Reviews

WOW! This voyage exceeded my expectation. When my husband booked the expedition ship, I was concerned about the comfort of the cabins and common area, and even more nervous about the meals. I had no reason to be nervous - the ship is very modern, the cabins and common area swell appointed. The lounge was were we spent most of our free time mingling with fellow travels. (When we weren’t on deck or in the bridge). The small ship environment really fostered mingling with both staff and other guests. The food was plentiful, varied and of excellent quality and taste. The cruise staff couldn’t do enough for us - they accommodated my dietary restriction beyond what I expected. There was a nice BBQ on deck one evening (in snow flurries….but there was mulled wine to warm us up). Another afternoon there was hot chocolate spiked with rum. Every afternoon there was nice snack brought up. The best part of the trip was the expedition team. Led by expedition team leader Pippa and assistant leader George, the entire team entertained us with great lectures when they were not taking us on outings. We saw plenty of wildlife daily. Weather prevented us from flying to the emperor penguin colony,, but the team took our safety seriously and we appreciated that. We got to visit other penguin colonies, sometimes viewing from the zodiac, and on most days landings and a walk on ice.The small ship size allowed us to to off ship daily, including 2 scenic helicopter flights. The staff paid attention to details even for this - each flight every passenger had a window seat. The helicopter pilots were very friendly and made the flights very memorable. If you are considering an Antarctic trip, I highly recommend doing it on a small ship like the Ortellius.

I don't think I can quite put into words how amazing this trip was! To start, the entire oceanwide team was excellent - dining services memorized everyone's needs/preferences (and names!) within the first day, the expedition team's excitement and expertise enhanced every moment off the ship, and all other staff were warm and friendly! I was so happy how much time we were able to spend off of the ship either on landings or Zodiac cruises. I was a little hesitant that Zodiac cruises would be "boring" but there were some of my favorite moments of the trip! Nothing can quite compare to circling icebergs, approaching seals napping on icebergs, or basking in the magnificence of breaching whales meters away from your Zodiac! If you want feel like you are on a true expedition and spend most of your time off the ship, I cannot recommend Oceanwide expeditions enough!

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative voyage into Antarctica. All our lectures were by knowledgeable and well informed personnel with a large amount of information to impart. In both directions The Drake Passage was calm so this added to the passengers enjoyment and enabled them to pass much time on deck and on the bridge. Our helicopter rides were exciting as we were able to view the icy surroundings from above and obtain some idea of the ever expanding snowy scene. On the domestic scene our cabins were warm, had ample space, and were kept tidy daily by the staff. The food served in the galley was plentiful and varied so nobody had the opportunity to go hungry. All crew members from the Captain down were very friendly and mixed happily with the passengers to answer questions and keep us up to date with progress. I think particular mention should be made of Pippa whose professional approach soon marshalled the 100 or so passengers into a cohesive unit and to George whose passion for the Antarctic and its environs proved infectious. I would happily travel with Oceanwide Expeditions again.

Great nature, lots of wildlife including spotting at least 9 polar bears. Wonderful Zodiaccruises in front of calving glaciers, nice hikes, fossils, and onboard the best staff and great food. Ortelius' staff created such a great atmosphere.

A lifelong dream became true. A fantastic extraordinary crew. A wonderful magical landdcape. Very interesting recaps and lots of great appreciated informations from the experts. All in all the best trip in my lifetime. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart

The animal and landscape sceneries we're great nur the chinese guests being noisy and chaotic was very disappointing, annoying and shocking to me.they didn't respect nature and I hardly could enjoy the silence of the Arctic as advertised. The food and crew was adorable.

Eine eindrückliche Reise, tolle Natur & Tierwelt. Das Expeditionsteam ist hervorragend und verfügt über ein fundiertes Wissen. Die Crew leistet grossartige Arbeit, Essen ist lecker. Das Schiff hat einen nostalgischen Charme, der. Esssaal ist recht laut und die Gänge eng. Gut geeignet für Alleinreisende. Tipp: Gästestruktur im Voraus checken! Mit 75% Chinesen zu reisen ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig.

Very instructive, beautiful and professionally accompanied

The trip was amazing from the very beginning. The Expedition Guides were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The ship Crew did wonderful job. Everyone did an extra mile to make sure we are safe and able to see as much wildlife as possible. Very memorable time!

We spent very nice time on the Arctic Ocean. We're lucky with the weather and spotting a lot of wildlife- Guides and all the crew have been very nice with us and very well prepared

Overall, the experience was truly exceptional. The expedition guides were not only highly knowledgeable but also incredibly personable, always engaging with guests and eager to share their expertise. The entire crew demonstrated a high level of professionalism, kindness, and attentiveness—many even remembered passengers’ names and preferences, which added a thoughtful, personal touch to the journey. The accommodations were very comfortable and well-designed. The porthole cabins were spacious, with large closets that made it easy to unpack and hang coats, as well as mirror cabinets in the bathroom for toiletries. There was also room to store suitcases under the bed. I was genuinely impressed by the functionality and size of the cabin. The food onboard exceeded expectations. Each day brought a new and diverse selection of dishes, and the dining team provided consistently outstanding service throughout the trip. With 101 passengers and 55 crew members, the ratio felt ideal. There was always a staff member available, and the guides remained approachable and actively engaged with guests—answering questions, offering insights, and participating in daily activities. When inclement weather prevented one of the excursions, the guides hosted insightful lectures on Arctic-related topics, maintaining the educational and enriching atmosphere of the cruise. The excursions themselves were a highlight. The guides helped us spot wildlife and explained fascinating details about the Arctic environment—such as glacial formations, ice behavior, and animal patterns. They were patient, informative, and clearly passionate about conservation and sharing the unique beauty of the region. One of my favorite things was the open-bridge policy, which welcomes passengers to spend time with the captain and guides—offering not only stunning views but also real-time insights into navigation and wildlife sightings.

Expedition Crew from Oceanwide has tried their very best to bring everyone on board to Snow Hill and meet the Emperor Penguins twice! That was really a memorable and touching moment. Thanks for the great effort you have made!

Thanks to a great expedition plan, luck in the weather, and an absolutely incredible expedition team, we had the experience of a lifetime. Every day was a unique experience, and every single day was absolutely fantastic. I saw a lot of amazing places, but this expedition surpassed them all.

I can't say, just how amazing this trip was. It was truly incredible. The ship, the captain, the expedion staff, the expedition leader, the crew, the restaurant staff, the locations, the ice bergs and all the penguins, seals, birds and whales. I loved every minute of this expedition and it never disappointed. Sending a bunch of ordinary passengers down south to experience an environment so unique and rare that many years ago cost many people their lives to get here, is wild. I feel so lucky and blessed to have had this adventure, within the comfort of a warm remarkable vessel. The highlight, was an area called red rock Ridge, a place swarming with manic Adelie penguins and a rough zodiac trip, this felt like proper adventure. Many thanks, and I advise anyone who's thinking about going with oceanwide, to do it 😀

Since this was my second visit to Antarctica, I thought I knew what to expect. However this expedition far succeeded every expectation I had before I boarded Ortelius. Crossing the polar circle, seeing the Southern lights, visiting the Wilkins ice shelf, spotting Emperor/Gentoo/Adélie/Chinstrap penguins, having the most amazing encounters with humpback whales next to (and under) the zodiac boat.. There are just too many highlights to only pick one. Antarctica, the wonderful crew, the great fellow passengers. This was something extremely special which I'll never forget. Highly recommended to anyone ready to explore the most magical place, in a way that can be considered a true polar expedition. I'll absolutely visit again, and I will surely choose Oceanwide for that next adventure.