Antarctica &amp; the Arctic Tours &amp; Trips

none

1/5 Terrible

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands

Highlights

See Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Albatrosses, Cape Petrels, Southern Fulmars
See Humpback whales here as we approach Fish Islands for a Zodiac cruise and possible landing.
See more Adélie penguins among the myriads of icebergs large and small.
Enjoy even more Humpback whales.

Themes

Birding, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"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 every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

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14 days From$8,650

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North Spitsbergen, Arctic Spring

none

1/5 Terrible

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Highlights

Visit the Svalbard Museum
See the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Pomor hunting station,
Visit a haul out place of Walrus at Poolepynten if sea conditions allows, or at Sarstangen.
Visit Ytre Norskøya, a small island which was used for many years as a lookout point for Dutch whalers

Themes

Birding, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"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 every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

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7 days From$2,720

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Polar Bears & Glaciers of Baffin Island

By Arctic Kingdom

none

5/5 Excellent

10 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Baffin Island

Highlights

Observe Baffin Island polar bears in their natural habitat, as they roam the islands and swim amongst icebergs
Search for bowhead whales, and visit a newly discovered bowhead whale molting site, a shallow bay where they slough off dead skin – one of the rarest wildlife experiences in the Arctic
Hike and kayak at the foot of Coronation Fiord where the Penny Ice Cap glacier ends abruptly in the sea water.
Visit Canada’s stunning Auyuittuq National Park
Admire the breathtaking landscapes, icescapes and seemingly endless sunsets

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Overland Journeys

What travelers are saying

"This company knowingly failed to obtain a permit to view wildlife. They are not acting with respect towards local communities or the wildlife. Locals say they interfered with polar bears emerging from hibernation. The company has been found guilty. Google it then research a more responsible outfitter."

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7 days From$7,115

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Greenland Arctic Adventure

By IAG Adventures

preferred

5/5 Excellent

9 reviews

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

Ilulissat Icefjord

Highlights

Journey well north of the Arctic Circle
Witness icebergs calve into the sea
Kayak in the icefjord
Visit an Inuit fishing village
Hike through the tundra

Themes

Family Friendly, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"This Greenland adventure was everything one could hope for--incredible hiking, stunning views, kayaking around icebergs, meeting with locals for an in depth knowledge about the country. Kevin, our guide, was also terrific and the organization of the trip was impeccable. Highly recommend this trip or any other Northern countries with Kevin."

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5 days From$3,295

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Taste of the Arctic Summer

By Arctic Kingdom

none

5/5 Excellent

10 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Acropolis

Highlights

Discover Nunavut’s capital city, Iqaluit
Enjoy the cultural and historical attractions
Explore the Sylvia Grinnell River by hiking
Kayak in Frobisher Bay

Themes

18 - 30's, 50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"This company knowingly failed to obtain a permit to view wildlife. They are not acting with respect towards local communities or the wildlife. Locals say they interfered with polar bears emerging from hibernation. The company has been found guilty. Google it then research a more responsible outfitter."

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4 days From$2,154

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Spring Polar Bears & Icebergs of Baffin Safari

By Arctic Kingdom

none

5/5 Excellent

10 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Baffin Island

Highlights

Experience the exclusivity of true high Arctic and mother polar bears and cubs in early spring
Stay in our Tented Safari Camp, set on approximately 2.5 meters (8 feet) of solid ice (or more)
Capture unique and stunning photographs of polar bears, and possibly cubs, as the polar bear's lounge on icebergs and the sea ice
Take in stunningly vast landscapes and panoramic views of soaring icebergs and mountains in the high Arctic
Get the chance to experience the Northern Lights at night in all its glory in the high Arctic

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Overland Journeys, Safari

What travelers are saying

"This company knowingly failed to obtain a permit to view wildlife. They are not acting with respect towards local communities or the wildlife. Locals say they interfered with polar bears emerging from hibernation. The company has been found guilty. Google it then research a more responsible outfitter."

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9 days From$12,335

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Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland, Aurora Borealis

none

4.8/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Akureyri

Highlights

See Polar Bear, for instance near Hamilton Glacier, or more to the head of the fjord
See the edge of the East Greenland sea-ice
Enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colours of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.
See the sledge dogs and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear
See large whales and seabird migration and, in the night, the Aurora borealis

Themes

Birding, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"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 every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

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13 days From$5,950

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Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula

none

4.8/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Puerto Madryn, South Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

Explore the cruise through m/v Ortelius
Explore Falkland Islands and experience Falkland culture
Visit the bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach
See some high-Antarctic species like the McCormick Skua and Snow Petrel
Discover South Orkney Islands

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"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 every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."