Northeast Greenland Extreme Explorer
Destination
Greenland & High Arctic
Duration
14 Days
Activity Level
Active
Comfort Level
Superior
This expedition takes you deep into one of the most remote and dramatic Arctic landscapes on Earth, the rugged northeastern coast of Greenland and the world’s largest fjord system, Scoresby Sund. From the moment you depart Akureyri, Iceland, you’ll be immersed in landscapes of towering glacial fjords, vast expanses of pack ice, and stark tundra that stretches to the horizon. Along your voyage, the region’s prolific wildlife will include whales, seabirds, musk oxen, and the ever-elusive polar bear, which becomes a central part of the experience, with opportunities to encounter them from deck or small-boat Zodiac excursions. Each day navigates through twisting straits and ice-strewn passages, stepping ashore to hike across terrain, and learning from expert expedition staff. Whether you’re cruising alongside giant icebergs or searching for wildlife against a backdrop of glaciated peaks, this journey brings Arctic adventure, spectacular scenery, and scientific and historical insights into one voyage.
This adventure may have opportunities to customize for additional Aurora Borealis viewing & longer hikes. Ask an Adventure Specialist about availability of these experiences if you’re interested.
Great For
- Small Ship Cruising
- Highly Remote Landscapes
- Arctic Wildlife
Itinerary
Day 1 On The Iceland Road
Your journey begins in Iceland. By request, you can transfer via chartered bus from the bus stop at Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavik (the meeting point) to the ship in Akureyri (the embarkation point). You arrive in the afternoon after a six-hour drive through northern Iceland.
PLEASE NOTE: This transfer must be booked and paid for in advance.
In the early evening, the ship departs from the port of Akureyri, where you often see whales at the mouth of the fjord. At night, you’ll cross the Arctic Circle.
Meals
Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 2 Sailing to East Greenland
As you sail north toward East Greenland near Kap Brewster, the journey shifts from open Atlantic waters into true Arctic wilderness. Along the way, you’re likely to see seabirds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and guillemots riding the winds, with chances of spotting humpback or fin whales feeding in the cold, nutrient-rich waters. By evening, your first icebergs appear towering, blue-tinged shapes drifting from Greenland’s glaciers set against a dramatic backdrop of rugged cliffs and snow-streaked peaks. The air grows cooler and crisper, and the sense of entering a remote, untouched polar landscape becomes unmistakable.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 3 Arrive at Earth's Largest Fjord
Today brings you deep into Scoresby Sund, one of the world’s largest fjord systems, where you sail past the heavily glaciated coastline of Volquart Boons Kyst. Expect dramatic scenery and towering glacier fronts, sculpted ice formations, and striking basalt columns at Vikingebugt. Explore up close by Zodiac, conditions permitting. In the afternoon, you cruise along Milne Land’s east coast, weaving through fields of massive icebergs. If conditions allow, we will also have a landing at Charcot Havn, where you may walk toward the Charcot Glacier before continuing past the remote Bjørneøer, or Bear Islands, surrounded by stark Arctic beauty.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 4 Enormous Icebergs & Arctic Hares
In the morning, you will likely encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer (.62 mile) long. Most are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.
Today’s long walk goes from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12 km, 7.5 miles to the northeast), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. Plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will join others at this location for their second excursion of the day.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 5 Land Fall at Ittoqqortoormiit
In the morning, you visit Ittoqqortoormiit, the only settlement in Scoresby Sund, home to about 400 residents, where you can stop by the post office, walk through town, and see traditional sled dogs and drying seal, polar bear, and musk ox skins. In the afternoon, you sail north past the scenic mountains and fjords of Liverpool Land, before entering Kong Oscar Fjord overnight, continuing deeper into East Greenland’s remote Arctic landscapes.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 6 Alpefjord’s Lofty Peaks
Today, you will enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the striped slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. You will land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie at your feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans.
