Out Of The Ordinary
Small-group expedition sailing in the High North
Don’t just visit the High North. Become part of the journey.
Step aboard Saeftinghe for active sailing adventures through Northern Norway, Svalbard, Iceland and the open North Atlantic. Join a scheduled voyage or charter the ship for your own group, with no more than ten guests aboard.
Become part of life at sea
Sailing with Saeftinghe is not about watching from the sidelines. With no more than ten guests aboard, there is room to get to know the people you sail with, take an active role and experience each destination without being rushed.
You can help hoist the sails, take the helm, navigate and share the daily rhythm of the ship. Previous sailing experience is not required. Our professional crew guides you throughout the journey, allowing you to participate at your own pace and according to your abilities.
Our routes are carefully prepared, but the sea and weather always have the final say. Plans may change, anchorages may become inaccessible and time ashore always depends on the conditions. That flexibility is not a disruption to the journey—it is part of expedition sailing.
Fewer people. More involvement. A journey shaped by the sea.
Family-run · 28+ years of experience · No more than 10 guests · Professional crew
Become part of life at sea
Sailing with Saeftinghe is not about watching from the sidelines. With no more than ten guests aboard, there is room to get to know the people you sail with, take an active role and experience each destination without being rushed.
You can help hoist the sails, take the helm, navigate and share the daily rhythm of the ship. Previous sailing experience is not required. Our professional crew guides you throughout the journey, allowing you to participate at your own pace and according to your abilities.
Our routes are carefully prepared, but the sea and weather always have the final say. Plans may change, anchorages may become inaccessible and time ashore always depends on the conditions. That flexibility is not a disruption to the journey—it is part of expedition sailing.
Fewer people. More involvement. A journey shaped by the sea.
Family-run · 28+ years of experience · No more than 10 guests · Professional crew
Choose how you want to explore
The right voyage depends less on your sailing experience than on how you want to travel. Join a shared adventure, charter Saeftinghe for your own group, take part in a sailing-focused passage or discover life at sea through Sail Training.
Choose how you want to explore
The right voyage depends less on your sailing experience than on how you want to travel. Join a shared adventure, charter Saeftinghe for your own group, take part in a sailing-focused passage or discover life at sea through Sail Training.
Inspire
Book your own place on a scheduled sailing adventure. You can join individually, as a couple or with a few friends or family members. Inspire voyages combine active sailing with time to explore ashore, without requiring you to organise a complete group.
Inspire in a nutshell
- Individual places on scheduled departures
- Join alone, as a couple or with people you know
- Active participation without previous sailing experience
- Sailing combined with time ashore
- No more than ten guests aboard
Exclusive Adventure
Charter Saeftinghe exclusively for your own group. Together, we develop a multi-day sailing adventure around your ambitions, preferred region and desired level of challenge. You bring the group and the idea; we provide the ship, the professional crew and the nautical foundation.
Exclusive Adventure in a nutshell:
- The entire ship exclusively for your group
- Up to ten guests
- A programme developed around your objectives
- For families, friends, organisations and partners
- The final route remains subject to weather and conditions
Delivery/
Milebuilder
A Delivery is a point-to-point sailing passage where progress is the purpose. You take part in watches, navigation and daily life aboard. Time ashore is limited and always depends on the schedule and conditions.
Delivery in a nutshell
- Point-to-point passage
- Sailing and navigation come first
- Watches and longer periods at sea
- Time ashore when route and conditions allow
Sail Training
Sail Training gives young people aged 15 to 25 the opportunity to grow through responsibility, teamwork and life at sea. During races and offshore passages, trainees become part of the daily rhythm aboard and learn by taking an active role under professional guidance.
Sailtraining in a nutshell
- For young people aged 15 to 25
- No previous sailing experience required
- Sailing, navigation and watchkeeping
- Responsibility and teamwork
- Learning through real life at sea
Events
Step on board and discover the world behind the voyage.
