Reviews

I've been traveling internationally for 50 years and this adventure was more amazing than I ever envisioned. The expedition leaders, crew, hotel staff; everyone worked hard 24/7 to ensure that we experienced Antarctica to the max. And, the Plancius! Two long excursions in zodiac boats each day. Continual wildlife sightings. The scientists not only lectured but were ready for any and all questions, and able to explain clearly no matter our backgrounds. And, truly an international experience; scientists, staff, crew, passengers. It was hard to see the trip end. When I planned this trip I thought it was a "once in a lifetime". By the end of the cruise I was planning when to come back. Phenomenal!

A truly unique and memorable Artic experience on M/V Plancius with a group from Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife. We enjoyed the company and expertise of Nick Baker from BBC Wildlife and were accompanied by the knowledgable guides from Heatherlee. The excellent crew who took great care of us both in the cabin and the restaurant, superb food and nothing was too much trouble!. The Expedition team worked tirelessly 24/7 to find us those all important sightings of polar bear, walrus, seals, reindeer and whales!.bird life was in abundance and some exceptional sightings included ivory gull, great skuas, snow bunting and ptarmigan together with the numerous auks and the inevitable fulmars around the ship. The trips ashore in the zodiaks were well planned and executed, giving us outstanding views of the landscape together with polar bear and arctic fox footprints seen frequently. Every evening we gathered to review the days events and hear interesting talks from our experienced guides. Also I met some very interesting and highly amusing friends so sincere thanks to everyone at Oceanwide, Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife for making this Artic trip such a memorable, once in a lifetime experience.

Unsere Reise vom 3. - 10. Juni "auf der Suche nach Eisbären" war ein sehr gutes, tolles Erlebnis. Wir spürten den guten Teamgeist auf dem Schiff (Besatzung und Expeditionsteam). Sehr gute und abwechslungsreiche Verpflegung; Loungegetränke etc. ebenfalls. Alles sehr gut. Einziger Wehmutstropfen: das Wasser hatte oftmals einen sehr unangenehmen Beigeschmack; nach entsprechenden Meldungen zu Beginn war es besser oder sogar gut, ab 9.6. aber leider wieder gleich. Trotzdem: Komplimente an Expeditionsteam und Besatzung.

Unbelieveable vacation in Svalbard. We saw so many Wildlife and the Nature is so beautiful up there. The crew was so amazing and we make so many new friendships. Thank you Oceanwide Expeditions!

A wonderful trip on M/V Plancius with a group from Heatherlea/BBC Wildlife. Fantastic crew and Expedition Team, all of whom were both friendly and professional in all their dealings with passengers. Cabin had all the facilities necessary and the lounge is a great place to admire the stunning scenery, spot the wildlife and chat with fellow travellers, whilst enjoying the free coffee. Zodiac trips to landings were slick and only a little choppy. Finding evidence of the wildlife that had passed by and were still around was intriguing - Polar bear and Arctic fox footprints seen frequently. The crew worked 24/7 to get us sightings and delivered - 2 Polar bears, 2 Arctic foxes, innumerable walruses and Svalbard reindeer and birds aplenty, including close up views of Ptarmigan and finally an Ivory Gull on the last afternoon which announced its presence with an exceedingly loud squawk. The low numbers of seals and whales seen were concerning; a sign of climate crisis? Thanks to Oceanwide, Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife for a really memorable experience.

Everything about this adventure was incredible. The expedition crew were highly professional, knowledgeable and experienced, outings were very well organised and supervised. Safety was a priority but didn’t impede our experience. Wildlife viewing was above expectations and at close range. It was a huge thrill to watch a polar bear for some considerable time and to see large numbers of walrus in and out of the water. And to experience the pack ice and pristine scenery of Svalbard was a great privilege. On board the food was always ample and delicious, and service from the multinational ship’s crew was very friendly and efficient. Plancius is a very comfortable ship with lots of viewing space both inside and on the decks and zodiac outings run very smoothly. Overall this was a trip that will live long in our memories and we would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to visit Svalbard.

The breathtaking journey through the beautiful wilderness and landscapes of Svalbard with Oceanwide Expeditions was one of the most magical experiences of my life. The crew, guides, daily programs, hikes, presentations, food and everything about this expedition was just excellent. Thank you for everything, it was truly incredible and absolutely unforgettable!

