Reviews

Overall rating based on 1,028 votes
Overall rating based on 1,028 votes

Region

Destination

Ship

Wildlife

Outdoor activities

Experiences

Year

by Paul Hanson

Despite the paucity of polar bears, this was a fantastic trip. The whales we saw were magnificent, the walruses abundant. There are obviously a few glitches to work out on Hondius (sound system, engine noise), but the ship was a pleasure to be on, and the crew from housekeeping, to wait staff in the dining room, to those handling the zodiacs and the ship itself, were all wonderful. Jan and Bill added a special touch to the week (Jan's patience is impressive!), and the group of guides worked together as a team with great skill and enthusiasm.

by johanna aarden

een geweldige reis met onvergetelijke indrukken

by Peter Südbeck

Hervorragende eindrucksvolle gut organisierte Naturreise, gute Information, natursensible Durchführung, Service, Freundlichkeit super

by Sarah Jane Laubscher

I recently had the opportunity to join a cruise on beautiful Rembrandt van Rijn. It was an amazing experience thanks to the incredible crew - Ali the Captain, Jordi and Eduardo our knowledgeable guides, Merle the first mate, Charlotte our talented chef, and Bobby the "hotel" manager, not to mention all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. I traveled to Svalbard/Spitsbergen in search of wildlife, but found so much more! Its majestic white landscapes were so beautiful, with peak upon snow covered peak stretching off into eternity, and it’s blue skies mirrored in the striking blue waters. The solitude on those quiet mornings, before anyone else arose, calmed my soul. The icy cold was invigorating and made me feel alive. This place has touched and enriched my life in ways I could not have imagined, and I will definitely return one day.

by Hartmut Dr. Stöltzing

Wir waren vom 3.-10. Juni mit der Plancius auf der "Suche nach Packeis und Eisbären" - unsere Erwartungen wurden mehr als erfüllt. Wir sahen so viel phantastisches Treibeis und dann das Packeis, daß wir nicht mal unser Ziel Nord-Aust-Landet erreichten. Auch die Eisbären wurden ausfindig gemacht. An der Organisation, Sauberkeit, dem Essen und den Preisen an Bord gab es nichts zu kritisieren, vielleicht könnte die Weinauswahl etwas größer sein. Das Expeditionsteam unter Leitung von Ali war einfach nur gut. War eine tolle Reise - macht Lust auf mehr.

by Sebastian Weber

Eine faszinierende Reise liegt hinter uns! Ich bin total begeistert von der Arktis und dem Leben dort! Eisbären, Robben, Wale und vieles mehr! Ein Lebenstraum wurde wahr!

by Waltraud Hammerl

Wunderbares Erlebnis in der Arktis.

by Janet Campbell

I've been traveling internationally for 50 years and this adventure was more amazing than I ever envisioned. The expedition leaders, crew, hotel staff; everyone worked hard 24/7 to ensure that we experienced Antarctica to the max. And, the Plancius! Two long excursions in zodiac boats each day. Continual wildlife sightings. The scientists not only lectured but were ready for any and all questions, and able to explain clearly no matter our backgrounds. And, truly an international experience; scientists, staff, crew, passengers. It was hard to see the trip end. When I planned this trip I thought it was a "once in a lifetime". By the end of the cruise I was planning when to come back. Phenomenal!

A truly unique and memorable Artic experience on M/V Plancius with a group from Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife. We enjoyed the company and expertise of Nick Baker from BBC Wildlife and were accompanied by the knowledgable guides from Heatherlee. The excellent crew who took great care of us both in the cabin and the restaurant, superb food and nothing was too much trouble!. The Expedition team worked tirelessly 24/7 to find us those all important sightings of polar bear, walrus, seals, reindeer and whales!.bird life was in abundance and some exceptional sightings included ivory gull, great skuas, snow bunting and ptarmigan together with the numerous auks and the inevitable fulmars around the ship. The trips ashore in the zodiaks were well planned and executed, giving us outstanding views of the landscape together with polar bear and arctic fox footprints seen frequently. Every evening we gathered to review the days events and hear interesting talks from our experienced guides. Also I met some very interesting and highly amusing friends so sincere thanks to everyone at Oceanwide, Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife for making this Artic trip such a memorable, once in a lifetime experience.

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.

by Lisa Weber

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.

by Sophie Richterová

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!

I sailed on the m/v Plancius for the Antarctica Polar Circle voyage, and absolutely loved my experience! We chose Oceanwide because it was about the only company we found that offered scuba diving in Antarctica, but I’m so glad we did. I feel like the website does not do them justice, and they far exceeded my expectations. The rooms are quite large for an expedition vessel, and the towel warmer in the bathroom will become your most loved amenity, when showering post-landing. Expedition staff was knowledgeable and friendly…quite different from my experiences with National Geographic, where the staff tends to be standoffish. They offered quite a few lectures each day, all of which I enjoyed…even the ones outside my usual areas of interest. Most amazing of all, was the quality of the meals. The chef was fabulous, and the fruits, vegetables and greens remained fresh, even after a week plus at sea! And finally, the expedition experience itself was extraordinary. Each day, our expedition leader (Ali) was looking at ice charts, emailing other ships, and conferring with the captain to get us the best possible landings each day. And she delivered!! Get thee on Oceanwide Expeditions!

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