Oceanwide Expeditions

19/06/2026

Hello from m/v Ortelius in the Arctic pack ice!

Entering this magical place is a surreal experience, with loose leads and broken floes merging into a solid expanse of icy hummocks and perfect white that stretches off towards the North Pole! Vital for many Arctic species, the pack ice is a hunting ground for seals, seabirds, and the mighty polar bear, while several species of whale can often be spotted at the ice edge or, in the case of the bowhead whale, within ice fields themselves.

On days like this, with only the crack and grinding of the floes, the cries of birds in the air, and the scent of adventure on the wind, there’s no place we would rather be! Keep your binoculars handy - there’s plenty to encounter at the edges of the world.

18/06/2026

Greetings from the farthest north vessel on the planet!

Yesterday, m/v Hondius reached a position of 80.91° N, 13.13° E in the pack ice north west of Svalbard, making her the farthest north vessel on Earth! As the vessel approached the ice edge, guests and crew gathered on deck to experience this magical Arctic environment. The landscapes of the Arctic sea ice are surreal, with open leads and broken floes merging into solid expanses of ice and hummocks, stretched all the way to the North Pole and beyond.

A favorite haunt of polar bears, seals, seabirds, and whales, the pack ice is a fantastic place to spot wildlife. On some of our voyages, you'll make full use of our vessels' ice capabilities, venturing into the pack ice itself. During moments like this, you really are at the farthest edges of the map, where few ever get to explore!

17/06/2026

Guests aboard m/v Ortelius had a fantastic welcome to Phippsøya, the largest island in Sjuøyane, the northermost part of the Svalbard archipelago - the king of the Arctic made a remarkable appearance!

Initially keeping a watchful eye from a snow-swept mountainside, this polar bear made its way down to the water’s edge in an unconventional way, proving that Slip N’ Slides aren’t just enjoyed by humans during hot summer days!

Clearly, icy acrobatics are hungry work, and after securing a quick snack, it was back to more basking in the sun and making the most of some great Arctic weather.

🧭 All wildlife encounters occur at appropriate distances - we never approach wildlife, and in the case of polar bears, we remain at a strict distance from all individuals. This video was taken using telephoto lense, which can make wildlife appear closer than reality.

15/06/2026

The Arctic season is underway, and it’s already delivering some unforgettable moments!

With all of our vessels now exploring the north once again, we’re excited to start sharing the first highlights of Arctic 2026.

Guests aboard Ortelius recently enjoyed exceptional conditions on the remote island of Jan Mayen. Calm seas, light winds, and crystal-clear visibility made for a perfect landing at Kvalrossbukta, where guests could stretch their legs, watch puffins and little auks, and take in the rugged beauty of this isolated volcanic island.
The day only got better as Ortelius cruised along the coast, revealing spectacular views of the mighty Beerenberg volcano. Usually hidden behind cloud, the snow-clad peak stood clear against a blue sky - a rare sight and one to remember.

Here’s to many more memorable moments in the Arctic this season!

📸 by Saskia van der Meij and Ali Liddle

13/06/2026

The Arctic season is officially underway for m/v Hondius!

After a challenging period, it was a pleasure to welcome guests on board today marking the beginning of a new chapter for Hondius in the Arctic.

To celebrate the occasion, members of the Oceanwide Expeditions head office team travelled from the Netherlands to Longyearbyen to personally welcome guests, answer questions, and wish them well ahead of their adventure in the realm of the polar bear.

We were delighted to receive such positive feedback and to see so much excitement and anticipation as guests prepared to set sail. Now, it’s time to head north.

Here’s to a successful Arctic season aboard Hondius. See you in Svalbard!

01/06/2026

Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that the planned deep cleaning and disinfection of m/v Hondius has been completed in Rotterdam. On 29 May, the vessel was assessed and was cleared on 30 May by Dutch health authority (GGD) officials to return to full operations. The vessel will now undergo an annual survey and scheduled maintenance in Rotterdam, before her planned departure to Longyearbyen on 6 June.

Prior to the operation, Oceanwide Expeditions worked closely with public health authorities, maritime regulators, port stakeholders, and specialist contractors to establish a controlled treatment and clearance plan for the vessel. The operation required intensive coordination between multiple parties to ensure the work could be carried out safely, efficiently, and in accordance with all applicable requirements.

The disinfection process was carried out by a team of 13 biosecurity experts provided by EWS Group, a specialist in biosecurity, gas measurement, fumigation, and critical safety operations. Over several days, all 8 decks of m/v Hondius were systematically treated following an initial inspection and assessment of the required treatment. As part of this assessment, the vessel was declared rodent-free by qualified third-party professionals.

