Oceanwide Launches its 24/25 Antarctica Season
Oceanwide Expeditions, a 30-year veteran of polar expedition cruises, has kicked off its 2024-2025 Antarctica Season with the first expedition cruise of the season, a 20-night voyage between the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica, departing on October 18th.
This wide-ranging expedition cruise promises to be a showstopper, but what else does the 2024-2025 Antarctica season hold for Oceanwide Expeditions and its guests?
Drygalski Fjord, South Georgia_copyright_ Martin van Lokven – Oceanwide Expeditions
Falkland Islands_Magellanic Penguins_Copyright_Werner Thiele
From the frozen South to the balmy Equator
Oceanwide Expedition’s 24/25 Antarctica season will run between October 2024 and April 2025, with 34 trips scheduled. It will take guests from the southern shores of Argentina deep into the heart of Antarctica, visiting iconic polar locations such as the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula and remote sub-Antarctic and Antarctic islands, including the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, and the beautiful South Orkney Islands.
Forming the core of Oceanwide Expeditions’ Antarctic program is the spirit of adventure and bringing guests closer to the heart of nature. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Oceanwide Expedition’s Antarctica Basecamp itineraries, which run throughout the season. These activity-filled trips are designed to maximize the time guests spend on shore, hiking, mountaineering, snowshoeing, kayaking, and even camping their way throughout the frozen world of Antarctica.
Towards the end of the season, Oceanwide Expeditions offers several itineraries that transport guests from the frigid South to the balmy temperatures of Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa. These expansive Atlantic Odysseys form the curtain call for the season, providing the tantalizing opportunity to voyage throughout the South Atlantic Ocean, visiting some of the most remote islands in the world, such as South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, St Helena, and Cape Verde.
Halfmoon isl – weddel sea _copyright_ amos nachoum
Telefon Bay – South Shetland Islands_copyright_ Mellany van der Hulst
Trips full of wildlife and historical significance
Oceanwide Expeditions prides itself on getting guests closer to the heart of nature, and wildlife opportunities are a key part of all of its expedition cruises. The design and operation of its fleet of three ice-rated vessels used in Antarctica, m/v Hondius, m/v Plancius, and m/v Ortelius, allow for a 360-degree view of the polar landscape around the ship, giving guests fantastic chances to view wildlife as opportunities arise. The core of Oceanwide Expeditions’ ethos is flexibility. All daily itineraries are designed to be flexible, shifting as wildlife opportunities emerge.
Guests can expect to encounter a wide variety of iconic Antarctic wildlife, from immense whales to great colonies of penguins, such as the famous king penguin colonies of South Georgia. By Zodiac craft, guests will get an intimate view of life in the frozen South as flocks of seabirds wheel overhead and seals haul out on the beaches and rocks as they pass. For photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, the Oceanwide experience will create memories and images that last a lifetime.
Oceanwide Expeditions 24/25 Antarctica season will also visit locations with great historical significance. Guests can visit the stunning Gerlache strait, named for the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899 aboard the Gerlache and surrounding peninsula, or see for themselves locations that were the backdrop to Ernest Shackleton’s heroic exploits during the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917. Iconic areas tied to the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, such as the Weddell Sea, Paulet Island, and the South Orkney Islands, will also be visited. In the wake of these past explorers, Oceanwide Expeditions continues to pioneer polar expedition cruises.
Hondius
Ortelius_copyright_Thomas Laumeyer
A varied Antarctica program
The spirit of adventure defines Oceanwide Expedition’s trips within this Antarctic season. Whether voyaging deep below the Antarctic Circle in a quest to view the rarely-seen Southern Lights on a one-off expedition or allowing guests to visit the emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island with the helicopter capabilities of m/v Ortelius, at the heart of each trip is an unforgettable adventure and unsurpassed guest experience.
Led by an expert onboard team of guides, guests can not only discover the beautiful landscapes of Antarctica but also learn about the wildlife, environment, and history of the polar world they find themselves in. They can also participate in more specific learning activities like ship navigation, onboard lectures, and photo workshops.
With expedition cruises ranging from expansive 27-night adventures to shorter, more focused trips, with Oceanwide Expeditions, Antarctica’s icy, beautiful, and unforgettable world is coming into view, just over the horizon.
Ortelius, Helicopter Deck
Book now for Antarctica 2025/2026
Some last-minute spots are available on Oceanwide Expedition’s 24/25 Antarctica trips, and their next season, 25/26, is available for booking. Many of the same itineraries will return for the next season with new locations and returning favorites. Visit the Oceanwide Expeditions website to view their Antarctica program in full, or contact them directly for further information regarding their expedition cruises to Antarctica.
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