Alternatively, the ship ventures into Alpefjord, which is aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. You may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, you experience a definitive Greenland adventure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 7 The Islands of Antarctic Sound
In the early morning light, you glide past the remote islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. These low, rugged outposts are set against towering Arctic peaks. Before arriving at Teufelschloss, or “Devil’s Castle,” a striking mountain known for its dramatic, layered rock formations that reveal millions of years of geological history. Across the fjord lies Blomsterbugt, your potential landing site, where tundra slopes and sweeping views offer a chance to step ashore in true polar wilderness. In the afternoon, the voyage continues through the grandeur of Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord and into Mackenzie Bugt, sailing among sculpted icebergs beneath cliffs and vast, glaciated landscapes that define East Greenland.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 8 Remains of Thule Culture at Eskimonaes
At Eskimonaes, on the southern shore of Clavering Ø, you step into a place of rare historical significance. It was here in 1823 that British explorer Douglas Clavering encountered a small group of Thule culture Inuit, the only documented sightings of living Thule people in Northeast Greenland. Archeologists believe this group soon disappeared, likely due to isolation and the extreme environment, making the encounter a poignant final chapter in their regional history.
Today, a landing here offers more than sweeping Arctic scenery; it provides a tangible connection to Greenland’s deep human past. You may see subtle remains of Thule presence, tent rings formed by stones that once anchored skin dwellings, hunting blinds, food caches, or scattered artifacts. These are traces of a highly adapted Arctic culture that relied on sea mammals, sled dogs, and seasonal migration. Across Greenland, similar archaeological remains tell the broader story of the Thule people, ancestors of modern Inuit communities, whose innovations in toolmaking, clothing, and maritime hunting enabled life in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Standing at Eskimonaes, surrounded by vast fjords and silence, underscores how resilient and fragile life is in the High Arctic.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 9 Pendulum Islands & Polar History
From early morning through the long Arctic daylight, you sail past islands that played a formative role in the history of polar exploration. Sabine Ø and the nearby Bass Rock, part of the Pendulum Islands, were visited in 1823 by British scientist Edward Sabine, who conducted pendulum experiments here to measure the shape of the Earth and better understand its gravitational field. These early scientific efforts marked some of the first systematic research undertaken in the High Arctic, blending exploration with geophysics.
The area later became a staging ground for American expeditions, including the Baldwin-Ziegler Polar Expedition (1901–1902), whose members constructed small wooden cabins that still stand as weathered reminders of the heroic age of Arctic exploration. These structures, simple yet enduring, speak to the logistical challenges and ambition of early attempts to reach the North Pole.
As evening approaches, you pass Shannon Ø, a large and rugged island with a history of exploration, hunting, and later scientific activity.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 10 Store Koldewey
This long, remote island was named during the Second German North Polar Expedition (1869–70) led by Carl Koldewey, part of the early scientific efforts to map and better understand Northeast Greenland’s coastline. You may attempt a landing at historically significant sites such as Kap Alf Trolle or Kap Ahrend, which once served as reference points for explorers navigating these little-charted waters. By this stage of the voyage, you are firmly within the High Arctic climate zone. The landscape noticeably changes: peaks give way to broader, more rounded terrain shaped by prolonged glaciation and permafrost, with sparse vegetation clinging to the tundra. Sea ice becomes a more dominant presence, often drifting south in heavier concentrations, influencing navigation and daily plans. Flexibility is essential here as intended landing sites may be inaccessible due to shifting ice conditions, while unexpected alternatives may open, underscoring the expeditionary nature of travel in the polar environment.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 11 Germania Land
Today’s plans take you into Germania Land, a remote and wildlife-rich stretch of Northeast Greenland where landing possibilities may include Thoms Thomsen Næs, Fyrretyvekilometersnæsset, or another suitable coastal site. This is classic High Arctic tundra, wide, open expanses of low vegetation, patterned ground shaped by permafrost, and distant hills softened by ancient glaciation. The region is particularly known for its population of musk oxen, often seen grazing in small groups. Their shaggy coats and curved horns are perfectly adapted to this harsh climate. With luck, you might also glimpse Arctic fox tracks or even the rare sight of a solitary Arctic wolf moving across the landscape.
Landings here are entirely dependent on ice, wind, and wildlife activity. Sea ice conditions can block access to certain shores, and expedition leaders may adjust plans to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities while minimizing disturbance.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 12 Arctic Wildlife Hotspot
As you sail eastward along the jagged margin of the Northeast Greenland’s sea ice, you travel through one of the Arctic’s most dynamic ecological frontiers. Keep watch along the ice edge, often called the “biological hotspot” of the High Arctic. Look for whales surfacing in open leads, seals on drifting floes, and, with luck, polar bears patrolling the ice in search of prey. Overhead, migrating seabirds trace the boundary between open water and pack ice, taking advantage of the rich feeding grounds created where currents and melting ice concentrate nutrients. This is a landscape in constant motion and a real frontier for many species found in the Arctic.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 13 Approaching Spitsbergen
Today you will sail eastward along the northern reach of the warm Gulf Stream, whose moderating influence keeps these waters more navigable than much of the surrounding Arctic Ocean. This current carries nutrients and marine life northward, supporting whales, seabirds, and rich fisheries as you make your way toward Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago. The crossing offers expansive ocean views, shifting light, and the possibility of marine wildlife sightings along the route.
If conditions and timing permit, you may attempt a late-day landing at Poolepynten, a well-known walrus haul-out on Prins Karls Forland. Here, groups of massive Atlantic walrus rest along the shoreline, their tusks prominent as they crowd together on the sand. Strict approach guidelines are followed to avoid disturbance, but from a respectful distance.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Day 14 Longyearbyen
In Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, you may enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum are fascinating attractions. Alternatively, you can board the first plane to Oslo for your onward journey.
Please inquire with your Adventure Specialist for extra nights or additional touring in the region.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Aboard the m/v Hondius or m/v Plancius
Dates & Price
Dates
Customized for you on your dates, or join a group on the following dates:
- Aug 15-28, 2026
- Aug 25-Sep 7, 2026
- Sep 4-17, 2027
- Sep 6-19, 2027
Best Time of Year to Visit
This expedition takes you deep into one of the most remote and dramatic Arctic landscapes on Earth, the rugged northeastern coast of Greenland and the world’s largest fjord system, Scoresby Sund. From the moment you depart Akureyri, Iceland, you’ll be immersed in landscapes of towering glacial fjords, vast expanses of pack ice, and stark tundra that stretches to the horizon. Along your voyage, the region’s prolific wildlife will include whales, seabirds, musk oxen, and the ever-elusive polar bear, which becomes a central part of the experience, with opportunities to encounter them from deck or small-boat Zodiac excursions. Each day navigates through twisting straits and ice-strewn passages, stepping ashore to hike across terrain, and learning from expert expedition staff. Whether you’re cruising alongside giant icebergs or searching for wildlife against a backdrop of glaciated peaks, this journey brings Arctic adventure, spectacular scenery, and scientific and historical insights into one voyage.
This adventure may have opportunities to customize for additional Aurora Borealis viewing & longer hikes. Ask an Adventure Specialist about availability of these experiences if you’re interested.
Price range varies based on the type of cabin chosen for these voyages. Speak with your Destination Specialist for cabin types and availability.
Transfer via chartered bus from bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavik (the meeting point) to the ship in Akureyri (the embarkation point) is $165 per person.
Included in the voyage
- 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 are by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Complimentary use of waterproof neoprene expedition muck boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels, and the ship are only for passengers on a selection of flights (as advised by Oceanwide) from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity. All guests receive 1.5 GB of data usage per day, which resets every 24 hours.
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition.
Excluded from this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation, and personal insurance (strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature, such as laundry, bar, beverage charges, and telecommunication charges.
- Transfer supplement for the bus shuttle between the bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavik, and Akureyri (ship) and (6 hours).
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Need to Know
The August 15 voyage is on the m/v Hondius
m/v Hondius
Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships. Surpassing the requirements of the Polar Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Hondius represents the most flexible, advanced, innovative touring vessel in the polar regions, thoroughly optimized for exploratory voyages that provide you the utmost first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctica.
Happier polar passengers, healthier polar environment
Not only will the numerous amenities and on-board entertainment help make your Hondius voyage truly memorable, but this ship also gives you the peace of mind that comes with choosing one of the most environmentally friendly vessels on the polar seas. Hondius uses LED lighting, steam heating, biodegradable paints and lubricants, and state-of-the-art power management systems to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions minimal. This means that when you sail aboard Hondius, you get to enjoy the exotic landscapes and wildlife as much as possible while impacting them as little as possible.
