Oceanwide Expeditions

31/05/2025

Prepare to enter true polar wilderness and feel the embrace of ancient landscapes on a long hike with Oceanwide Expeditions!

Taking you away from the ship for entire days at a time, our long hike activity is the ultimate way to truly immerse yourself in the dramatic landscapes of the polar regions. Encountering iconic wildlife, exploring untouched environments, and embracing the silence, you'll find your perspective of the polar world forever changed.

Ready to lace up your boots? 👉 https://ow.ly/y4RF50VZ2xE

📸 by Geert Kroes

31/05/2025

Hello from Rockall!

This far-flung, spray-swept islet stands isolated in the wild North Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest inhabited place, Scotland's Outer Hebrides.

Seabirds such as gannets, fulmars, and guillemots frequent the rock in calmer weather, while in the waters surrounding it, several new species of mollusk have been discovered in the nutrient-rich seas.

North Atlantic storm surges often almost entirely cover Rockall, yet despite this, several people have spent extended periods of time living on top of this desolate outcrop. Explorer Nick Hancock spent 45 days living on top of Rockall in 2014 before losing supplies in a storm, while in May 2023, former soldier Cam Cameron spent 30 days here before being rescued in heavy weather.

Perhaps Rockall is best viewed from the comfort of an expedition cruise vessel!

🧭 Our experienced captains and crews utilize state-of-the-art positioning technology and up-to-date charts to ensure the safety of our vessels and guests. Local weather and sea conditions dictate experiences like this.

📸 by Sara Jenner Photography

30/05/2025

Guests aboard Ortelius got the rare opportunity to visit St Kilda on an expedition cruise while sailing north towards the Arctic!

This remote Scottish archipelago forms part of the Outer Hebrides, and is an important breeding site for many species of seabird, including Atlantic puffins.

The islands are also known for the presence of cleits - small stone storage buildings or ‘bothies’, used for centuries to store, preserve and dry food.

St Kilda is one of Scotland’s six world heritage sites - well worth a stop for lovers of history and the natural world!

📸 by Hazel Pittwood

30/05/2025

Icebergs come in many shapes, sizes, and forms, from scattered chunks and half-submerged leviathans to towering pinnacles, spires, and broad, city-sized expanses of ice.

One has captured the attention of scientists and the public in recent years: Iceberg A23a, the largest in the world, bigger than some countries! On an expedition cruise to Antarctica, you may encounter this gargantuan block of ice as it slowly shrinks, stranded and currently immobile in the wild southern seas.

For now, discover its history in our latest blog! 👉 https://ow.ly/bqSt50VZ30A

📸 by Sara Jenner Photography

This tabular, floating mass of ancient, compact ice is larger than some countries — and its journey has spanned decades.

29/05/2025

Bon voyage, Hondius!

On her journey to Svalbard, she will call at Aberdeen, Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands, and Jan Mayen, a remote fastness in the depths of the Arctic Ocean, taking intrepid guests with her.

Will you be joining Hondius this year?

📸 by Corne Brouwers

29/05/2025

On 19 May, we welcomed Luc Kusters, founder of Dutch Cuisine, owner of Bolenius Restaurant, and one of the first plant-based chefs to be awarded a Michelin Star for an onboard culinary masterclass!

Luc and our chefs prepared a range of plant-based dishes, testing several recipes and working with ingredients in different ways. Gaining some fresh inspiration helps our galley teams provide more variation for our guests and explore how we can expand our vegetarian and vegan offerings on board!

Then, the best part? Everything had to be tasted!

Bedankt, Luc!

📸 by Michael Frauendorfer

28/05/2025

Madainn Mhath, Fort William!

Yesterday morning, the crew and staff aboard Ortelius were treated to beautiful views of Loch Linnhe and the Scottish town of Fort William, known as the gateway to the Highlands, as they welcomed the first guests of the Arctic 2025 season aboard!

This marks the first time that an Oceanwide Expeditions vessel has visited Fort William - an exciting milestone in our remarkable history. We were treated to a warm welcome and a taste of Scottish hospitality - an ideal start to any Arctic adventure!

Will you be joining one of our expedition vessels this season?

📸 by Sara Jenner Photography, Gabi Kolodko and Gert-Jan van der Ploeg

28/05/2025

One of the most magical polar experiences can be found on the remote, snowy expanses of Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. Here, a vast colony of emperor penguins gathers to breed and raise their chicks - a sight that needs to be seen to be believed!

With the helicopter capabilities of our expedition vessel Ortelius, we take guests to this remarkable part of Antarctica on a unique expedition itinerary designed with emperor penguins in mind. This voyage is a truly unmissable opportunity to encounter this iconic polar species in one of our world's wildest, most beautiful regions.

With three departures in both of our upcoming Antarctica seasons, the time to make your Antarctic dreams come true is now! 👉 https://ow.ly/xGYv50VZ462

📸 by Sara Jenner Photography

27/05/2025

Ever wondered how expedition cruise vessels say goodbye to one another? Well, now you know!

In the past few days, Ortelius and Plancius departed Vlissingen and began their journeys north toward the icy Arctic. Before she sailed out into the North Sea, the bridge of Ortelius sounded the ship's horn, signaling a temporary farewell to the crew of Hondius, who were busy preparing for their own departure in just a few days.

Sorry, headphone users!

🎥 by Kees Matthes

27/05/2025

One of several gull species that have come to be synonymous with seaside towns and coastal cities throughout much of the northern hemisphere, the black-legged kittiwake is a common sight during an expedition cruise to the Arctic.

True pelagic seabirds, kittiwakes spend the vast majority of their lives at sea, returning to land to nest in large colonies on sea cliffs and rocky shorelines.

📸 by Martin Anstee

26/05/2025

Our plucky expedition vessel, m/v Plancius is more than capable of voyaging to the edges of the map and redefining what the expedition cruise experience should be at the far-flung corners of the world.

But, do you know that she is named for a key figure in the history of cartography and astronomy and someone who revolutionized maritime navigation in Europe and beyond?

Read our latest blog to discover the life story of Petrus Plancius and his continued influence on our world today:

Did you know that our vessel Plancius is named after an important figure in cartography, the Dutch-Flemish Petrus Plancius?

25/05/2025

Aiming to replicate his triumph aboard the airship Norge in crossing the Arctic via the North Pole two years earlier, the Italian adventurer, soldier, pilot and engineer Umberto Nobile led a second expedition to the North Pole in 1928 using the Italia.

Far from exceeding the successes of his previous voyage, the Italia expedition would instead end in disaster, claiming the lives of 17 men, including the legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen, and would mark the final airship expedition to the North Pole.

In our latest blog, discover a story of survival against the odds and tragedy on the unforgiving ice 👉 https://ow.ly/WPHM50VXKLH