I sailed on the m/v Plancius for the Antarctica Polar Circle voyage, and absolutely loved my experience! We chose Oceanwide because it was about the only company we found that offered scuba diving in Antarctica, but I’m so glad we did. I feel like the website does not do them justice, and they far exceeded my expectations. The rooms are quite large for an expedition vessel, and the towel warmer in the bathroom will become your most loved amenity, when showering post-landing. Expedition staff was knowledgeable and friendly…quite different from my experiences with National Geographic, where the staff tends to be standoffish. They offered quite a few lectures each day, all of which I enjoyed…even the ones outside my usual areas of interest. Most amazing of all, was the quality of the meals. The chef was fabulous, and the fruits, vegetables and greens remained fresh, even after a week plus at sea! And finally, the expedition experience itself was extraordinary. Each day, our expedition leader (Ali) was looking at ice charts, emailing other ships, and conferring with the captain to get us the best possible landings each day. And she delivered!! Get thee on Oceanwide Expeditions!

I had a most enjoyable trip to Antarctica with Oceanwide Expeditions through a Linking Tourism & Conservation Study Tour. The crew, cuisine and itinerary was second to none and trips by zodiac and onshore were simply spectacular. I would seriously recommend anyone contemplating a trip to Antarctica to consider Oceanwide first.

My second voyage in the Antarctic and in the Artic with Plancius which remain a small expedition vessels with friendly and intimate atmosphere. it attracts the right people on board coupled with fantastic staff and knowledgeable professional guides on board. Quality excursion on shore and great Learning. The experiencing of the nature and wildlife in small groups with flexible itineraries make it each time a life time experience. I will definitely be looking to be back on the Placius next year and the Antarctica, especially South Georgia remains the best place for me to be. Oceanwide expéditions operate in responsibe vessel with a responsible approach to tourism in remote and sensible places. I love the Plancius and the philosophy in respecting Nature and Conservation.

Antarctica is a destination that seems unable to disappoint, so whilst I'm sure every trip is spectacular, I am very grateful to have experienced my trip on the Plancius and its crew. The expedition guides were extremely knowledgeable in their respective fields and had a genuine passion for the region. It made every day and experience so much more interesting. I would highly recommend this expedition to anyone who is keen to explore this spectacular continent!

I planned for my holiday of a lifetime and it certainly was! My compliments to Oceanwide for providing an excellent trip which was organised to the highest degree. All members of the ship's staff and expedition staff were superb, nothing was too much trouble. The care and assistance provided both on and off ship were of the highest standard I can recommend Oceanwide and look forward to a time when I can travel with them again, Thanks for an amazing holiday.

Excellent guides, amazing scenery and wildlife, comfortable cabins and ship, very good food, a nice family feel. Expedition leader did an amazing job reorganizing our itinerary as the wind and sea ice blocked our original itinerary into the Weddell Sea. She kept careful watch with weather and sea ice updates and was able to get us into the Weddell Sea for a couple glorious days. She also did a great job maximizing our time on land and enjoying the gorgeous evening/sunset light and scenery after we arrived on the ship, changing our daily schedule (of meetings or meals) somewhat to give us more time to enjoy it. The orcas were amazing. All of the guides are experts who have conducted research in a particular polar field of science and shared their expertise with us regularly in our meetings in the lounge.

The ship, staff, and food were exceptionally good. I did not actually comprehend what the Basecamp designation meant or entailed.The knowledgable and dedicated staff were able to involve the full complement of guests in the activities the desired despite the changing conditions weather, ice jams,etc that the environment brings. some how I always felt safe and comfortable.

The expedition leaders and ship staff made this an exceptional experience to an extraordinary place. Each day the staff gave us informative talks about what we were seeing as we sailed around the Antarctic peninsula -- the birds, seals, whales, penguins, geology and climate. They were friendly and eager to share their expertise with the travelers. The zodiac cruises and shore landings on the pristine continent were awe-inspiring. The food was delicious-- the soups were my favorite-- and I really enjoyed that the expedition leaders joined us at meals and in the lounge. I made fabulous memories and I would highly recommend this trip on the Plancius.