Reviews

Unsere Reise vom 3. - 10. Juni "auf der Suche nach Eisbären" war ein sehr gutes, tolles Erlebnis. Wir spürten den guten Teamgeist auf dem Schiff (Besatzung und Expeditionsteam). Sehr gute und abwechslungsreiche Verpflegung; Loungegetränke etc. ebenfalls. Alles sehr gut. Einziger Wehmutstropfen: das Wasser hatte oftmals einen sehr unangenehmen Beigeschmack; nach entsprechenden Meldungen zu Beginn war es besser oder sogar gut, ab 9.6. aber leider wieder gleich. Trotzdem: Komplimente an Expeditionsteam und Besatzung.

Unbelieveable vacation in Svalbard. We saw so many Wildlife and the Nature is so beautiful up there. The crew was so amazing and we make so many new friendships. Thank you Oceanwide Expeditions!

A wonderful trip on M/V Plancius with a group from Heatherlea/BBC Wildlife. Fantastic crew and Expedition Team, all of whom were both friendly and professional in all their dealings with passengers. Cabin had all the facilities necessary and the lounge is a great place to admire the stunning scenery, spot the wildlife and chat with fellow travellers, whilst enjoying the free coffee. Zodiac trips to landings were slick and only a little choppy. Finding evidence of the wildlife that had passed by and were still around was intriguing - Polar bear and Arctic fox footprints seen frequently. The crew worked 24/7 to get us sightings and delivered - 2 Polar bears, 2 Arctic foxes, innumerable walruses and Svalbard reindeer and birds aplenty, including close up views of Ptarmigan and finally an Ivory Gull on the last afternoon which announced its presence with an exceedingly loud squawk. The low numbers of seals and whales seen were concerning; a sign of climate crisis? Thanks to Oceanwide, Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife for a really memorable experience.

Everything about this adventure was incredible. The expedition crew were highly professional, knowledgeable and experienced, outings were very well organised and supervised. Safety was a priority but didn’t impede our experience. Wildlife viewing was above expectations and at close range. It was a huge thrill to watch a polar bear for some considerable time and to see large numbers of walrus in and out of the water. And to experience the pack ice and pristine scenery of Svalbard was a great privilege. On board the food was always ample and delicious, and service from the multinational ship’s crew was very friendly and efficient. Plancius is a very comfortable ship with lots of viewing space both inside and on the decks and zodiac outings run very smoothly. Overall this was a trip that will live long in our memories and we would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to visit Svalbard.

The breathtaking journey through the beautiful wilderness and landscapes of Svalbard with Oceanwide Expeditions was one of the most magical experiences of my life. The crew, guides, daily programs, hikes, presentations, food and everything about this expedition was just excellent. Thank you for everything, it was truly incredible and absolutely unforgettable!

Als je eenmaal het Noorse virus te pakken hebt raak je het nooit meer kwijt . Andermaal heb ik met volle teugen genoten van deze prachtige Walvis / Orka Safari , aan boord van zeilschip, De Noorderlicht . Tot ziens , Joes.

Super Essen, wundervolle Eindrücke, einmalige Landschaft

Sehr positiv zu erwähnen ist das Hotel-und Servicepersonal auf dem Schiff. Alle waren sehr freundlich, hilfsbereit und professionell! Leider können wir dies über das Expeditionsteam nicht sagen. Der Informationsfluss war sehr mangelhaft. Da das Wetter nicht sehr gut war, mussten wir oft bis zu einem geplanten Termin warten, was dann geschehen soll. Bei der Einweisung wurde gesagt, dass es immer einen Plan B, C, D… gibt. Warum wurden diese Pläne uns nicht transparent gemacht? Zusammengefasst haben wir nicht das gesehen, was wir uns laut Reisebeschreibung versprochen haben. Die gesichteten Tiere war mehr als übersichtlich. Von der Expeditionsleitung kam die Aussage, dass Tiere sehr scheu sind und deshalb eine Sichtung eher unwahrscheinlich ist. Warum wird es dann im Prospekt so beworben? Anlandungen, bei welchen man in Gruppen wanderte, wurden nach schnell- mittel- und gemütlich eingeteilt. Diese Einteilung konnten wir nicht nachvollziehen, da es nicht um die sportliche Fitness, sondern um das Naturerlebnis ging. Sollten die Tiere wirklich so scheu sein, dann wurden diese von der schnellen Gruppe sicher vertrieben. Die Natur war großartig – Das Expeditionsteam leider nicht.

