Reviews

Excellent trip. The staff and crew were wonderful - well prepared and trained, knowlegeable, organized, friendly, efficient and responsive to our needs. The ship was apparently very well maintained and well-run. Troels Jacobsen, the expedition leader was exceptional and did a fantastic job. Food service was amazing. Our only complaints are: (1.)The ship is very noisy. (2.)The bar/lounge was so crowded for the lectures that is became hot and uncomfortable. We skipped some lectures for that reason. (3.)The dining room was also very crowded. (4.)Loading the zodiacs often took a long time, so we stood around wearing a lot of bulky & hot gear in very crowded spaces. These are small complaints. We loved the trip and had a wonderful time. We would do the trip again and would recommend Oceanwide to others. Thank you.

We hadn’t been on a tour like this before so we didn’t know what to expect in terms of the roles of Captain, EL, expedition staff and other crew.  We were extremely impressed by the great job performed by everyone!  Your efforts made this a really memorable trip for us! Thank you!

Here are a few specifics: Captain Mika did a great job with the ship, of course.  But in addition, we found him to be open, approachable, interested in connecting with passengers and personable in sharing his expertise and experience with us.  Troels was superb as the EL.  We valued his openness about his decisions, what factors he was thinking about, and what information he was receiving.  Particularly when we were facing storms and high winds, it was really great to have him share all of this instead of simply announcing ‘we are doing this’.  We found the expedition staff very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and informative.  We learned a lot from all of them and enjoyed our interactions with them.  The ‘hotel side staff’ also did a great job and carried out their responsibilities with efficiency, good humor and friendliness.

Since we were part of a birding tour (apparently the only such organized group among the 113 passengers), we weren’t sure how our interests in birds would be balanced with the interests of the other passengers.  Troels and his team did an excellent job with this as well.

We rented the expedition parkas from your supplier.  That turned out to be an excellent decision and we were pleased with the process of receiving and returning them as well as how well they worked for us.

Lastly, we really loved the international character of the ship’s crew.  It was so refreshing to have all the accents, backgrounds and perspectives brought together in a team that clearly respected one another and provided a great deal of value and enjoyment to us as passengers.

We don’t like cold weather so we figured this would be the only trip like this we’d ever take.  But having had this experience, we are considering whether we should go to the Arctic.  If we do, it will be with Oceanwide.

A postscript … thank you so much for that wonderful trip log! This is by far the best and most thorough trip record we’ve received from organizations we’ve traveled with.  It’s fantastic to have all the information on our day-to-day activities and the crew.  It’s difficult to keep track of these details as a participant but having them brings back all the great experiences and people!  Cudos to Oceanwide on this!

Antarctica for most is an opportunity to check off the seventh continent; to fall within the less than 1% of humans to ever walk on all 7 continents. What you don’t know until you’ve had the good fortune to go is how Antarctica changes your life. You’ve been told of the massive glaciers and the penguin-shredding leopard seals, but what you aren’t told is that you’re about to embark on a voyage with 120 strangers with no cell phone service. In exceptionally close quarters, you’ll bond over career choices and failed relationships. You’ll be inspired by the effort it took fellow passengers to make it to Antarctica. You’ll find yourself intoxicated by the charisma only found on a ship full of determined humans enroute to pursuing one of many dreams they’ll inevitably conquer. I could tell you about humpbacks and zodiacs or the satisfaction of climbing your way to the top of Canessa Point, but that would hardly do justice. Antarctica reinvigorates you. If you’re considering a trip to Antarctica, Oceanwide should be the only choice. If you end up on a ship with Michael, Pippa, Bill, and Mal, consider yourself as having won the Antarctic lottery & brace yourself for the trip of a lifetime

I had a very good time on my expedition. The staff and guides were concerned with the safety of the guests and wildlife. Speaking of the guides, they answered all questions, were well educated and had a wide range of experience. The ship was clean, well lit and comfortable. The food was varied and plentiful. I got the opportunity to participate in camping, sea kayaking and mountaineering. There were also many on shore and zodiac tours of the different landings. I saw lots of wildlife and several research centers. There was an opportunity to meet the scientists working at the Vernadsky Station, mail a postcard and buy a souvenir or two. The Drake Passage was a little rough, but worth the trip.

This was an amazing trip. The Crew and guides were spectacular, always willing to share and explain things with a smile on their faces. I would recommend this group and this trip to any and everyone, who wishes to say that they have been to Antarctica. The scenic views, the wildlife, just incredible. We had an extraordinary expedition that gave us monumental memories. Thank you! N & C

All was well organised. Very friendly personal and very good dinners and breakfasts. Verry interesting readings and lectures. All well organised. Very good atmosphere! The rooms were very nice and. Comfortable. We learned a lot about wildlife, and history. It was very worth doing it!

What a fantastic experience I’ve had on the great Ortelius! All staff throughout the voyage were friendly and knowledgeable and went out of their way to make the trip a very memorable and enjoyable one. The legendary Scotsman Bill Smith needs a special mention for his all round enthusiasm, stories, drawings and care of his trainee guides. As for Antarctica, mind blowing, unreal, well, all of those types of words, can only just describe it.

Visiting Antarctica is truly a once in a lifetime experience and Oceanwide is the company to go with. In addition to comfortable accommodations on the ship and great food, they worked incredibly hard to make sure we got the most of our trip — they did everything possible to optimize the number of activities and landings we had. If we were unable to land because of weather or ice, they scheduled lectures or other interesting and fun activities. What makes Oceanwide stand out is their commitment to conservation and education, and top tier guides and staff. I was so impressed with the operation, the friendliness and welcoming environment, and the level of service!

