Reviews

A journey into the Arctic to the pack ice is a unique experience. The landscapes are truly extraordinary, offering the chance to see Arctic wildlife. It is not just a trip, but an experience that fosters a love for nature. Thanks to Oceanwide Expeditions for the excellent organization and the engaging, informal atmosphere. The presence of a knowledgeable, professional staff—combined with their kindness and helpfulness—ensures that nothing is left to chance, whether during shore excursions or on board. Excellent cuisine. They deserve 5 stars!

Fantastic trip, exceeded all expectations. Extraordinary landscapes with splendid galciers and Artic desert. We sailed along the Artic ice pack and saw polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, Artic foxes and birds. The staff was extraordinary, competent and attentive to safety. Very friendly onboard staff, excellent cuisine! A five stars experience.

We spent 8 wonderful days (20–27 June 26) on the Hondius … Unfortunately, our luggage got stuck at Oslo Airport, which was all the more unfortunate as it could only be delivered to Longyearbyen a day later. We contacted Oceanwide straight away and were informed very quickly that we should enjoy our day in Longyearbyen, that they would collect the luggage from the airport themselves, and that the ship would not leave the harbour until the luggage was on board. We did buy a few warm items just to be on the safe side …, but in the end everything worked out perfectly and with such discretion that none of the passengers noticed a thing … The trip was perfect from start to finish and everything was organised very professionally … nothing to complain about. As well as seeing plenty of other wildlife, we were also lucky enough to observe a pair of polar bears relatively closely for quite some time from the safety of the ship … Wonderful memories …

Het was een geweldige reis!! De tijd heeft voor ons stilgestaan,alle ruimte hebben wij gekregen om van al het moois te genieten.Het team heeft er alles aan gedaan om ons met de allermooiste herinneringen naar huis te laten terugkeren.En dat is gelukt!!Een ijzersterk team met zoveel kennis en passie niet in woorden uit te leggen.Ook het restaurant was geweldig...de passie van de kokwas terug te zien en te proeven aan het eten.De kamer was prima en ook heel belangrijk ...we hebben heerlijk geslapen. Wij willen jullie allemaal nogmaals bedanken voor deze mooie reis. We genieten er nog elke dag van na.

ongeloofelijke ervaring

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

The animal and landscape sceneries we're great nur the chinese guests being noisy and chaotic was very disappointing, annoying and shocking to me.they didn't respect nature and I hardly could enjoy the silence of the Arctic as advertised. The food and crew was adorable.

Eine eindrückliche Reise, tolle Natur & Tierwelt. Das Expeditionsteam ist hervorragend und verfügt über ein fundiertes Wissen. Die Crew leistet grossartige Arbeit, Essen ist lecker. Das Schiff hat einen nostalgischen Charme, der. Esssaal ist recht laut und die Gänge eng. Gut geeignet für Alleinreisende. Tipp: Gästestruktur im Voraus checken! Mit 75% Chinesen zu reisen ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig.

Speziell der Tag im Packeis war ein ganz besonderes Erlebnis. Gesamte Mannschaft der Plancius und das Expeditionsteam haben dazu beigetragen, daß wir viel sehen und erleben, uns wohlfühlen und eine wunderbare Zeit genießen.

Ausgezeichnet

We recently joined an Arctic cruise with Oceanwide Expeditions and were disappointed by several aspects of the experience. The ship lacked basic amenities, including an elevator. Most of our group were seniors aged 70+, and the constant need to climb multiple flights of stairs for drinking water, meals, and excursions was exhausting. There were no accommodations offered for older guests or those with mobility challenges. Meal service was poorly managed, with only one-hour windows and all passengers eating at the same time. This led to long lines and, on several occasions, the buffet was cleared before we reached the front. Staff were often unaccommodating and unresponsive to concerns. For an expedition of this caliber, the lack of accessibility, organization, and guest care was disappointing. We hope Oceanwide makes meaningful improvements for future guests. We did enjoy the expeditions and the guides leading those activities.