Oceanwide Expeditions Profile [2024] - 160 reviews, 23 trips
View all trips

# of trips

23

Type

Local operator

Service level

standard

Travelers age

5 — 65

Trip prices

$2,220 — 25,700

Tour languages

Unknown

What they’re known for
Thrilling expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic that include guided on-shore excursions for exploring wildlife and natural landscapes.

Trips other travelers liked

See all 23 trips

Member Savings

Save up to $700!

Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Unlock Savings

Compare with Oceanwide Expeditions

How well do you know the world?

Play the game
Compare your travel trivia knowledge with friends. How many can you get right in 1 minute?

Oceanwide Expeditions Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
160  Reviews
See all Oceanwide Expeditions tour reviews
Excellent
147
Great
8
Average
0
Disappointing
1
Terrible
4
C

Collin

Jan 2022

Written on

Terrible Customer Service for Cancellations

I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on eve...

B

Bob

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

Seeing Antarctica the Right Way

We dreamed of this trip for 26 years before finally pulling the plug and spending the money. For us it would be a once in a lifetime experience. And it turned out to...

G

Graham

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

Trip of a lifetime

If I could I would have awarded this 10 stars. I booked this expedition to achieve my lifetime ambition which I had held since I was 12, of visiting Antarctia. At th...

L

Lynn

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

The most amazing trip ever.

I have traveled the world (this was my final continent), and this was the most amazing trip ever. It far exceeded any of my expectations. We were active all the time...

V

Victor

Sep 2020

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Reviewsby Oceanwide Expeditions

Viatge maravellos

Fantastic viatge en tots els sentits tan per ruta, barco, estaf, serveis etc. La amabilitat de tots ens faran recordar aquest com un viatge-expedicio inoblidable. Si...

Write a Review
Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Editoral Review of Oceanwide Expeditions

Based in the Netherlands, Oceanwide Expeditions specializes in polar expedition-style cruises to both the Arctic and Antarctic. Operating since 1996, they’re one of the pioneers in the field. 

What Makes Them Stand Out? 

They offer an excellent series of educational lectures onboard and a wide variety of potential activities on shore, which may include camping, snowshoeing, kayaking, and mountaineering for the truly adventurous. 

Who Travels With Them?

Oceanwide Expeditions passengers are curious about the world, its cultures, and its wildlife, and are willing to pay for a top-notch experience. 

Where Do They Operate?

Throughout the Arctic and Antarctic regions and a bit beyond. “Arctic” itineraries include remote Scottish islands – the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands – as well as the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen (Svalbard), and the Lofoten islands of Norway. Antarctic itineraries include the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands and the Ross Sea. One spring cruise includes remote, seldom visited South Atlantic islands such as Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, and Ascension Island. 

How Does It Work?

The company owns a fleet of four vessels capable of breaking through pack ice and small enough to navigate their way through narrow passages. Weather permitting, the ships make two landings per day, with passengers ferried ashore via zodiacs. 

Why Travel With Them? 

These are truly memorable expeditions to some of the most remote spots on the planet.

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • ... and much more
Join community

More Details

Solo friendly

  • No single supplement

Activities

Travelstride featured in

About the company

What they’re known for
Thrilling expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic that include guided on-shore excursions for exploring wildlife and natural landscapes.

Oceanwide Expeditions offers since 1996 unique, small-group polar expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica. We own, manage and operate the vessels: m/v Plancius (116 pax), m/v Ortelius (116 pax), s/v Rembrandt van Rijn (33 pax) and s/v Noorderlicht (20 pax). The Dutch ”Plancius Foundation“ (1981-1996) was the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions, the first cruise operator ever to organize since 1983 on a yearly basis expedition cruise voyages to and around Spitsbergen.

"Experience true emotions in the polar regions, with Oceanwide Expeditions”

Keeping days at sea short and implementing fast gangway operations allow us to give our guests maximum time ashore to explore. We offer two landings per day, morning and afternoon (weather permitting). Sailing schedules and land programs are flexible, and will always be adapted to local sea ice and weather conditions and wildlife opportunities. Our fleet of inflatable zodiacs are ready in no time for taxi shuttles to shore , and cruises among ice-floes and the local wildlife. While cruising and actively exploring the polar regions, we are sure that you will become increasingly fascinated by these unique wildernesses, places of drama, wildlife, history and true emotion. Welcome aboard!

“Join us for a quality discovery cruise in the Arctic and Antarctica”

Discover the pristine and mysterious polar planet with us! We are pioneers of ship-based exploratory tourism in the Arctic and Antarctica and awarded as ‘World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator’. We are organising unique expedition cruise programs to the polar regions for guests who want to actively enjoy the spectacular scenery, explore nature and wildlife of some of the world’s most stunning and pristine shorelines, above and below the oceans, at sea and on land.

“Oceanwide Expeditions brings your polar experience to a higher level”

The regions we visit during our wildlife expeditions contain hardly any infrastructure and are almost only reachable by boat. Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline of land and water, where daily guided excursions guarantee intensive and individual nature and wildlife experience in small groups. Our carefully prepared and unique voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory and environmentally friendly travel program, which is flexible and guarantees much time for adventure packed activities, combined with educational lectures on board. For special activities we provide industry leading equipment: tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, kayaks, diving compressors, scuba tanks and weights, rubber boots with grip sole, polar jackets, sledges (pulkas), mountaineering hard wear.

“What makes us different”

Oceanwide Expeditions own and operate a modern fleet of small ice-strengthened expedition vessels which comply with highest international safety standards and allow our professional crew to navigate safely through pack-ice and remote narrow waterways. The size, capacity and capability of our small ships have proven to be a successful formula for exploring the remote regions for many years. Our expedition vessels offer a comfortable, friendly, intimate and informal atmosphere. Oceanwide Expeditions is known for exceptional standard of service offered to all passengers on board the ships. Our ships provide cosy and comfortable accommodation and on-board life. Our chefs prepare excellent international and well balanced international cuisine. Our friendly international crew, expedition and hotel staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. Qualified and experienced expedition guides share their knowledge in lectures on board during sea days and during field excursions; our guides come from all over the world and speak several languages.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Oceanwide Expeditions Company Ranking by Category

Awards

World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator

Why us?

Expertise in designing and managing wildlife voyages

Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline of land and water, where daily guided excursions in small groups are organized. Our expertise in designing and managing the wildlife voyages allows us to offer quality tours in areas that will fascinate and amaze you time after time. We would very much like to share our enthusiasm and our experiences with you.Oceanwide Expeditions operates with private and chartered expedition vessels and is responsible for the management and operations on board. All voyages have been carefully prepared and developed (routing, regulations, provisioning, crewing, excursions etc.) and are empathic to the natural conditions of the areas concerned and therefore unique in their design.

Experience in expedition cruising

Oceanwide Expeditions looks back at 32+ years of experience in expedition cruising, having built up a thorough knowledge of the areas visited. Our tours are constantly modified to guarantee the intended quality of our voyages.During Oceanwide Expedition cruises, daily excursions in small groups are offered. Experienced tour leaders show you the most interesting aspects of the areas, often illustrated by lectures on board the vessel. Most lecturers come from a scientific background.Sailing schedules are always adapted to local sea ice conditions and Oceanwide is known for good and basic standards for the service and comfort offered to all passengers on board the ships.

Travelling with Oceanwide Expeditions

Oceanwide Expeditions offers unique, small-group expedition cruises that allow passengers to enjoy the natural wildlife and scenery of some of the world’s most spectacular and pristine shorelines, above and below the oceans. The size, capacity and capability of our ice-strengthened vessels have proven to be a successful formula for many years.As the number of participants is limited from 20 to 116 passengers, our small-expedition vessels offer a friendly, intimate atmosphere. Accommodation and on-board-life is cozy and comfortable. Our voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible, combined with educational lectures on board. Moreover, we can be flexible, easily changing the course of the vessel and have our inflatable Zodiacs ready in no time for cruises among ice-floes or even the local wildlife. A friendly and experienced international crew, expedition and hotel staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. Reliable vessels, completely rebuilt and operated under the supervision of Oceanwide Expeditions, allow Oceanwide to navigate safely through pack-ice and occasional remote narrow waterways.

The North Atlantic & Arctic season

The North Atlantic & Arctic season between May and September enables exploration of the spectacular scenery with its fascinating flora and fauna including Polar Bears, Walruses and myriads of seabirds. The itineraries include rarely visited Scottish islands - Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland’s, the Faroes, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Bear Island, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Lofoten.

South Atlantic Islands and Antarctica

During the Southern summer months November to March Oceanwide’s vessels explore the islands of the South Atlantic, and Antarctica where towering snow-capped mountains and enormous numbers of penguins, whales, seals and seabirds offer unparalleled photographic opportunities. The voyages include the Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands, Falklands (Malvinas), South Georgia & the South Orkney Islands. The Atlantic Odyssey leaving Ushuaia in mid March includes seldom visited jewels such as Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, Ascension Island and Cape Verde Islands.

Why Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!