Plancius, Antarctica

Name: Antarctica & the Polar Circle - Deep South Discovery Voyage (Ushuaia - Ushuaia)
Start: 2028-03-08
End: 2028-03-20
Location: Antarctica

8.4 Very good

Free Internet
Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly

from $ 445 / day Check dates

“penguins in their natural habitat”
debra R, United States

Highlights

Refurbished ex-navy vessel
Dive next to amazing ice floes
Daily dives with expert guides

Join the M/V Plancius for a trip of a lifetime aboard an Antarctica cruise. Originally an oceanographic research vessel built in 1976 for the Royal Dutch Navy, she was completely refurbished in 2009 to accommodate 108 passengers for Polar adventure cruises. The 'Ice Class' MV Plancius has 53 en-suite cabins on board, all with lower berths, except the 2 triple and 4 quadruple cabins with bunk beds. There are 5 decks, and social areas include the large observation lounge and bar on Deck 5, the restaurant and lecture room on Deck 3, and large open deck spaces with the possibility to fully walk-around Deck 4 and enjoy the scenery and wildlife views. M/V Plancius is also fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system to reduce the noise and vibration of the vessel.

Antarctica cruises aboard the M/V Plancius range from short 10-day trips to Ascension Island to full 37-day expeditions exploring the Antarctic Peninsular. Activities and highlights on these voyages include soft climbing mountain ranges, rare photo opportunities, kayaking the shorelines, getting up close with Gentoo & King Penguins, seeing Killer Whales cruise by, or watching Leopard Seals hunt.

Plancius also offers dive trips to the Antarctic Peninsular to see penguins, sea lions, and even leopard seals underwater. Diving is shallow, around 20m/60ft, and ranges from zodiac and shore diving. Diving next to amazing ice floes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something to be remembered forever. The dives are led by a highly experienced dive team leader and guides who are experts in their field. They aim to offer 1-2 dives daily, but this can change due to local ice and weather conditions. Divers must be experienced in cold water and dry-suit diving and bring all their gear (tanks/weights provided onboard).

Dive trips are limited to 24 divers, and spaces fill up fast. Book online today to reserve your place.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

09 Mar

15 Days / 14 Nights

Up to €3800 OFF on selected cabins! Rates include discount. Valid for a limited time only.

$ 11,098 Deal %

Select Cabin only 1 space left

23 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 7,241

FULL

02 Mar

11 Days / 10 Nights

Early Bird Discount! Up to €1150 OFF on Twin Window cabin. Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 10,802 Deal %

Select Cabin available

12 Mar

15 Days / 14 Nights

$ 13,116

FULL

26 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 7,894

FULL

26 Mar

33 Days / 32 Nights

Combination Trip! Up to €2345 OFF! Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 16,612 Deal %

FULL

26 Mar

43 Days / 42 Nights

Combination Trip! Up to €2730 OFF! Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 19,176 Deal %

FULL

12 Feb

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 12,464

Select Cabin available

23 Feb

15 Days / 14 Nights

Early Bird Discount! Up to €1750 OFF! On selected cabins! Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 13,769 Deal %

Select Cabin available

08 Mar

13 Days / 12 Nights

Early Bird Discount! Up to €1500 OFF! On selected cabins! Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 11,811 Deal %

Select Cabin available

20 Mar

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 9,852

FULL

20 Mar

34 Days / 33 Nights

Combination Trip! Early Bird Discount! Up to €2660 OFF on selected cabins! Rates include discount. Valid for bookings made before March 31, 2026.

$ 18,855 Deal %

FULL

Included: VAT, Port Fees, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries.

Optional Extras: Travel Insurance, Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Diving Package, Extra Dives, Snorkel Gear, Laundry / Pressing Services.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Free Internet
Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Kayaks On-Board
Seaview Cabins
Paid Internet
Non-Smoking Rooms
Laundry Service
Library
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Wine Available
Fine Wines Selection
Welcome Cocktails
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Set Menu Dinner

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English.

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1976

Year renovated: 2009

Length: 89 meters (293 feet)

Beam: 14.5 meters (47 feet)

Top speed: 12 knots

Cruising speed: 10 knots

Engines: 3x Diesel-Electric

Max guests: 108

Number of cabins: 50

Tenders: 10 Mark V zodiacs

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Crew trained in first aid

Plancius Reviews

8.4 Very good

Vessel

10.0
Crew

9.3
Food

10.0
Diving

4.0
Value

8.7

8.4 Very good
Magdalena M
Netherlands

Everything was great!!!!!!!!!!
Lemaire channel with barbecue, kayakking between the ice floes and the many cute penguins
Recommended for
The nature was breathtaking, the crew and catering was excellent and the atmosphere was relaxed and cozy
30 Dec, 2023

Translated from Dutch

8.8 Fabulous
Zheng X
China

Good trip
Everything are good, but this is non-diving cruise, so there will be less young people there.
Recommended for
Atmosphere, entertainment, communication
28 Mar, 2019