Specifications
| Passengers: | 170 in 80 cabins |
| Staff & crew: | Crew 57 | Guides 13 | Doctor 1 |
| Length: | 107.6 meters |
| Breadth: | 17.6 meters |
| Draft: | 5.30 meters |
| Ice class: | Polar Class 6 (equivalent 1A-Super) |
| Displacement: | 5,590 tonnes |
| Propulsion: | 2 x ABC main engines; total 4,200 kW |
| Speed: | 15 knots |
The August 26 voyage is on the m/v Plancius
History of Plancius
M/v “Plancius” was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was
named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman”. The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 and was eventually purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009 and complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea). M/v “Plancius” is classed by Lloyd’s Register and flies the Dutch flag.
Perfect for any expedition
M/v “Plancius” accommodates 108 passengers with private toilet and shower in 4 quadruple porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 25 twin cabins with window and 2 twin deluxe cabins, all (ca. 12,5 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). All cabins offer lower berths (one queen-size bed in the superior cabins and two single beds in the twin cabins), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (for 4 persons in 2x upper and lower beds).
Specifications
| Passengers: | 108 passengers in 50 cabins |
| Staff & crew: | Crew 40 | Guides 8 | Doctor 1 |
| Length: | 89 meters (293 feet) |
| Breadth: | 14,5 meters (47 feet) |
| Draft: | 5 meters (16 feet) |
| Ice class: | 1D (Plancius has a Lloyds class notation 100A1 Passenger ship, Ice Class 1D at a draught of 5 meters) |
| Displacement: | 3211 tonnes |
| Propulsion: | 3x Diesel-Electric |
| Speed: | 10.5 knots average cruising speed |
Please note that this trip operates under different payment and cancellation policies than those described in our Terms and Conditions, as noted on our website and elsewhere. Please request these if you do not have them before advancing a deposit.
GENERAL TRAVEL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OCEANWIDE EXPEDITIONS B.V.
Thank you for deciding to book a trip with Oceanwide Expeditions (hereinafter referred to as: “OE”). Before making a definite booking, we recommend that you (hereinafter referred to as “contracting party”) to read carefully the following travel conditions. These general travel conditions and the term contracting party apply both to private persons (direct booking) and to (travel) organisations (see par. 1.2). N.B.: when referring to OE, this automatically includes the affiliates, owners, officers, agents, employees, associate and/or sister companies of OE.
1. Reservation of trip / travel notification
- The contract comes about by means of a written acceptance by the contracting party of the offer of OE, and/or payment of the required deposit or invoiced total amount, upon which a binding travel contract with OE is effected, to which all conditions set out in paragraph 3 up to and including paragraph 11.3 apply. If the contracting party in addition to him/herself, also lists one or more other persons on one notification form, this contracting party is automatically personally responsible for all obligations ensuing from the travel contract (in line with the general travel conditions of OE) which concern themselves and the other persons booked.
- If the contract has come about by means of a written acceptance and/or payment as per 1.1 by a (travel) organisation (as in the case of, but not limited to, tour operators, agencies, travel agents, foundations, societies etc.), this (travel) organisation enters into a binding travel contract with OE. The (travel) organisation in question is then exclusively considered the contracting party to which all conditions set out from paragraph 1.3 up to and including paragraph 11.3 apply, irrespective of the possibility that the (travel) organisation in turn enters into a binding travel contract with clients it has recruited (such as but not limited to, private persons, members of the (travel) organisation, travel agents and third parties in general).
- The contracting party shall – before the effecting of the travel contract and its implementation – provide OE with the necessary (personal) data concerning him/ herself or third parties – in the case of a (travel) organisation: the client(s) of the (travel) Incorrect or incomplete provision of (personal) data can result in faulty vouchers, air tickets etc. OE shall not be held liable for such.
- All trips booked through OE will be confirmed by OE by means of a confirmation (invoice) sent to the contracting.
2. The travel offer / the travel elements
- The scope of the travel offer (the travel elements) booked by the contracting party is contractually recorded in the travel confirmation (invoice), in combination with the description from the most up-to-date brochure/programme description, sailing schedules, day-by-day itineraries of OE and/or (other) relevant publications of OE.
- OE bears no responsibility for photos, brochures, and other information material, insofar as these have been published or distributed under the responsibility of third parties, nor for any undertakings, expectations, or promises of third parties towards the contracting.