Events are moments where you meet Saeftinghe, explore the ship and connect with the crew.
Events in a nutshell
- Visit the ship during events
- Meet the crew
- Discover life on board
- Entry point into expedition sailing
Inspire
Book your own place on a scheduled sailing adventure. You can join individually, as a couple or with a few friends or family members. Inspire voyages combine active sailing with time to explore ashore, without requiring you to organise a complete group.
Inspire in a nutshell
- Individual places on scheduled departures
- Join alone, as a couple or with people you know
- Active participation without previous sailing experience
- Sailing combined with time ashore
- No more than ten guests aboard
Exclusive Adventure
Charter Saeftinghe exclusively for your own group. Together, we develop a multi-day sailing adventure around your ambitions, preferred region and desired level of challenge. You bring the group and the idea; we provide the ship, the professional crew and the nautical foundation.
Exclusive Adventure in a nutshell:
- The entire ship exclusively for your group
- Up to ten guests
- A programme developed around your objectives
- For families, friends, organisations and partners
- The final route remains subject to weather and conditions
Delivery/
Milebuilder
A Delivery is a point-to-point sailing passage where progress is the purpose. You take part in watches, navigation and daily life aboard. Time ashore is limited and always depends on the schedule and conditions.
Delivery in a nutshell
- Point-to-point passage
- Sailing and navigation come first
- Watches and longer periods at sea
- Time ashore when route and conditions allow
Sail Training
Sail Training gives young people aged 15 to 25 the opportunity to grow through responsibility, teamwork and life at sea. During races and offshore passages, trainees become part of the daily rhythm aboard and learn by taking an active role under professional guidance.
Sailtraining in a nutshell
- For young people aged 15 to 25
- No previous sailing experience required
- Sailing, navigation and watchkeeping
- Responsibility and teamwork
- Learning through real life at sea
Events
Step on board and discover the world behind the voyage.
Events are moments where you meet Saeftinghe, explore the ship and connect with the crew.
Events in a nutshell
- Visit the ship during events
- Meet the crew
- Discover life on board
- Entry point into expedition sailing
Choose the challenge that fits you
Previous sailing experience is not required. What changes from one voyage to another is the intensity, the amount of time spent at sea and the rhythm of life aboard. Our iceberg classification helps you understand what each journey involves before you book.
1 iceberg, Accessible Exploration
An approachable way to discover sailing and life aboard, with a balance between time at sea and exploration ashore.
- Primarily daytime sailing
- No night watches
- Time ashore, conditions permitting
- Suitable for first-time and experienced sailors
2 icebergs, Real Adventure
A more intensive sailing experience that may include a night at sea and an introduction to watchkeeping.
- Longer sailing days
- May include one night at sea
- Night watches may be introduced
- Requires flexibility and resilience
3 icebergs, Full Expedition
A demanding voyage built around longer offshore passages, night watches and the continuous rhythm of life at sea.
- Multi-day offshore passages
- Night watches are standard
- Limited opportunities to go ashore
- Physically and mentally more demanding
- Preparation and realistic expectations are essential
Why Saeftinghe?
Small Enough to Explore. Strong Enough for the Open Sea.
Saeftinghe is a steel expedition sailing ship, small enough to enter secluded bays and anchorages while remaining capable of longer passages through exposed northern waters. Her steel hull, full keel and expedition setup provide the stability and reliability needed for sailing far beyond the usual routes.
Inside, a warm and functional interior supports life at sea over longer periods. Outside, the protected deckhouse provides shelter during watches in exposed conditions. With no more than ten guests aboard, life remains personal and everyone can find their place in the rhythm of the voyage.
Saeftinghe is not a floating hotel, and our voyages are not built around rigid schedules. She is a capable and welcoming base for people who value participation, shared responsibility and the reality of life at sea.
That balance between small scale and offshore capability is what allows us to explore differently.