Quark Expeditions

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.

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

A brilliant experience from start to finish! Our expedition leader Ryan was a total star, balancing safety with our desire to see as much as possible and always communicating clearly and with humour where appropriate. The rest of the expedition team were also excellent. Special mention to Kris for his first class photography, Ian for his engaging history talks and Brian, Ema and Mike for teaching us so much about the Arctic environment and the birds and animals that live there. The Ocean Explorer was an extremely comfortable base for our explorations, with good food, very attractive public areas and a lovely cabin with a picture window. I didn't want to leave! Oh, and the truly awesome polar bear encounter on the sea ice will stay in my memories forever.

My mom and I recently went on Quark's South Greenland trip and wow, what a phenomenal experience!! Everyone on staff is incredible - the chefs are really helpful if you have diet restrictions, the servers/dining staff really get to know the passengers and after the first day already knew so many of us by name, they'd remember our preferences for coffee/tea in the morning and do so much that was truly above and beyond. I was so impressed with all of them, and it was such a joy to see them each day! The expedition staff were all phenomenal. They're professional, incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and so fun to be around. And the entire experience is so well put together and executed. It really was "all hands on deck" most days, as we had a very activity packed trip, especially with multiple helicopter excursions, and they executed everything with such precision, and adapted so quickly when needed because of inclement weather, or due to an animal sighting (they would immediately pivot plans, and the boat!, so that we could have an amazing experience getting as close as was safe and to not disturb the wildlife). They Ultramarine ship also is beautiful, has a great gym with large windows to view outside, lovely rooms with heated bathroom floors, and great sauna (also large windows to view outside!) and spa that uses natural products. The food was absolutely delicious, and they would always have a type of hot tea/cider when we'd come back to the boat from an activity to help us warm up. The itinerary allowed us to see a lot of gorgeous places and participate in a lot of great activities, but was very supportive for a range of people (such as on hiking days, they have a "charger" group that wants to do a challenging hike/pace, and mid-range group, and a leisurely paced group, so you can chose which option best suits you that day). They also do a great job of incorporating experiences to be immersed or learn about the history, local life and culture, like certain experiences while visiting towns, the Camping add-on, or the special Tundra to Table dining experience. It was really a fun trip, we learned a lot, that staff was thoughtful, fun, passionate, we felt very well cared for and very safe during all the activities. I would guess nearly 3/4 of the passengers had been on at least one Quark trip previously, if not multiple trips, which says a lot about this amazing company!

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.

Brilliant adventure - totally memorable. Amazing hotel crew on board with fabulous food and endless courtesy every day. Ship was very comfortable with great facilities. Guides were all amazing , full of knowledge and happy to share it. They were patient and very respectful of any limitations people might have had. No-one was left behind either physically or in knowledge terms. An unforgettable experience! Will definitely travel with Quark again without hesitation

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.