4 vessels many itineraries Oceanwide Expeditions is one of the pioneers in exploring the Arctic and North Atlantic islands. We operate our voyages with small ice strengthened vessels, as their size, capacity and capability have proven to be ideal for exploration voyages and are appreciated by our passengers. As the number of participants is limited to about 50, our small-expedition vessels offer a friendly, intimate atmosphere. Accommodation and on board-life is cosy and comfortable. Our voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible, combined with educational lectures on board, covering topics such as bird life, marine mammals, vegetation and landscapes. Moreover, we can be flexible, easily changing course and we have our inflatable Zodiacs ready in no time for the finest cruises among the ice-floes, whales or even seals and Walruses. Our friendly and experienced Russian crew, international expedition and hotel staff, most of them having been with the company for many years, are anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with you.
Ask for details on Greenland sailings, Iceland sailings and Shetland Island sailings.
"Professor Molchanov" / "Professor Multanovskiy" / "Antarctic Dream" / "Plancius"
North Spitsbergen 7 nights / 8 days
Rates: Per person based on double occupancy from: $4,020
Dates: June 12, 19, 20
Around Spitsbergen 10 nights / 11 days
Rates: Per person based on double occupancy from: $5,700
Dates: June 26, 27, July 5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26, August 5, 6, 15, 26
Of all the sites in the European Arctic, Spitsbergen is the most romantic, a combination perhaps of its evocative name and a reputation as a genuine wilderness, difficult to each and hostile to explore. Our trips to the north of the island offer 24 hours of daylight and the near certainty of seeing Polar Bears as well as Walruses and a variety of seabirds rarely found outside the High Arctic.
We visit fjords where we will hike for several hours across a tundra dotted with an astonishing array of wild flowers; We are in the land of the Polar Bear, at first sight an adorable creature, but one of the most dangerous land predators in the world.
Therefore our guides carry alarm pistols and rifles for your safety. Our circumnavigation of the island extends the northern trip by visiting the east coast. We sail close to Edgeøya, one of the most important Polar Bear denning sites in the world: stay on deck to catch a glimpse of one of these Arctic giants. Be sure to spend time outside on deck and witness how at the end of the day, the low sun lights up the mountains and turns the sea a vivid orange-pink.
Spitsbergen / Northeast Greenland 12 nights / 13 days
Rates: Per person based on double occupancy from: $6,390
Dates: August 16, 25
Greenland is the largest island in the world. Northeast Greenland is the world's largest National park, a land where herds of Musk Ox are still hunted by Wolves, and Walruses relax on ice-floes. Our trip includes many landings to make the most of this extraordinary landscape. Later we visit Scoresby Sund, the world's largest fjord, at the head of which glaciers calve icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. To the south of Scoresby Sund, Greenland's east coast is one of the most rugged landscapes in the world, a land of jumbled ice and cliffs backed by huge mountains, including Gunnbjørns Fjeld, at 3,700m the highest peak in Greenland and also the highest north of the Arctic Circle. In this area we sometimes see Polar Bears and the elusive Ivory Gull. On again we visit Ammassalik, the capital and cultural centre of east Greenland.
Lofoten North Norway 7 nights / 8 days
Rates: Per person based on double occupancy from: $1,800
Dates: Nov 10, 17, 24 Dec 1
A more active sailing programme is offered with the two-mast sailing vessel Noorderlicht. The ship is crewed by three expert Dutch sailors, a cook and an expedition leader. Although the crew is in charge during the sailing voyage, the assistance of the passengers is appreciated in handling the sails, taking the helm or being on watch during the night.
With a maximum of only 20 passengers we are flexible and able to spend most of the time hiking ashore and exploring the area by Zodiac. We will sail to the north of Spitsbergen, following the west coast of the island, in search for Polar Bears and Walruses. We will attempt to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, a journey which depends on the sea ice. If conditions are favourable, we will round the northern end of Spitsbergen, sailing along the east coast to reach the pointed peaks which gave the island its name.
We will also head south from Spitsbergen to Tromsø, Norway, crossing the Barents Sea and calling in at Bear Island. This trip starts in the Land of the Midnight Sun, but as we head south night starts to fall again. In the quiet of the night, with only the sails and the waves breaking the silence, the sky may be illuminated by the green waterfalls of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), an enchanting sight which will be etched into our memory.
Price includes:
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Transfers and baggage handling between ship and airport after arrival of the ship in the morning in Keflavik Iceland
- Transfers and baggage handling between ship and hotels in Reykjavik after arrival of the ship in the morning in Akureyri Iceland
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
All rates are one-way between Oslo and Copenhagen, per person in U.S. dollars. Fuel surcharge not included.