INFO: Oceanwide Expeditions' New Polar Ship "Plancius" Offers Great Views
Kevin Griffin, London
Oceanwide Expeditions' new 3,434-ton 110-berth polar vessel PLANCIUS
was named at Vlissingen, the company's home base, on November 14.
Sponsored by Carla Peijs, Queen's Commissioner for the Province of
Zeeland, she is now on her way to Ushuaia, where she will undertake
her maiden Antarctic voyage on January 8, 2010. Oceanwide made the
news twice that week as it was simultaneously named the "World's
Leading Polar Expedition Company 2009" at London's World Travel
Market .
"We welcome the PLANCIUS," said Kevin Griffin, managing director of
niche cruise agent The Cruise People Ltd of London, who attended the
event, "especially as she has some magnificent viewing areas compared
with some of the vessels that have sailed Antarctic and polar waters
before her. We look forward to booking many satisfied passengers on
her, as happy passengers are the ones who return."
According to Griffin, "One of the first things that one notices on
touring the ship is the excellent views that can be had not only from
her main observation lounge, forward on deck 5, but also from the
windows either side of her dining room aft on deck 3 and from the
outside decks."
Built in 1976 as the Royal Dutch Navy's oceanographic research ship
TYDEMAN, the PLANCIUS has been totally rebuilt over the past two and a
half years into a top-notch ice-class passenger vessel capable of
operating in polar regions.
Forward of the main lounge is an accessible open deck area and from
here passengers can reach the bow. Passengers are also allowed onto
the bridge, where views are possible in most directions, although the
forward view is obscured somewhat by the layout of navigation
instruments and controls that cover the lower window area, but there
are better views from the open bridge wings.
Both lounge and dining room double as lecture halls when it comes time
to learn about wildlife, geology, Antarctic base camps and local
history. And off her main lounge is a library stocked with various
reference materials. The ship's decor is pleasing, with grey
leatherette banquettes featuring in both lounge and restaurants while
the ship is carpeted throughout in blue. Companionway bulkheads are
decorated with very good still wildlfie photography.
Deck 3 outside is laid with teak and contains an embarkation area and
zodiac boarding area on the starboard side while the port side
contains the ship's galley. Aft there is a rather attractive teak-laid
barbecue area with views over the stern. The upper decks are quite
extensive and on certain decks it is possible to walk completely round
the superstructure, making for superb viewing of wildlife and
scenery.
The new ship's cabins have been simplifed into three basic types of
accommodation, all en suite. Ten superior cabins located on the top
two decks, 5 and 6, contain double beds, and thirty-nine twin cabins
on decks 2, 3 and 4 contain twin beds, while four triple cabins have
an additional third, upper, berth and are located on the lowest deck,
2. In addition to the double bed, the superior cabins feature a sofa
and double windows.
Being a former oceanographic ship, the PLANCIUS has attractive hull
lines and it is also obvious that much thought has been put into her
new internal layout. She will be staffed by an experienced Russian
crew recruited from the 1,753-ton 50-berth PROFESSOR MOLCHANOV and
PROFESSOR MULTANOVSKIY, two ships that Oceanwide has been operating on
charter for many years, while the expedition team and hotel manager
are from Oceanwide's own experienced personnel. Among them, these
three ships will offer more than 30 Antarctic departures over the
2009/10 season.
As well, Oceanwide will operate the PLANCIUS together with the 2,180-
ton 84-berth Chilean-owned ANTARCTIC DREAM, a ship that was built in
the Netherlands for the Chilean Navy, during the Spitsbergen season.
All four ships can be booked through The Cruise People.
For further details on Antarctic and Spitsbergen departures as well as
other expedition voyages please contact The Cruise People's Miri
Lopusna at 020 7723 2450, Freephone 0800 526 313 or
cru...@cruisepeople.co.uk or visit their web site at
www.cruisepeople.co.ukexpeditions.htm
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