Quark ExpeditionsReviews of quarkexpeditions.com

Excellent trip with Quark Expeditions. We saw many northern lights during the trip.

So glad we booked with Quark! What an Arctic dream of a trip we had! Our ship, the Ocean Explorer, was a home away from home. All of the staff, crew, food, etc were of the highest quality! Full professionals! We made lifelong friends.

Guides, wildlife, excursions, food, education.

Beautiful ship. Great staff and crew. Great weather.

I left a review on board. It was a fabulous trip! This was our 3rd Quark expedition & we were amazed again! Top notch in every sense of the word! We can't wait to book the next expedition!

Our expedition to Greenland with Quark Expeditions was nothing short of extraordinary. From start to finish, the journey exceeded all expectations. One of the absolute highlights was the incredible wildlife. We were lucky enough to spot the majestic musk ox roaming the tundra and a variety of unique Arctic bird species, each sighting more special than the last. These moments truly made us feel immersed in the wild beauty of Greenland. The expedition staff were exceptional , knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely excited to share their expertise. Whether leading hikes, guiding zodiac cruises, or giving fascinating lectures, their enthusiasm made every activity engaging and memorable. The food onboard was outstanding, with delicious meals that catered to every taste. It was the perfect way to warm up and relax after a day of exploration. And perhaps the most magical moment of all we were treated to a breathtaking display of the Northern Lights. Watching the aurora dance across the Greenlandic sky was an experience we will cherish forever. Overall, this expedition was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Quark Expeditions delivered an exceptional journey that combined comfort, discovery, and wonder in one unforgettable trip. We can’t recommend it highly enough

Once a year during the arctic summer, Quark Expeditions leads a 17-day journey called the Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route. While I was a passenger on an earlier Quark expedition in 2025, I learned about this expedition, which was set to run from August 26 to September 11, 2025. Prior to that I joined Quark expeditions to the Antarctic (twice) and three expeditions in the Arctic, so I had a well-informed (and positive) opinion about Quark and its polar explorations. In my view, The Legendary Arctic Sea Route lived up to its claim that it offered an outstanding opportunity to “retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition, which left the shores of England in 1845 in search of the last unexplored section of the Northwest Passage—only to become permanently icebound”. For reasons too numerous to tally, this expedition was an extraordinary experience. Two of Quark’s ships make this expedition, the Ultramarine (in 2025) and the Ocean Explorer (in 2026). (Note that if flightseeing using Quark’s helicopters is a must-have, Ultramarine is the ship to choose, as the Ocean Explorer lacks helicopters.) I’ve been on the World Explorer twice (to Antarctica) and the Ultramarine four times, but I’ve not traveled on the Ocean Explorer – so my comments here reflect only my experience on the Ultramarine. A key feature of polar exploration – as opposed to, for example, cruise line trips to less extreme locations – is the fact that weather conditions play an outsized role in where the ship goes and when it goes there. Where we went for this expedition was totally determined by external elements over which the ship’s navigational team could measure and evaluate but not control. This became clear repeatedly throughout the expedition and (incidentally) delayed our disembarkation when fog in Resolute Bay thwarted repeated attempts to land our charter for the return flight to Calgary. What is remarkable is that passengers did not seem to mind the opportunity to spend a bit more time on board, given the excellent service and interesting presentations that were part of our extra time on board. A good omen: as we departed Kangerlussuaq and headed up the western coast of Greenland, we were treated to a spectacular Northern Lights display that lasted hours. From there our ship took us to Inussuit Tasersuat, Sermilinquaq Fjord, and Nuuk, Greenland; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Cape Mercy, Qikiqtarjuaq, Isabella Bay, Sam Ford Fjord, Croker Bay, Dundas Harbor, Cumin Inlet, Prince Leopold Island, Maxwell Bay, Caswell Tower – Radstock Bay, Beechey Island, and Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay – Cornwallis Island), for a total 2,357 nautical miles. Another good omen: weather conditions over the course of seventeen days permitted two flight-seeing opportunities in the Quark’s two helicopters; and a third opportunity for those who (for pay) could arrange their own third flight – or could charter a flight on their own. With Quark’s expeditions, a major feature is the use of Zodiac boats – military-grade rubber pontoon boats powered by outdoor engines – to ferry passengers to landings and to permit up close expeditions where landings are not possible. We know that polar bears can be extremely fast – both in land and water – and Quark ensured our safety by tasking crew members to explore our landing sites before the boats disembarked the Ultramarine, checking the landing zones for possible polar bear presence, and posting crew members to watch for bears to maintain a safe landing for all. If the advance crew sighted a bear, that location was off limits. Crew members continually watched the sea and shore for signs of wildlife, spotting polar bears on eight days of our voyage.

Words are not enough to describe the amazing Canadian High Arctic expedition on Quark's Ultramarine. Knowledgeable and friendly expedition guides, a comfortable ship with a great crew, excellent food, educational and engaging lectures, a firm commitment to safety and service, and an overriding spirit of adventure and exploration.