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MV Hondius
Home Our Vessels Hondius

Hondius

  • Expeditionary Ship
B Corp
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The world’s first registered Polar Class 6 cruise ship, Hondius is among the most advanced and innovative vessels operating in the polar regions. Purpose-built for expeditionary navigations throughout the Arctic and Antarctica, it exceeds all the green requirements of the Polar Code and meets and highest Lloyd’s Register standards for ice-strengthening.

A memorable ship with cosy and colourful cabins, Hondius feels like a floating home – packed with facilities and on-board entertainment, it offers a bar, lecture room and observation lounge. One of the most environmentally conscious vessels sailing on the polar seas, it utilises steam heating, bio-degradable paints and a state-of-the-art power management system that minimises fuel consumption and CO2 levels. Their tough fleet of rigid-hull inflatable zodiac boats guarantees swift landing operations that maximise your time spent out in nature, and the vessel carries its own kayaks.

Onboard experiences

  • Cruises and Voyages
  • Wildlife Cruises

Ideally suited for

  • Adventure Traveller

Ship Information

Passengers: 170
Crew: 72
Length: 353 ft.

Alternative boats

Our travel experts have years of knowledge and between them and have personally inspected or travelled on board many of the boats we offer.

New Zealand

Heritage Explorer

  • Expeditionary Ship
  • £££££
Heritage Explorer, Heritage Expeditions, New Zealand View Boat
Antarctica

Le Commandant Charcot

  • Expeditionary Ship
  • £££££
Le Commandant Charcot View Boat
Svalbard

Polar Pioneer

  • Expeditionary Ship
  • £££££
Polar Pioneer Sea Ice View Boat
Antarctica

MS Seaventure

  • Expeditionary Ship
  • £££££

ICE RATING: A1

 MS Seaventure, Aerial view of ship ice breaking, Antarctica View Boat

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


More about Steppes

Vessel Ice Rating Comparison Chart.

We use the Lloyd Register scale to signify the ice rating of our vessels but you can see how that scale aligns with other scales in the chart below.

Mame / Country of Register

Ice thickness (cm)

10 15 30 50

Ice thickness (cm)

lowest   highest
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super
Finland / Sweden
Category II
IC
IB
IA
IA Super