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Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

A small expedition ship perfect for exploration and adventure

A polar cruise on board the Plancius

30 Reviews

What we love about the Plancius

The "Basecamp" expeditions on the Plancius provide several complimentary optional activities as part of the cruise package.

Children as young as 3 years old are welcome on board.

The ship has a cozy and intimate atmosphere, with a quieter engine and a maximum of 109 passengers.

Polartours
Plancius deck plan
Polartours

Originally built in 1976 for the Royal Dutch Navy as the research vessel Hr. Ms. Tydeman, the M/V Plancius has been expertly refurbished by Oceanwide Expeditions into a modern, comfortable expedition ship. Fully compliant with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations and registered with Lloyd's Register, the ship sails under the Dutch flag and is ice-strengthened for polar exploration.

Accommodating up to 108 passengers, Plancius offers a variety of cabins: quadruple, triple, twin, and deluxe—all with private bathrooms except the shared-facility triple and quadruple cabins. Cabins range from 12.5 to 21 m², featuring twin or queen beds. While some cabins may have partially obstructed views due to ship structure, the real spectacle is outside—best enjoyed from the large outer decks or the panoramic observation lounge on Deck 5.

On board, you’ll find a restaurant and lecture room on Deck 3, and a welcoming lounge and bar above. Spacious decks on Deck 4 offer prime wildlife and landscape viewing. With 10 robust Mark V zodiacs and 2 gangways, landings are efficient and safe.

This is not a luxury cruise—it’s an authentic polar adventure. Plancius is designed for immersive exploration, supported by an experienced crew of 37 and an expert team of 8 expedition staff and an onboard doctor. A diesel-electric propulsion system ensures reduced noise and vibration, providing a smoother ride as you voyage into the heart of the polar regions.

Dates & Prices of Plancius

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Amenities on board the Plancius

bar

Bar

theater

Lecture Theater

binoculars

Observation Deck

zodiac fleet

Zodiac Fleet

lounge

Observation Lounge

doctor's suitcase

Medical Services

library

Library

wifi

Internet/Wifi

rubber boots

Mudroom

Plancius 's take on sustainable traveling

Sustainability is at the heart of every expedition. Plancius and its sister ships are committed to reducing their environmental impact through:

The use of low-sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO) with under 0.1% sulfur content.

A water treatment and desalination system using reverse osmosis—eliminating the need for plastic bottles. Guests receive reusable water bottles.

Elimination of single-use plastics: no straws, plastic cups, or individually wrapped items.

Biodegradable shampoo and soap in recycled packaging in every bathroom.

Onboard waste sorting and recycling programs help reduce our footprint at sea.

Cabin Categories on board the Plancius

Twin Window Cabin Plancius
Twin Window Cabin

Type:

Twins

Max. occupancy:

2

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Twin Deluxe Cabin Plancius
Twin Deluxe Cabin

Type:

Twins

Max. occupancy:

2

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Twin Porthole - Plancius
Twin Porthole Cabin

Type:

Twins

Max. occupancy:

2

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Superior Cabin Plancius
Superior Cabin

Type:

Matrimonial

Max. occupancy:

2

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Image without description
Triple Porthole Cabin

Type:

Triple

Max. occupancy:

3

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Quadruple Porthole - Plancius
Quadruple Porthole Cabin

Type:

Quadrupel

Max. occupancy:

4

More about this cabin

More info about the Plancius

Cruising speed
10.5 knots
Beam
14.5
Draft
5 m
Capacity
108
Year built
1976
Length
89 m
Class
Ice Class 1A
Crew members
47
Gross tonnage
3211 tons

Reviews of Plancius

Meghal Lotia

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

To talk about the cruise, it was an amazing experience! The services by Oceanwide were managed very efficiently despite the covid outbreak during the tour. I am a vegetarian so I was surprised that they had plenty of meal options for me and the kitchen staff made great efforts. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. We would often sit down in the evening after our dinner and chat about our personal lives and passions. It felt more like being friends with them than the conventional tourist-guide relation. I am glad that I made it to this trip. It has been a very memorable experience with the activities that we did and friends I made. I would rate Oceanwide very highly for all their efforts! I would love to go on another trip with Oceanwide, maybe to the Arctic this time.

FRELAT B

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

I highly recommend Polartours and more specifically Bruna who was extremely helpful and kind during my last minute booking process. I thank her very much for her professionalism, reactivity and passion. My trip to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica was absolutely amazing and exceptional. THANK YOU AGAIN BRUNA !!!

client

Limor Y

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

The trip was so perfect! the crew, the activities, the people on the boat, the food... Thank you so much to for amazing experience!

Isabel Good

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

I have wanted to go to Antarctica for some time, especially after going to Churchill, Canada. It is truly amazing to see such color variation in a mostly monochromatic environment.! The food on board was excellent. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. Penguins were just too cute! Probably the highlight was the Orcas that followed our ship and put on quite a display for us. Lectures were entertaining and surprisingly, it wasn't as cold as I had feared. I brought way too much stuff ! A very nice touch to have a log sent out from the ship and crew. (Copied from Oceanwide Expeditions)

Susie Storey

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

A truly unique and memorable Artic experience on M/V Plancius with a group from Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife. We enjoyed the company and expertise of Nick Baker from BBC Wildlife and were accompanied by the knowledgable guides from Heatherlee. The excellent crew who took great care of us both in the cabin and the restaurant, superb food and nothing was too much trouble!. The Expedition team worked tirelessly 24/7 to find us those all important sightings of polar bear, walrus, seals, reindeer and whales!.bird life was in abundance and some exceptional sightings included ivory gull, great skuas, snow bunting and ptarmigan together with the numerous auks and the inevitable fulmars around the ship. The trips ashore in the zodiaks were well planned and executed, giving us outstanding views of the landscape together with polar bear and arctic fox footprints seen frequently. Every evening we gathered to review the days events and hear interesting talks from our experienced guides. Also I met some very interesting and highly amusing friends so sincere thanks to everyone at Oceanwide, Heatherlea and BBC Wildlife for making this Artic trip such a memorable, once in a lifetime experience. (Copied from Oceanwide Expeditions)

Holly Snell

Plancius Antarctic and Arctic Cruises

We had dreamt about our Antarctica trip for so long and when we finally embarked on our expedition Oceanwide exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we stepped onto the ship we felt a warm, welcoming and friendly vibe from every crew and staff member that lasted throughout the entire trip. We chose the Plancius as we wanted to be part of a smaller group with around 100 passengers, the ship itself is well looked after, sparkling clean and all the equipment we were given to use was high quality and well maintained. The food was delicious, a good variety was available and we loved the home baked bread and afternoon cakes that were a treat to come back too after an expedition in the cold! The on shore landings and zodiac tours we did were interesting and varied, and though the weather was mixed, the expedition crew were efficient in changing plans and coming up with an activity for us to do at the last minute, which was very impressive. Daily talks were given helping us to understand more about Antarctica and the chance to try kayaking and camping was a highlight which made the trip feel like a real adventure, giving a unique view of Antarctica which we will remember forever!


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