Reviews

I will recommend this trip to any person who is wanting to visit Antarctica. Everything was so well planned out and communicated efficiently. Every person on the staff was incredible and informative. I still don’t have words to describe everything that I experienced, but I do know it will be a trip I will remember forever.

Fascinated with Antarctic exploration from childhood especially Shackleton and with a long term friend who came from the Falklands we chose this trip because it was advertised as an expedition ship with just over 100 passengers meaning we could all go on every excursion. It seems we were very lucky with the weather and so our excursions and sightings were much better than average. Got to know the birders who spent most of their time on deck glued to binoculars and were remarkably generous with sharing their knowledge of the birds that flew around the ship and those we saw on land. The whale sightings were frequent, most notable were the two prolonged sightings of killer whales, the first when a pod of 20-30 literally played around the boat for an hour and the second a “David Attenborough” type experience when a similar size pod surrounded a fin whale with the intention of hunting it for its 2000kg tongue. The landings just seemed to get better as we progressed. The Falklands was a great start, Georgia had great scenery and huge penguin colonies, anchoring off the site where most of Shackleton’s men were left behind on Elephant Island was a good stop even if it was too rough to get ashore but entering the Weddell Sea and the pack ice was for me the highlight. Other reviews of this trip lament that we were unable to make a landing on the subarctic continent although this was the aim but was prevented by the ice conditions and restrictions on a couple of landing sites due to avian flu, so we had to land on the islands instead. Adding another day on the trip so longer could be spent in this region would perhaps be optimal. It was a pleasure being on a boat with such a happy and helpful crew. Ali’s leadership skills should be complimented but all the guides were knowledgeable and helpful, the hotel crew were fabulous hosts, the food was amazing, what a chef, and our cabin staff were particularly lovely. I should add that the bar and wine prices were more than reasonable and the laundry was much cheaper than most hotels. We are unlikely ever to afford a repeat trip as it is expensive to get to the Antarctic but are so pleased that this was the company, boat and itinerary we chose.

A breathtaking landscape, impressive wildlife encounters, lectures and landings with a professional expedition team, a very comfortable ship, excellent food and a great crew. An unforgettable trip, could not habe been better!

Such an awe inspiring trip, seen loads of wildlife and stunning scenery. Staff were incredible so knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.

Words can not express this journey. The wildlife, the scenery, the icebergs, all of Antarctica has left me in a sea of ecstasy! Being there filled me with a joy never before known from travelling! I loved our boat, The Ortelius - it was such a perfect size - it could venture into all the nooks and crannies of The Peninsular that bigger ships were excluded from. I don't like being with large groups so the low number of passengers made being onboard like a party and zodiac tours easy and inclusive. The food was more than excellent with the stewards were such fun and highly efficient. My two berth cabin was spacious and cleaned daily if I wanted. Best of all were all the staff and crew. Everyone was warm and friendly and it felt like being with a family. The expedition leaders were exceptional - their knowledge, delivered through fun and interesting lectures, enhanced the richness of the voyage. Plus they were delightful to be around and gave the ship a great atmosphere. Oceanwide delivered a professional personal Antarctic experience that I will never forget. Thank you everyone.

A trip of a lifetime with passionate educated team all excellent - pippa and George outstanding

Great professional and knowledgeable expedition team made the trip so enjoyable. The ship and all the crew onboard were well organized and a joy to travel with. Nice mix of traveller's backgrounds and ages plus wonderful shore and zodiac activities. Highly recommend Oceanwide.

Words cannot fully express pure joy of Hondius Antarctica 20 day Adventure just breathing the air once breathed by brave explorers , witnessing stunning wildlife,landscape crew of Hondius is a once in lifetime game changer

