Dive trip with Rembrandt van Rijn - 7 nights

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