Our Expedition Ships
Choosing a polar expedition?
Consider the style of ship. Do you want to travel on a cruise ship or an expedition ship? Cruise ships are traditional passenger vessels. Often very large, the capacity of cruise ships either limits or prohibits shore landings. Expedition ships are much smaller - carrying fewer than 200 passengers. They are equipped with Zodiacs - inflatable landing craft - for shore transfers. Polar expedition ships should have ice-strengthened hulls or they should be icebreakers - capable of crushing through polar pack ice meters (feet) thick.
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.
Polar Adventure Ships
Quark's fleet of Polar Adventure Ships are expedition ships with ice-strengthened hulls. Built for polar sailing, their officers and crew have decades of experience navigating icy waters. Maximum capacity ranges from 46 to 122 passengers.
- Akademik Ioffe - quick, nimble, stable.
- Akademik Shokalskiy - only 46 travelers.
- Akademik Sergey Vavilov - great top deck lounge for socializing.
- Clipper Adventurer - elegant and adventurous.
- Ocean Nova - has a Scandinavian attitude.
Icebreakers
Quark operates two polar-class icebreakers:
- 50 Years of Victory - 75,000 horses driven by nuclear-power.
- Kapitan Khlebnikov - the legendary expedition icebreaker, soon to retire.
Our icebreakers are equipped with helicopters for included aerial-sightseeing, and a fleet of Zodiacs.
Compare Ships before You Book
Compare vessels before you book your vacation.
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Akademik IoffeDepartures in August 2010
Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, Akademik Ioffe was designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research. The vessel carries a maximum of 107 guests in a variety of cabin configurations.
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Akademik Sergey VavilovDepartures in August 2010
Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, the Polar Adventure Ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov is designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research.
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Akademik ShokalskiyDepartures between: August 2010 to September 2010
The ship is small, nimble, and ice-strengthened, capable of reaching the nooks and crannies that many larger ships cannot. The vessel is equipped with Zodiacs for shore landings.
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Kapitan KhlebnikovDepartures between: August 2010 to September 2011
Built to escort merchant marine flotillas through the pack ice of the Russian Arctic, Khlebnikov became an expedition vessel in 1991.
Antarctica Ships
Our fleet includes the only polar-class icebreaker outfitted for expedition travel in Antarctica.
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Akademik IoffeDepartures between: November 2010 to March 2011
Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, Akademik Ioffe was designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research. The vessel carries a maximum of 107 guests in a variety of cabin configurations.
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Akademik Sergey VavilovDepartures between: November 2010 to February 2011
Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, the Polar Adventure Ship Akademik Sergey Vavilov is designed to travel quietly, during hydro-acoustic research.
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Clipper AdventurerDepartures between: November 2010 to February 2011
This Polar Adventure Ship was built in 1975. Clipper underwent a $13 million conversion in 1998. Her proud reputation is complimented by her well-appointed, elegance. Clipper Adventurer is the perfect expedition ship for people who enjoy soft adventures and creature comforts. All cabins have outside views and facilities en suite.
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Kapitan KhlebnikovDepartures between: October 2010 to January 2012
Built to escort merchant marine flotillas through the pack ice of the Russian Arctic, Khlebnikov became an expedition vessel in 1991.
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Ocean NovaDepartures between: November 2010 to March 2011
This Polar Adventure Ship delivers clean, crisp Scandinavian styling and a reputation as an excellent ship in the Antarctic. Built to sail the icy waters of Greenland, Ocean Nova's ice-strengthened hull has enabled the ship to park in the notorious ice of the Weddell Sea!
