Trip Details

Trip Options

	Snowshoeing	€ free of charge
	Snowshoeing in the Antarctic Especially on early departures at the beginning of the season there are still snow covered hills and mountains further inland. During voyages to the Antarctic we are planning on offering hiking excursions with snowshoes. Snowshoe walking is easy and does not require any technical skills. With the use of snowshoes it is easier and safer to walk on snow surfaces. Snowshoes will be provided to everyone on board.  Those will fit all boot sizes and can be used in combination with Oceanwide’s rubber boots. Snowshoe hiking is free of charge, more details can be found in the activity manual and the day by day programs.

Day by day Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive from Reykjavik to Nuuk airport on a regularly scheduled flight (Not included in the voyage cost).
After embarking the ship, there is enough time to do some individual sightseeing. Nuuk (Godthåb), the capital of Greenland has a population of about 14.000. You could visit the museum which has a remarkable collection of Inuit mummies, dating from the 15th Century, which were found near Uummannaq, further to the north. The Cultural Centre of Nuuk, which has yearly exhibitions of the works of a Greenlandic artist, is also worth visiting. There are historical buildings from colonial times and bookstores with a good collection of books about Greenland. In the evening we set sail to the north. The waters to the west of the town are a good place to see Humpback Whales and Blue Whales.

Day 2 - In Søndre Isortoq at Ivnnarssuaq in the Manitsoq area we visit a large seabird colony with Kittiwakes and Brünnich's Guillemots.

Day 3 - We sail past Manitsoq to reach the fantastic landscapes of the Evighedsfjord. There we visit a large seabird colony at Taaterat (Kittiwake) and sail along the nearby glacier front.

Day 4 - We arrive at Sydbay (Ukivik), where the 18th Century whalers traded with the Eskimo’s at the occasion of the yearly Assivik, when people from a large area come together, on a beautiful sandy beach. We land also at nearby Isortoq where remains of houses from the Thule culture can be found. In this area we may also see Reindeer.

Day 5 - The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland, at the mouth of Disko Bay, are surrounded by rich waters which attract both seabirds and whales. We intend to call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenlands’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th Century) and graves from 18th Century Dutch whalers can be seen. Later we will make Zodiac excursions in the beautiful narrows of the Kronprinsens Ejland archipelago. This day we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Greenland Whales at the mouth of Disko Bay.

Day 6 - Another day of opportunities to see Greenland Whales, when we sail to Disko Island and land at Engelskmandens Havn and Fortunebay near Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn), where there are warm springs.

Day 7 - Today we find ourselves just south of the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous ice- bergs. We climb the hill at Avangnardlit from where we have a fantastic view across the Jakobshavn Isfjord, which is a World Heritage site. In the evening we sail along the front of the glacier and the ice-bergs to Ilullissat, where we will spend the night.

Day 8 - Ilulissat (5000 inhabitants) is an important West Greenland town, with museums, institutes bookstores, etc.  At mid-day we fly from Ilulissat to Reykjavik by chartered plane.

Vessel s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

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

The Rembrandt van Rijn measures 56 meters in length (168 ft.), 7 meters in width and has a draft of 2,5 meters. The maximum speed on engines is 9 knots. It has an experienced crew of  7 persons on board including 2 tour guides.

The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offer good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The 2 inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.

Ice class:
The s/v Rembrandt van Rijn has no ice class. During her refit, the bow of the vessel was enforced and is therefore suitable to sail in the Greenlandic waters.

The ship can accommodate a maximum of 34 passengers in 17 twin cabins in (1 twin shared with porthole (shared shower and toilet), 6 twin private inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), 10 twin private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole).

Public Areas

A spacious restaurant on board the vessel allows all passengers to have their meals (buffet style). The vessel furthermore consists of a separate bar including a reading table.

Age range & Nationality onboard
Passengers on a typical voyage range 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.

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

Combating sea sickness
Anticipate some rough water on the voyage. Should you be prone to motion or sea sickness, please consult your personal physician which medication is appropriate and its side effects. On board s/v Rembrandt van Rijn there is no phycisian available. To avert motion sickness, avoid alcohol, tobacco, excess liquids, and confined spaces. Most people feel better sitting on deck looking at the horizon or prone with eyes shut. Oddly, you will feel better with some food, such as crackers or dry toast in your stomach. Many people eat to avoid feeling sick. Remember, once you start to experience motion sickness, medications are of little help.

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.

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. You will receive detailed guidelines aboard. Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. 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 on deck but do not throw your cigarette filter overboard ! Do not smoke on the aft deck in the proximity of zodiacs, engines and fuel. Please respect the wishes of non-smokers.

The crew
The crew of the ´Rembrandt van Rijn´ consists of 7 experienced crew and 2 tour guides and a cook. The sailors are in charge during sailing and will bring us ashore. Whilst sailing the assistance of the passengers is appreciated for handling the sails and taking the helm. This includes being on watch during nightly sailing.

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 steep gangway 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.

Deck Plan

EUR Rates 2012 per person in 1/2 Twin Room:

Fares include:

• Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• On Rembrandt voyages: Transfers and baggage handling between airport and ship in Greenland harbours on the chartered group flights.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
• AECO fees and governmental taxes.
• Comprehensive pre-departure material

Not included:
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).