Recensies

We had a great trip with an excellent guide & crew. We found all of the species on my list, though the Blue Whale was a long way off. The Nooderlicht was good fun, the photos of it in drift ice and the mid-night sun are stunners. The fauna & flora were all varied & diverse, I did not expect to see such a range of flora on the tundra. My highlights were, Ice Bear & cubs, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Cetacean's, Bonxie flying in formation, the diversity of the birds, flora, glacier's, drift ice, stunning geology, & good food. We completed a lot of walks & a few hill climbs. I will be back.

In our childhood when my sister and I were living in Africa near the equator we were often dreaming of visiting, talking about and making drawings of Spitsbergen. Our father then made us a promise to bring us once he was retired. He kept the promis! Not knowing what to expect, we only had our 40 years old childhood-dreams, it was above all expectations. This Oceanwide trip affected me [and my father and my sister] with the Arctic-virus. I really fell in love with Spitsbergen, the Ortelius, the lovely energising crew, the rides in the Zodiacs, the playing Polar bears, the curious walrusses, the many birds, the pack-ice, the reindeers, all the different colours...overwhelming. After 3 days, still dizzy by land-sickness, I feel 'home-sick' and I will come back one day bringing my son. The whole experience was a poem!

Our trip to Greenland was a disaster. Not one day of the itinerary was achieved and definitely no Bowheads or large icebergs where seen. We were rerouted to Sisimiut with no warning to meet up with the boat that had failed to make it to Aasiaat, our planned destination. We understand that once on the planned trip nothing is guaranteed, but we didn’t even make it to the start point. We therefore spent a week on board a boat that travelled no more than a few miles around various local fiords to spot Canada geese and Mallard ducks! We did see a few distant Humpbacks and a sole Minke whale, but nothing that we were expecting. Most of our fellow guests were seasoned travellers and in a number of cases, like ourselves, to the polar regions. The majority were desperately upset to have wasted their money on a totally different trip than promised in a location miles away from where we wanted to be. Our main issue is that Oceanwide must have known about the ice situation at least a week before and made no attempt to inform us. An alternative plan should have been devised. The service and reaction of the crew didn't in anyway compensate for the disappointment of the trip!

Just back today from 12 days on Ortelius from Spitsbergen to Greenland and finishing in Iceland. I travelled with my eleven year old son. Not only was the scenery and the itinerary brilliant but the ship was comfortable. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. It would be easy to say a once in a lifetime trip, but that would be wrong.... I'll be pack.

I have just returned from the Greenland trip, the team was wonderfull! their passion and enthusiasim for the region was contagious. The effort made by the whole crew to make this a pleasant trip and share their knowledge was outstanding. The variety of activities has made this trip even more special. Manual photo workshops were fun and easy to follow. My only negative experience is having to pay for the internet which never connected, i think i should be refunded the cost to be honest. Still i give this trip 5 stars! thank you oceanside expeditions team and keep it up.