Reviews

This trip to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica was amazing! I honestly had no idea how fabulous it would be. I am so glad my mom suggested it! Our expedition leader, Ali, and her expedition staff, and our captain and Zsusannah and her kitchen and housekeeping staff were all fantastic. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. Everyone worked really hard to ensure we all had a great time. The whole mood and tone of the ship was so positive. I would go again in a minute if work would let me take that much time off again so soon. I did not realize we would see so much wildlife or that it would be so pristine. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking for an adventure. And it doesn't matter your age. We had an 80 year age range among the guests, from age 5 to 85! And everyone enjoyed it. This is a trip and an experience I will never forget!

If in recent years I was asked: "Where do you absolutely want to go?", The answer was invariably: "the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica". This year it was finally time. 19 days on board the MV Plancius for one of the most beautiful journeys I have ever made. 19 days in pure unspoiled nature, I was able to see over 100 whales, about 20 orcas, petrels, albatrosses and millions of penguins. No less than 7 different species of which the king penguin was one of the most impressive. And then the sailing between the big ice floes and icebergs. As an apotheosis there was the landing on the last continent: Antarctica. An unforgettable journey that has been made so unforgettable by the perfect organization and the expedition team of Oceanwide Expeditions.

When I told my friends I was going to Antarctica for the second time, they didn't seem to understand why. It's difficult to explain to those who don't love this continent, how much it can offer. There is not a single second or a single glance from the ship that is always the same. It doesn't matter how many times you've been there. Weather is different, light is different, life around is different and our gaze is also different. Entering the Weddell Sea and sailing to Snow Hill Island is an experience of thick ice and strong wind, but also of blue skies, fiery sunsets, deserts of light and so much life! Ortelius is an excellent ship, my cabin was a perfect nest and the staff did an excellent job. We landed on Snow Hill on a sunny afternoon, after a helicopter trip of about 20 minutes. Then a short walk to the colony of the Emperor Penguins. When I first see them I think of the film La Marche de l'empereur and I am moved by so much resilience. What a privilege it was to be there! And now, so many kilometers away, if I close my eyes I am still in Antarctica, where sooner or later I will return.

Wonderful trip with a kind, competent and passionate crew. the landscapes are unique while being varied. We were able to observe the fauna in good conditions, including ten landings and zodiac trips. - First of all, a big thank you to our French-speaking guides: Regis Perdriat, Chloé Maréchal, Hélène de Méringo, all three EXTRAORDINARIES of kindness and skills, who transmitted the polar cruising virus to us! - Thank you to Suzanna Varga our butler and all her team whose dedication has been matched only by her skill. - Thanks to David Begg our expedition leader, passionately in love with Antarctica, and to Daniel his assistant. His morning "good morning Plancius!" misses us every day ... - Finally, thank you to Captain Levakov and his team, who kindly welcomed us at the bridge and who answered our questions, throughout the trip. Thank you to all this team who were really ... on top!

I have wanted to go to Antarctica for some time, especially after going to Churchill, Canada. It is truly amazing to see such color variation in a mostly monochromatic environment.! The food on board was excellent. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. Penguins were just too cute! Probably the highlight was the Orcas that followed our ship and put on quite a display for us. Lectures were entertaining and surprisingly, it wasn't as cold as I had feared. I brought way too much stuff ! A very nice touch to have a log sent out from the ship and crew.

Everything about my experience on the Plancius exceeds any expectations. The kitchen staff was amazing providing interesting and expertly prepared/served meals. The educational aspect was both fascinating and entertaining and our itinerary was expertly managed by the trip leader and his staff. It was a first-class operation at every level, I always felt safe and was constantly catered to by everyone from the room cleaning staff to the captains on the bridge. In most cases, I was addressed by my first name and all expressed interest in my well being. A truly fantastic experience I will never forget. My only complaint shared by many was that in preparation for our Zodiac excursions the large French group was given preferred loading despite our being in line ahead of them. At times this left the non-French off the land excursions until openings could be provided due to the restrictions on land-based excursions. This was rectified on the final two days after complaints were made. The photo is taken as I climbed into my sleeping bag for the night on the ice.

This trip was a real adventure. The ship was sturdy and comfortable, and got us through the Drake passage with no problems. The Staff was amazing. They were kind and considerate. They served us gourmet meals with a smile. We had educational lectures about Antarctica and the sea life in the evenings, by well educated speakers. The Zodiac boats took us to Islands where we saw Penguins and Sea Lions. We cruised around Glaciers and Icebergs. It was so beautiful. I highly recommend Oceanwide Expeditions and this amazing adventure to Antarctica.

