Discover the Mighty Weddell Sea With Oceanwide Expeditions

by Guest Author
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Wed October 29, 2025

As polar pioneers of the expedition cruise experience, Oceanwide Expeditions sets the standard for authentic exploration. 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.

Snow Hill Emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea

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.

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.

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