Oceanwide Expeditions
Oceanwide Expeditions is a Dutch polar cruise operator based in Vlissingen that runs small expedition ships to Antarctica and the Arctic. Its fleet of four combines a purpose-built ship, Hondius, with two converted research vessels, Ortelius and Plancius, and the sailing schooner Rembrandt van Rijn, carrying between 33 and 170 guests.
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About Oceanwide Expeditions
Founded in 1993, the company bought Plancius in 2010 and added Ortelius and Rembrandt van Rijn in 2012, then took delivery of Hondius, which it describes as the first passenger ship registered to Polar Class 6, in 2019. Its longtime schooner Noorderlicht passed to a new owner in 2021. In March 2026 Oceanwide signed a letter of intent for two 146-passenger expedition ships with hybrid sail propulsion, expected from 2029.
Trips lean toward activity: base-camp voyages with camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and photo workshops, Weddell Sea voyages that use helicopters from Ortelius, and Ross Sea and South Georgia expeditions. Antarctic departures are mainly round trips from Ushuaia, while Arctic summers center on Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland.
What Oceanwide Expeditions is known for
Oceanwide has a reputation as a practical, activity-focused polar operator. Reviewers often praise the guides, the number of landings and options such as camping and mountaineering, and the company's willingness to run remote routes: Ortelius set records for the farthest south reached by a passenger ship in the Weddell Sea in 2025 and 2026, and in 2025 Oceanwide organized the cleanup of graffiti on a historic building at Whalers Bay for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
The trade-off is comfort. Ortelius and Plancius are older converted ships with simpler cabins and fewer amenities than newer expedition vessels, and Rembrandt van Rijn is a traditional schooner with close quarters. In April and May 2026 a hantavirus outbreak aboard Hondius, during a voyage that left Ushuaia on 1 April, drew worldwide news coverage; three passengers died and others were evacuated for treatment.
Who it's for
Expedition · small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings
- Adventure seekers
- Couples
- Value seekers
Oceanwide suits travelers who put landings, wildlife and activities ahead of luxury: hikers, campers, kayakers, photographers and people who want the more remote Weddell Sea or Ross Sea routes. Hondius offers the most modern comfort; Ortelius and Plancius suit travelers happy with older, simpler ships; and Rembrandt van Rijn appeals to sailing enthusiasts who do not mind small cabins.
Travelers who want suites, spas, fine dining or a polished hotel experience should consider luxury expedition lines, and those prone to seasickness should note that the smaller and older ships move more in open water.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 2.8/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 2/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 2/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 4 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Oceanwide Expeditions sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.0 ★Hondius2019 · 6,603 GT · 170 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropeHondius is Oceanwide Expeditions' flagship, built from the keel up for expedition cruising by Brodosplit in Split, Croatia, completed in May 2019 and sent on her maiden voyage on…
#23.0 ★Plancius1976 · 108 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropePlancius began life as HNLMS Tydeman, an oceanographic research ship commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy on 10 November 1976 and retired in 2004; a fracture zone on the…
#33.0 ★Rembrandt van Rijn1924 · 33 guests · Northern EuropeRembrandt van Rijn is a three-masted schooner that started out as a Dutch fishing lugger; Wikipedia traces her to 1924, while Oceanwide dates the hull to 1947. She has been…Every ship
Where to fly in
- Ushuaia - Malvinas Argentinas International (USH)3 Oceanwide Expeditions ships sail from Ushuaia, Argentina1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR)1 Oceanwide Expeditions ship sails from Longyearbyen, Norway
Quick answers
What is Oceanwide Expeditions known for?
Oceanwide has a reputation as a practical, activity-focused polar operator. Reviewers often praise the guides, the number of landings and options such as camping and mountaineering, and the company's willingness to run remote routes: Ortelius set records for the farthest south reached by a passenger ship in the Weddell Sea in 2025 and 2026, and in 2025 Oceanwide organized the cleanup of graffiti on a historic building at Whalers Bay for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Who is Oceanwide Expeditions best for?
Oceanwide suits travelers who put landings, wildlife and activities ahead of luxury: hikers, campers, kayakers, photographers and people who want the more remote Weddell Sea or Ross Sea routes. Hondius offers the most modern comfort; Ortelius and Plancius suit travelers happy with older, simpler ships; and Rembrandt van Rijn appeals to sailing enthusiasts who do not mind small cabins.
Where does Oceanwide Expeditions sail?
Oceanwide Expeditions's ships in service sail Northern Europe (4 ships) and Antarctica (3 ships).
How is Oceanwide Expeditions rated?
Oceanwide Expeditions's fleet averages 3.0 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 4 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Hondius at 3.0.
How many ships does Oceanwide Expeditions have?
Oceanwide Expeditions has 4 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Hondius, Ortelius, Plancius and Rembrandt van Rijn.
Where is Oceanwide Expeditions based?
Oceanwide Expeditions is headquartered in Vlissingen, Netherlands. It has operated since 1993.
What is the largest Oceanwide Expeditions ship?
Hondius is Oceanwide Expeditions's largest ship at 6,603 gross tons, carrying 170 guests.
Cruising with children
Oceanwide’s minimum age and its suitability advice are different. A child being permitted to travel does not mean the operator recommends the experience for that age.
Read the Oceanwide Expeditions family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Oceanwide Expeditions? Enter the price the line quotes and what you'd pay for a drink on board. If your fare already includes drinks, you can skip this one.
We haven't found a published wine price for Oceanwide Expeditions yet, so enter your own. Oceanwide Expeditions FAQ ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Oceanwide Expeditions and its ships
- 5 things Oceanwide Expeditions does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Oceanwide Expeditions, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
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