Quark ExpeditionsReviews of quarkexpeditions.com

Incredible experience! The scenery and wildlife are unlike anything I've seen. The guides were so knowledgeable and made the trip really fun. The ship was top notch and had all the amenities to make for a safe, enjoyable trip. The staff on board were all super nice and the food was great. Once in a lifetime experience!

We had an unforgettable voyage with Quark in the Arctic on their ship Ocean Adventurer. Service was excellent, the ship was very comfortable and we loved all the daily excursions (hiking, kayaking, wildlife watching). We were particularly thrilled with the quality of the guides and expedition staff - they were extremely knowledgeable, great personalities and made every excursion truly unique. Highly recommended.

The cruise liner in itself was very comfortable. But the team on board - both the service team and and the exploration team makes all the difference. They are definitely the best in business. They try and look at all opportunities to show case Antarctica to their customers.

I had the unfortunate experience of booking a cruise with Quark Expeditions, and I must say it was one of the most disappointing and frustrating experiences I've ever had. The entire process from start to finish left a bitter taste in my mouth. Firstly, Quark Expeditions cancelled our cruise without any prior warning or communication. I understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, but the complete lack of transparency and consideration for their customers was unacceptable. We had already made travel arrangements, taken time off work, and were eagerly looking forward to our trip, only to have it snatched away without any explanation. To make matters even worse, the communication from Quark Expeditions during this ordeal was abysmal. There was no attempt made to keep us informed of the cancellation, and we were left scrambling to find out what had happened ourselves. It was an infuriating and anxiety-inducing experience, as we were left in the dark with no information about alternative options or compensation. To add insult to injury, Quark Expeditions then decided to hold us captive in an airport hotel for three days, with no clear reasoning or explanation. We were effectively trapped, unable to leave the hotel or explore the area while we waited for further instruction. This was not only a waste of our time and money, but it also left us feeling like prisoners in a foreign country. Perhaps the most frustrating part of this entire situation is the fact that Quark Expeditions informed us that it would take a whopping 60 days to process our refund. Sixty days! This long wait is completely unreasonable and demonstrates a complete disregard for their customers' financial well-being. It's as if they have no understanding or respect for the fact that people have budgets, bills to pay, and other responsibilities to fulfill. Overall, my experience with Quark Expeditions was truly disappointing. The cancelled cruise, lack of communication, being held captive in an airport hotel, and the exorbitant wait time for a refund have left me with a sour impression of this company. I would strongly advise others to think twice before booking a trip with Quark Expeditions, as their lack of professionalism and customer care is completely unacceptable.

My experience with Quark Expeditions left much to be desired. I had booked a cruise with them, only to have it cancelled without any prior notice. It is disappointing that they did not bother to inform us through email or a phone call, which would have allowed us to make necessary adjustments to our travel plans. To make matters worse, Quark Expeditions inexplicably kept us confined at an airport hotel for an agonizing three days. This unnecessary delay greatly impacted our overall experience and demonstrated a lack of consideration for our time and well-being. Adding insult to injury, the company resorted to threatening tactics, claiming that we would not receive a refund if we chose to cancel and return home. This tactics are manipulative and do not align with good customer service practices. It felt as though our options were severely limited and we were given no choice but to adhere to their conditions. To exacerbate our frustration, Quark Expeditions displayed a significant lack of effective communication. We were subjected to waiting for hours in a ballroom, only to be informed of the cancellation in the end. The lack of transparency and frequent delays demonstrate a clear disregard for their customers' time and expectations. Adding to the disappointment, Quark Expeditions is now informing us that our $24,000 refund will take an unreasonable 60 days to process. Not only is this an excessive waiting period, but it also shows a lack of concern for the financial well-being of their customers. Such delays can cause unnecessary financial strain and inconvenience. Overall, I cannot hide my immense dissatisfaction with Quark Expeditions. From the cancellation without notice, to the prolonged stay at an airport hotel, to the threats regarding refunds, and the poor communication throughout, this experience has been highly disappointing. It is my sincere hope that Quark Expeditions takes steps to address these issues and improve their services for the sake of future customers. I would caution anyone considering Quark Expeditions to carefully reconsider and explore other options, as the negative experiences and lackluster customer care may not be worth the investment.

I do not recommend Quark expeditions unless you have a high tolerance for losing half your trip or more. We were scheduled for an Arctic cruise that boarded in Resolute. Our flight out of Calgary was delayed until 08/16 because their ship, the Ultramarine, could not navigate the ice to get to the port. This wouldn't have been a problem, but because Quark booked two cruises back to back, they will not extend the cruise. We will get three days on the ship. We are being refunded the missed days. I have requested a full refund because, by the time we get to the ships, we will barely be able to leave Resolute (assuming that the Ultramarine actually manages to make it out of the ice). That is not enough time to do anything promised by the cruise - it's a day and a half of sailing out and then back, assuming we do not stop to hike/kayak. Again, all of this is totally reasonable when traveling to a remote location, but Quark has handled this horribly. We were not told until 6pm the day before we were supposed to fly out. We have received zero communication from Quark except for physical updates once a day in the lobby. They irresponsibly booked two cruises back to back. They won't refund me, despite not being capable of actually delivering the trip I paid for. I do not recommend this company. My opinion would be vastly different had they notified me at all before I arrived in Calgary, extended the trip, and/or refunded my money. EDIT 08/16: on 08/16, we were told an hour and a half after the first group was set to depart that the trip was cancelled and we would be receiving a refund. Quark has not reached out to me with anything as of 3h later.

Our 7 day cruise has been delaye and shortened d by 3 days, if we even get to go at all. We are currently trapped in the Calgary Airport Marriott. We were told that if we went home we would not be reimbursed. But also that they can not guarantee we will even get to go on the little half cruise that now awaits us because they can't guarantee we can even get a flight to Resolute. Based on other trips we've read about it looks like we may have just own thousands of dollars to sit on their shiny new boat for 3 days and will be lucky to even get a single excursion. Save your money, if you insist on coming into Calgary take that 10k you would have spent on Quark and got to Banff National park and have a wonderful time. Then take the 6k you have left over and do it again. Absolute waste of time and money. We will be getting reimbursed for our ticket, but the thousands on travel to get here and in equipment is gone. Expensive way to learn to not trust Quark Expeditions.

Great all the way around, Crew, Itinerary, Food and the Ship. Can't say enough nice things about the organization.