Hondius

Named after Jodocus Hondius, a Flemish and Dutch engraver and mapmaker, the 353-ft MV Hondius is a purpose-built, environmentally-friendly expedition cruise ship, designed to sail the rough and rugged waters of the world’s polar regions. The ship was launched in 2019 and carries up to 170 passengers, providing the utmost first-hand contact with Antarctica, while continuing the tradition of pure nature expedition cruises.

Incredibly important for a vessel cruising to some of the most unspoiled places on the planet, the Hondius ship uses LED lighting systems, steam heating plants, biodegradable paints and lubricants and state-of-the-art power management systems to keep fuel consumption and CO2 levels to the absolute minimum. This, in turn, allows you to enjoy the extraordinary seascapes, icescapes and wildlife as much as possible while impacting them as little as possible.

Life On Board

The family-friendly Hondius expedition ship offers comfortable four-star accommodations for passengers in 80 suites and cabins within eight different categories, featuring plenty of nautical textures and colors, and options for twin, triple and quadruple occupancy. All cabins feature private bathrooms with showers; flat-screen televisions; hair dryers; closets and storage space; very small sitting areas; and Wi-Fi access for an additional cost.

The ship is elegantly designed in stylish mid-century modern décor, presenting a distinctly cozy and informal atmosphere, and offers plenty of window-lined public rooms and outer deck spaces for sightseeing. Upper deck activities are primarily limited to scenic viewing, with plenty of deck space forward and aft to allow for photo and panoramic viewing opportunities in the world’s polar regions. Hondius also has an open-bridge policy that allows you to visit the ship’s navigation bridge at select times during your voyage.

One deck comprises a large observation lounge and separate lecture room, which are reserved for a wide variety of interactive workshops. Numerous lectures are presented throughout the voyage, focusing on history, biology and other destination-relevant topics along with daily recaps that highlight the day’s activities. When not ashore, you can expect to be immersed in books, conversation and cocktails or you may wish to spend time editing your photos on your personal laptop.

You will have 71 crew and staff members, including the expedition team and the hotel team, at your service while you’re on board, ensuring that during the time you spend on the ship, you will be comfortably entertained.

Meals are taken in the ship’s main restaurant. Exploring the polar regions is hard work, so the emphasis is on rejuvenation via the gift of nourishing, hearty meals. Don’t expect haute cuisine, but do expect tasty, well-prepared meals that provide the energy to go out on that second Zodiac tour.

Excursions

The priority of these cruises is to take advantage of every wildlife and terrain opportunity as it occurs. To keep the itineraries flexible and the response time rapid, Hondius is equipped with advanced stabilizers and two main engines capable of powering the vessel up to 15 knots. To give you the maximum contact with the nature and wildlife that you have journeyed so far to see, the Hondius also carries a tough fleet of rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boats, which guarantee swift and safe landing operations.

The Hondius Antarctica cruise attracts adventure- and wildlife-minded active modern explorers: singles, couples, families, and groups. Everyone who boards the ship should be in good physical condition, and able to walk for a few hours each day. Hondius offers plenty of itineraries to Antarctica during the North American winter and to the far Arctic during the North American summer.