All itineraries are for guidance only and may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings depend on site availability, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations.
You arrive in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen's main town. Explore this former mining town with its church and Svalbard Museum. In the evening, the ship sails out, and you might spot minke whales in Isfjorden.
Exploring North Spitsbergen
This cruise takes you through the pack ice and along the rugged shorelines of north Spitsbergen. Here are some places we might visit:
Raudfjord
On Spitsbergen's north coast, enjoy the expansive fjord with glaciers and maybe spot ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline are home to seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and possibly polar bears.
Monaco Glacier
If conditions allow, we sail into Liefdefjorden to see the 5-kilometer-long Monaco Glacier. This area is a feeding spot for kittiwakes and a hunting ground for polar bears. If ice blocks our way, we may sail along the west coast.
Highlights of Hinlopen
We aim to sail into Hinlopen Strait, home to bearded seals, ringed seals, and polar bears. You might spot blue whales at the entrance. After cruising among ice floes, visit bird cliffs with thousands of birds. On the east side, we may land on Nordaustlandet to see reindeer, geese, and walruses. We can take an alternate route if ice blocks Hinlopen.
The Seven Islands
The northernmost point of the cruise might be the Seven Islands, 540 miles from the North Pole. Polar bears live here, and the ship may stop among the pack ice before heading west.
Sailing the Continental Shelf
As we head west, watch for polar bears and Greenland whales. Near Spitsbergen, we sail the edge of the continental shelf, where fin whales feed in upwelling zones. At Kongsfjorden's mouth, you might see minke whales.
Forlandsundet, St. Johns Fjord, or Alkhornet
Walruses might be seen in Forlandsundet. Alternatively, we may sail into St. Johns Fjord or land at Alkhornet, where seabirds nest, Arctic foxes search for food, and reindeer graze.
Return to Longyearbyen
All adventures must end. The ship returns to Longyearbyen in the morning, with bus transport to the airport provided.
m/v Hondius
Hondius is the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel and was built from the ground up for expedition cruising.
Specifications
Passengers: | 170 in 80 cabins |
Staff & crew: | Crew 57 | Guides 13 | Doctor 1 |
Length: | 107.6 meters |
Breadth: | 17.6 meters |
Draft: | 5.30 meters |
Ice class: | Polar Class 6 (equivalent 1A-Super) |
Displacement: | 5,590 tonnes |
Propulsion: | 2 x ABC main engines; total 4,200 kW |
Speed: | 15 knots |
Cabins Gallery
Ship Interior Gallery
Ship Exterior Gallery
Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, meeting the latest and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships. Surpassing the requirements of the Polar Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Hondius represents the most flexible, advanced, innovative touring vessel in the polar regions, thoroughly optimized for exploratory voyages that provide you the utmost first-hand contact with the Arctic and Antarctica.
Happier polar passengers, healthier polar environment
Not only will the numerous amenities and on-board entertainments help make your Hondius voyage truly memorable, this ship also gives you the peace of mind that comes with choosing one of the most environmentally friendly vessel on the polar seas.
Hondius uses LED lighting, steam heating, bio-degradable paints and lubricants, and state-of-the-art power management systems that keep fuel consumption and CO2 levels minimal. This means that when you sail aboard Hondius, you get to enjoy the exotic landscapes and wildlife as much as possible while impacting them as little as possible.
Hotel comfort, expedition class
Please be aware that a small number of cabins may have a partially obstructed view due to the size of the windows and the design requirements of the ship. For example, some windows may be partly obstructed in the lower half by a gangway.
The best view is always on the outer deck or the bridge. Hondius offers high-quality accommodation for 170 passengers in six grand suites with balconies (27 square meters, 291 square feet), eight junior suites (19 to 20 square meters, 205 to 215 square feet), eight superior cabins (20 to 21 square meters, 215 to 226 square feet), 11 twin deluxe cabins, (19 to 21 square meters, 205 to 226 square feet), 14 twin window cabins (12 to 14 square meters, 129 to 151 square feet) as well as 27 twin porthole cabins, two triple porthole cabins, and four quadruple porthole cabins that vary in size from 12 to 18 square meters, or 129 to 194 square feet.
One deck consists of a large observation lounge and a separate lecture room, which are reserved for a wide variety of interactive workshops, exhibitions, and performances particular to Hondius.
Swift & safe ship-to-shore operations
It is our philosophy to keep sea time short so that we can focus instead on fast, effective access to shore and near-shore activities. To give you the maximum contact with the nature and wildlife you traveled so far to see, we employ a tough fleet of rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boats that guarantee swift and safe landing operations for the passengers. Hondius has two separate gangways and a sheltered indoor Zodiac boarding area that can also be used for special outdoor activities, such as kayaking.
