Reviews
4.85
Overall rating based on 1,283 votes
Region
Destination
-
Show all
Ship
Outdoor activities
-
Show all
Experiences
Wildlife
-
Show all
Year
I sailed with a private hire which was brilliant and extended the trip to navigate around Svalbard with Oceanwide which was very different but also brilliant. fantastic team and captain Per and Sarah as manager. Everyone so professional. Food outstanding
We enjoyed the amazing wildlife as the polar bear nearby on the shore. But also the beautiful flora, the incredible calving glaciers (Monaco Glacier was very active). The zodiac cruises were an great adventure and the expedition team was excellent. Also the captain (Peer) and the whole staff on board did an excellent job. We can fully recommend the lovely Ortelius and the trip to Svalbard.
Great Esploration, very professional and reactive to any weather conditions changes , also in the shortest time, great support by the staff and crue members, familiar athmosphere. Wish to do some other trip with the same staff and trip leader.
A comfortable and active expedition trip with great team on board
From the moment we connected with the Oceanside team in Longyearbeyn the experience was fantastic. Managing everyone’s expectations is not easy and yet we arrived as newbies to the whole polar experience and were welcomed into the community. Balancing our mad family and friends antics with showcasing the best of all the opportunities possible it was a fantastic trip for all and has left a life long impact on us all.
99% excellent 👌
Great trip
Everything was nearly perfect!
I wanted to see Polarbears in their real habitat - we saw 1 mom with 2 cups, 1 thin male (hope he will survive!) and 1 male in very good constitution! And a lot of wildlife by sea and land! Many thanks to Sarah and her great team of guides. Special thanks to Misha for his wunderful recap of this week!
Also thanks to the crew of Ortelius, which have been made this trip so comfortable and sure!
It was an amazing cruise/expedetion with great staff, well trained guides and amazing wild life spotting
Birding is my passion but the Arctic scenery , Polar Bears and Walrus stole the show.
An absolutely amazing trip with a super friendly and expert team of guides who are passionate about the wildlife and landscape they are immersing you in from the start to the end of the trip.
I had a wonderful week aboard the Ortelius; everyone from the captain right the way through the team were so welcoming, the hospitality and food was great, the ship is spotless and modern, and the excursions were so well thought-out to allow me to experience as much variety of wildlife (fauna and flora as well) as could humanly be possible - never a dull moment!!
There were Zodic cruises and land hikes where you can choose a level to suit you - when the conditions changed one day, the expedition leader Sara and her team altered the itinerary seamlessly and we had a brilliant day on the alternative plan - plan B doesn't mean second best on this ship!
The team strike just the right balance of getting guests close to nature without bothering animals, and it's evident that conservation awareness is at the core of their expertise, both of which are important for me.
This is the best trip I have ever taken in my entire life and I would 100% recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the Svalbard region.
Beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife. Great staff. Comfortable accommodations. Food served was often too unusual and the process for obtaining dairy free meal was not smooth. Both my husband and I got sick on the boat and missed a day of activities. Overall, very interesting and awe inspiring trip.
On March 4th I went aboard the Ortelius to take part in the base camp tour. I had very high expectations, but this trip far exceeded everything I had hoped for. The landscapes were breathtaking and in all weather conditions, whether sunshine or sleet, it was a unique experience. I have never experienced such an intense encounter with wildlife anywhere else in the world. Looking a humpback whale straight in the eye and feeling its breath is an experience I will never forget. The entire crew, especially Sara, not only did an excellent job in terms of organization and expertise, they also managed to create an atmosphere as if we were one big family on the ship. I can't imagine how this trip could have been better. 6 out of 5 stars!
It has been a wonderful experience on Plancius for Around Svalbard Expedition & also on Ortelius for Antarctica Deep South Polar Circle Expedition with Oceanwide. The expeditions are arranged very professionally by friendly & knowledgeable expedition staff. Hotel staff also very friendly. Great lectures & new knowledge provided by the expedition staff. Happy to see environmental conscious people handling these expeditions.
Die Reise hat sich auf jeden Fall gelohnt
