Reviews

I just can not say enough good things about this trip, how I am satisfied and how I love it. The places we have been, the activities, the diligent, hard-working crew and Expedition team guides. It's a once in a lifetime trip, the feeling and memory will last forever and become my history. Thanks Oceanwide for organizing a special "Beyond the Polar Circle" itinerary like this. It's an unique experience, wonderful and spectacular! Thanks every crew member and every Expedition Team member who has tried their best effort to make all the good things happen and has accompany us the whole trip, thank for the good memory they have left us.

I have been to many amazing places, quite a few in the 'trip of a lifetime' category. But this one tops all of them. This truely was a trip of a lifetime. Pippa and her team did an amazing job taking us to remote places to see extraordinary wildlife. At one point we were the southern most ship on the planet! That is hard to beat, more than 71 Deg south on the Wiklins Ice Shelf. I knew it would be a good trip, but I was not expecting it to be THIS good. It was also full of landings, zodiac trips and lectures. The food was excellent and service could not be faulted. I have already put down to do another trip on Hondius in 2026.

Thanks to Oceanwide and its fantastic crew. We were able to do numerous dives and landings due to the experience of the leadership on board.

Our trip exceeded any expectations we could have imagined. The ship and all crew onboard were superb, the food was great and we had so many zodiac cruises and landings which enabled us to spend time with the wildlife in the natural environment.

This trip exceeded all expectations in generous amounts. While not under our direct control, the choices made by the Expedition Leader Pippa and the Bridge worked out 110% well. No events were cancelled as we enjoyed calm waters and clear skies. All the expected wildlife were seen by us in ample opportunities. Food on board Hondius surpassed our needs. Talks were also informative and helpful. The team deserves a great applause and appreciation.

What an incredible trip, a beautiful route, many discoveries and all under the guidance of a TOP crew. The incredible beauty, the weather, the activities and the enthusiastic team made dt an unforgettable adventure for me

This was a brilliant trip. Very much an expedition and not a cruise!

The expedition leader, Sara, was outstanding. Her commitment to this part of the world, and its inhabitants, was evident in all she did. She was determined to give the guests on the trip the best possible experience and to make every possible landing, zodiac cruise and wildlife watch as productive and informative as possible. An excellent role model.

The expedition crew were terrific. A highly skilled group of people with vast knowledge and an enthusiasm to share this. The quality of the lectures was excellent and the subject matter varied. The crew were approachable and friendly, with seemingly boundless energy.

The ship is very comfortable and the accommodation excellent. The food was of a very high standard and plentiful, with a wide choice of really interesting dished, with fresh fruit, bread and pastries available every day. The waiting staff were exceptional; very efficient and friendly. The experience of the delicious food was enhanced by their approach.

The wildlife and scenery were breathtaking. We saw 7 different penguin species, 4 types of seal, humpback and orca whales and a huge variety of sea birds. The icebergs were like works of art. The islands visited were all hugely interesting in different respects, some with a variety of flora, others with ice and snow. Sailing the ocean was a fabulous experience.

Thank you to all involved for this amazing trip.

Safety, food, lectures and wine prices were outstanding.

This was an amazing expedition! The Antarctic is a special and unique area of the earth, for sure. The environment both sea and land was wonderful, and the Plancius crew and Oceanwide staff were experts at providing the guests the ultimate experience this fantastic place! The closeness of the wildlife was a wonder, and never failed to amaze - it was truly life changing! The crew and staff were incredibly skilled and knowledgeable in the ways of the sea and the magic of the Antarctic peninsula. The skill with which the crew and staff guided the guests through this thoroughly unique and magical place cannot be praised enough! This was an adventure that is almost beyond words to explain! My highest compliment is that this was my second expedition on the Plancius, and will not be my last! I look forward to my next adventure! Possibly on one of the Plancius expeditions in the northern hemisphere!

An amazing combination of flexible and inspired planning from the expedition team gave us exceptional weather conditions and a feast of wildlife, landscape and icescape... Unforgettable

The crew was amazing and did all their best to give us the time of our lives! And they did. We have seen some epic wildlife and amazing scenery. Rooms are topnoch, just as the food. I will come back!

Absolutely superb organisation of activities, landings, lectures and workshops

We had an absolutely fantastic time on Ortelius on a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula. I was blown away by the landscape and the wildlife we saw and some of the days from the trip will live with me forever: in particular seeing humpback whales up close from our zodiacs and the mountaineering trip. I would thoroughly recommend Oceanwide as a expedition provider. Everything was well organised and well thought through. We were really made to feel part of the expedition. We had a fantastic group of expedition leaders and their enthusiasm and passion shone through. We were very well looked after: the rooms were cosy, food was excellent and the bar was great to hang out in. I also really appreciated being allowed to go up to the bridge to look for wildlife and talk to staff.

The trip really surpassed my already-high-expectations. The boat was lovely (who needs a 5* cruise ship??), all of the staff and guides were exceptional, and the food was delicious. I didn’t expect to have such good meals in such a remote place. All of the activities went ahead and there were lots of lectures/presentations to keep everyone entertained in the evenings. The boat was quite hot and stuffy on the first and last day into Ushuaia but a comfortable temperature the rest of the trip

The staff members were amazing. They were friendly, knowledgeable and seemed to really care about their jobs and the people they work with. The food was ok, but that s because the spices and herbs used were not my personal preference. The people working in the food service area were very nice, cheerful and helpful. I know you heard this, but people need to be advised a little more sternly that hiking in the tussocks can be very difficult. People tend to over estimate their abilities. Great trip!