This was the most amazing trip of a lifetime. My wife and I felt so privileged to visit Greenland and experience such a pristine wilderness. The expedition staff were extremely professional and all so knowledgeable about their area of expertise. They all took safety very seriously which is what you want with big bears, very cold water and large icebergs! The scenery in this part of the world is breathtaking and a photographers dream! The amenities on the boat were good. We had a very comfortable cabin with twin beds and windows and our own bathroom. The deck 5 lounge was good place to see the passing views and have a tea or coffee. Deck 7 was the place to be on fine days to view the icebergs and be spoilt with a hot chocolate from the staff. The hotel staff were great especially Gabor and Charlotte who really tried with making sure I had gluten free food. We really appreciated the professionalism and caring of the volunteer doctor on board whose paid job is a professor in emergency medicine (thank you!) if you want to go on an amazing trip, pick this company.

Accommodations/ cabin was basic but very adequate. Meals were outstanding. Dining area, lounge superb. Nice to meet captain... crew members excellent, friendly. Ship was very stable even in high seas. Great assistance boarding & disembarking Zodiacs..

Die komplette Besatzung des Schiffes, das Expeditionsteam unter der Leitung von Christian Engelke und Sandra Petrowitz war genial. Alle verdienen den größten Dank für ihren Einsatz, Flexibilität u.s.w. bei der Durchführung dieser erlebnisreichen, unvergesslichen Reise!

This trip with s/v Noorderlicht was the third and last activity on my extensive stay in Svalbard. The bar naturally was already set high after exploring the northern archipelago on a small motorship and a stay at Nordenskiöld Lodge. My experience on the sailing vessel Noorderlicht was second to none. On this historic vessel one can feel the spirit of the early explorers. On one occasion the winds were in our favour to set up the sails to sail a whole leg without the engine, opening up the ears just for the sounds of winds, waves and birds. The trip was expedition style, making and adjusting plans to prevailing wind and weather conditions. Expedition leader Sarah and Captain Floris did a great job. We always had good sailing conditions and visited stunning places ashore, staying away from unpleasant winds in parts of the region. At this time of the year the lights are spectacular for the sun stays low on the horizon the whole day and the twilights are intense and lengthy. Naturally there is some limitations to space and comfort on a vessel like that. The interior was cosy and the hosting of the Dutch crew was outstanding. With all the fellow travellers we had a very enjoyable week.

Even though it was the first time for me on a sailing vessel I felt very comfortable from the beginning. The crew with our captain Floris was friendly and helpful all the time and really passionate sailors. Beside the weather that was great during the whole trip and the low standing sun that shined a beautiful warm light on the incredible landscape, our expedition leader Sarah really made this trip perfect. With her outstanding knowledge about Svalbard and her open and friendly way she led us to the best places to see and understood to keep us safe and in good hands all the time. It was a fantastic experience and for sure I will come back again. Thanks a lot to the crew of Noorderlicht and Sarah!

Alles Super, aufregend und spannend. Viel gelernt über Geologie, Biologie und Inuiten in Grönland. Unterkunft und Verpflegung Super und freundliche Besatzung.

Our journey with the ''Noorderlicht'' to Spitsbergen was magnificent! Not only the magnificent landscape of Spitsbergen in a clear blue sky, but also the way how this trip was arranged was outstanding. Due to bad weather forecast in the southern fjords, captain Floris made a wise decision to sail an alternative route. This resulted in gorgeous anchor places and landings at beautiful places that were all different each day. Sarah - our trip leader - showed these beautiful places, was very attentive, social, knowledgeable and kept the group together in order to take care of our security. She also showed the effects of rubbish (e.g. fishing nets and ropes) on the beach which endanger wildlife and which lead to spontanuous beach clean-up actions. Shipmates Mick and Martijn did a good job in every aspect with a lot of humor. Next to that, we gained more than a kilo in weight during this week, because of the delicious meals made by Gabrielle. Amazing (for us vegetarian) meals came out that small kitchen! We highly recomment this trip and this crew to whoever is thinking of making a journey to Spitsbergen!