I booked the expedition to the Flaklands islands, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula. There were also Orkney islands in the itinerary, they were skipped. The expedition fulfilled just 2 points from the promised 3 main itinerary points. The peninsula was completely skipped without any official explanation or apology. They were bringing us to The Shetland islands instead. On exactly same days I had friends who were on the Antarctic peninsula with the other company. The weather could not be a reason. Most probably they didn't book the necessary slots for the peninsula landings. This was very disappointing as it is a very expensive trip which you can do only once in your life, it requires also a lot of time. I chose this itinerary as all 3 points were covered in it and especially to set the foot on the 7th continent. There must be at least partial refund for not doing the peninsula landings. In fact we had only 1 chance actually to see the continent and it happened at 3 a.m. It was not properly explained that it was the only chance at least to see the continent. The ship passed by the Brown Bluff at 3 a.m., why didn't it stop there? Even I read in the previous group log that they made a landing in Brown Bluff but actually were supposed to have full peninsula itinerary for 3-4 full days. On the Drake passage the ship was extremely slow as we could come to Ushuaia 1 day earlier if it went normal speed. They did quite well on South Georgia but Antarctic experience was an absolute disappointment. Other down sides: very old cabins, very little space in the restaurant and the bar. You barely can find any seat when you come 5 minutes later. In general, everything is very basic. No entertainment, just lectures and security briefings. Comparing my experience with the videos from the other companies I got even more disappointed. I paid a huge amount of money for the basic single cabin and I don't feel that I got what I paid. But everything would be not so important if the program would be fulfilled and we would step on the Antarctic continent. From the positive: very attentive excellent crew, most of the expedition guides were good and knowledgeable. Very long landings on the islands where we could go around and observe the wildlife not in a hurry. I expect at least the partial refund and explanation why the peninsula was in the program and why it was not fulfilled. The weather conditions can't be a reason as there were plenty of ships on these days there and even my friends were enjoying the daily landings on the exact same days.

If you are looking for short or long Antartic Expedition. Just choose Oceanwide

Our journey with Oceanwide Expeditions was nothing short of spectacular! From start to finish, the entire experience was flawlessly executed, making it the trip of a lifetime. Exceptional Crew & Leadership The crew was absolutely outstanding—professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly passionate about the polar regions. A special shoutout to our phenomenal expedition leader, Sara, whose expertise, enthusiasm, and warm personality made every excursion even more memorable. She kept us informed, engaged, and inspired throughout the entire expedition. Breathtaking Wildlife Encounters We were fortunate to witness countless penguins, from adorable Gentoo chicks to large colonies of King and Adelie penguins. Seeing whales up close—humpbacks gracefully surfacing near our Zodiac—was simply magical. And the playful seals, lazily lounging on the ice or curiously approaching our boats, added to the wonder of it all. Every day felt like a new wildlife documentary unfolding before our eyes. The Majestic Icebergs & Landscape No words can truly capture the beauty of the icebergs we encountered. Towering blue sculptures, ever-changing in shape and color, made for a mesmerizing sight. The Antarctic landscapes, with their endless white expanses and jagged peaks, were awe-inspiring in every way. Delicious Cuisine Onboard After long days of exploration, returning to the ship to enjoy amazing food was an absolute delight. The chefs onboard crafted delicious meals that were both comforting and gourmet—perfectly suited for fueling our daily adventures. From fresh seafood to decadent desserts, every meal exceeded expectations. A Journey Worth Taking Oceanwide Expeditions delivered an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime adventure that we will cherish forever. The combination of a world-class crew, incredible wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and fantastic food made this trip unforgettable. If you're considering an expedition to the polar regions, look no further—this is the company to go with! Would I do it again? Absolutely, in a heartbeat!

What can I say about the trip of a lifetime? The trip far exceeded my expectations. It was the combination of the spectacular wildlife, the islands and locations we visited. Undoubtedly the weather helped, with a beautiful sunrise in Antarctic Sound. The expedition staff were excellent and knowledgeable in their fields of expertise. The living quarters were excellent and the hotel staff couldn’t be faulted. The food was outstanding, with its quality and variety, even if soup wasn’t always served owing to the sea conditions. I give full marks to the chef and his team for producing such quality food on a moving vessel. I would have been very happy if I only saw half of what we did see on this trip, it was truly outstanding.

Sehr gutes, relativ kleines Schiff in gutem Zustand und in guten Händen. Tolles Expeditionsteam, das viel weiß und freundlich und immer um die Gäste bemüht ist. Unschlagbares Wildlife.

Amazing trip . Above expecta. Great food. Just frustrated, as everyone, since we never got to touch or see the main land or antartic peninsula as the program promised.

This is an excellent cruise to take if you are an adventure lover with passion for wild lives. It was a dream come true for me.