Age and nationality
Passengers on a typical voyage range from in their 30s to their 80s, with the majority usually between 45 ― 65. Our expeditions attract independent travelers from around the globe who are characterized by a strong interest in exploring remote regions. The camaraderie that develops on board is an important part of the Oceanwide experience, and many passenger groups include several nationalities.
What to wear
In keeping with the spirit of the expedition, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities, and keep in mind that much of the scenery can be appreciated from the deck ― which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles, and make sure your parka is never far away in case one of our crew shouts “Whales!” over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside at a moment’s notice. Opt for layers, as it is comfortably warm aboard the ship though often cold on deck.
How to pay
Refreshments and souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before departure you can settle your bill with the hotel manager, paying by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or cash (euro, or in some cases dollar). We cannot, however, accept checks. Though the prices and standard currency on board is in the euro, other currencies may be accepted at the discretion of the hotel manager, at prevailing rates.
Electric current
The electrical supply aboard ship is 220v, 60Hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins, so some passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.
Gratuities
The customary gratuity to the ship’s service personnel is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage and is divided among the crew. Tipping is a personal matter, and the amount you wish to give is at your sole discretion. As a generally accepted guideline, we suggest 8 ― 10 euros per passenger per day. It is better for the crew if you give cash.
Non-smoking policy
We have a non-smoking policy inside all our vessels, though you can smoke in certain designated areas. We ask that you please respect the wishes of non-smokers.
Your physical condition
You must be in good overall health and be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding, but we spend as much time as possible on shore. You are, however, welcome to remain aboard the ship if you prefer. To join most excursions you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway ― from the ship to the water level ― to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats, and boarding will become progressively easier with practice, but conditions on shore can be slippery and rocky. Remember, you will be traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition or need daily medical treatment.
The average price for flights (round trip) to Longyearbyen
From Jakarta: $3,200
From Singapore: $2,800
From Kuala Lumpur: $2,900
Insurance Requirements:
- Mandatory Insurance: All travelers must have insurance covering medical expenses, accidents, and repatriation/evacuation.
- Recommended Insurance: It is strongly recommended to include cancellation insurance for added protection.
Drone Usage Policy:
- Prohibited: The use of drones is strictly prohibited during the expedition.
Clothing and Gear Recommendations:
- Water-resistant coat and Pants: Essential for protection against wet and windy conditions.
- Layered Underwear: To ensure warmth and comfort in extreme weather.
- Sunglasses: Necessary to protect against the strong UV rays and glare from the snow.
- Gloves: Insulated and water-resistant gloves to keep your hands warm and dry.
- Additional Items: Consider packing a warm hat, thermal socks, and sturdy waterproof boots.
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Personal health Insurance for Medical, Accident and Repatriation/evacuating..
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, beverage charges and Internet charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
- An ice-strengthened ship is a ship made of steel. These ships are made to get through the ice at Antarctica and the Arctic. Nowadays, most of the ships that cruise to Antarctica and the Arctic are ice-strengthened ships. Ortelius and Plancius are both are ice-strengthened ships. Ortelius has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Plancius has an ice-class notation of 1D. Icebreakers are needed if there is a trade route to keep ice free, if there are military reasons for patrolling in areas with heavy sea ice or if you need to work in heavy ice conditions, particularly in winter. Icebreakers are expensive to build and very expensive in fuel to run (sometimes powered by gas turbines or a nuclear generator). They are uncomfortable to travel in on the open sea.
- All of our motor vessels have safe deposit boxes in the cabins. These small compartments (height 170mm x width 230mm x depth 170mm) are suitable for such items as phones, passports, keys, and jewelry but are not large enough to store larger items like laptops.
- No, you are not able to get cash advances on the vessel.
- The currency used on all vessels is the Euro, but you can also pay with USD.
- The weather in Spitsbergen differs per area and location. Although snow can occur throughout the year in Svalbard, the North Atlantic Current helps provide Svalbard with warmer temperatures than many other areas within similar latitudes. However, strong winter breezes, low pressure and the combination of wet sea air and cold polar air can lead to rapidly changing weather conditions, especially during the winter months. During the winter season, the temperature in Spitsbergen can can drop to -16 to -12 degrees Celsius (3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit). Adding in the wind chill factor means the weather can feel much colder. July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius (37 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). We therefore recommend that you bring a variety of warm clothes for your Spitsbergen cruise.
- Longyearbyen is the capital of Svalbard, and it also serves as the capital region for Jan Mayen. Longyearbyen is the largest Svalbard settlement, and it is utilized as the administrative center. There are more than 2,000 people living in Longyearbyen, which accounts for almost all of the residents within this particular region.
- The Hondius was built in Croatia in 2018 and delivered in 2019.
- The number of passengers is limited to 174 on the Hondius. Furthermore the vessel is manned by 24 highly experienced international nautical crew, 32-34 international hotel crew, 13 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 2 assistant expedition leaders and 10 guides/lecturers) and 1 doctor.