In search of polar bear and pack ice
by mick woodford
Departure in June 2023
by mick woodford
Departure in June 2023
Been on one of our voyages?
Leave your own reviewCross the North Sea to the picturesque and historic Scottish city of Aberdeen, enjoying local wildlife and fascinating lectures
HDS01-25 Search for whales, seals, and seabirds on a scenic voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to culturally rich Aberdeen, the "Granite City" of northeast Scotland. White-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales, orcas, and various species of seabird...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 31 May, 2025
Berths start from:
300 USD
Can be booked in combination only
Cruise pageHDS01c25 Sailing between our home port of Vlissingen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure visits the Scottish port of Aberdeen, the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, and the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 16 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
6000 USD
HDS01a25 Search for whales, and other Arctic wildlife of the land, sea, and air on an adventurous voyage from our home port of Vlissingen to our favorite Arctic island group.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
29 May - 9 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
3200 USD
Sail from the North Sea into the Arctic Ocean, visiting the distinct islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen
HDS01b25 Venture into the Arctic Ocean on your way to Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, the first known for its knitwear and the second for its stark volcanic scenery. Wildlife sightings may include grey seals, various seabirds, and whales such as minke, fin, orca, and...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
31 May - 9 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
2900 USD
HDS01d25 Sailing between the Scottish port of Aberdeen and our most cherished Arctic archipelago, Svalbard, this expedition adventure visits the islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen, and the amazing Spitsbergen ice edge, giving you the chance to search for whales,...
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
31 May - 16 Jun, 2025
Berths start from:
5760 USD
Comment from Oceanwide Expeditions
Thank you for your review. We value any feedback that helps us improve our voyages.
In this case, however, we can only reiterate what we state frequently in our itineraries and other content: wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and are determined entirely by the animals, not by us. Their presence or absence, like that of pack ice, is beyond our control.
While it is a shame we did not see bears any closer, there are strict guidelines governing how close we are able to get to bears when there are other vessels in the vicinity. The vessel did, however, navigate the fringes of pack ice that had begun to break into smaller floes.
Our trip titles reflect our goals and the general way each trip is meant to go, but nature is under no obligation to agree. Sometimes it has other plans, making it more difficult for us to deliver a trip the way we intend. This is the variable nature of expedition travel. It is the risk we all take when embarking into such remote regions.
Nonetheless, we hope your voyage afforded you some pleasure and memorable moments, and we are pleased you chose to sail with us.