Plancius Sets Sail: Launching Oceanwide Expedition’s 2024 Arctic Season

The Plancius set sail from Scotland on May 28, initiating Oceanwide Expeditions’ 2024 Arctic season.

The vessel, accommodating 116 guests, embarked from Aberdeen on a nine-night journey to Longyearbyen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway.

This expedition cruise makes stops at various Northern European and Arctic locations including Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Spitsbergen, and the ice edge of East Greenland.

Oceanwide states that this trip offers the chance for guests to discover isolated spots while looking for whales, birds, and other wildlife typical of the Arctic zone.

This cruise also starts Oceanwide’s summer program in the Arctic, featuring three ships, with additional voyages planned aboard the Ortelius and the Hondius.

Further, the Plancius will conduct seven to 14-night expeditions around Spitsbergen, as well as to Greenland and Kvitoya.

On another route, it will take a roundtrip from Iceland for an eight-night expedition to East Greenland, cruising through Scoresby Sound and visiting locations such as Jameson Land, Milne Land, Romer Fjord, and Sydkap, among others aimed at offering views of the Aurora Borealis.

The summer program continues with the Hondius starting its expeditions to North Spitsbergen on June 10, 2024.

Since entering service for Oceanwide in 2019, this 174-guest ship plans a series of seven to 14-night voyages exploring Svalbard, Kvitoya, and Greenland.

The third ship, the Ortelius, commences its 2020 program on June 18, 2024, featuring seven to 18-night expeditions sailing to Spitsbergen, Bear Island, Greenland, Scoresby Sound, and additional destinations.

Departures take place not only from Svalbard’s Longyearbyen but also from Akureyri in Northern Iceland.

Prior to their Arctic schedules, all Oceanwide ships were subjected to routine maintenance in the Netherlands.

Upon concluding their Arctic summer season in mid-September, the vessels will reposition to Antarctica for the winter season.