s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn was originally built as a herring lugger in 1947, then rebuilt as a three-mast passenger schooner in the Netherlands in 1994

​History

S/V Rembrandt Van Rijn was originally built as a herring lugger in 1947. The vessel was then rebuilt as a three-mast passenger sailing schooner in he Netherlands in 1994, sailing in Spitsbergen (1994 – 1996) and the Galápagos (1998 - 2001). The vessel later underwent a complete rebuilding and refurbishment program until 2011. The communication and navigation equipment has been completely renewed according to the latest SOLAS regulations.

Specifications

Passengers: 33 in 16 cabins
Staff & crew: Crew 10 | Guides 2
Length: 49,50 meters
Breadth: 6,65 meters (22,9 ft)
Draft: 2,8 meters (8 ft)
Ice class: Suitable to sail in the Svalbard and Greenlandic waters.
Displacement: 435 tonnes
Propulsion: 2 cummins engines together 550 KW
Speed: 6,5 knots average cruising speed

Deck plans and downloads

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn cabins


Perfect for expedition cruising among small islands

The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offer good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The two inflatable rubber crafts (Zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas. 

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Comfort and Character

Rembrandt van Rijn measures 49,50 meters in length, 7 meters in width, and has a draft of 2,8 meters. The average cruising speed on engines is 6,5 knots. It has an experienced crew of 12 persons on board including 2 tour guides. The ship can accommodate a maximum of 33 passengers in 16 cabins. It has one Triple Private cabin (with shower and toilet and porthole), six Twin Private Inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), and nine Twin Private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole).

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Age range & Nationality onboard

Passengers on a typical voyage range from their 30s to their 80s - with a majority usually from 45 - 65, but a little younger on the Rembrandt van Rijn, between 30 - 55. Our expeditions attract independent-minded travellers from around the world. They are characterised by a strong interest in exploring remote regions. The camaraderie and spirit that develops aboard is an important part of the expedition experience. Many departures have several nationalities on board.

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Catering

Three simple but good meals of international cuisine per day are served buffet style in the restaurant and is prepared by our cook.

Dress code

In keeping with our expeditions atmosphere, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck, which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make sure the parka is never far away in case of the call "Whales!" comes over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it is comfortably warm aboard the ship - and often cold on deck.

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Electric Current

The electrical supply aboard the ship is 220 volt 50hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins. U.S. passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.

Excursions & Landings

Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take three to six hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers´ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Gratuities

The customary gratuity to the ship's crew and expedition leader is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage. Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. As a general guideline, we suggest an amount of 10 to 15 euros or US dollars per cruise day per person. We suggest to give cash in Euros, US Dollars or Danish kroner.

Non-smoking policy

On board our vessels we have a non-smoking policy. It is prohibited to smoke inside the ship. You can smoke in designated ares. Please respect the wishes of non-smokers.

The crew

The crew of the ´Rembrandt van Rijn´ consists of  9 experienced crew and 2 expedition guides and a cook. The sailors are in charge during sailing and will bring us ashore. 

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Your physical condition

You must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the ladder from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.

Our cruises

Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail

24 Apr - 1 May, 2026

Tripcode: RVR04-26

This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered ski techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves ski climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700—850 meters (2,300—2,800...

North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail

29 May - 5 Jun, 2026

Tripcode: RVR08-26

Last berths Svalbard

At the end of a long Arctic winter, spring is starting to awaken. The climate, however, still clings to the cold: snow-covered mountains, snow-swept shores, temperatures around –4° C (25°F). It’s a good time to experience the last of winter scenery,...

North Spitsbergen - Arctic Summer

25 Jun - 5 Jul, 2026

Tripcode: RVR11-26

  • EN

The North Spitsbergen cruise sails to some of the remotest locations of northern Europe. The expedition gives you the opportunity to spot historic whaling remains, glaciers, a variety of Arctic birds including the Little Auk, and polar bears.

North Spitsbergen - Arctic Summer

5 Jul - 15 Jul, 2026

Tripcode: RVR12-26

  • EN

The North Spitsbergen cruise sails to some of the remotest locations of northern Europe. The expedition gives you the opportunity to spot historic whaling remains, glaciers, a variety of Arctic birds including the Little Auk, and polar bears.

Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland, Fly & Sail

12 Aug - 31 Aug, 2026

Tripcode: RVR15-26

  • EN

The Spitsbergen and Northeast Greenland cruise sails waters filled with breath-taking scenery. The expedition passes through areas that are home to seals, seabirds, whales, and polar bears.

Reviews

by Heidemarie Peter
sehr gute Reise, bin voll zufrieden
by Uta Löser
Alles bestens, viele Erlebnisse, tolle Betreuung und auch guter Service auf dem Schiff
by John Zingrich
My August 2025 Arctic adventure was my second trip with Oceanwide Expeditions. The first was aboard the Plancius, this trip aboard the Hondius. It was no surprise that this trip far exceeded all expectations for comfort, delicious meals, and exciting adventures ashore. The top notch expedition staff is knowledgable and professional citing detailed information about wildlife, terrain, and other aspects of the environment. Daily lectures were informative and captivating. Additionally, interactions with all other crew, dining, and staff members were friendly and professional delivering a first class experience. All are true professionals. When the voyage ended, disembarking the ship included lots of hugs and a few tears amongst staff and passengers. It was indeed a very fine adventure. In my estimation there is no finer fleet of ships that are staffed with friendly, professional personnel. I hope to travel with Oceanwide expeditions again. John Zingrich
by Lisbeth Dueholm
Great nature, lots of wildlife including spotting at least 9 polar bears. Wonderful Zodiaccruises in front of calving glaciers, nice hikes, fossils, and onboard the best staff and great food. Ortelius' staff created such a great atmosphere.
by Ursula Merz
A lifelong dream became true. A fantastic extraordinary crew. A wonderful magical landdcape. Very interesting recaps and lots of great appreciated informations from the experts. All in all the best trip in my lifetime. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart
by Cornelia Kolar

The animal and landscape sceneries we're great nur the chinese guests being noisy and chaotic was very disappointing, annoying and shocking to me.they didn't respect nature and I hardly could enjoy the silence of the Arctic as advertised. The food and crew was adorable.

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