Reviews

Every day on the Antarctica peninsula with Oceanwide was a dream. Everything was organized well. Our expedition leader Sara was positive and chipper and handled everything with patience and a smile. The trip was superlative after superlative. The activités fun, thé lectures interesting,, the rooms a good size and clean, the food delicious but the real star is Antarctica and it is spectacular. It’s so pristine and to see and hear the wildlife so close is amazing. Everyone on the trip is smiling and happy because they feel very lucky to enjoy such a unique experience. A special thank you to Sara, Eddie, Adam and Bill.

My trip was absolutely amazing thanks to the tireless work and unbridled enthusiasm of everyone on board. Every day felt intentional and designed to maximize fulfillment, adventure, and joy. I greatly appreciate the care that was given to crafting such an extraordinary journey and the effort made by the expedition staff and Ortelius crew to execute a complex logistical dance every day so flawlessly. I will never forget my brief visit to this magical, sacred place and I have tremendous gratitude for the staff and crew, without whom this experience would never have been possible. I have nothing but superlatives to say for everyone involved, but I wanted to call out two people in particular.

First, the expedition leader, Sara. She demonstrated peerless leadership in shuttling us from activity to activity, giving us the opportunity to see wildlife, and making us feel trust and comfort that we would have an amazing experience every day; boundless energy, for always having enthusiasm, no matter what time of day or night, that was absolutely infectious and really helped enhance the trip even when I was feeling tired or down; and operational genius, for coordinating among multiple cruise ships, multiple landing sites, passengers wanting to do all sorts of activities, weather (good for us luckily but still unpredictable!), and myriad other factors to deliver amazing shore excursions, activities, and experiences for us every day. Truly words are not enough to express my gratitude and admiration for the amazing job she did, and I would be hesitant to do any sort of similar tour again without Sara at the helm.

And lastly Shona Main, the ship doctor, who I think was not technically part of the expedition staff but participated just as fully and enthusiastically as any staff member. Beyond her medical duties which she performed superbly (I didn’t get seasick despite usually getting quite motion sick!) I witnessed her assisting passengers multiple times to ensure we had a great and safe experience (one example that stands out is helping out an older passenger who had mobility issues get ready for the polar plunge, and do it safely - what an amazing experience that wouldn’t have been possible for that person without assistance!). Each day she greeted us cheerfully at the gangplank as we departed for the Zodiacs, ensuring life vests were equipped, cards had been swiped, and that we could descend safely. I saw her on every shore excursion engaging with guests and sharing her knowledge and experience. And lastly, something special and unique for me - I had a lot of complex feelings on this trip - it was overwhelming in many ways, and at times I felt it kind of difficult to take it all in. Shona exhibited a lot of empathy, listening to me talk about some of the feelings during one of the meals, and suggesting I share with other passengers who might have been feeling the same way. I did share with my roommate which definitely helped me process some of the feelings from this trip. I wanted to call out this trait which I felt uniquely from Shona. For such a powerful and moving trip it can be difficult to process in the moment, and having someone on the staff who is empathetic and can relate to your feelings and help you process them was really helpful. I was very grateful that she was there and I think she would be an excellent expedition staff member for future voyages.

I couldn’t have asked for a better Expedition team or set of activities. We had variety every day, delicious food and interesting lectures. The team, especially the leader and the doctor, were particularly kind and accommodating.

The trip was very well organized, professional and friendly staff, and perfect attention to the passengers. Also we didn't feel treated as simple tourist, we had the feeling that the organization also enjoyed the expedition with us. That's important to make a difference and to improve the experience, because normally, the profile who chooses this kind of trips is not a person who is interested in feeling like a sheep. Also the food quality was very good. Honestly, there are no complaints.

It was everything I was hoping for.

We were on a Basecamp trip, which was ideal for providing a wide range of activities. Unfortunately, some of our activities were foiled by bad weather...high winds, poor visibility and heavy snow. However, the team were great in working around these conditions. The expedition guides and mountaineering guides were all terrific, very professional and knowledgeable. The ship...Hondius...was excellent, just the right size at about 150 passengers, and our cabin very comfortable. Also very seaworthy crossing the rough Drake Passage. On-board communications were terrific, the the staff informing us of the day's activities, conditions and more. This was my second trip to Antarctica, and I would go again. There are new companies coming into the Polar tourism game, but stick with the veterans like Oceanside, and pick a smaller ship.

The best weather ever, gorgious views, lots of wildlife and a great team.

you have to go to Antarctica to believe the beauty of it... just incredible.. the silence, the ice, the wildlife, thanks to all of the expedition staff for this experience

So, how was the trip? Well, let's put it this way when I arrived in Ushuaia and phoned my girlfriend I was quite literally unable to tell her how good it was and instead had to fight to hold back the tears, which shocked her somewhat. From start to finish it was nothing short of epic. The ship was lovely and cabins were excellent, much roomier than I'd anticipated. The crossing both ways was as flat as a pancake and the weather we had in Antarctica was unprecedented, it was that good. We managed kayaking twice a day, every day if you wanted it, and it was incredible. The zodiac cruises and landings were amazing as were the camping and polar plunge. The food was of a really high standard and the variety was perfect. Now, onto the staff. The guides were absolutely phenomenal, altruistic, knowledgeable, funny, friendly and at the same time incredibly professional, I absolutely loved every one of them. The entire crew and all of the auxiliaries were 10 out of 10 and I could find not a single flaw in the whole operation. The attention to detail on board, the lectures, the BBQ on the back of the ship and all of the nice little things that were done for us literally blew everyone away.

Experience for a lifetime! Met lovely people and top guides. Excellent ship and crew. Wonderfull landscape and wildlife.

Goed verzorgd, goed georganiseerd, fantastische omgeving, rijke en kwetsbare natuur, leuke mensen, wat een reis, een "lifetime experience". En toch..die kwetsbare natuur. We moeten ons echt inzetten om die te behouden. Want al hebben we erg veel geleerd over Antarctica, toch en vooral dat onze "footprint" ook afbreuk doet aan diezelfde natuur.

For two years I waited to take this trip and when I boarded the ship I couldn't believe the time had finally arrived. The 9 days aboard the M/V Hondius were the best of my life! The crew/staff were exceptional, the scenery was beyond words. I met so many wonderful people that I will consider friends for life. The overall trip was one that I will never forget.

Accompanied by the best support from the Hondius crew we visited the antarctic in the beginning of the season and had the best weather conditions possible The combination leaded to a huge possibility to view both land and sea life without obstructions of waves rain / snow or else and gave views of the nature you cannot expect unless you have seen it yourselve. In short this trip was unforgetable

I met many new friends from all over the world. Together we enjoyed the amazing animals and environment God gave us. The weather was put of our control but in a way added to our experience. The guides and staff were a blessing. There knowledge of the antartic was amazing and they kept us safe throughout the expedition. My favorite part was seeing the penguins and my disappointment was not seeing any orcas. I guess I'll have to go again.

like chanlenge program and dinning room food