Cruise Frog guide
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.
Style
Expedition
small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings
Best for
- Adventure seekers
- Couples
- Value seekers
Fleet rating
3.0/5Average of 4 rated ships in service
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
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.
- Adventure seekers
- active excursions, remote places
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- Value seekers
- low fares and frequent deals
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.
Where Oceanwide Expeditions sails
Ships
3.0 ★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…
2.8 ★Ortelius1989 · 4,575 GT · 108 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropeOrtelius was built in Gdynia, Poland, in 1989 as Marina Svetaeva, a special-purpose ship that served the Russian Far East as a passenger and supply vessel; from 2007 she was…
3.0 ★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…
3.0 ★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…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 →