Expedition Ships - Quark's specialty

Consider ship type when choosing a polar expedition

Good to Know

Because we use small ships with fewer than 130 passengers, you go ashore more often and spend less time waiting to board Zodiacs.


The Expedition Experience

Quark does not operate traditional cruise ships – those large, luxurious liners holding many thousands of guests.  This is because the size of these ships makes it difficult (sometimes impossible) to provide shore landings – and shore landings are the heart of expedition travel.

Instead, we operate Expedition Ships.  These are much smaller vessels, carrying fewer than 130 passengers.  They are all equipped with Zodiacs (inflatable landing craft) for shore transfers.  Quark’s ships will get you to some of the most isolated and breathtaking wilderness areas in the world

Ice class matters in polar travel

We’ll also get you there safely and comfortably.  All our ships feature ice-strengthened hulls for superior navigation in ice-packed polar waters.  And two of our ships (Kapitan Khlebnikov and 50 Years of Victory) are actual icebreakers – enormously powerful ships, carrying the highest ice rating in the world, and each equipped with helicopters for aerial sightseeing.

Polar Adventure Ships

We call our expedition vessels “Polar Adventure Ships,” and that’s exactly what they deliver.  Built for polar sailing, their officers and crew boast decades of experience navigating icy waters.  Maximum capacity ranges from 73 to 189 passengers in these surprisingly intimate ships.

Compare Ships before You Book

Compare Ships

Arctic Ships

Antarctic Ships

Antarctica Ships

Our fleet includes the only polar-class icebreaker outfitted for expedition travel in Antarctica.

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