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Overall rating based on 1 179 votes
Overall rating based on 1 179 votes
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The 23 day trip on the Hondius was better than I ever could have imagined. Every day was filled with views, wildlife and wonderful presentations. The team (guides, crew, service, etc) were all friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The ship was extremely comfortable, the food delicious and plentiful and the excursions were fun and informative. The lead guide, Pippa, checked weather daily and made educated decisions with the captain on where we should head. Everyday we were not at sea we had an excursion! The guides were all well educated and gave presentation on history, animals, geology and more. It was great learning about what we were seeing. I highly recommend this trip, Oceanwide and The Hondius !
This trip was beyond out expectations - from crew to guides to activities and itinerary
De reis met de Hondius van Oceanwide is een echte aanrader. Het personeel en de staff doen er alles aan om het naar je zin te maken. Het was een onvergetelijke reis. Als je van plan bent om deze reis te maken is Oceanwide wel een van de beste.
Embarking on an Oceanwide Expeditions journey to the Antarctic Circle is nothing short of a transformative experience. The pristine beauty of the icy realm is matched only by the warmth and expertise of the Oceanwide crew, who ensure every moment is filled with awe and education. From the majestic icebergs rising like sculptures to the playful wildlife that greets you at every turn, the expedition feels like a true exploration into the last great wilderness on Earth.
The ship, a comfortable and sturdy vessel, becomes a home away from home, where every meal is a delight and every cabin a cozy retreat after days filled with adventure. The guides are not just knowledgeable; they are passionate storytellers who bring the history and science of this remote place to life. Whether it’s witnessing a humpback whale breaching beside the ship or hiking to a vantage point for a breathtaking panorama, the memories made here are indelible.
Oceanwide Expeditions doesn’t just take you to Antarctica; they immerse you in it, offering a once-in-a-lifetime trip that’s as educational as it is exhilarating. It’s a journey that changes you forever.
I took a Deep South (Antarctic Circle) Expedition with Oceanwide earlier this year and the experience could not have been better!
Not only did we have a dream trip in terms of weather, activities and wildlife spotting - making numerous stops and zodiac trips every day and meeting all of our trip objectives thanks to the amazing work of the Captain and Expedition Team, who continually altered our plans to make sure the ship was in the best position to take advantage of the conditions - but the entire atmosphere and energy on the boat was amazingly welcoming and fun.
I just have to highlight how incredible the entire Oceanwide staff/crew is. Not only are they super knowledgeable, they are incredibly friendly. Everyone, from the guides to the bridge team to the housekeeping and galley staff, is happy to welcome you on board and into the Plancius/Oceanwide family. The kitchen staff knew all of our names by day 2! And they were amazing at dealing with dietary restrictions and preferences. The guides and bridge staff were likewise happy to mingle, chat and answer any questions (even ones for which they had to look up the answers)!
A wonderful experience overall!
Everything about this ship and the company as about saving money. From rotating limited staff to substandard food. The ship operates for the benefit of the company and certainly not the passengers. Everything is outdated from their equipment to their operating procedures. No polar plunge but a poorly organised polar wade. Limited indoor recreational space for pax. Poor scenic visibility from lounges. Limited drying space after shore excursions and sloppy attention to security details. Boarding zodiacs from a long loosely secured set of stairs made embarking and disembarking zodiacs unnecessarily dangerous. Cabin staff and waitstaff excellent but unsupported. Costumer contact staff inconsistent in their oft times resentful responses.
My 11-day Antarctic expedition was outstanding from start to finish. The staff were knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic, and professional. The food was delicious. The M/V Plancius was quiet, well-appointed, and just the right size. The crew did an amazing job making sure we experienced as much as possible whenever possible, and I would absolutely take this trip again and again. My only regret is that I'm not an expert in Antarctic/Arctic wildlife or climate so I can't get a job with Oceanwide as an expedition staff member ;)
This sums everything up: on the last day, I went to take a picture with the captain. He then asked me how much I liked the trip and out of nowhere I started crying!! That was all the answer I could give him... tears of joy! it was absolutely amazing!!!
The perfect ship (Plancius!) The perfect staff and crew! Service was excellent, the crew's commitment to safety measures cannot be over emphasized, commitment to keeping Antarctica pristine is beyond admirable. There several options for Antarctic cruises, but the Basecamp tour was perfection. This was no drive-by cruise! Opportunities twice a day for landings, Zodiac cruises, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and even overnight camping! Wildlife abounds! Humpback whales that visit the ship! Penguins diving off icebergs! Leopard seals yawing in your face! It is an understatement to say that this was the trip of a lifetime.
Two unique special occasions. On separate zodiac trips in bays of the Peninsula on windless still ice-covered waters. The outboard engines were switched off. Everyone was asked to keep quiet and listen to the silence. These precious moments I will never forget. For the most part, people are not used to silence. After a few moments, people need to fidget. We are strangely perturbed by a lack of noise, perhaps made nervous by the extraordinary power silence has, being that it is perfectly comfortable in its own company. Humans, on the other hand, are such noisy creatures - velcro, zippers, sniffles, arranging gloves or beanies, cameras clicking. Then, when the silence is deemed to have been sufficient, we return to the world we make more noisy, zooming away to the chug of outboard engines and the human chatter that seeks to dominate.
Can't help the weather & bird flu closures - unfortunately couldn't land @ Syromness of Gritviken but EL dosed everything possible to make the best of the situations presented.
This trip far exceeded my expectations and I had an incredible experience! The crew's passion and excellent service truly stood out, and their commitment to safety reassured me throughout the journey. Highly recommend this adventure!
It was a amazing voyage
This trip was a dream for my whole life and, when the opportunity came to go, I wondered if it could possibly add more to my understanding of these areas and the wildlife than I've absorbed from years of reading books and watching documentaries.
The answer is a resounding yes. Each day brought experiences, sights, wildlife observations, intelligent presentations and clear information briefings that together made a life changing and life lasting affect, for me.
Every member of the expedition team were experienced, well informed, engaging and efficient in their duties at all time. This professional approach was balanced with fun, when the occasion offered.
The ship and every member of its excellent crew ensured we were very comfortable and well cared for at all times. The food was excellent, varied and was adapted to special diets without fuss.
To others wanting to really engage with the wonders of Antarctica, consider this expedition.
Empfehlenswert, ausgezeichnete Betreuung und herrliche Landschaften mit vielfältiger Tierwelt
