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As polar pioneers of the expedition cruise experience, Oceanwide Expeditions sets the standard for authentic exploration, including in Antarctica and the Weddell Sea. Their expedition vessel fleet goes further than most, delivering exhilarating, unforgettable experiences at the farthest edges of the map.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in one of the most enigmatic oceans on Earth – the Weddell Sea.
Photo credit: James Cresswell/Oceanwide Expeditions
Adventures for Those Who Dare to Go Beyond the Standard
To enter the Weddell Sea is to enter a maze of leads through the ice, to navigate flotillas of enormous icebergs, and surrender entirely to the unpredictability that the sheer power of nature brings to any expedition in the world’s extremes. Few operators provide experiences in this part of Antarctica. For guests who want to explore the farthest corners of the Weddell Sea, they have to do it with Oceanwide Expeditions!
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin
Multiple Departures | 10 nights
One of Oceanwide Expeditions’ most iconic and guest-favorite voyages is their Weddell Sea – In Search of Emperor Penguins itinerary. This unique trip gives travelers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit an emperor penguin colony. On Snow Hill Island, the only accessible rookery in Antarctica, over 4,000 breeding pairs gather to raise chicks.
Utilizing the helicopter-carrying capabilities of m/v Ortelius, guests are flown over the pack ice to a landing zone near the colony. Few wildlife experiences on Earth rival standing in silent awe as emperor penguins waddle past, chicks in tow, in their icy kingdom.
Remote Weddell Sea Explorer
Once departure per season | 27 nights
For the truly intrepid, Oceanwide Expeditions’ Remote Weddell Sea Explorer itinerary ventures farther than any Antarctic cruise in the Weddell Sea. Navigating into the lesser-traveled southeastern Weddell Sea, an area dominated by ice shelves and deep pack ice, this route captures the very essence of polar exploration over 27 immersive nights.
Retracing portions of Shackleton’s path, this itinerary channels the same spirit of discovery and resilience. With no set landing sites and a route dictated by ice and weather, each voyage becomes a unique journey of exploration. Trips such as these, with the authentic approach and pioneering spirit found across their expedition cruises, are one of the few remaining ways modern travelers can truly experience the vast, unpredictable wildness of Antarctica at its most raw.
Weddell Sea Basecamp Voyages
Multiple Departures | 12 nights
Weddell Sea Basecamp voyages offer a multi-activity experience designed for the adventurous spirit. These expeditions are built around a flexible “basecamp” from which travelers can explore the Weddell Sea in various ways. Activities range from snowshoeing and mountaineering to polar camping, kayaking, photography workshops, and even snorkeling.
This immersive approach allows you to engage deeply with the environment and wildlife of the Weddell Sea, combining the thrill of exploration with educational enrichment, with all activities included at no extra cost.
Photo credit: Wim van Passel/Oceanwide Expeditions
Be Part of the Adventure
Oceanwide Expeditions continues to redefine what is possible at the edges of the map, and their authentic, immersive approach to expedition cruising sets them apart as true pioneers of the polar guest experience.
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.
Contact My Journey Begins Travel to plan and book your Antarctic adventure on the mighty Weddell Sea with Oceanwide Expeditions.
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Oceanwide Expeditions 2025-2026 Antarctic expedition cruise season began with the company’s first voyage of the season departing Puerto Madryn, Argentina, on a Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica Photographic Special itinerary.
All three of Oceanwide Expeditions’ motor expedition vessels, m/v Hondius, m/v Ortelius, and m/v Plancius, will take guests from the shores of South America, across the sub-Antarctica, and into the Antarctic Peninsula and farthest reaches of the Weddell Sea throughout the 2025-2026 season. The first departures of Hondius and Plancius will take place from Ushuaia, Argentina, and Stanley, the Falkland Islands, respectively.
Unique Weddell Sea & Deep South Voyages in 2025-2026
In addition to returning guest-favorite itineraries, such as the company’s renowned Falkland Islands – South Georgia – Antarctica voyages or Antarctica Learning and Discovery trips, this season sees the addition of several unique itineraries set to take place in the Weddell Sea and far below the Antarctic Circle.
Returning is the record-breaking Remote Weddell Sea Explorer itinerary, departing 22 January 2026, which is set to take guests into the far south of the Weddell Sea over 27 nights. Last Antarctic season, this itinerary set a new farthest south record in the Weddell Sea for a non-icebreaker passenger vessel.
A one-off Uncharted Islands of the Deep South itinerary is planned to explore the poorly mapped region surrounding the Glinka Islands and Lazarev Bay in early 2026, while guests seeking an immersive, activity-focused voyage can join a Deep South Basecamp trip for the first time this season.
“I am excited for our Antarctica expedition season to be underway once more, with a combination of new and returning itineraries set to showcase the best that this spectacular region has to offer. We look forward to welcoming our guests on board and pursuing the authentic, immersive polar experience for which we have become known throughout the industry.” —Franklin Braeckman, Antarctic Program Manager