We went on the base camp expedition cruise on Oceanwide, OTL27-19 Antarctic Peninsula. There are not enough adjectives to positively describe this incredible journey. Deciding what was the highlight of our trip is impossible There were numerous highlights; camping overnight on a glacier, landings including snowshoeing up to penguin rookeries, kayaking while penguins, seals, whales and icebergs went by, or just enjoying the passing scenery and birds from the railing. Perhaps one thing that stood out the most, was the staff. From the hotel staff to the expedition staff, everyone was exceptional. The food was delicious and varied. They made celebrating the New Year an event to remember. Our expedition leader, Beau, and his staff were professional, fun, passionate about their love of the area and generous with their knowledge and expertise. Their ability to manage the logistics and needs of passengers that ranged from young 20’s- 70’s and their flexibility necessitated by weather was absolutely mind blowing. Our Captain and his crew worked hard with the expedition staff to ensure our safety and provide a memorable experience. Well done Oceanwide Expeditions!

Die Antarktis war ein Traum von mir ... und ich bin nicht enttäuscht worden. Das Schiff, die Crew und alles, was ich den 12 Tagen sehen durfte wird mir in ewiger Erinnerung bleiben. Besonderer Dank gilt der Crew. Jeder, wirklich jeder hat sich rührend um uns gekümmert und uns bespaßt. Selbst auf der Hin- und Rückfahrt über die Drake Passage wurde uns nicht langweilig. Die Briefings, Vorträge und Workshops haben mir unheimlich viel an Informationen geliefert und viel Spaß gemacht. In der Antarktis gab es immer einen genauso faszinierenden Plan B, falls geplante Aktivitäten wetterbedingt nicht stattfinden konnten. Für mich nicht selbstverständlich, ist das Sharing der Fotos aller Teilnehmer sofern gewünscht. Besonderer Dank an Werner Kruse, dass er uns seine Fotos genauso selbstverständlich überlassen hat. An dieser Stelle somit noch einmal ein ganz herzliches Dankeschön an alle Crewmitglieder, dass sie uns ein so unvergleichliches Erlebnis ermöglicht haben und an das Team von Oceanwide für die professionelle Organisation. Ich empfehle euch gern weiter. Ihr machten einen super Job!!!

This trip was life changeing !!! The best trip I have ever taken in my life. The crew amazing in ever way, the ship was great, the scenery ...I will never be able to truly explain how beautiful and special Antartica real is. I want to live in Antartica. Thanks so much for everything Kaytia and the rest of the crew, thanks Oceanwide I will be back on this expedition again maybe next time I will get to Camp and Kayak ;). All the best, Luke Hicks

A trip of a lifetime. Great journey, great views and encounters. Excellent captain, crew, hotel staff and expedition staff. Nothing at all to complain about. The ship's facilities and catering exceeded expectations. Cabins are modern, clean and of materials which keep them in good shape, despite intensive use. The open bridge policy is also special to Oceanwide, adding another dimension to the trip. Overall; FANTASTIC.

I did the OTL27-19 Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp trip from 29/12/18 to 9/1/19. It was by far the most enjoyable experience ever! The trip was always going to be fantastic - because let's face it - it is the Antarctic. Just being there is awesome in itself. However, I'm not writing this review about the place but the people who made it special. The expedition team & ship crew were awesome. The ones that stood out were Beau, Sandra, Gracie, Mal, Marijke, Sigi & Melanie. We were blessed with excellent weather & as such there was no down-time for the expedition crew. It is easy to deduce that the exceptionally fine days meant that Beau & Sandra had to work extra hard to make sure we muggles were suitably entertained, happy & had nothing to complain about the whole trip. I am truly appreciative of all their efforts and for going above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience ever. You can credit Beau & Sandra as the reason that I have already booked my next trip with Oceanwide - and if i don't get to see them on that trip, then whoever is part of the expedition crew will have some big shoes to fill as I will be comparing their levels of enthusiasm, caring and dedication :-)

Captain Barria and Toni Salo, made the Drake seameless!! Not even dramamine was needed! Beau and the expedition team, was just extraordinary! We had 12 days or magnificent sunlight, and they made sure every day was filled with so many activities, from lectures to landings! They really went out of their way to make this a memorable experience! I engaged in all the activities, which made me enjoy every second on and off board! Pete did a great job, giving EVERYONE a chance to kayak! The Hotel Services were IMPECABLE! 7 STAR SERVICE thanks to Sigi and Melanie! We went to bed each night, looking forward to Sigis cheerful Good morning, Good morning, Gooood morning wake up announcement each morning! The food at the restaurant was delicious and very varied. The service at the restaurant, was always so friendly and they seemed to know us all by names...and our usual drinks! Rolando, at the bar, seemed as if he had know us all for a lifetime! He knew exactly what we wanted to drink and when! We are well aware that the energy of all the passengers, was demanding so much from the crew and staff, but at all times were they so friendly, accomodating... and all around Best in Class!

Our trip to Antarctica was absolutely amazing! The landscapes were straight out of a dream. We were very lucky with the wildlife spotting and there is no such thing as seeing too many penguins, they are the cutest and funniest (and smelliest) little creatures. The activities that we did as part of the base camp where very professionally guided and loads of fun. I would recommend this trip to everyone.