Rembrandt van Rijn | 北极

Boat

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. It was sailing in Spitsbergen (1994 – 1996) and the Galápagos (1998 - 2001). The vessel later underwent a complete rebuilding and refurbishment program until 2011.

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. The communication and navigation equipment has been completely renewed according to the latest SOLAS regulations. It has an experienced crew of 12 persons on board including 2 tour guides.

Rembrandt van Rijn 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.

Rembrandt van Rijn serve 3 simple but good meals of international cuisine per day are served buffet style in the restaurant and is prepared by our cook. Snacks such as ready-made soups, cookies, and crackers are available 24 hours per day free of charge. Water, coffee, and tea served with all meals, free of charge. Other drinks are available at a reasonable price.

The general interior public areas include a spacious restaurant area so that all meals can be taken together as well as separate bar area and reading table area. There is room to relax, read and socialize.

Cabin

Rembrandt van Rijn has 16 guest cabins, it can accommodate up to 108 guests per trip:

All cabins feature ensuite bathroom (with hair dryer, shampoo and shower gel), ample storage space. We advise that you use a softshell suitcase as there is not much space for large suitcases in the cabins.

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.

9 Twin Private Porthole Cabins :
Located on the lower deck, comes with 1 upper/lower berth + 1 lower berth, 1 porthole.

6 Twin Private Inside Cabins :
Located on the lower deck, each comes 1 upper / lower berth, no porthole.

1 Triple Private Porthole Cabin :
Located on the lower deck, each omes with 1 upper / lower berth, 1 porthole.

Sailing Voyages

Besides the size of the sailing-vessel, it less fast compared to the motor-vessels. The distances covered by the sailing-vessels are therefore less long. The sailing-vessels often make more frequent stops and have a less strict program, due to the nature of sailing.

• Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting, and Zodiac cruises are included.
• Daily programs will be announced during briefings, displayed around the vessel.
• The planned activities are always subject to change due to local conditions.
• 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.
• Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.
• When an activity is cancelled due to weather (or any other) conditions, we will offer an alternative activity when possible. We may also reschedule the activity for another time. If neither option is possible due to local conditions, however, we can offer no refund for the missing activity. This is the unpredictable nature of expedition travel.

What to Pack

• Waterproof trousers and jacket against wind, rain and salt spray.
• Furthermore thermal underwear, fleece jackets, warm gloves and a warm hat.
• A down-jacket, a waterproof jacket and pants (minimum 15,000mm rating).
• Mittens and gloves, Woolen cap, Warm socks, Waterproof backpack etc.
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen SPF 30+, Facial protection.
• Pair of binoculars, Camera and plenty of memory cards/film
• Snowshoe walkers should bring mountain boots for comfort, grip and stability.

Activities Cost

• Shore base walking : No surcharge for all guests during the cruise
• Hiking : No surcharge. 2-3 hours or longer. Sign up upon reservation
• Snowshoeing : No surcharge. Free use of snowshoes.
• Birdinig : No surcharge. Sign up upon reservation.
• Ski Mountaineering : Surcharge needed. Need to bring own ski equipment

The Aurora Borealis in Arctic

The best time to see the Aurora Borealis is between October and February. In this time, it is guaranteed dark at night when the chance of seeing the northern lights is greatest. Seeing the Northern lights also depends on the weather. During cloudy nights the lights cannot be seen.

Furthermore, not many people know that central Greenland is located at exactly the right latitude for seeing the Aurora Borealis. The fairly long periods of darkness in September make our Greenland expeditions an ideal opportunity to admire this unbelievable phenomenon.

About the Polar bears

There is a chance you will see polar bears in places like Svalbard and Franz Josef Land, but the odds that you will see one during a landing or onshore activity is highly unlikely – and we work hard to keep it that way. Most people who visit the Arctic want to see a polar bear, but it is our top priority to ensure that all wildlife sightings are safe both for our passengers and the wildlife.

Our experienced staff will use their knowledge to find polar bears, ultimately it is in the hands of nature. Our Svalbard and Franz Josef Land voyages offer the best chance of sightings, but we rarely encounter bears in Greenland.

Other information

• Min. Age： Children must be at least three years old
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Available with additional cost
• Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：Cash (EUR/USD) or credit card (Visa, Master)
• Crew Number：12, including 2 expedition guides

How to book the trip to Arctic?

Step 1 : Choose what you want to do

Birding : Arctic
Destinations: Greenland, Svalbard
Highlights : Learn to identify & photograph bird species on selected departures. The participation in the birding sessions is free of charge. Our trained staff consists often of ornithologists or keen birders and they are there to help you and point out the different species. On-board lectures will help you to gain knowledge of the birdlife.