3. Payment
- On the effecting of the travel contract, the contracting party must pay an advance of 20 % of the total price to OE, unless otherwise stated in the travel confirmation. The remainder of the price must be received 60 days before the departure date by OE. If the travel contract has been agreed within 60 days of departure, the full price must be paid immediately. Other (deviating) payment policies may be applicable; these are valid only if confirmed by OE in writing (e.g., the original offer made, travel confirmation, (block charter) agreements/contracts, or in additional (separate) written confirmations) and these payment policies shall prevail over those of the here above mentioned standard payment policy.
- After full payment has been received, the travel documents will be sent to the contracting party.
- If the contracting party fails to fulfil the payment obligations, OE will send him/her a written reminder, and he/she has the possibility to make immediate If the payment is still not made, the contracting party is liable to pay interest on the sum due of 1% for each month or part of a month of default. Furthermore, he/she is liable to pay compensation of extra-legal collection costs equal to 15% of the sum claimed, with a minimum of 50 EURO. If the contracting party fails to comply with his/her payment obligations, OE reserves the right to cancel the contract on the day of default, with no further obligations. OE is (however) entitled to charge the cancellation costs incurred (in line with paragraph 6 or as agreed otherwise in the travel confirmation).
- If the payment is then made, but OE cannot send the travel documents on time (before the start of the journey) to the contracting party, any additional dispatch costs will be charged to the contracting OE may not be held responsible for any travel documents not arriving on time or any (further) events that may cause postponements/cancellations, resulting from late payments.
4. Changes in travel elements / price changes
- Changes in the travel offer, agreed in the travel confirmation/invoice (which occur before the start of the journey) are permitted only if they do not substantially alter the nature of the trip. This includes, among other things, changes made by the airline, changes in flight departure times, changes referring to hotel overnight stays before or after the main journey, minor changes in the travel programme or excursion offer. Such changes may not be used by the contracting party as a reason for cancelling the travel contract or to put forward a claim of any kind to OE.
- The agreed price is based on the prices, exchange rates, duties and taxes as known to OE at the time the publication went to press and at the time of the travel confirmation. OE reserves the right to raise the agreed price (on the grounds of, among other things, unforeseeable increases of e.g. exchange rates, sudden increased prices of accommodation providers, airlines, duties, taxes, harbour dues and fuel prices). In the case that a price alteration is considered necessary by OE, OE is obliged to inform the contracting party in writing of this at the very latest 60 days before the day of departure. Price increases made within 60 days of the start of the journey are not permitted. In the case of a price increase of more than 5 % of the total price of the trip, the contracting party is entitled to cancel the trip without incurring any costs.
5. Cancellation of the trip by OE
- Not withstanding to what is mentioned elsewhere, OE reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to or during the trip for compelling reasons, in which case the payment in advance (indicated in the invoice/travel confirmation) will be paid back to the contracting party and OE does not accept any claims, that may be related to such a cancellation, such as but not limited to loss of joy (of holiday), consequential and/or indirect (commercial) damages, loss of earnings and or profit, loss of market, loss of business, loss of customers, loss of opportunities, commercial losses or damages, loss of or damage to commercial image and or OE is furthermore not liable for and does not accept any claims for any costs made by the contracting party, such as but not limited to other travel elements such as but not limited to flights, hotels, connecting programmes, (travel)insurance’s etc.
- Notwithstanding what is mentioned elsewhere, OE has the right to cancel the scheduled trip up to 30 days before departure if the minimum number of participants has not been achieved. Any payment already achieved from the contracting party will be paid back by OE if the contracting party is not in agreement with an alternative trip offered by OE.
- Notwithstanding what is mentioned elsewhere, OE has the right in the case of force majeure (such as but not limited to war, uprising, natural disasters, abnormal/exceptional weather and ice conditions, legal stipulations of the local/regional authorities, and other events and situations that are beyond the control of OE) to cancel the trip. OE may not be held liable for force majeure. If situations of force majeure occur before the departure date and OE should cancel the trip, payments made in advance will be paid back to the contracting party. If situations of force majeure occur during the trip, OE will try to offer an alternative programme. If this is not possible, either OE or the contracting party is entitled to cancel the trip. In such a case, OE may not be held financially liable. OE is obliged to assist the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation: the client(s) of the (tour) organiser – in obtaining a return trip/flight. The contracting party him/herself is responsible for the costs of this.
