Blog
The Mysteries of the Beluga Whale
Beluga whales (also known as white whales, sea canaries, and sometimes melonheads) are a rare but cherished sight during Arctic cruises, due
Five Birds You Might See on Your Greenland Cruise
A Greenland expedition cruise gives birdwatchers the chance to add some beautiful avian entries to their photo collections. Host to over 230
Flowers in Antarctica
The Polar Regions are one of the most inhospitable environments for plants and animals to live in. In Antarctica life faces difficulties fro
All things ice in the Antarctic
The first recorded sighting on an iceberg in Antarctica was on 1 February 1700 when Edmond Halley was on an expedition to measure the Earth’
Ortelius under repairs
The vessel Ortelius is currently under repairs in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen due to a problem with the propulsion system.
A visit to the fascinating island of Jan Mayen
After exploring the remote island of Fair Isle, our Atlantic Odyssey voyage once more turned its attentions northwards and left the outer ex
The ozone layer in Antarctica
Scientists have calculated that if the ozone layer was brought down to sea level it would be 3 mm thick, while in the Antarctic the ozone ca
Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes
At the upper tip of the Antarctic Peninsula lies Graham Land, a jagged, glaciated part of Antarctica with a landscape dominated by volcanoes
Oceanwide completely refurbished deck 4 aboard Ortelius
In 2011, Oceanwide Expeditions acquired the vessel Ortelius. A great expedition ship with the highest ice-class ranking as well as lots of
100 bowhead whales near Qeqertarsuaq, West Greenland
Today – May14, 2016 - we were sailing with the Rembrandt van Rijn towards Qeqertarsuaq; certainly in the hope of seeing a couple of whales.
Why You Should Visit Greenland: 11 Things to See, Do, and Explore
There's nothing quite like seeing your first Greenland glacier, sailing into the island's largest fjord system (also, incidentally, Earth's
Shackleton’s Push to the South Pole
On the evening of February 11, 1907, Irish-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, already among the more famous polar explorers, announced h
19 Photos of Life on Ortelius
It’s understandable that most of your questions are going to revolve around what you can do once your Arctic or Antarctic cruise reaches its
Get to Know Your Ice
Ice. It does everything from cooling your drink to helping to regulate the temperature of the entire planet. Let’s take a look at the ways w
Kayaking the Waters of Antarctica
The weather changes so dramatically down here that you simply cannot say, "this looks like a great day" if it is one - rather you must live
Churches in Antarctica
'Below 40 degrees South there is no law, below 50 degrees South there is no God', goes the old adage. When faced with a storm in the turbule
Amundsen’s Race to the South Pole
Amundsen had acquired Fram from Fridtjof Nansen on the understanding it was to be involved in an expedition to the Arctic. However, before i
20 Reasons Why We Love a Spitsbergen Cruise (and Why You Will Too)
Welcome to Spitsbergen. It’s one of the destinations we always love to visit, and we think you’ll love it too. Why? Well…
Day and night in Antarctica
The abnormal day and light cycles cause great impact on humans, and scientists are using Antarctica to study its effects and how to prevent
Albatross, penguin and krill research in Antarctica
In the Antarctic region, a great deal of research is being conducted by national Antarctic programmes including the UK’s, Australia’s and Ja
Explore Antarctica Without Leaving Your Couch
There are many ways to explore Antarctica from home. Check these great resources to discover the White Continent without leaving your couch.