Blogs

PLA25-19, trip log, Antarctic Basecamp

We spent days dreaming about our voyage to come, hours shopping, reading, preparing logistics, excitedly chatting with family, friends, coll

HDS25-19, trip log, Antarctica - Discovery and Learning Voyage

After a good breakfast, we all gathered in the lounge to attend our first day of lectures to prepare us for what we would see in the forthco

HDS24-19, trip log, Antarctica - Discovery and Learning Voyage

At Recap John used maps to tell us how human knowledge of the unknown lands of the south had unfolded, Vide reviewed the whales we had seen

How St. Nick Became Santa Claus and Moved to the North Pole

In the Netherlands, where we’re based, Sinterklaas is technically a celebration of the St. Nicholas feast day on December 6, while Christmas

OTL24-19, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula, Basecamp

It was late afternoon on a sunny and beautiful day in Ushuaia. The first passengers to arrive to Ortelius at 4pm were and all the expedition

HDS23-19, trip log, Antarctica - Discovery and Learning Voyage

We landed and cruised at Useful Island. The name derives from the whaling days when it was used as a lookout. We climbed to the top to look

PLA24-19, trip log, Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica

Just as Ali was about to start her presentation about the Falkland Islands, a call came over the radio that a pod of Orcas had been spotted,

Better Than Medicine: Interview with Dr. Veronique Verhoeven

Even if she’s only slipping you a few extra seasickness meds, your ship doctor can mean the difference between a comfortable expedition crui

15 Features, Figures, and Facts About Ortelius

Here are 15 additional features, figures, and facts about our faithful expedition cruise vessel Ortelius. For example, dd you know Ortelius

PLA23-19, trip log, Antarctic Explorer's Voyage

Our expedition leader Ali woke us at 0730, but many of us were already outside on deck to see if we could spot any sea birds. The sun was sh

Oceanwide Five-Time World Travel Award Winner

Oceanwide Expeditions was named the 2019 World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator at the World Travel Awards gala held on November 28 in th

Penguins, Petrels, and Prions: Top Antarctica Bird Tour Spots

If anyone ever tells you Antarctica is for the birds, they’re right.

OTL22-19, trip log, Weddell Sea

It was late afternoon on a windy but sunny and beautiful day in Ushuaia. The first passengers to arrive to Ortelius at 2pm were a group of y

Crossing, Kayaking, Camping: Three Antarctic Adventures

Crossing the Drake Passage rewards thousands of tourists every year with one of the most incredible paradises on planet Earth!

HDS21-19, trip log, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica

We woke to fairly “lumpy” seas and a brisk wind giving enough motion to upset some of our equilibrium. Some were confined to the berth while

PLA22-19, trip log, Antarctica

We started the morning with a delicious buffet breakfast and then headed to the lounge where Sara talked to us about penguins. Her lecture w

Our Third Consecutive Landing at Snow Hill Island

For the third time in as many years, Oceanwide Expeditions has achieved helicopter landings at Snow Hill Island, hiking our passengers to th

Publieksdag Expedities Spitsbergen 2015/2020 - Poolshoogte nemen!

Een nieuwe grote Nederlandse wetenschappelijke expeditie naar Spitsbergen staat weer in de steigers. Na het grote succes van SEES 2015 zulle

Greenland: Land of Superlatives

On September 16th, I flew to Iceland and spent an evening in Reykjavik, then crossed the island for the town of Akureyri the next day.

OTL21-19, trip log, Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp

Today was a day of wonders. Starting in Neko Harbour, the wind was threatening to prevent us loading or landing the zodiacs. As we waited, t

A Veteran Guide: Interview with Arjen Drost

Arjen Drost has been a guide for Oceanwide Expeditions for nearly twenty years. And as any polar traveler can tell you, that’s a lot of wate