Plancius, Antarctica

Excellent boat comfort

“Everything are good, but this is non-diving cruise, so there will be less young people there. ”

Zheng X, China China
Read more reviews

Highlights

  • Refurbished ex-navy vessel
  • Dive next to amazing ice floes
  • Daily dives with expert guides

Join the M/V Plancius for a trip of a lifetime aboard an Antarctica cruise. Originally an oceanographic research vessel built in 1976 for the Royal Dutch Navy, she was completely refurbished in 2009 to accommodate 108 passengers for Polar adventure cruises. The 'Ice Class' MV Plancius has 53 en-suite cabins on board, all with lower berths, except the 2 triple and 4 quadruple cabins with bunk beds. There are 5 decks, and social areas include the large observation lounge and bar on Deck 5, the restaurant and lecture room on Deck 3, and large open deck spaces with the possibility to fully walk-around Deck 4 and enjoy the scenery and wildlife views. M/V Plancius is also fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system to reduce the noise and vibration of the vessel.

Antarctica cruises aboard the M/V Plancius range from short 10-day trips to Ascension Island to full 37-day expeditions exploring the Antarctic Peninsular. Activities and highlights on these voyages include soft climbing mountain ranges, rare photo opportunities, kayaking the shorelines, getting up close with Gentoo & King Penguins, seeing Killer Whales cruise by, or watching Leopard Seals hunt.

Plancius also offers dive trips to the Antarctic Peninsular to see penguins, sea lions, and even leopard seals underwater. Diving is shallow, around 20m/60ft, and ranges from zodiac and shore diving. Diving next to amazing ice floes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something to be remembered forever. The dives are led by a highly experienced dive team leader and guides who are experts in their field. They aim to offer 1-2 dives daily, but this can change due to local ice and weather conditions. Divers must be experienced in cold water and dry-suit diving and bring all their gear (tanks/weights provided onboard).

Dive trips are limited to 24 divers, and spaces fill up fast. Book online today to reserve your place.


Choose your departure date

Date
Itinerary
Price
Select

Included: VAT, Port Fees, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries.

Optional Extras: Travel Insurance, Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Diving Package (430-800 EUR per trip), Extra Dives, Nitrox, Nitrox Course, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, Snorkel Gear, Laundry / Pressing Services, WiFi internet.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

  • Visa payments
  • MasterCard payments
  • American Express payments
  • Paypal payments
  • ApplePay payments

Pay by bank transfer or online with Best Price Guaranteed


Boat features

  • Laundry Service
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Audio & video entertainment
  • Library
  • Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
  • En-Suite bathrooms
  • Paid Internet
  • Non-Smoking Rooms
  • Seaview Cabins
  • Kayaks On-Board
  • Observation Deck
  • Bar
  • Naturalist Guide

Food & Drinks

  • Western Food
  • Vegetarian Options
  • Buffet style
  • Beer available
  • Snacks All Day
  • Vegan Options
  • Fine Wines Selection
  • Wine Available
  • Set Menu Dinner
  • Welcome Cocktails

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.


Diving

The crew speaks English.


Drawings & Vessel Layouts

#deckplan floorplan

Boat Specifications

  • Year built 1974
  • Year renovated 2004
  • Length 89 meters (293 feet)
  • Beam 145 meters (47 feet)
  • Top speed 12 Knots
  • Cruising speed 10 Knots
  • Engines 3x Diesel-Electric
  • Max guests 108
  • Number of cabins 53
  • Number of bathrooms 58
  • Tenders 10 Mark V zodiacs

Boat Navigation and Safety

  • Radar
  • Depth Sounder
  • GPS
  • Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
  • Emergency Rafts
  • Life Vests
  • Oxygen
  • First Aid Kits
  • Satellite & mobile phones
  • Crew trained in first aid

Plancius Reviews

  • 8.6 Fabulous
  1. Vessel
    10.0
  2. Crew
    9.0
  3. Food
    10.0
  4. Diving
    5.0
  5. Value
    9.0
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Zheng X
  • China China
Good trip

Everything are good, but this is non-diving cruise, so there will be less young people there.

Recommended for
Atmosphere, entertainment, communication
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Magdalena M
  • Netherlands Netherlands
Alles was geweldig!!!!!!!!!!!

Lemaire channel met barbecue, kayakking tussen de ijsschotsen en de vele schattige pinguins

Recommended for
De natuur was adembenemend, de crew en catering was uitmuntend en de sfeer was relaxed en gezellig