by the crew would be nice. You can akways ask things but some extra help detecting and direct knowing which bird is great to have.
What dies OE do with sustainability? Think about the food.
And offering more healthy food (less sugar, less salt) would be good.
Let people bring their own water bottle and only give a bottle if they don’t have.
Absolutely fantastic voyage on the Ortelius led by Sara and Captain Per! Sara did a wonderful job finding sites with lots of varied wildlife over the course of the trip, throughout predictably unpredictable weather (even the days too stormy for landings offered great views and were well worth the adventure). Her expedition staff – Jens, Koen, Bill with his hilarious cartoons, and many others – were not only helpful and informative, but also a joy to spend time with and learn from. Finally, I was blown away by the ship's crew; everybody was super kind, and the dining staff even went out of their way to remember personal preferences (plus the food itself was delicious). Since returning, I keep dreaming about this trip and thinking about when/how I can go back...!
This was the most incredible trip of my life - Antarctica and the surrounding waters cannot be summed up in words. I had just the best time, and I cannot sing more praises about the crew and staff of Ortelius. If you want to get off the boat, see animals, and appreciate the natural beauty of the area, this is the company for you. If you want a luxurious cruise (not to say the food and service wasn't great!), with a gym, or a pool, look elsewhere. I would come back in a heartbeat.
Highly recommend! I liked this company’s emphasis on “expedition.” We went out on the Zodiac inflatable boats often (usually twice a day every day, whenever possible, which was frequently). We saw many amazing creatures in their natural environment, including lots of whales and seven different types of penguins, while maintaining a safe and respectful distance. Every landing was very different from the others and amazingly beautiful. The ship was very comfortable, and the crew was fantastic. The other passengers were an international group of people who were very open and interesting to talk to. There were lots of informative optional lectures every day on all aspects of the different kinds of wildlife we saw (whales, penguins, many types of birds, seals), environment, weather, geology, ocean currents, history of Antarctic exploration, as well as on the critical issues of ocean ecology and sustainability. Seeing penguins swimming in the water beside our ship and jumping up onto icebergs was awesome! So were all the sites we visited on South Georgia Island, including Grytvikan and Shackleton’s final resting spot. The Captain, expedition leader, and crew succeeded in doing everything they could to make this a truly memorable trip. p.s. Our room was very comfortable, and the meals were delicious, too :)
This Antarctic expedition exceeded all expectations. The crew and all the staff were exceptional from Captain Per and Sara Jenner the expedition leader to the wait staff, engineers and everyone else. It's like one big happy family and everyone is there to make your trip the best it can be. I cannot praise or thank them enough for making Christmas 2024 the best ever! We saw more wildlife than I'd hoped for and much of it so close. The scenery was spectacular and every zodiac trip and beach landing simply amazing. We learned so much in the lectures and I haven't laughed so much in a long time as I did on auction night and at the Captain's dinner. And if that's not enough, Volodymyr and his team provided us with delicious and varied food for the whole trip. If you're thinking about going on an Antarctic trip, stop prevaricating and just book this one. It's fabulous!
I believe the Oceanwide team did everything possible to give us the best possible expedition. When plan A could happen pan b c or d were on a par or better. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone.
The Plancius is a ship for those serious about sailing arctic waters. It lacks all the amenities of most cruise ships (with the exception of some pretty good eating). What it does have is an expedition crew serious about maximizing your interactions with wildlife and landscapes while minimizing your impact on them. They also have a breadth of knowledge which they are eager to share. There were 2 lengthy landings or zodiac tours each day when we were at a destination and 3-4 lectures each day while at sea. The ship's crew was quite accommodating about meeting our adventure needs, whether passing by the world's largest iceberg or spending unscheduled tine creeping up on the sole emperor penguin of the trip.
Staff was very friendly and helpfull, food was delicious. There is nothing to improve. Really amazing!!!
We enjoyed every single moment during our voyage with Hondius! The staff was very friendly, helpful and welcoming, the food onboard was delicious, and the activities were great! Nothing negative can be said about this experience.
