This MV Hondius review comes from my time aboard on the Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Cruise, but my insights can apply to all of the ship’s polar itineraries including those in the Arctic. My trip aboard Hondius marked my 10th crossing of the Drake Passage. Since I’ve worked in the cruise industry for 14 years, I have experience in both sailing and booking polar expeditions, so many of my insights come from working with clients one-on-one regarding their ship choice.
Read on to learn my top considerations for booking aboard the M/V Hondius. Our team has consistently booked travelers aboard this ship, so find years of traveler feedback also on this page.
Overall standout – Competitively priced, flexible cabins
Cabin comparisons – Side of ship, location & beds can matter
What sets this ship apart – Remote exploration & activity-focused itineraries
Favorite spot on board – Observation Lounge
Most surprised by – The amount of deck space
Look out for – Less amenities & inclusions
Hondius FAQs – Time off ship (it’s ample)
Overall Standout – Competitively priced, flexible cabins
Compared to similarly priced ships, I feel that Hondius has the best quality entry-level cabins for what you are paying.
While the deck plan advertises only four Quad and three Triple cabins, there are an additional ten Twin Porthole cabins located in the aft that are equipped for quadruple occupancy. This gives the ship flexibility to accommodate more cabin configurations in certain situations.
For example, if you are a group of 3-4 friends traveling together and see that Triple cabins are already sold out, they will still likely be able to offer you a Triple Porthole cabin. This flexibility has been a key deciding factor for numerous clients of mine in booking this ship.
Hondius Cabin Comparisons
I stayed in Twin Porthole cabin #310 with my friend. While this cabin was designated as a Twin cabin, it was also capable of being a Quad cabin if needed. Since we booked it as a Twin cabin, the top bunk beds were not set up. However, it was designed with 4 guests in mind, so there were 4 of almost everything – closets, shelves, hooks, outlets and reading lights next to the beds, drawers in the sofa, shelves in the bathroom, plus two TVs (one for the top bunks, one for the bottom beds). This was more than enough space for 2 people, and I think it would be sufficient for 4 people.
Although I was content with my cabin (and barely spent time there), I wish I had booked at least one category higher and chosen a Twin Window cabin. The price difference between the Twin Porthole and Twin Window cabins is minuscule (on my cruise, only a few hundred dollars) and the difference is significant.
Twin Window cabins are located one deck higher (Deck 4) and are in a very central location. This hallway of cabins is very private and quiet, as there is a door separating it from the lobby. No one walks through this enclosed hallway unless their cabin is there. Just keep in mind that these Twin Window cabins are not all identical, and our experts can clue you into ones that have obstructed views or tighter interior layouts.
If you do choose a Twin Porthole cabin, I recommend one on the portside, since the Zodiac boarding areas are both located on the starboard side. My cabin was on this starboard side and since I had a very activity-centric cruise, there was noticeable noise during the early morning preparation of the Zodiacs near my cabin. I’d see Zodiacs full of people outside our porthole, and at certain times to get to my cabin I would have to walk through groups of guests lined up to board the Zodiacs.
When looking at the Superior and Suite categories on this ship, keep in mind that they all have fixed King-size beds. And all lower categories have fixed twins. You cannot reconfigure any beds on this ship. This proved to be a barrier for some of my clients who were sisters hoping to book a suite but ultimately had to go lower to get twin beds.
Also keep in mind this ship does not have an elevator, so a centrally located cabin can be beneficial for some.
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What Sets The Ship Apart: Unique & Active Itineraries
What most sets MV Hondius apart, and is the reason I was aboard, are the ship’s itineraries designed with unique and active exploration at their forefront. My trip was an “Antarctic basecamp” route, which means it included a wide variety of activities in the base rate: overnight camping, mountaineering, kayaking, snowshoeing, hiking, and photo workshops. Most other trips, charge extra for these inclusions.
I love how you can find nearly anything aboard this ship among its Arctic and Antarctic routes, including long hikes up to 9 miles; kayaks ranging from beginner paddles to immersive full-trip programs; and even skills development camps, polar SCUBA diving for advanced divers, and themed routes for astronomy/navigation and birding.
This is all in addition to the standard included Zodiac cruises, shore landings/walks and the polar plunge. Many of my clients get aboard Hondius simply because they have the activities or route they seek.
