Oceanwide Expeditions Cruise Fleet

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Small-Ship Polar Expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic

Rather than making the ship the sole focus of the journey, Oceanwide Expeditions prioritizes time in the field. Flexible schedules, Zodiac excursions, guided landings, wildlife observation, and optional adventure activities help guests experience polar landscapes up close.

The Oceanwide Expeditions fleet consists of four physical vessels: the purpose-built Hondius, the ice-strengthened Ortelius and Plancius, and the three-masted sailing schooner Rembrandt van Rijn. Hondius, Ortelius, and Plancius operate in both the Arctic and Antarctica at different times of the year, while Rembrandt van Rijn specializes in Arctic sailing expeditions.

Oceanwide Expeditions Fleet at a Glance

The fleet includes three motorized expedition ships and one traditional sailing vessel. Each ship offers a different balance of passenger capacity, onboard comfort, expedition character, and regional coverage.

Ship	Cruising Regions	Maximum Guests	Best Suited To
🚢 Hondius	Arctic and Antarctica	170	Modern expedition cruising, varied cabins, and active polar itineraries
🚢 Ortelius	Arctic and Antarctica	108	Remote routes, rugged exploration, and specialist expeditions
🚢 Plancius	Arctic and Antarctica	108	Traditional expedition cruising and wildlife-focused voyages
🚢 Rembrandt van Rijn	Arctic	33	Intimate sailing expeditions in Svalbard and Greenland

About Oceanwide Expeditions

Oceanwide Expeditions is a specialist polar cruise operator offering activity-led voyages aboard small, expedition-focused ships. Its itineraries are built around wildlife, landscapes, exploration, and learning rather than conventional cruise entertainment. Routes are kept as direct as conditions allow, maximizing the time available for shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Expedition teams aim to organize frequent outings on land and at sea when weather, wildlife activity, sea ice, and local regulations permit.

Expedition leaders and guides provide onboard presentations covering wildlife, geography, glaciology, geology, polar history, and the communities connected to the regions being explored. These sessions provide context for the places and animals encountered on each voyage. Oceanwide Expeditions' cruises range from introductory Antarctic Peninsula itineraries to longer journeys through the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. In the north, the fleet explores Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic pack-ice edge.

Oceanwide Expeditions Cruise Experience

Small, Expedition-Focused Ships

Oceanwide Expeditions ships accommodate between 33 and 170 guests. Their relatively compact size supports efficient Zodiac embarkation, flexible navigation, and closer interaction between passengers, guides, crew, and the surrounding polar environment.

More Time in the Polar Landscape

The purpose of an Oceanwide Expeditions cruise is to place passengers in the landscape whenever conditions allow. A typical day may include a Zodiac cruise, a guided walk, a wildlife observation session, a shore landing, or a specialist outdoor activity.

Active Polar Adventures

Depending on the departure, activities may include kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, camping, photography workshops, or polar diving. Selected Ortelius expeditions may also use helicopters to approach areas that are difficult to access from the sea. Activities vary by itinerary and may require suitable physical fitness, prior experience, specialist equipment, or advance booking.

Flexible Expedition Itineraries

Polar travel is shaped by weather, sea ice, wildlife movements, and local landing conditions. Expedition leaders may adjust the planned schedule to take advantage of wildlife sightings, favorable ice conditions, safer landing sites, or better exploration opportunities elsewhere.

Expert-Led Polar Learning

Lectures, briefings, and informal presentations complement each day’s excursions. Guests can learn more about polar animals, ice formations, historic expeditions, glaciology, geology, conservation, and the fragile ecosystems encountered throughout the voyage.

Oceanwide Expeditions Cruise Ships

🚢 Hondius

Hondius is the largest and most modern vessel in the Oceanwide Expeditions fleet. Built specifically for high-latitude voyages, the ship accommodates up to 170 passengers in 80 cabins and combines purpose-built polar capabilities with contemporary passenger facilities. Accommodation ranges from practical triple- and quadruple-porthole cabins to twin cabins, superior rooms, junior suites, and grand suites with private balconies. All cabins have private bathrooms. Public areas include an observation lounge, lecture spaces, a restaurant, bar, library, and open decks for wildlife and landscape viewing.

Hondius operates in both polar regions. During the Antarctic season, voyages may explore the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Weddell Sea, Falkland Islands, and South Georgia. Basecamp-style departures may combine Zodiac excursions and landings with kayaking, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and photography workshops. During the Arctic season, Hondius cruises around Svalbard and Spitsbergen and may operate longer routes connecting Greenland, Iceland, and Jan Mayen. Its observation areas provide space for searching for whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, Arctic foxes, and polar bears.

Best suited to: Travelers looking for the fleet’s most contemporary ship, a broad range of cabin categories, and activity-rich Arctic or Antarctic expeditions.

• Explore Hondius Antarctica cruises
• Explore Hondius Arctic cruises

🚢 Ortelius

Ortelius is an ice-strengthened expedition vessel accommodating up to 108 passengers in 50 cabins. Its functional design, spacious outer decks, observation lounge, dining room, bar, and lecture facilities provide an informal base for exploring remote polar environments. Cabin categories range from triple- and quadruple-porthole accommodation to twin, deluxe, and superior rooms. The onboard experience is comfortable but deliberately expedition-oriented, making Ortelius particularly suitable for travelers who prioritize wildlife, remote destinations, and field activities.