Please read our latest press update:

Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that the planned deep cleaning and disinfection of m/v Hondius has been completed in Rotterdam.

26/05/2026

The planned departure of m/v Hondius from the port of Rotterdam to Vlissingen has been delayed following advice from GGD Rotterdam for additional cleaning procedures.

The remaining crew members from the original voyage were escorted to quarantine facilities on Saturday evening. Captain Jan Dobrogowski was transported to Poland via specialized transport. Where appropriate, Dutch crew members have returned to their homes for home quarantine as per established protocols.

GGD Rotterdam, in cooperation with Oceanwide Expeditions, wants to ensure that the vessel is ready to be safely returned to service. Based on their inspection findings, GGD has advised additional cleaning. Following completion of this work, GGD will conduct a final inspection before the vessel can proceed with departure.

We will communicate the expected timeline for these procedures as soon as this becomes clear.

At this stage, all voyages from 13 June onwards will proceed as scheduled. No further disruption to the sailing schedule of m/v Hondius is expected.

Please read our latest press release in full:
https://bit.ly/4vcwAAN

19/05/2026

"Over the past weeks, Oceanwide Expeditions has faced one of the most difficult situations in our company’s history.

First and foremost, this was and remains a human tragedy. Three individuals lost their lives. Several others became seriously ill after contracting the virus, with some requiring urgent medical intervention and evacuation under extremely challenging circumstances. At the time of writing, several affected individuals remain hospitalized, including some still in critical condition, while many guests and crew members remain under quarantine and medical monitoring.

Beyond those directly affected, the situation has weighed heavily on guests, crew members, expedition staff, families, and friends. Throughout this entire period, our thoughts have remained with them.

From the beginning, our priority was to support those affected, work closely with medical authorities and experts, and manage the situation responsibly and calmly through three constant priorities: medical response, operational coordination, and transparent communication."

Please read the full statement of our CEO, Rémi Bouysset - https://ow.ly/C41H50Z1LY5

18/05/2026

Oceanwide Expeditions announces that m/v Hondius has safely arrived and docked in the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The vessel arrived at 11:00 hrs this morning. No symptomatic individuals are present on board or among the disembarked crew. 20 crew members and 2 RIVM medical staff have disembarked and are now housed in a specialized quarantine facility. 5 crew members remain on board. These individuals will disembark the vessel at a later stage in coordination with strict cleaning and quarantine protocols.

Oceanwide Expeditions has selected EWS Group to perform an extended cleaning and disinfection of the vessel. EWS Group has extensive experience in ship disinfection, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cleaning process is estimated to take 3 to 4 days, subject to the findings of today's inspection. EWS Group has confirmed that, following the completed cleaning and disinfection, the vessel is safe again for operations. In close consultation with RIVM, the exact details of the cleaning plan are being finalized. We will provide further updates on the process, steps, progress, and outcomes as they become available.

Oceanwide Expeditions today informed passengers of the cancellation of voyages HDS02-26 (29 May - 5 June) and HDS03-26 (5 June - 13 June) to allow for this in-depth cleaning process to be completed. This decision was taken on 18 May. All affected guests and partners have been informed directly, including rebooking options and additional details.

All voyages from 13 June onwards will proceed as scheduled. No further disruption is expected. Guests scheduled on HDS04-26 (13 - 20 June) have been informed that their voyage will proceed as planned. Following the completion of cleaning, inspections, and scheduled audits, m/v Hondius will resume full operations on 13 June, departing from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. A broader market communication will follow later this week.

Please read our latest press release in full: https://ow.ly/Ymqq50Z1e5Y

17/05/2026

Oceanwide Expeditions continues to monitor the transit of m/v Hondius to Rotterdam. No symptomatic individuals are present on board.

The vessel remains on course and is scheduled to arrive in the Port of Rotterdam tomorrow, 18 May.

Oceanwide Expeditions has selected EWS Group to carry out the cleaning and disinfection of the vessel. In close consultation with RIVM, the cleaning plan is being finalized and will commence upon arrival on Monday 18 May. Once agreement has been reached with all relevant parties, we will share further details covering the process, steps, progress and outcomes.

The remaining crew and medical staff on board m/v Hondius will disembark in a staggered approach upon arrival in Rotterdam, in close coordination with the cleaning process. Please refer to the RIVM for more information regarding quarantine measures (https://ow.ly/WCb450Z0HO1).

Please read our latest press release in full: https://ow.ly/zifY50Z0HO0