Oceanwide's longest-serving vessel and a classic for the Antarctic Peninsula — a 108-guest ice-strengthened former Royal Dutch Navy research ship, refit for expedition cruising with maximum shore time and intimate guest numbers.
- Guests
- 108 guests
- 50 cabins
- Ice class
- 1D
- Ice-strengthened
- Length
- 89 meters
- 292 feet
- Construction
- Built 1976
- Refit 2009
- Starting price
- $7,000
- per person
Style Pure expedition · Basic comfort
- Wildlife Encounters
- Ice-Strengthened Hull
- Family-Friendly
MV Plancius is the elder statesman of the Oceanwide fleet, and she wears it well. Built in 1976 as a Royal Dutch Navy oceanographic research vessel, she was rebuilt for expedition cruising and has since become the ship behind many of the line’s most popular classic voyages — the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and Spitsbergen among them.
At 108 guests she keeps the intimate scale that makes Oceanwide voyages tick: quick Zodiac turnarounds, plenty of shore time, and a naturalist team that knows the ice. She carries the same expedition toolkit as her fleetmates — Zodiacs, kayaks, an observation lounge, and the option to add camping or diving — in a comfortable, unpretentious package. Two honest caveats: her 1D ice class is lower than the newer hulls, so she’s built for the classic routes rather than the heaviest pack ice, and most cabins are window or porthole rather than balcony.
As with her sisters, our read here is grounded in her specs, her long service record, and Oceanwide’s three decades of polar know-how rather than our own time aboard. But for a classic Peninsula voyage at a genuine value, Plancius has earned her reputation. Stack her against the rest of the Antarctica fleet to see where she fits.
On board + on site
What makes MV Plancius the ship
Restaurant + Dining
Hearty expedition dining, informal
A comfortable dining room serving hearty, expedition-style meals in Oceanwide’s signature cozy, informal style. Substance over white-tablecloth show — exactly the point on a ship like this.
Observation Lounge + Bar
Panoramic lounge with full bar
The social heart of every Oceanwide ship — a spacious observation lounge with a bar and big windows for full-panorama views. Where the day’s sightings get rehashed over a drink between landings.
Expedition Zodiac Fleet
Fast Zodiacs, swift shore ops
A fleet of fast Zodiacs (10 per ship) with two gangways for swift, efficient shore operations — the workhorses that turn ship time into boots-on-the-ground time. The whole point of an Oceanwide voyage.
Lecture Room
Naturalist briefings + workshops
A dedicated lecture room for the naturalist program — glaciology, polar history, wildlife behavior, and photography workshops between landings. The classroom for your expedition.
Onboard Activities Program
Kayaking, camping, diving + more
Oceanwide’s deep bench of hands-on add-ons — sea kayaking, Antarctic camping, snowshoeing, ski mountaineering, and polar diving — led by an expert expedition team. Choose your own adventure on the ice.
Cabins + suites
Where you'll sleep.
Twin Deluxe
~13–17 m² (135–183 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
A window twin with a touch more room than the standard cabins and two single lower berths. A bright, comfortable mid-tier pick without stepping up to Superior pricing.
Superior
~21 m² (226 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
The top cabin category on Ortelius and Plancius — the most floor space aboard, a queen-size bed, and larger windows for taking in the passing ice. The comfortable choice for couples on longer polar voyages.
Twin Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 2
A classic expedition twin with portholes and two single lower berths, at a friendlier price than the window categories. Same private bathroom and efficient layout, with that old-school polar character.
Twin Window
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Window / Sleeps 2
An efficient twin with a proper window for natural light and wildlife-watching, and two single lower berths. Straightforward comfort — you’ll spend your waking hours on deck anyway.
Quadruple Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 4
The most economical way aboard — four berths in two upper-and-lower bunk pairs, with portholes and a private bathroom. Built for families or budget-minded explorers focused on shore time.
Triple Porthole
~12.5 m² (135 sq ft) / Porthole / Sleeps 3
A porthole cabin for three, with one bunk bed and one lower berth. Good value for small groups or families who’d rather put the savings toward the ice.
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