Reviews

We took the 19 days tour to Falklands/Malvinas, South Georgia and Antarctica and it was a great experience. The crew, the expedition team and the services staff was outstanding. The Ortelius is a nice small ship that was our cozy home for these days. But, even though the tour was advertised as English speaking there were more than 50% of the passengers that were Mandarin speakers, of which only a handful was able to speak & understand English. Unfortunately there were not enough interpreters on board to deal with that imbalance which led to situations where during zodiac cruises not all people in the zodiac understood what was said. Even though there was only one „little issue“ with this situation during a landing where due to lack of language understanding a person feel into a river, this feeling of insecurity was always around when being of board. While the expedition team did try to overcome the problem by organizing Mandarin speaking only zodiacs it didn’t fix the problem completely as there were not enough interpreters. And frankly, to imagine what would happen in case of a real emergency where people don’t understand what’s being said is very scary and dangerous.

ongeloofelijke ervaring

WOW! This voyage exceeded my expectation. When my husband booked the expedition ship, I was concerned about the comfort of the cabins and common area, and even more nervous about the meals. I had no reason to be nervous - the ship is very modern, the cabins and common area swell appointed. The lounge was were we spent most of our free time mingling with fellow travels. (When we weren’t on deck or in the bridge). The small ship environment really fostered mingling with both staff and other guests. The food was plentiful, varied and of excellent quality and taste. The cruise staff couldn’t do enough for us - they accommodated my dietary restriction beyond what I expected. There was a nice BBQ on deck one evening (in snow flurries….but there was mulled wine to warm us up). Another afternoon there was hot chocolate spiked with rum. Every afternoon there was nice snack brought up. The best part of the trip was the expedition team. Led by expedition team leader Pippa and assistant leader George, the entire team entertained us with great lectures when they were not taking us on outings. We saw plenty of wildlife daily. Weather prevented us from flying to the emperor penguin colony,, but the team took our safety seriously and we appreciated that. We got to visit other penguin colonies, sometimes viewing from the zodiac, and on most days landings and a walk on ice.The small ship size allowed us to to off ship daily, including 2 scenic helicopter flights. The staff paid attention to details even for this - each flight every passenger had a window seat. The helicopter pilots were very friendly and made the flights very memorable. If you are considering an Antarctic trip, I highly recommend doing it on a small ship like the Ortellius.

I don't think I can quite put into words how amazing this trip was! To start, the entire oceanwide team was excellent - dining services memorized everyone's needs/preferences (and names!) within the first day, the expedition team's excitement and expertise enhanced every moment off the ship, and all other staff were warm and friendly! I was so happy how much time we were able to spend off of the ship either on landings or Zodiac cruises. I was a little hesitant that Zodiac cruises would be "boring" but there were some of my favorite moments of the trip! Nothing can quite compare to circling icebergs, approaching seals napping on icebergs, or basking in the magnificence of breaching whales meters away from your Zodiac! If you want feel like you are on a true expedition and spend most of your time off the ship, I cannot recommend Oceanwide expeditions enough!

Best company, best trip and best wild life ever! We will book again with OceanWide!

i dream about this trip allmost 10 years, i save money for my lifetime experience and if you still dream and never give up it happends. it was 19 days of my greatest experience and i live any seconds with open heart.

One of the best cruise and trip I join so far. The expedition team really go way beyond, very passionate about their job. The activities very well organized. Even the lecture was very informative. I definitely will join this expedition again in future.

The Antarctica Discovery & Learning voyage aboard the MS Hondius in November was outstanding. The crew and expedition guides demonstrated excellent background knowledge, shared with clarity, enthusiasm, and professionalism. All activities — landings, Zodiac operations, and kayaking — were conducted confidently and safely, always leaving participants feeling well prepared and in expert hands. Cleanliness and hygiene on board were excellent, contributing to a very comfortable expedition environment. Beyond the superb organization, the voyage offered additional unforgettable natural impressions. In particular, entering the icy Antarctic waters at Stony Point was a truly fantastic and intense experience — a rare moment of immersion that created a deep and lasting connection with this extraordinary environment. A superbly executed expedition voyage that truly lives up to its promise of Discovery & Learning.

That was such a wonderful and inspiring expedition, with such a lot of wildlife sightings and beautiful, breathtaking scenery. The kayak outings had been great, sitting there outside with all the stillness around, beautiful views and maybe some animal noises around. The places we stopped were great, and gave us a good insight into Antarctica. The team was amazing, all as much as excited to go there as we have been, and they did all such a great job in making this an outstanding exoperience.

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative voyage into Antarctica. All our lectures were by knowledgeable and well informed personnel with a large amount of information to impart. In both directions The Drake Passage was calm so this added to the passengers enjoyment and enabled them to pass much time on deck and on the bridge. Our helicopter rides were exciting as we were able to view the icy surroundings from above and obtain some idea of the ever expanding snowy scene. On the domestic scene our cabins were warm, had ample space, and were kept tidy daily by the staff. The food served in the galley was plentiful and varied so nobody had the opportunity to go hungry. All crew members from the Captain down were very friendly and mixed happily with the passengers to answer questions and keep us up to date with progress. I think particular mention should be made of Pippa whose professional approach soon marshalled the 100 or so passengers into a cohesive unit and to George whose passion for the Antarctic and its environs proved infectious. I would happily travel with Oceanwide Expeditions again.

sehr gute Reise, bin voll zufrieden

Alles bestens, viele Erlebnisse, tolle Betreuung und auch guter Service auf dem Schiff

My August 2025 Arctic adventure was my second trip with Oceanwide Expeditions. The first was aboard the Plancius, this trip aboard the Hondius. It was no surprise that this trip far exceeded all expectations for comfort, delicious meals, and exciting adventures ashore. The top notch expedition staff is knowledgable and professional citing detailed information about wildlife, terrain, and other aspects of the environment. Daily lectures were informative and captivating. Additionally, interactions with all other crew, dining, and staff members were friendly and professional delivering a first class experience. All are true professionals. When the voyage ended, disembarking the ship included lots of hugs and a few tears amongst staff and passengers. It was indeed a very fine adventure. In my estimation there is no finer fleet of ships that are staffed with friendly, professional personnel. I hope to travel with Oceanwide expeditions again. John Zingrich

Great nature, lots of wildlife including spotting at least 9 polar bears. Wonderful Zodiaccruises in front of calving glaciers, nice hikes, fossils, and onboard the best staff and great food. Ortelius' staff created such a great atmosphere.

A lifelong dream became true. A fantastic extraordinary crew. A wonderful magical landdcape. Very interesting recaps and lots of great appreciated informations from the experts. All in all the best trip in my lifetime. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart