Quark ExpeditionsReviews of quarkexpeditions.com

We had a fantastic Artic cruise with Quark Expeditions. The Ultramarine was certainly a great ship. The staff and crew were super attentive and the Quark expedition leaders went out of their way to make our trip happen given that I have some mobility issues. They helped me get on and off the Zodiacs and when I could not keep up with the group, they assigned one of the leaders to stay with us letting us get to see the wildlife we had come for. I would travel with Quark again if I am able. We highly recommend this company.

Overall a good experience on Ultramarine, good ship, good food and excellent expedition crew. Major downside is do not believe the brochures etc with respect to polar bear sightings in Svalbard. The reality is you will not get within <1km of bear, making it barely visible with the naked eye and impossible to get decent photographs even with high end camera gear. Quark have been told this last year and this year but continue to give a false impression in their brochures.

Flexible agenda adapted to prevailing conditions. Excellent and knowledgeable staff. Hotel staff and dining always good. Room steward Mark was super and responded quickly to any special request.

Nice quark team members. View and experience are fantastic.

My choice of Ultramarine centred around the idea of maximising activities / landings during my time in Antarctica, and to enjoy comfort for what is most likely a once in a lifetime trip. It did not disappoint. This was an exceptional experience and voyage, that may be the best travel experience I’ve had. My trip involved a night in Buenos Aires and a charter flight to Ushuaia. While I probably wouldn’t have chosen this if I was putting my own itinerary together, it was nice to meet with fellow passengers before travelling, and as a solo traveller, it helped establish friendships which became the absolute highlight of the trip. From the moment of boarding, it was clear that this is a ship and product of the highest quality. I also had the amazing bonus that I’d booked a space in a twin share, but ended up having the room to myself as a double. The room was so comfortable, so spacious and so well designed. Storage galore, exceptionally comfy bed, a roomy shower and bathroom with underfloor heating. The screen with sailing info, livestreams of lectures etc was useful. A great housekeeping team too! Food on board was amazing - my friends and I preferred the Balena to the more casual restaurant, and whether it was the buffets for breakfast / lunch, or the a la carte for dinner, the quality and choice was fantastic. There simply wasn’t a bad dining experience in 10 days / 9 nights, and the restaurant team were excellent. The professionalism and slickness of delivery for the activities were outstanding. I did paddleboarding, kayaking, zodiac trips and landings, and the helicopter sightseeing, and each one was memorable. They did have a medical emergency for a crew member which necessitated a diversion for a medical evacuation for the man. While this sent us away from a couple of planned sites, they arranged an excellent alternative at very short notice (Penguin Island). This change did mean that the camping on the ice didn’t happen, but it was fully understandable and I would not change a thing from the overall trip. As a new ship, the standards are high in every area. Sauna, gym, panorama lounge, lovely boutique and ambassador theatre. The full crew, and particularly the expedition team were just brilliant. The talks - including the later evening bar talks - were varied and interesting. Even the included “basic” WiFi was actually reasonably good. The overall atmosphere on board was so enjoyable, and as mentioned above, to make friends for life was some added bonus. My only criticism isn’t relating to the trip itself - Quark promise a photo journal of the trip, and it’s been a bit of a saga that still isn’t fully resolved after more than seven weeks - wrong photos, incomplete photo sets etc. I don’t know if we’re unlucky or if this is a common issue. However, overall it was an amazing experience, and I’d be hard pressed to choose a provider other than Quark for any future polar travel.

I had an unforgettable experience with Quark in Antarctica. The attention to detail, knowledgeable guides, and seamless logistics made my journey truly exceptional. The breathtaking landscapes, coupled with their commitment to sustainability, created a once in a lifetime adventure. I highly recommend Quark for anyone seeking an extraordinary Antarctic expedition.

The whole experience was well planned, organised and exhilerating. Expedition staff were knowledgeable, helpful and experienced in managing visitors new to Polar regions. Hotel staff were equally courteous, helpful and always on hand to fill glasses, remove dishes, take orders and nothing was too much trouble. Ships crew were unobtrusive, rarely seen and always polite if you met them.

Excelente incrível