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.

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).

Photo gallery

35 photos of the ship
in the gallery »

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

North Spitsbergen, Arctic Summer

8 Jun - 18 Jun, 2025

•

Tripcode: RVR06-25

Svalbard

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.

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

Go to cruise page

from: 5350 USD

North Spitsbergen, Arctic Summer - Summer Solstice

18 Jun - 28 Jun, 2025

•

Tripcode: RVR07-25

Last berths Svalbard

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

Go to cruise page

from: 5700 USD

East Greenland - Scoresby Sund - Iceland, Aurora Borealis, Fly & Sail

1 Oct - 12 Oct, 2025

•

Tripcode: RVR15-25

Last berths Greenland Iceland

Sail through Earth’s largest fjord system on a historic three-masted vessel, getting the chance to encounter exotic Arctic wildlife like musk oxen and Arctic hares under the enchanting aurora borealis. Greenland whales may also appear between landing...

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

Go to cruise page

from: 6250 USD

Northeast Iceland Explorer, Aurora Borealis, Hike & Sail - Incl. bus back up

12 Oct - 18 Oct, 2025

•

Tripcode: RVR16-25

Iceland

Northern and eastern Iceland are characterized by small villages, dramatic coastlines, narrow fjords, waterfalls, geothermal areas, volcanoes, and mountains. We are in the heart of nature here, and the scenery is breathtaking. This destination offers...

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

Go to cruise page

from: 3750 USD

Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail

1 May - 8 May, 2026

•

Tripcode: RVR05-26

Last berths Svalbard

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...

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

Go to cruise page

from: 3950 USD

We have a total of
17 cruises

All cruises

Reviews

A lifetime experience

by EMMANOUIL MAKRIS

Falkand islands South Georgia and Antarctic peninsula. A cruise of a lifetime. Literally there are no words to describe what we saw and experienced during our expedition. A very warm thank you to all the crew

Dream expedition

by Paul Vleerlaag

Dream expedition ! Seen all the wild life !

Opinion

by Alice Beauchemin

Couldn’t ask for better crew and staff. Food was excellent quality. Equipment all functioned.

Fantastic Basecamp Expedition in Antarctica!

by Deborah K Chen

This trip far exceeded my every expectation. We picked this company for the access to adventure activities (we got to do them all, with a combination of good luck with weather and the tireless work of the expedition leader Sara and her entire staff to maximize everyone's experiences with the locations/weather available to us on a day by day basis) and cost, and was so pleasantly surprised to find that the entire ship was operated with a priority placed on safety, wildlife, education, conservation, and fun! Guides for every activity (especially Zet - kayaking, Chris/Owain - mountaineering) were clear in instructions for safety, monitored guest compliance closely, and gave real-time feedback. I really enjoyed the celebratory BBQ and dance out on the helipad at the end of the trip - truly a magical night. Every staff member was sure to prioritize safety of guests and fellow staff, as well as animals during landings and zodiac cruises (which I had not realized, prior to going on the trip, occur whenever you are not scheduled to do an excursion -- meaning almost all day every day you are out in the water or on land in Antarctica!). A lot of my pre-trip reading on Antarctica in general mentioned limitations on time spent on land to accommodate all guests, but on a smaller ship like this, guests could always maximize time off-ship, sometimes with hours on land and timed in such a way that it was the right time to return to the ship for food/water/bathroom anyways. In between activities and while at sea, there were a plethora of targeted talks and structured question-answering, which was highly educational and informative (a sampling of the lectures include life on the sea floor, history of women in Antarctica, talks on the specific wildlife we saw, discussion of tracking whales through happywhale.com, the background of specific sites we went to, krill fishing, and the effects of plastics/microplastics on Antarctica among many more!). The whole staff is so impressive and everyone was clearly an expert in their field and loved being out there. I only missed one lecture (accidentally), that's how good they were! Captain Per also had a 24/7 open bridge policy which was fascinating and added an additional layer of education to my experience... his skillful navigation and calm hand made the entire ship a delight for all passengers (it was also a great place to watch for wildlife, which seemed to be never-ending). By the end of the trip, I did feel like I had a new appreciation for Antarctica and our planet, as well as a new eye for the damage that we do both as tourists and as consumers in the wider world. Some suggestions for the company to really ensure that the learning and messaging from this perfect trip are in line with the company's practices and all guests' day to day... 1) Minimize or get rid of daily plastic garbage bags in all the rooms - likely not worth it or necessary, and would reduce so much waste. 2) Consider meatless Mondays, minimizing availability of salmon - it would reduce our footprint considerably and possibly cost, while opening the door for more conversation on how acting in moderation can allow us to still consume while making a big conservation impact on the beautiful world we are living in and admiring during this trip. It is clear that conservation is a big part of Oceanwide's mission, and it would be great if the daily life on ship felt a little more in line with that.

The best choice we made

by Rocky Schuster

We are so happy about that trip. The chef and the food was excellent. We had every day 3 meals lunch and dinner also has 3 course. The staff is every time friendly and helpful. You can ask everything. The leader try to find the best spots for weather conditions. So it's not always the same way. We had 2 landings or zodiac rides every day and every stop was between 2 and 3 house. It was worth every cent.

With respect

by Marjolein Moens

Now a few weeks back home and I still look back on this fantastic trip with a big smile on my face. The entire crew from below the waterline to above....thank you for the wonderful experience. With passion and love for the area, you have sought a balance between tourism and respect for the vulnerability of nature. Thank you.