Hiking : Arctic
Destinations: Svalbard
Highlights : We usually offer one to three different types of walks per landing site, ranging from a casual stroll to a challenging hike. All hikes are led and supervised by certified, experienced expedition guides.

Ski Mountaineering : Arctic (Ski Mountaineering)
Destinations: Svalbard
Highlights : Our ski mountaineering trips give you an invigorating up-close experience of the rugged peaks and majestic mountains flanking the high Arctic fjords. Ski excursions involve both easy mountaineering and off-piste skiing. Since the expedition is ship-based, guides have the flexibility and freedom to reach the best snow, optimal weather, and a variety of unique Arctic destinations.

Snowshoeing : Arctic
Destinations: Greenland, Svalbard
Highlights : Explore your way inland from the Polar shorelines with a wide variety of snowshoeing expeditions built for everyone. From the casual explorer to the hard-core snowshoe-er. There are usually 1 to 3 different types of walks offered per landing ranging from a casual stroll to a challenging hike. In the Arctic the longest hike can last a full day (we send you off with a packed lunch).

Step 2 : Consider what you want to see

Blue Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Iceland
Humpback Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Killer Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Minke Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Sperm Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Fin Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Polar Bear : Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land
Walrus : Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land
Musk Ox : Greenland
Svalbard Reindeer : Svalbard
Beluga Whale : Greenland, Svalbard
Bowhead Whale : Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land
Narwhal : Greenland
Bearded Seal : Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land
Harp seal or saddleback seal : Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land
Arctic Fox : Bear Island, Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland
Arctic Hare : Greenland
Barnacle Goose : Bear Island, Greenland, Svalbard

Step 3 : Tell us

Tell us about all the things you would like to do and see during your Antarctica or Arctic trip. We will then provide you the cruises that is matching with your interests and available for booking, and provide you all the informations you need, plus the day to day itineraries.

Desitanions in Arctic

Greenland

See the Earth the way it once was. Greenland is dominated by the second largest ice-sheet of the world. Although huge in size it is inhabited by less than a 100.000 people. The majority of the Greenlandic population is formed by Inuit, the indigenous people of the Arctic. Despite the restricted access to land due to the ice sheet Greenland sports a diverse array of wildlife. Many land mammals enjoy the northern and eastern shores of the island where human populations are few and far between. The waters around Greenland are alive with belugas, blues, fins, Greenland whales (a.k.a. bowhead whales), minkes, narwhals, and sperm whales.

Jan Mayen

Topped by the 2,277-meter high (7,470 feet) stratovolcano, Mount Beerenberg, the largely glaciated Norwegian island of Jan Mayen provides visitors staggeringly scenic views as well as the chance to spot marine life in the food-rich waters offshore. Jan Mayen is an island of breath-taking beauty and mystique and is dominated by the active volcano Mt Beerenberg.

The weather around Jan Mayen, however, can make landings tricky. Heavy rain, high winds, and fog are all likely here, though the temperatures are comparable to our other Arctic areas: When we visit Jan Mayen in June, the average temperature is around 2 to 3°C (36 to 37°F). But despite the strong chance of inclement weather, occasionally the sun breaks through and provides Jan Mayen visitors some of the most ruggedly beautiful photo opportunities found in the Arctic. From the slopes of this 2300 meters high volcano impressive glaciers spill into the sea. The food rich waters that surround the island offer very good whale sighting opportunities.

The weather around Jan Mayen is often not so good: it is said the weather is foul for 362 days of the year. There may be heavy rain, wind and fog but then, soon after, the sun may break through and the air becomes clear. In June, when our ships visit Jan Mayen, the average temperature is around 2º to 3ºC (36º to 37ºF).

Svalbard

“Spitsbergen” is Dutch - spits meaning “pointed” and bergen meaning “mountains.” It was so named in 1596 by Dutch Arctic explorer Willem Barentsz. It took some time for the name to catch on – English whalers would refer to the archipelago as Greenland until the late 1780s. The Norwegian name is Svalbard. T

ouched by three seas – The Norwegian Sea, the Greenland Sea, and the Arctic Ocean – Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago of northern Norway. Its rugged mountains and rolling tundra offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and snowshoeing. Spitsbergen is by far the largest wilderness area of Europe and offers some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world.

Franz Josef Land

Part of the Russian National Park, the archipelago of Franz Josef Land consists of 192 largely glaciated islands.