Recensies

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.

It was a long time pending wish to visit Antarctica. It happened this November. The 13 day trip in MV Hondius from Ushuaia to Antarctic peninsula was a dream come true. From departure to return, every step of the way was brilliantly done by the expedition leader (George), expedition team, captain, and ship’s crew. In spite of extremely challenging weather, we were able to get out and experience the incredible landscapes, wildlife, and activities due to the experience and dedication of the Oceanwide team. Kayaking through a sea of icebergs, Mountaineering, Camping at Kerry Point on Ronge Island where the perfect silent was broken a few times by the thundering sound of breaking ice in the glacier beside us, Zodiac Cruising in search of wildlife and landings on Antartica to visit Penguin colonies… all incredible experiences. The lectures on board and the expertise of the zodiac guides on Antarctic wildlife, history, and other topics made this trip extra special. The passengers came from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries, and ages and made for excellent company on board and off. Even seasickness on the Drake was no match for such an incredible time.This was the best thing I have ever done. Everything, from the activities to the wildlife to the friends I met on board, exceeded my expectations. This could not have been possible without the wonderful guides and everyone else on the ship working hard to make this Basecamp Expedition so memorable. Thank you!!

In November 30th, I took my two children on the Oceanwide cruise to explore the pure land of Antarctica. From the moment I boarded the ship, I felt the enthusiasm of all the crew members, especially for a family combination like us - a father with two children, one 7 years old and the other 11 years old. For children, Antarctica is more difficult to reach and faces more difficulties. Fortunately, on the ship, the crews were well taken care of and were not ignored because of their young age. Expedition leader Sara and all the expedition members put their safety first when landing on the island and cruising to ensure their safe tour in Antarctica. In the wheelhouse, the crew told them some knowledge about the ship. Although the children's Englishwas not very good, the children felt cared for. There are also two Chinese translators, Yukan and Shan, who are the most important roles of the staff. Their translated notices, safety instructions of the expedition members, daily summaries and itinerary plans for the next day enable many Chinese people, including children, who do not know English, to fully understand the information on the cruise ship. During the process of landing on the island, I lingered around taking photos. Two Chinese translators took the initiative to take care of my children, reminding them not to go to dangerous places such as the beach. They showed them penguins and taught them about seals, whales, and penguins. They became good friends with the children, allowing them to experience the warmth of the Antarctic family while enjoying the beautiful scenery. The children are reluctant to part with them. During the island landing, I was busy taking photos. Two Chinese translators helped me take care of the children, reminding them not to go to dangerous places such as the beach, and told them about seals and penguins. They became good friends with the children, allowing them to feel the warmth of the Antarctic family while enjoying the beautiful scenery. In short, it was a very pleasant trip. I will recommend OEACNWIDE to my friends, and I will definitely board this ship again to explore the unknown wonders of the Arctic.

We had the most amazing experience! Never a dull moment. We consistently had the opportunity for zodiac cruises and making landfall. George & the entire staff were phenomenal!

Just go. If you've got this far, you're already interested in an Expidition-type cruise to Antarctica, and you should totally just go. With Oceanwide Expeditions on the Hondius. The itinerary is superb, staff and crew give their all to ensure an awesome time, and the overall experience is beyond any expectations that I had. The magic of Antarctica is something else, but doing it with a team dedicated to giving you the best experience possible and just being a great bunch of people makes it even more special. Looking to do another cruise with them in the future. Maybe the Arctic!!

This was the best thing I have ever done. Everything, from the activities to the wildlife to the friends I met on board, exceeded my expectations. This could not have been possible without the wonderful guides and everyone else on the ship working hard to make this Basecamp Expedition so memorable. Thank you!!

From departure to return, every step of the way was brilliantly done by the expedition leader (George), expedition team, captain, and ship’s crew. In spite of extremely challenging weather, we were able to get out and experience the incredible landscapes, wildlife, and activities due to the experience and dedication of the Oceanwide team. Kayaking through a sea of icebergs, watching whales feeding while camping on the ice, listening to the glaciers calving while mountaineering… all incredible experiences. The lectures on board and the expertise of the zodiac guides on Antarctic wildlife, history, and other topics made this trip extra special. The passengers came from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries, and ages and made for excellent company on board and off. Even seasickness on the Drake was no match for such an incredible time.