6. Cancellation of the trip by the contracting party
- The contracting party may cancel the travel contract (exclusively in writing) at any time before the beginning of the In the case of cancellation by the contracting party, OE is entitled to charge the following cancellation fees to the contracting party:
- up to and including 90 days prior to departure: 20 % of the total price;
- from 89 days up to and including 60 days prior to departure: 50 % of the total price;
- from 59 days up to and including the day of departure: 100 % of the total price.
- Other (deviating) cancellation policies/fees (for example in the case of group charters, block charters or whole boat charters) may be applicable; these are valid only if confirmed by OE in writing (in g. the original offer made, travel confirmation, (block) charter agreements or in communication sent later) and these cancellation policies shall prevail over those of the cancellation policy/fees as mentioned in paragraph 6.1.
- In the case of flight and hotel reservations, a 100 % cancellation fee will apply for those involved costs unless this is a non-refundable ticket/hotel accommodation; in that case, the terms and conditions of the related airline company/hotel will apply.
- If the contracting party, after booking, wishes to introduce changes into the booked trip, this is considered a cancellation, and the cancellation costs stated in 6.1 and 6.2 apply. In case of minor changes, OE is entitled to charge reservation costs of at least 50 EURO per alteration.
- OE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that the contracting party, in the case of a (travel) organisation, the client(s) of the (travel) organiser to take out cancellation insurance to cover the costs of any cancellation of the trip (see also 10.4).
7. Liability of OE
OE is responsible for the selection of accommodation, providers of ships, hotels, etc., composition and the quality control of the travel elements and excursions, description of the travel elements in the OE brochures and other publications, the processing and control of the travel confirmation, and the travel documents. OE is obliged to aim for a correct execution of the trip according to the travel contract and in line with the expectations the traveller may reasonably have on the grounds of the contract.
8. Exclusion and limitation of the liability of OE
- OE acts as intermediary for the sale of travel elements between on the one hand providers of accommodation /services (such as but not limited to a stay in a hotel, a voyage with a ship, services of dive bases and providers of transport, including helicopters) and on the other hand the contracting party and therefore the liability of OE is In these cases the conditions of the relevant providers of accommodation/ services and/ or the stipulations of (inter)national law applies and OE can not be held liable for events such as but not limited to complaints, claims, loss and damage of possessions/baggage, personal injury, death etc.
- All travel elements booked with OE, such as but not limited to a stay on board of a ship and/or excursions and/or programmes off ship (such as but not limited to walking, sightseeing, hiking, camping, mountaineering and/or excursions or programmes on or in the water, incl. kayaking, (scuba) diving, swimming, snorkelling, zodiac driving/cruising and flying activities including helicopter flights) are for 100 % own risk of the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation: the client(s) or the (travel) organiser. OE is therefore not liable for any damage, such as but not limited to (bodily) injury, illness, death etc. whatever the reason or cause may be, including consequential and/or indirect (commercial) damages as set forth in par. 5.1. For diving trips and or supplements and/ or for programmes and/or trips for which this is explicitly indicated (such as but not limited to trips with helicopters), the contracting party must sign a Liability Release Form (Waiver), a health certificate signed by a doctor and – in the case of a dive trip – an internationally accepted diving certificate. If the contracting party does not have the required diving certificates and/or diving experience as required for participation, OE is entitled to decide to offer an alternative programme for the contracting party in question or to exclude this person from (certain parts of) the (diving) programme. These limitations apply also if the contracting party is not in possession of the correct (diving) gear, as stated in publications of OE. In the case of exclusion (or of a mandatory alternative programme) the contracting party is not entitled to make any claims (for restitution). In the case of all (other) travel elements, the contracting party should enjoy generally sound health, according to the guidelines as mentioned in the publications of OE, including the Personal Information Form, which has to be filled out by the contracting party and should be returned to OE. In any case, If the contracting party – undertaking the trip of OE – does not enjoy generally sound health, OE has the right to offer the contracting party an alternative programme or to exclude him from (continuation of) the trip/travel elements. In the case of such an alternative programme or exclusion, OE will not accept any claims (for restitution).
- If OE offers the contracting party an air travel component, including helicopter flights, all liability (such as but not limited to death, injury, delays, cancellations, refunds, loss and damage of baggage) of OE is excluded, even if such an event is at the cost of other travel elements of the trip booked or if such an event would change, postpone, cancel the (nature/scope) of the trip and /or other travel elements) and for this travel component, the conditions of the relevant airline and/or helicopter operator and – if applicable – international conventions
- OE may not be held liable for loss, damage, or robbery of travel documents, baggage, or other possessions.
