Reviews

A real expedition with a very nice and very competent Expedition Crew. Overwhelming experiences with nature and wild live. Great helicopter flights and extreme tasty food that made possible, that I got two kilos of weight more (Danke Heinz). Thank you all!

Celebrating my 7th continent in MV Ortelius with a very experienced and knowledgeable staff and crew made this 33-day expedition one of the top vacations of a lifetime!

Amazing expedition with a first class team!

die 32 Tage auf der Ortelius auf der Tour von Ushuaia nach Bluff haben wir sehr genossen. Alles war super organisiert, die Ausflüge sowohl mit Zodiacs als auch Hubschraubern wurden sobald das Wetter es zuließ (und wir hatten ein Superglück mit Wetter- und Eisbedingungen) durchgeführt. So konnten wir die tolle Landschaft und viele Tiere entdecken. Die Vorträge waren professionell und sehr interessant. Trotz der vielen Seetage wurde es nicht langweilig. Das immer sehr gute, abwechslungsreiche Essen und das superfreundliche Personal sorgten für eine Wohlfühlathmosphäre.

Great trip, great scenery great guides and lectures.well organized

I came on this trip only because I wanted to get to the Ross Sea. I had been to the Peninsula before, done several trips to the Falklands and South Georgia, been on many other cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, so I did not expect a lot, and was resigned to endure the many sea days just to get to the Ross Sea. But the combination of an exceptional expedition team, a great helicopter crew and really good weather when it counted, made this into one of the most memorable trips for me. I enjoyed the depth of knowledge and dedication of the team, who shared their decades of combined experience in Antarctica in a series of very interesting lectures and fun talks. They took every opportunity to point out and explain the wildlife, detail the history of Antarctic exploration and research, provide a context for the wonderful sights we encountered. Thank you Captain Mika, Christian, Sarah, Garypedia, Steve, Simon, Vide, Hazel, Chris, Judd, Tim, Pete, and Dr Helga!!!

My daughter and I had the trip of a lifetime! It was amazing! The ship was comfortable and performed well. The crew were outstanding in their execution of their duties and engagement with the passengers. The expedition crew was frosting on the cake. So knowledgeable about the animals and the region. They were excellent presenters of their lectures and very personable, accessible, warm and friendly with the passengers. We were very fortunate to have weather on our side. We were able to make every landing except the last one. The wildlife was abundant. We saw in all, probably a million penguins, of six varieties, four species of seals, humpback whales and many birds. Everyday we were in awe of the landscapes, animals, and history. The trip brought to our attention the importance of healthy oceans and ocean animals. I will never forget this adventure. It has encouraged me to go to the Arctic.

The captain and his crew navigated safely. There was ample food. Wine was reasonably priced. The waiters were wonderful, the zodiac drivers great. The scenery was awesome so why the poor rating??? The excursion team led by "Miss I, me, myself" lets Oceanwide and the guests down. We felt we were surrounded by college kids in a summer camp. One adult in the room - Adam - but he was not the leader. Instead, we had a spoiled, arrogant and impolite kid who thinks the world whirls around her and showed little care. For example the 1.5 kms stroll along the beach which ended up being a 4 or 5 kms through the hills with guest over 75 years old who could hardly make it and no excursion team around to guide. They are too busy taking pictures and posting them on social media. The lectures are extremely unprofessional - basic powerpoint presentations and no enthusiasm from most of the presenters and please spare the lessons on "see, watch and whatever". Do not spit in the soup by telling us how bad human impact is in Antartica etc. etc. The only ones that had some kind of credibility were Adam and Bjarni. So much for noted biologists. Should we also mention the doctor saga? So unprofessional!

What an amazing trip on the Ortelius with Oceanwide. The expedition teams were fantastic - professional, knowledgeable, and fun. They put the guests first and did everything to give us the best Antarctica experience despite challenging weather conditions. You could tell how much they love Antarctica and really care about bringing us into their world. The vessel's hardworking crew was also amazing and went above and beyond for us in our floating hotel, from the captain explaining the navigation charts to the guests on the bridge to the hotel managers staying overtime at the bar - don't take that for granted.

Antarctica is a truly breathtaking and otherworldly destination. The stark white landscapes, towering glaciers, and diverse array of wildlife make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The journey to the southernmost continent is also an adventure in itself, with rough seas and unpredictable weather adding to the sense of remoteness and isolation. The trip to Antarctica starts from Ushuaia, Argentina, where we boarded a ship that took us across the Drake Passage, which is known for its rough waters. Despite the rocky crossing, the journey was worth it as soon as we arrived to the Antarctic Peninsula. Once on the continent, we were able to go on daily excursions to explore the various islands and inlets. We saw colonies of penguins, seals lounging on ice floes, and whales breaching the surface of the water. The highlight of the trip was probably the landscapes, made of massive ice formations, mountains and floating icebergs. The accommodation and food on the ship were also excellent, with comfortable cabins and delicious meals prepared by the ship's chefs. The staff was also very friendly and knowledgeable, making for a great experience overall.

We have seen a lot of wildlife. Seven kinds of Penguins of which almost all kolonies had chicks, Fur seals with pups, wales, several kinds of sea birds, Commerson's dolphins, too much to mention. The service on board was very good, as well as the atmosphere.. Very professional and friendly staff. We have enjoyed this trip as the most beautyfull travelexperience we have ever had.

A fantastic, fun and exciting trip. Spectacular landscapes, wildlife in its natural environment and nature in its purest form. With an excellent team that took care of us and made us feel at home. Thank you for a wonderful experience and for making a dream come true!!

Incredible journey through Antarctic lands. Incredible landings in all the areas visited, with special mention for South Georgia Island. Memories that will be in my mind forever. Thanks to all the expedition team and the crew.

Overall, the trip was extremely enjoyable. I was happy with all the landings, but would have liked much more time spent in Antarctica which only had one mainland landing. I appreciated being able to walk amongst the wildlife and also the fact that Ocenawide takes its biosecurity seriously (although some passengers still knelt close to penguins). Its good that nature conservation is important to the crew and messages regarding it can be found throughout the ship. The food was mostly excellent and the facilities on the ship were good. I will probably visit Antarctica again and wont have any issues choosing Oceanwide. Thanks

5-star crew and experience. Room for improvement: Signing up of activities could be done electronically and/or in advance. Instead there was a long wait and I've noticed some cruise participants being very sea sick while waiting.