Favorite spaces & places – Observation Lounge
First thing in the morning on my Antarctic expedition, I would go to the Observation Lounge and help myself to a cappuccino at the 24-hour self-serve machine and scope out our new location. After excursions, I would again find myself here again enjoying the happy hour at the bar while waiting for the expedition’s team’s evening recap. After dinner, I’d be here playing boardgames at the big tables, reading a book in a cozy nook, or even pouring my own exclusive wine from the Enomatic wine dispenser.
While it’s a large open space, it was still very easy to find private quiet corners. My favorite spot was sitting on the wide windowsills and watching the scenery and wildlife go by. If we spotted anything, I could then quickly run out to the bow or the aft viewing deck for photos.
Our daily recaps and lectures from the guides in the Observation Lounge were also a big highlight of the trip. On the first day, the Expedition Leader said “come to the recaps, you’re not here to just take pictures, you’re here to learn about the place too…” His advice was heeded by all, as it seemed no one missed a presentation. The guides placed a “questions box” here where we could write down our questions in private, and the expedition team would answer them in the nightly briefings.
This was just one example of the enthusiasm, passion and accessibility of the guides aboard Hondius (many who have spent 10+ seasons in Antarctica and the Arctic). They would hang around in the lounge with the passengers every night socializing. This made it a very interactive and engaging trip.
Most surprised by – the amount of outdoor deck space
The deck plan for Hondius does not do the ship justice for the amount of outdoor areas on this ship. I outlined all the exterior deck space in red on the deck plan below. There is also an open-air 8th deck, which has the best views. While it was a small upper deck, I still saw people walking around it for exercise.
Most people gathered on the bow of the ship, but I also enjoyed the aft decks which were usually empty and had seating benches protected from the wind.
Look out for – Less Amenities & Inclusions
Hondius has very few frills, and some exclusions to consider but most are minor in my opinion. For those focused on exploratory polar experience, Hondius is a great choice. This vessel truly feels like a basecamp, with a primary purpose of getting you off the ship efficiently, safely and as much as possible.
But comparatively, it does not have the more luxurious amenities we are seeing on most newer ships: for example, a spa, gym, hot tub, pool or sauna or even small things like USB charging ports in the cabins.
I’ve sailed aboard one of the most cutting-edge polar ships sailing today (read my Le Commandant Charcot ship review) and I’ll admit it would have been nice to have some of the luxe touches. But those come at a trade-off for the affordability Hondius provides. The value of being able to travel with my friend more than made up for not having a hot tub aboard.
In addition to onboard inclusions, some other polar vessels include pre- or post-cruise hotels and charter flights, which is perfect for travelers who prefer to be in the hands of the cruise operator from the moment they land in a foreign country. But if you book Hondius, you will need to be a more independent traveler and make these arrangements yourself (or let travel specialists like me at AdventureSmith Explorations easily link it all together for you).
Other exclusions aboard Hondius to consider are alcohol and soft drinks, parkas, trekking poles—all commonly included on other ships. The only binoculars on the ship on my trip were in the Bridge, and they had to stay there, so that is another thing you’ll need to pack. And while Hondius has a doctor on board, available medications were scant, so you’re safest to pack your own medications for cold/flu and seasickness. These are relatively small things in the big scheme but can add up in your overall experience.
TRAVELER FEEDBACK
Read more MV Hondius reviews from our travelers.
Hondius FAQs – Time off ship
Myself and my fellow Adventure Specialists at AdventureSmith are often asked about the amount of time passengers have off polar ships for excursions, specifically the difference between a 170-guest ship such as Hondius and smaller, approximate 100-guest ships that we work with (view all our polar ships).
There are many factors that determine how much time you will spend off the ship, such as the weather, ice, wind, itinerary, number of Zodiacs onboard, etc. It’s difficult to predict this in advance, but prospective travelers considering Hondius should not be concerned about the amount of time off the ship.
I can confirm I had 2-3 hours for morning excursions, plus 2-3 hours for the afternoon excursion, totaling 4-6 hours off the ship each day. This was plenty of time, and more time than you may get on certain smaller ships.
Some key factors that also determine the amount of time you will get off any ship for excursions are the experience of the crew, number of Zodiacs and number of Zodiac boarding platforms. Hondius carries 15 Zodiacs (which is enough for all 170 guests to be off the ship split between Zodiac cruises and transferring to shore landings at the same time).
Hondius also utilizes two Zodiac boarding platforms, so there are about 20 guests getting off the ship simultaneously. With the efficiency of the crew, it’s possible to disembark all 170 passengers within an hour. I never felt like I was waiting or wasting time. In fact, it was the opposite and usually I was rushing to keep up with the speedy disembarkation.
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