- Notwithstanding what is mentioned elsewhere, OE shall accept no liability for damage for which there is a claim to compensation based on travel and/or cancellation insurance (whether effected or not).
- OE may not be held liable for damage as a consequence of the travel contract not being correctly implemented if the deficiency in the execution of the contract is attributable to the contracting party.
- The trips offered by OE are mainly conducted in “marginal zones” and require the qualification of expedition trips to places where infrastructure and (medical) facilities are often lacking. On booking the trip, the contracting party fully understands that those trips can not be comparable with any other trip. If for any reason such as but not limited to weather conditions, sea currents, nautical reasons, ice-conditions etc., the decision is taken by OE to change the programme and/or the programme cannot be carried out according to the travel description and (certain) places described in the travel programme cannot be visited and/or OE deviates from the programme, if OE has the opinion that such deviation will benefit the quality of the programme, or the trip has to be postponed or (partly) cancelled, OE is not liable for any claims, such as but not limited to refunds, damages, non-fulfilled expectations etc. of the contracting party.
- Notwithstanding to what is mentioned in 8.7, OE has the right to delay or postpone the (remainder of the) trip with a maximum of 24 hours, for any reason in terms of a proper and/or safe execution of the trip, such as but not limited to ship operational matters including spare parts, documents, provisions, crew and staff related matters including flight arrivals. OE accepts no claims, such as but not limited to refunds. In the case of longer delays (except for helicopter flights/operations), the contracting party has the right to cancel the trip, and OE will refund the travel price booked by OE, or in the case this longer delay occurs during the trip, the travel price will be paid back on a pro rata basis. Other travel elements, such as, but not limited to, flights and hotels, will not be refunded. If for any reason the helicopter flights/operations can not be offered, such as but not limited to weather, ice, nautical conditions, technical reasons and break-downs of the helicopters, no claims of any kind such as but not limited to refunds – will be accepted by OE, not even if this such an event would change, postpone, cancel the (nature/scope) of the trip and /or other travel elements of the trip.
- The contracting party – having booked a ship’s voyage – is free to use the services of the doctor and medical facilities, however neither the doctor nor OE can be held liable for any claims arising out of such services, and does not accept any
- Should OE decide to carry out a medical evacuation during the trip, and this may result in alteration or cancellation of the scheduled trip, OE accepts no claims of any kind, such as but not limited to refunds.
9. Obligations of the contracting party
In the case of a (travel) organisation: instead of “contracting party” (in paragraphs 9.1 up to and including 9.4) read also “the client(s) of the (travel) organiser”.
- The contracting party is obliged to comply with all instructions given by OE and the travel leadership (such as but not limited to trip leaders, guides, diving instructor and diving assistants, captain and crew of the ships, helicopter personal/pilots, local agent and the personnel of accommodation providers such as hotels, resorts and diving locations) in order to benefit the sound execution of the trip. The contracting party is 100% liable for damage caused by any improper behaviour, such as but not limited to damage to the environment, damage towards fellow travellers or material, damage to the hotels, ships, or resorts, to be judged according to the standards of behaviour of the model traveller. The contracting party must not commit any breach of any enactment or Law in the country, including regulations and guidelines such as but not limited to the Antarctic Treaty, International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and Association of Arctic Expeditions Cruise Operators (AECO), and any breach or violation is solely the responsibility of the travel participant.
- Apart from possible punishment by Law, any contracting party who commits a breach of any enactment, Law or guideline and/or causes such disturbance or who threatens to cause such disturbance, that the proper execution of (part of) a trip is seriously hindered or could result in danger for the contracting party and/or the fellow travellers including OE and/or the environment, can by or on behalf of OE (trip leadership or the local representatives) be excluded from (continuation of) the trip (components). In the case of exclusion, the contracting party is not entitled to make any claim for restitution of (part of) the price.
- If the disturbing behaviour and/or damage and/or breach/violation (as described in paragraphs 9.1 and 9.2) should occur, all costs resulting from this shall be charged to the contracting party.
- The contracting party is obliged to inform the tour leadership of OE of any negligence noted in the execution of the travel contract, which is noted by him at the location – in the case of a (travel) organisation: noted by the client(s) of the (travel) This should be done as quickly as possible, in writing, or other appropriate form of communication, to the relevant tour leader/expedition leader of OE or the captain of the vessel, who shall immediately do his utmost to find an appropriate solution.
