Cruise line · Expedition

Quark Expeditions: Our Cruise Line Guide

A polar specialist since 1991 with three small ships, among them Ultramarine with its two Airbus helicopters, sailing only to Antarctica and the Arctic.

Plan your trip:Official website

The back story

Fleet: Ultramarine, World Voyager, Ocean Explorer (quarkexpeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Guests per ship: 138 (Ocean Explorer), 168 (World Voyager) (quarkexpeditions.com) · Since: 1991 (quarkexpeditions.com) · Sails to: Antarctica and the Arctic only · Safety: Two doctors per ship; 1 staff to 9.5 guests (quarkexpeditions.com)

Quark Expeditions: the back story

Quark Expeditions·

A polar specialist since 1991, sailing only to the Arctic and Antarctica, with the twin helicopters of Ultramarine and a parka for every guest to keep.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: First-timers on an Antarctic Express or a shorter Arctic voyage aboard Ocean Explorer, in a lower-category cabin. Mid-range: A balcony cabin on World Voyager or Ocean Explorer, adding a kayaking or camping Adventure Option. Luxury: The Owner’s Suite on Ultramarine, with helicopter landings in Antarctica.

Two helicopters

Ultramarine

Quark Expeditions·Polar expedition ship·€€€€

Quark’s helicopter ship: two twin-engine Airbus H145s, twenty Zodiacs in an internal hangar and the largest suites in her category, in Quark’s words.

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168 passengers

World Voyager

Quark Expeditions·Polar expedition ship·€€€

The newest Quark ship, built for science and discovery, with all-balcony suites and a Science Hub.

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138 passengers

Ocean Explorer

Quark Expeditions·Polar expedition ship·€€€

A modern 138-passenger polar ship with the ULSTEIN X-BOW® for a smoother ride, and balconies on almost every cabin.

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The suites

41.4 m²

Owner’s Suite, Ultramarine

Quark Expeditions·Signature suite·€€€€

About 446 sq ft (41.4 m²) of living space plus a 46.3 sq ft (4.3 m²) balcony, on Deck 6.

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34 m²

Owner’s Suite, World Voyager

Quark Expeditions·Signature suite·€€€€

About 365 sq ft (34 m²) with a 100 sq ft (9.5 m²) walk-out balcony, reached from both sitting room and bedroom.

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Highest cabin level

Owners Suite, Ocean Explorer

Quark Expeditions·Signature suite·€€€€

The ship’s “palatial, airy apartment” on the highest cabin level, with a large private veranda.

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Dining on board

Direct access to the deck

Balena Restaurant

Quark Expeditions·Restaurant · Ultramarine·€€€€

Ultramarine’s main restaurant on Deck 5, with tables for two to ten and a view from every seat.

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Indoor and outdoor

Bistro 487

Quark Expeditions·Bistro · Ultramarine·€€€

Ultramarine’s indoor-outdoor bistro, for meals with the polar landscape all round.

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Seats 144

Ocean Explorer Main Dining Room

Quark Expeditions·Restaurant · Ocean Explorer·€€€

A contemporary restaurant on Deck 5 seating 144, with floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Seats 46

Latitude Bar

Quark Expeditions·Bar · Ocean Explorer·€€€

Ocean Explorer’s social hub on Deck 5, seating 46 on deep sofas.

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Deck 4

World Voyager dining room

Quark Expeditions·Restaurant · World Voyager·€€€

One dining room on Deck 4, with Quark’s chefs cooking for long voyages.

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Spa and wellness

Steam room

Tundra Spa and Sauna

Quark Expeditions·Spa · Ultramarine·€€€

Ultramarine’s spa with steam room, and a sauna with views over the ice.

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Life on board

Ultramarine only

Helicopter flights

Quark Expeditions·Adventure option

On Ultramarine, flightseeing and remote landings with two Airbus H145s, six window seats each.

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Limited places

Kayaking and camping

Quark Expeditions·Adventure options

A voyage-length Sea Kayak Program for experienced paddlers, a one-off Paddling Excursion for beginners, and camping ashore.

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Polar experts

Briefings and the bridge

Quark Expeditions·Enrichment

Daily briefings from the Expedition Leader and controlled visits to the open bridge.

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Where it sails

Arctic and Antarctic

Where Quark sails

Quark Expeditions·Itineraries

Antarctica, including Snow Hill Island and the Antarctic Express, which flies the Drake from Punta Arenas; and the Arctic, including Svalbard.

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What’s included and how to book

Official FAQ

What to know before booking Quark

Quark Expeditions·Inclusions and requirements

A parka to keep, boots on loan, and medical insurance of at least US$50,000 per traveller, which Quark requires.

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Discretionary

Quark gratuities

Quark Expeditions·Service charges

Gratuities are personal and at your discretion, Quark says; settle on board by Visa, Mastercard or US dollars.

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Share your Quark Expeditions tips

Sailed with them? Share your ships, cabins and tips with other cruisers.

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