Antarctica is not a destination for the faint of heart, and it should not be. Once you get past the "Drake Shake" with your seasickness remedy working, you settle down for the real joy: the excursions to see the wildlife and the glaciers. After a few excursions you understand the beauty of this place, and if you get a quiet rock to sit on, in the sunshine, to reflect on how few people get to be here, then you get the gravity of a trip here. If you get a good picture of a penguin, seal, or whale, then your trip is made! I may not have great pictures, but I have my good memories of what I saw and heard, and those are the best that I can ask for. I may never return to this place, but I was so fortunate to have gotten here once!

Seven night cruise arranged through Naturetrek. Despite some varied weather (only to be expected in January) the crew and leaders ensured that we enjoyed an excellent experience. We had great views of the whales and Northern lights. Our shore excursions were interesting and at times eventful - snow shoes provided an interesting challenge for some of us and a lot of laughter. Our safety was clearly a priority for the crew and the itinerary was shaped to get the best out of the available light and the weather conditions. We were delighted to get the sails up for a while, the Rembrandt is a really special boat to sail on. The Rembrandt was comfortable and the staff on board looked after us well with plenty of good food. The lectures were interesting and the Oceanwide leaders and our Naturetrek leader worked well together.

I have a Gluten free diet and I am allergic to black pepper. I had several gluten free options for each meal and they took the black pepper out of the kitchen for the duration of the trip. My really special thanks to Hotel Manager: Zsuzsanna Varga [Hungary] Asst. Hotel Manager: Ana Sirbu Gomez [Romania] Chef: Heinz Hacker [Austria] Sous Chef: Ferenc Baranyay You were just too much!

Wir haben schon sehr viel von unserer wunderschönen Erde gesehen. Was wir auf dieser traumhaften Reise kennen lernen durfte, war unglaublich. Die super gute Reiseleitung unter Ali war herrlich. Dazu die Katia, die mit ihrer Simultanübersetzung Höchstleistung bot, hat uns diese Reise zum absoluten Highlight gemacht. Absolutes super Schiff, geniale Crew, super Guides, Wetterglück, unglaubliche Tierwelt und Landschaft. Wir sind voll mit dem "Antarktisvirus" befallen! Uns fehlen die Worte, um unsere Empfindungen aus zu drücken. Einfach phänomenal!! Danke an das ganze Team!

Our trip was so successful it felt as if we might be under some sort of spell of providential protection and luck. Every landing occurred in calm waters with favorable weather and abundant wildlife. We were able to view all eight species of Antarctic penguins, and for several, also observe their breeding and nesting behaviors and chicks. We saw five species of pinniped, many varieties of seabird, and whales too numerous to count. Besides the amazing wildlife we also visited places with such historical significance as to be practically mythological. And then there was the ice! From A68A, the iceberg the size of Switzerland, to deep blue ice sculptures or floes with Emperor Penguins, the ice was always magical. Our expedition team was unparalleled in their skill, knowledge, and constant good humor. Not only was this the trip of a lifetime, but it was the best trip it could possibly have been. Thanks to our captain who so masterfully navigated the ice, and the staff who were unwavering in their commitment to make this a memorable trip for every guest on the ship despite the diversity of language, background, and interests. I will carry the memories of this enchanted trip forever.

I have traveled all over the world and have taken many cruises and many guided trips. This crew was the most organized and most enthusiastic crew I have ever met. The crew was phenomenal in every way. The crew wanted you to see everything you could possibly see and to do the most you could possibly do. I would recommend this company to my family and friends.

This 18-day expedition was an amazing, life-changing experience. Everything about it was more than I could have ever expected. The entire crew and expedition team were fantastic, the educational talks were very informative, the landings were breathtaking, and the weather was better than one could have dreamed possible.

Could not have imagined a better experience visiting Antarctica. We were very fortunate to be blessed with good weather but even more fortunate to have such a great Oceanwide crew that was professional and passionate. The boat/hotel staff clearly communicated every step of the way and went above and beyond to make sure each guest maximized their experience to the fullest extent. The expedition staff's expertise on all things relating to Antarctica (penguins, icebergs, whales, birds, etc.) was evident and their respect and admiration for the environment was contagious. I would highly recommend Oceanwide Expeditions to anyone considering a trip to Antarctica--or to anyone not considering Antarctica for that matter.