- If an immediate solution for the complaints cannot be found, the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation the client(s) of the (travel) organisation should present these complaints to the relevant (travel) organisation, where the trip was booked, upon which the (travel) organiser shall inform OE – shall be obliged to report the complaint to OE and request help. In the case of complaints about travel elements, OE can decide to offer an alternative programme (e.g. hotel, cabin, excursion package) that is virtually identical to that in the originally booked trip (the originally booked travel component).
- OE (incl. the representatives, trip leadership, local agent) is entitled to reject the complaint in the case that the complaint does not seriously influence the character of the trip and/or the complaint results only in hindrance of minor significance, if exaggerated demands are made, if it is impossible to provide help to the contracting party within the set time limit, if the deficiency in the implementation of the contract is attributable to the contracting party him/herself, if the deficiency in the execution of the contract could not have been foreseen or could not be neutralised, or if the deficiency in the execution of the contract is attributable to situations of force majeure (that is those abnormal and unforeseeable circumstances that are independent of the will of whosoever claims it and of which the consequences, despite every precaution having been taken, could not have been avoided, see also situations of force majeure as described in par. 5.2).
- In the case that the complaint has not been satisfactorily dealt with during the trip, the contracting party – in the case of a (travel) organisation the client(s) of the (travel) organisation should present these complaints to the relevant (travel) organisation, where the trip was booked, upon which the (travel) organiser shall present the complaint to OE – shall present the complaint to OE at the very latest within one month of the termination of the trip (the last travel day). The complaint must be presented in writing.
- In the case that the complaint has not been satisfactorily settled by OE or if proper satisfaction has not given in this matter, the contracting party is entitled to present the dispute to the District Court of Middelburg in the Netherlands (which court shall have exclusive jurisdiction).
- The contracting party must ascertain the exact time of departure of the return journey at the very latest 72 hours before the stated departure time and reconfirm the air tickets.
10. Baggage / Travel documents and insurance
In the case of a (travel) organisation: for “contracting party” (in the paragraphs 10.1 up to and including 10.4) read also “the client(s) of the (travel) organiser”.
- The contracting party must him/herself obtain the necessary information with regard to and must have in his possession on departure and during the trip the necessary travel documents, such as a valid passport and any required visa, diving certificates/ documents, Personal Information Form (see par. 8.2), proof of inoculations and vaccinations. In the case that the participant is unable to make (part of) a trip due to a lack of such a travel document, OE is not liable and may not be held (financially) responsible.
- The contracting party must comply with the current import restrictions of the various destinations and the amount of baggage permitted (also as far as the stipulations of the different airlines are concerned). OE may not be held liable for e.g. damage and prison sentences which could be imposed in the case of a contravention.
- The obligation of OE to provide assistance to a contracting party in need is greatly impeded if it is not possible to resort to the S.O.S. help service included in travel and baggage insurance.
- IT IS MANDATORY that the contracting party effects the necessary travel insurance, including a medical, accident, and repatriation/evacuation insurance. OE furthermore STRONGLY RECOMMENDS the contracting party to effect cancellation insurance. In case of a medical problem arising during the voyage, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for medical treatment, evacuation, use of aircraft, or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger. IT IS MANDATORY for the contracting party to ensure that such eventualities are covered by travel insurance (incl. medical, accident and repatriation/evacuation insurance). In any case, if not covered by appropriate travel insurance, the responsibility still remains with the passenger and OE specifically declines any responsibility whatsoever.
11. General
- If the duration of the trip as stated in the publication is given in days, the day of departure and the day of arrival, irrespective of departure or arrival times, are counted as full days.
- The laws of the Netherlands apply to the travel contract and all matters ensuing from this contract.
- Responsible for this content is: Oceanwide Expeditions B.V., Visserijkade 5, 4382 ZA Vlissingen, The Netherlands, listed at the Chamber of Commerce of the Netherlands under 50590715 (revised version, date of issue: 06 December 2022).
Duration 14 Days
The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. This is the time period covered by the land cost.
Group Size 108-170 passengers
Comfort Level
Superior
Comfortable cabins
Activity Level
Active
Easy walks and zodiac transfers
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