Quark ExpeditionsReviews of quarkexpeditions.com

Everything was well-organized, and the Expedition Team was great. Antarctica itself (the scenery, the wildlife) is amazing, but it was the Expedition Team that made this trip worth every penny. I wrote a little poem to commemorate the experience: Twas the first night of our journey and all through the ship Everyone was gearing up for the start of the Drake trip Would the waters be calm or would the waves roll about? In a few hours' time, they soon would find out With fascinating talks of Antarctic education The Passage was smooth due to expert navigation The captain and crew and every staff member Ensured all the guests would have a trip to remember Of albatross and petrels flying through clear skies so blue And a skua lying in wait, hoping to feast on Gentoo And our other penguin friends, Chinstrap and Adelie And Leopard seals with flippers long enough to scratch their belly We saw Weddell seals on ice thanks to our Zodiac drivers' skill And learned Crabeaters don't eat crab, instead they eat krill! Aqua blue icebergs have colors of perfection We even heard the story of locating a missing airplane engine We saw calving up close during our SUP-ing recreation And lichen that can survive outside the International Space Station We had infinite panoramic beauty before us Including an opportunistic spotting of Orcas And just when you thought things couldn't get more exciting We had yet another epic whale sighting Then it was time for our second passage of the Drake Which is only 2/3 the number of journeys Toby the pig did make Sadly we bid farewell when it was time to disembark But happy memories will live on, thanks to our good friends at Quark

The crew were all fantastic. The activity schedule was also great. The views that we were provided were all exciting and breathtaking. The fact that we were one of the few ships to cross the Antarctic Circle was exciting and added to the excitement of the ship.

This was a fantastic trip. The staff were exceptional, from the expedition staff who were so knowledgeable and encouraging to the dining room staff who were so hospitable and helpful to the staff who maintained the rooms.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle with the Ultramarine exceeded my expectations! The care and informed risk taking the Captain Roy and the Expedition Leader Sarah took provided us with a unique and unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience! We reached as far south as any tourist had ever gone. We saw Emperor penguins, orcas, a "soup" of HPs, leopard seals, icebergs caving, to name a few. We played on fast ice/sea ice! We got Drake lake pretty much both ways! And our expedition cruise ended with a rainbow! God sure smiled on us. I didn't miss a lecture nor a daily briefing - they were all so good! From book author ornithologist Fabrice to marine biologist Marla, not to miss stellar storyteller historian Ross and the mind boggling fossil-collecting mountaineer and the rest - all were not only well educated and experienced but also so very passionate about their respective fields. The food was top noch! The accommodations were luxurious - I loooved the sauna with floor to ceiling view and our spacious cabin. The staff was exceptionally nice.

Every individual is treated warmly as if you have been friends for a long time. The wonderful team create this atmosphere from the first words spoken to the group. This in turn nurtures friendships and communication amoung the guests and between guests and tour guides and hotel staff. We felt sad to leave such a warm family at the end of the journey. The selection of staff is outstanding! These folks are bright, experienced and always are multidimensional. Your hotel staff are truly keen to make your experience special . There were so many ways they showed they cared from carrying your plate to your table, remembering who liked what to drink in the mornings to friendly banter at the table or bar . The continent is exceptional but the wonderful crew brought it to life.They were truly excited at each animal or bird sighting. Go to see this beautiful quiet amazing continent with the best crew teaching you about what you are seeing and experiencing.

Quark guides are knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and engaging. They helped us have a wonderful Antarctic adventure. The entire crew and chefs also contributed to a delightful experience - the food was delicious. Shane's concern for everyone's well being created a warm friendly environment even during a rough Drake Passage crossing.

The expedition team was truly amazing. You had opportunities to meet them all, whether on zodiacs, briefings, or just chatting. They were knowledgeable and fun to be around. The penguins, seals, birds, icebergs, and the voyage itself was indescribably spectacular

Everything about this Antarctica expedition was TOP-NOTCH!!!! The Expedition staff, the staff in the restaurant, the cabin stewards - all of it - we just couldn't have asked for a better experience!