Oceanwide Expeditions’ new ship m/v Hondius will sail to the Arctic for its first expedition cruise on June 3. The vessel has ended its extensive sea trials, hitting its speed goal, and went beyond expectations for all nautical systems, the cruise line said.
Construction began in 2017. The 176-passenger vessel includes two separate gangways, along with an indoor platform ideal for outdoor activities like kayaking. While anchored, it can drift or remain in position through the help of the bow and stern thrusters. An observation lounge with a separate lecture room will be available on one deck on board.
Below is a video of Hondius recently captured near the Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia.
The cruise company says the Polar Class 6 expedition cruise vessel will begin its Arctic program in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, making stops at Aberdeen, Fair Isle, and Jan Mayen before reaching the Arctic island of Spitsbergen.
Spitsbergen is the main island of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and an ideal place to look out for polar bears, along with several other Arctic animals.
Hondius will be involved in several classic Arctic voyages in the summer, giving its passengers the chance to view Arctic foxes, walruses, and various species of whale, seal, and seabirds, in addition to polar bears.
Beginning in the 2019 austral summer, the ship will start its Antarctic cruise program, visiting locations like the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, and the Falklands.
For more information, visit https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/
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