In Antarctica, Ortelius is associated with ambitious routes through the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, and Weddell Sea. On selected departures, helicopters may be used to approach the emperor penguin range near Snow Hill Island or to explore locations that cannot easily be reached by Zodiac. In the Arctic, Ortelius operates wildlife-focused voyages around Svalbard and Spitsbergen. Guests may cruise beside glaciers, explore tundra on foot, travel through fjords by Zodiac, and follow the edge of the sea ice in search of walruses, whales, seals, Arctic foxes, seabirds, and polar bears.

Best suited to: Adventurous travelers seeking rugged expedition character, remote polar routes, or specialist Antarctic voyages.

• Explore Ortelius Antarctica cruises
• Explore Ortelius Arctic cruises

🚢 Plancius

Plancius is one of Oceanwide Expeditions’ longest-serving ships. Originally built as an oceanographic research vessel, it was later converted for passenger expeditions and now accommodates up to 108 guests in 50 cabins. The ship retains the practical character of a working expedition vessel while providing en-suite accommodation, an observation lounge, a restaurant, a bar, lecture facilities, a library, and open deck space. Cabin options include shared porthole rooms, twin cabins, deluxe cabins, and superior accommodation.

During the Antarctic season, Plancius may explore the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Weddell Sea, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Elephant Island, and the Antarctic Circle. Wildlife-focused and photography-oriented departures place a strong emphasis on Zodiac excursions, shore landings, and time outdoors. During the Arctic season, Plancius operates around Svalbard and Spitsbergen and may sail longer routes involving Iceland and Jan Mayen. Guided walks and Zodiac excursions provide opportunities to explore tundra, glaciers, historic sites, remote coastlines, fjords, and the edge of the pack ice.

Best suited to: Travelers seeking a traditional expedition-ship atmosphere, strong research-vessel heritage, and varied Arctic or Antarctic routes.

• Explore Plancius Antarctica cruises
• Explore Plancius Arctic cruises

🚢 Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt van Rijn is a three-masted schooner offering the most intimate experience in the Oceanwide Expeditions fleet. The vessel carries just 33 passengers in 16 cabins, creating a close-knit atmosphere throughout the voyage. Cabins are simple and functional, with private bathrooms and twin or triple configurations. Shared spaces include a dining room, bar and lounge, lecture area, and outdoor deck space. When weather and sailing conditions are suitable, the schooner may travel under sail for part of the journey.

Rembrandt van Rijn operates exclusively in the Arctic and is particularly well suited to the sheltered fjords of Spitsbergen and Greenland. Programs may explore North Spitsbergen, Northeast Greenland, Scoresby Sund, and regions associated with the northern lights. Its small passenger capacity allows guests to participate in landings as a single expedition group and creates regular opportunities to interact with the guides and crew.

Best suited to: Travelers seeking a small-group Arctic sailing expedition with traditional character and an intimate onboard atmosphere.

• Explore Rembrandt van Rijn Arctic cruises

Oceanwide Expeditions Cruise Destinations

Antarctica

Hondius, Ortelius, and Plancius operate Antarctic expeditions during the austral spring and summer. Depending on the ship and itinerary, voyages may visit the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Weddell Sea, Antarctic Circle, Elephant Island, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Orkney Islands. Shorter voyages generally concentrate on the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. Longer itineraries may include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, providing a wider range of landscapes, historic sites, seabird colonies, seals, and penguin encounters. South Georgia is known for its immense king penguin colonies, while the Weddell Sea offers remote coastlines, sea ice, enormous tabular icebergs, and selected expeditions focused on emperor penguins.

The Arctic

All four Oceanwide Expeditions vessels operate in the Arctic. Destinations may include Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Scoresbysund, Northeast Greenland, and the Arctic pack ice edge. Svalbard expeditions focus on glaciers, fjords, tundra, sea ice, and wildlife. Greenland voyages add immense fjord systems, remote settlements, geological formations, and opportunities for extended hiking and coastal exploration. Longer combination cruises may connect Iceland, Jan Mayen, Greenland, and Spitsbergen. These routes provide a broader overview of Arctic landscapes, wildlife, exploration history, and remote communities.

Life Aboard the Oceanwide Expeditions Fleet

Days may begin with a briefing or a wildlife sighting from the outer decks, followed by a Zodiac cruise, a guided landing, or another outdoor activity. Meals and lectures are arranged around the expedition program rather than limiting time ashore. Hondius, Ortelius, and Plancius provide en-suite accommodation, dining facilities, lounges, bars, observation areas, and presentation spaces. Hondius offers the fleet’s most contemporary design, while Ortelius and Plancius retain the practical atmosphere of traditional expedition vessels. Rembrandt van Rijn offers a simpler, more intimate sailing experience. Its compact dining and lounge areas encourage interaction between travelers, guides, and crew, while its schooner rig adds a distinctive maritime element to Arctic exploration.

Explore the Oceanwide Expeditions Cruise Fleet

From modern polar cruising aboard Hondius to traditional Arctic sailing aboard Rembrandt van Rijn, the Oceanwide Expeditions fleet offers several ways to explore the ends of the Earth. Travelers can compare destinations, departure dates, activity programs, cabin types, passenger capacity, and voyage length to find the expedition best suited to their interests. Options include observing penguins in Antarctica, searching for polar bears near the Svalbard pack ice, hiking beside Greenland’s fjords, navigating the ice-filled Weddell Sea, and crossing the Southern Ocean toward South Georgia.