Quark Expeditions

We had a spectacular adventure with Quark travelling to Antarctica this past February. The food was great, the crew and expedition teams were supportive, helpful and knowledgeable and the ship was well appointed and comfortable. Our Expedition Leader Shane worked with his team to deliver us the best experience possible. Crossing the Drake was tough at times from a nausea perspective but we always felt safe and well cared for. They delivered the experience of a lifetime bringing to us all the wonders Antarctica has to offer. It is so hard to believe wildlife exists with so much habitat to live so free and unaffected by direct human activity. It was truly remarkable. We are already working on our Canadian Arctic expedition plans.

I did the helicopter expedition from November 28 to December 10 and it was amazing! One thing to consider is this is an expedition NOT a tour to the Caribbean, so don’t expect to have a set plan each day, it all depends onda the weather and luck, so everyday is a new discovery and activities are based on the weather and on safety as a priority. Do not expect to follow a rigid itinerary from a brochure. The expedition team is very professional and knowledgeable on their fields, I love to have a close interaction with various members of the expedition team at all times during the trip, become good friends and learning a lot from them, from scientific facts to even new photography tricks, the efficiency of the team for doing each of the activities is incredible, they work so hard behind the scenes to make The best of the trip with the unexpected weather of the Antarctic. The hotel team is always kind and very attentive, I really appreciate the hospitality from the restaurant from Eugene, Rudy, Joel during the meal time, very hard-working people, really committed to making everything run smoothly for the meals. The cook Siwen very charming and efficient to cook the meals for many passengers. Jaqueline and Lino at the bar were very nice every time, smiling and making sure everyone had a good time, even late at night for the night owls that stay until late. Overall, we managed to see more than what we expected, do all things we intended, we were lucky in this sense, and we had many first time experiences that even the crew had never done before, the true essence of an adventure. The Drake passage was smooth (again lucky), but I suggest to bring your pills in case you get seasick. I would totally recommend quark for a unique and one in a lifetime voyage full of amazing experiences and memories to bring with you back home. Leader of expedition was Ryan, I consider he did a great work, given the weather, each day he underpromise, but in my opinion, he always over delivered. Best expedition ever! I will love to come back if I have the chance.

A Great trip, Great crew and wonderful destinations. If you love Antarctica wildlife and nature, Quark delivers. The ship and staff were amazing and always full of information. You honestly leave with so much more knowledge and appreciation for Antarctica. The trip with them exceeded my expectations regarding comfort, food, and staff on the ship and that’s not mentioning all of the what we got to see in the Antarctic peninsula. Penguins, Whales, Seals, Albatrosses, Terns. They have lectures and recaps going on all day so there’s never a dull moment.

It’s hard to put into words how life-changing this journey with Quark Expeditions was. To spend two weeks exploring one of the most remote, pristine corners of our planet — places few people will ever see — was nothing short of extraordinary. Every moment felt intentional. The Quark team curated not just an adventure, but a community. We were only 120 passengers, but we had a sense of connection — with both people and place — and it made the experience unforgettable. The staff and expedition leaders were exceptional: deeply knowledgeable, endlessly patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. From glaciologists to wildlife experts, they brought the Arctic to life with a blend of science, storytelling, and pure enthusiasm. It wasn’t just a trip; it was an awakening. A reminder of how small we are in the face of nature’s magnitude, and how vital it is to keep saying yes to wonder, even when it’s not convenient. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this journey. Thank you, Quark Expeditions, for creating something truly extraordinary. #QuarkExpeditions #ArcticAdventure #SayYesToLife #Connection #Greenland #Iceland #AdventureAwaits

I’m not even sure I understood what I was signing up for, but this voyage far exceeded any of my expectations! The itinerary was expertly chosen by Ryan, our expedition leader as weather and winds permitted. Ryan curated an experience to remember… just when I thought a day could not be outdone… it was. Multiple days below the Antarctic circle, nearly 24 hours of sunlight, from walking amongst the Adelie colonies tending to their eggs and a few days later their newborn chicks, to paddle boarding amongst icebergs, kayaking amongst Gentu penguins, sitting still in a zodiac, surrounded by humpback whales showing off dives and tails, I was blown away! Oh and the good and staff were phenomenal and always available and experts in their fields! Quark Expeditions Ultramarine heli expedition was a winner all the way around

I went with Quark to see the Emporer penguins at Snow Hill in Antarctica. This was a challenging expedition cruise, going to an area with dramatic changes in weather that could adversely affect the itinerary. It took about three days to sail from Ushuaia to the Weddell Sea where we ran into very thick ice that prevented the ship from getting close to the colony. I was convinced we would be unable to visit the Emporer penguins and I would be devastated. However, Quark's Ultramarine has a unique advantage - helicopters. The crew developed a plan to fly us over 60 miles from the ship to the colony over a two day period. They had never flown this far before. The plan was executed with remarkable precision and every passenger was able to visit the colony in person! This was an impressive examples of the ship's crew going to extraordinary lengths to deliver an unforgettable experience. Visiting the colony was incredible, there is nothing else like it. Its also worth mentioning the quality and quantity of the guides and expedition crew. We were continuously impressed with depth of knowledge during the zodiac cruises, hikes and onboard presentations. The hotel team took care of us, learned our names and preferences, and served a wide variety of excellent food. My experience on Quark's Ultramarine was a fine example of a luxury expedition cruise. Definitely recommend. I hope to travel with Quark again. Thanks to Ryan and the whole crew for checking every box and exceeding all of my expectations.

It was a spectacular experience, the crew and facilities were phenomenal and we were very lucky with the weather and Wildlife viewing. We experienced a very calm 'Drake Lake' from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula, it was not so calm on the way back but it was worth it. The quark crew were incredible and have thought of everything to make your experience as safe and enjoyable as possible. The food and service on the ship was amazing. Could not recommend this experience any more

The animal experiences were great and processes were generally done in a very organised and orderly manner. We managed to see penguins (emperor, adelie, gentoo, chinstrap), seals (Weddell, crabeater, leopard), orcas, and whales (humpback, minke). There was usually ample time given for each landing, with the option to also return to the ship earlier. Communication can be improved as I’ve received conflicting information from different expedition team members regarding the same subject, which can be confusing. For example, someone told us we had to wear the dry suits for the boot fitting while another said the boot fitting didn’t require the dry suit. It wasn’t a major problem but it was still a hassle having to go from deck 2 to 7 and then back to 2. The polar plunge was also organised in an efficient manner, which is appreciated when standing in the cold in just a bathing suit and bathrobe. Spectators who were not doing the plunge were not allowed on deck 2 where the plunge is done. Instead, they were asked to view from the deck 5, which was understandable as deck 2 got quite crowded with people queueing to do the plunge. However, none of the staff were able to help me take a video of me doing the plunge with my phone as each had a specific task to ensure safety and/or keep the queue moving. There was an expedition photographer on a zodiac positioned in front who will take pictures of all the guests doing the plunge but these pictures will only be released after about 4 weeks. Polar plunges are one of the highlights of a polar expedition experience and videos are not only the best way for guests to share with family and friends almost instantaneously but also helps promote the expedition trip and company. I myself was attracted to doing this activity based on videos and not pictures. This problem could easily be resolved by adding an extra staff member on the plunge platform, the zodiac or even on deck 5 to help with the video. For a company who has been in the industry for decades, I was rather disappointed that they fell short of something so simple that I actually thought was going to be the easiest thing to achieve from a polar expedition.