Tailor-made adventures.
Days: 10 | From: $11,190/per person
Two nights in Cape Town, a private game reserve safari and the thunder of Victoria [...]
Days: 10 | From: $11,050/per person
Follow the Great Migration across the Serengeti and Masai Mara on a classic ten-day East [...]
Days: 8 | From: $8,290/per person
Experience Rwanda's gentle mountain gorillas in the wild, and discover its varied wildlife and lush [...]
Days: 11 | From: $12,690/per person
The Okavango Delta, Chobe's elephant herds, Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park all woven into [...]
Days: 11 | From: $4,130/per person
Get to know the classic parts of Vietnam
Days: 10 | From: $5,900/per person
Temples, Taj, and Tigers: see quintessential India on this immersive journey
Days: 10 | From: $5,560/per person
The highlights of Bangkok, northern Thailand, and the southern beaches
Days: 16 | From: $22,400/per person
An immersive exploration of the art, culture, and history of Japan
Days: 10 | From: $7,470/per person
See Australia's Wonders: Sydney, Uluru, Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and Brisbane
Days: 14 | From: $10,570/per person
From the Bay of Islands and Auckland in the north to Queenstown and Fiordland in [...]
Days: 4 | From: $3,400/per person
Four nights in Fiji's Mamanuca or Yasawa islands: a tropical finale to any Australia or [...]
Days: 16 | From: $29,370/per person
The finest lodges and 5-star experiences for travelers who want both islands without compromise
Days: 12 | From: $9,490/per person
Visit the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Forest, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide Wine Region, and Sydney
Days: 10 | From: $14,950/per person
The Best of Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome
Days: 11 | From: $11,050/per person
Discover the highlights of Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Andalucía, the Prado, the Pyrenees, and Madrid
Days: 11 | From: $16,550/per person
Paris, the château country of the Loire Valley, and the D-Day beaches of Normandy
Days: 11 | From: $13,380 per person
An Extraordinary Alpine Journey from Zurich to Zermatt
Days: 12-15 | From: $9,650/person
Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco, followed by a small-ship expedition cruise through [...]
Days: 13 | From: $11,590/per person
Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier, and the finest lodges on both sides of the [...]
Days: 8 | From: $5,650/per person
Explore Peru's top destinations: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco
Days: 9 | From: $5,550/per person
Explore Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio de Janeiro all in one trip
Days: 9 | From: $7,990/per person
Visit Costa Rica's highlights and the beautiful, remote Osa Peninsula
Days: 8 | From: $8,750/per person
Explore the pristine jungles of Belize, Mayan ruins, and idyllic Caribbean islands
Days: 9 | From: $6,650/per person
Experience the highlights of this fascinating and culturally rich country
Combine the pristine rainforest and barrier reef of Belize with striking Guatemalan ruins
Days: 16-23 | From: $9,395/person
One of the most classic of Arctic programs, with polar bears and magnificent scenery.
Days: 10-23 | From: $8,590/person
The most popular and classic Antarctica cruise option
Days: 6-23 | From: $6,950/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category
Days: 6-23 | From: $4,795/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category.
Days: 10| From: $14,250/per person
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Masai Mara. Follow the Great Migration in luxury tented camps
Days: 10-19 | From: $8,300/per person
The Plancius was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was previously named Hr. Ms. Tydeman. The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 when it was completely rebuilt as a 108-passenger vessel destined for Artic and Antarctic destinations. As an ice-strengthened vessel, it is an excellent option for Polar expedition cruises when the primary focus is on wildlife viewing and activity opportunities.
Talk to a Vaya Travel Specialist
We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.
M/v “Plancius” accommodates 116 passengers in 53 passenger cabins, each with a private toilet and shower. This includes 4 quadruple porthole cabins, 2 triple porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 26 twin cabins with a window, and 2 twin deluxe cabins (ca. 12.5 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). All cabins offer lower berths (one queen-size bed in the superior cabins and two single beds in the twin cabins) except the 4 quadruple cabins which accommodate 4 people in 2 upper and 2 lower beds, and 2 triple cabins which are set up with 1 bunk bed and 1 lower bed.
The vessel offers a restaurant/lecture room on Deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on Deck 5 with large windows, offering a full panorama view. The Plancius has large open deck spaces (including full walk-around possibilities on Deck 4) providing excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife in both the Arctic and Antarctica. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs, including 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines and 2 gangways on the starboard side, guaranteeing a swift zodiac operation for excursions.
The Plancius is comfortable and nicely decorated but is not designed as a luxury vessel. The voyages in the polar regions are primarily defined by exploratory educational travel programs, spending as much time ashore as possible. The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system which reduces the noise and vibration of the ship considerably. The 3 diesel engines generate 1.230 horsepower each, giving the ship a speed of 10 – 12 knots. It is ice-strengthened and was specially built for oceanographic voyages. The Plancius is manned by an international crew of 37 (18 nautical crew and 19 hotel crew), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 1 assistant expedition leader, and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor.
Staff & Crew: 49 Guests: 108 in 50 cabins Length: 293 feet (89 meters) Breadth: 47 feet (14.5 meters) Draft: 16 feet (5 meters) Ice class: 1D (Plancius has a Lloyds class notation 100A1 Passenger ship, Ice Class 1D at a draught of 5 meters) Speed: 10.5 knots average Displacement: 3211 tonnes Propulsion: 3x Diesel-Electric
Note: Depending on season, this vessel services both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Please select which itineraries you would like to view below.
Day 1 Embarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Days 2 & 3 Drake Passage
Days 4 – 8 Antarctic Peninsula
Days 9 & 10 At Sea
Day 11 Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Day 2 At Sea
Days 3 & 4 Falkland Islands
Days 5 & 6 At Sea
Days 7 to 10 South Georgia
Day 11 At Sea
Day 12 South Orkney
Day 13 At Sea
Days 14 to 17 Antarctic Peninsula
Day 18 At Sea
Day 19 Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Days 2 and 3 Drake Passage
Days 4 to 10 Antarctic Peninsula
Days 11 and 12 At Sea
Day 13 Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Days 4 to 7 Antarctic Peninsula
Days 8 and 9 At Sea
Day 10 Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Day 1 Arrive to Longyearbyen and embarkation
Day 2 Spitsbergen
Days 3 & 4 Sail to Eastern Greenland
Days 5-12 Exploring Greenland
Day 13 Day at Sea
Day 14 Disembark in Akureyri, Iceland
Days 2-9 Circumnavigate the Spitsbergen archipelago
Day 10 Disembark in Longyearbyen
Pricing varies based on departure date, trip length, and cabin type. Listed pricing is per person, based on double occupancy (unless otherwise noted) and subject to change. Please contact us for current pricing and availability.
Included: All meals on board, guides & activities
Not included: International airfare, domestic airfare, gratuities, adventure activities such as sea kayaking or camping
Single Supplement: 70% (Twin or Superior cabin rate)
Child discount: 40% in Superior, Triple, and Quadruple Cabins (1 child per cabin)