Press Release

Quark Expeditions Announces New Program for 2018/2019 Antarctic Season

Polar Expeditions Leader to really go beyond this season with a new luxury ship, new photography trips and expanded itineraries

6 July 2017 – Polar expeditions company Quark Expeditions® is pleased to reveal its NEW Antarctica program for the 2018-2019 season, which includes the announcement of World Explorer, their new luxury, all-suites ship, an expanded Falklands & South Georgia itinerary, and two brand new photography trips.

INTRODUCING THE NEW PREMIUM WORLD EXPLORER VESSEL
Quark has added World Explorer, a luxury vessel to its fleet of expedition cruise ships, continuing to bring a modern and comfortable cruise experience to Antarctica. This new addition to the Quark Expeditions fleet is an all-suite, all-balcony vessel and will embark on ten voyages during the upcoming season. The ship has six suite options for 176 guests, all with luxury private bathrooms, incredible exterior views and private balconies. Guests can enjoy an outdoor running track, a dedicated spa area with an outdoor heated pool, a gym and a sauna, as well as gourmet meals and drinks. A glass domed observation lounge and ample deck space allow for stunning views across the polar landscape and its wildlife.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES
Photography fans will be excited to learn that Quark Expeditions is launching their first-ever Quark Antarctica photography trips for this upcoming season, taking photography novices, hobbyists and pros to the most beautiful corners of Antarctica. On-board photography experts will help guests hone their photography skills through workshops and lectures, and will showcase their skills by joining land excursions with the specific focus to provide photography advice. The new itineraries are tailored to maximize expedition time and thus photography opportunities. All trips are aimed at both amateur photography fans as well as aspiring professionals. After all, a trip to Antarctica is an adventure of a lifetime, and Quark Expeditions wants to make sure that the photos travelers get to take home will do justice to all the unforgettable moments experienced on the expedition.

“These new photography voyages complement our existing Antarctic itineraries perfectly,” says Quark Expeditions President Andrew White. “Our goal is to offer the most immersive experiences, and we believe that this new photography series allows travelers to really capture the unforgettable moments they’ll get to experience on a polar expedition.”                                                        

Photography Series: Antarctic Explorer
On this photographic voyage to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, travelers get to discover what has lured explorers and adventurers to this remote region for centuries. With an itinerary governed by Mother Nature, each expedition is personal and each day more beautiful than you ever imagined, rewarding with an abundance of photo opportunities and unforgettable memories.

Photography Series: Crossing the Circle
Quark’s most in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula is a photographer’s dream, offering adventurers the opportunity to venture even farther south, across the Antarctic Circle, to photograph a destination so remote, few travelers have ever laid eyes on it. As they journey through this region of extremes, Quark’s photography experts will teach them how to capture this picturesque polar landscape like a professional. Imagine taking your skills to the next level shooting floating ice sculptures, mazes of massive icebergs, and hundreds of playful penguins and sunbathing seals.

NEW TRIP:
FALKLANDS (MALVINAS) AND SOUTH GEORGIA – ISLANDS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
Rich in history and home to astoundingly diverse and abundant wildlife, South Georgia is often called the Galapagos of the Poles. This epic expedition to remote lands traversed by the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton gives adventurous travelers the unparalleled opportunity to explore this wildlife paradise and the equally unspoiled and storied Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) in great depth. It’s particularly suited for travelers who have been to the Antarctic Peninsula before and are keen to spend more time on the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Days will be devoted to experiencing one of the last untamed places on the planet, with its rugged, pristine landscapes and varied wildlife whilst offering more cultural experiences than other trips.

The Falklands archipelago contains two main islands—East Falkland and West Falkland—and is home to thriving magellanic, gentoo and rockhopper penguin colonies. West Point Island has been identified as an important bird area for its several significant bird species, including the endemic Cobb’s wren and Falkland’s flightless steamer duck.

South Georgia was a popular stop for many historic Antarctic expeditions and was once a haven for hunting whales and elephant and fur seals. Today, wildlife populations have rebounded, but you’ll still find remnants of old whaling stations and other abandoned outposts scattered across the island.

Although South Georgia’s storied history is an important attraction, it is the abundant wildlife that is sure to captivate. Landing sites on the island are varied, with South Georgia being one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world and beaches blanketed with penguins—king and macaroni penguins, in particular. The island is also a paradise for bird lovers, who will marvel at the plentiful petrels, albatross and burrowing seabirds.

Quark Expedition’s Antarctic 2018/19 season is one you won’t want to miss! The complete 2018/2019 Antarctic roster, with 10 different itineraries, includes:

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES

  • Photography Series: Crossing the Circle
  • Photography Series: Antarctic Explorer

NEW FALKLAND ITINERARY

  • Falklands (Malvinas) and South Georgia: Islands of the Southern Ocean

RETURNING DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

THE QUINTESSENTIAL ANTARCTIC ADVENTURES

Start planning your next polar adventure now: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/antarctic

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PLEASE NOTE NEW AGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

Quark Expeditions Press Office: +44 20 3755 6599
Please reach out to Constanze Bauer (constanze.bauer@ketchum.com) or Dani Shingler (danielle.shingler@ketchum.com)

About Quark Expeditions:
Specializing in expeditions to Antarctic and the Arctic, Quark Expeditions has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for over 25 years. With a diverse fleet of specially-equipped small expedition vessels, icebreakers, and unique land-based adventures, it offers travelers unparalleled access to the most remote places on earth. Led by passionate and seasoned expedition teams, including scientists, naturalists and researchers, the on-board program focuses on guest interaction to educate and enrich the passenger experience. The company is known for its unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability, including its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (USA). It was also the first to offer passengers — free of charge — carbon offsetting aboard Ocean Diamond and Ocean Nova voyages. 

About Travelopia:
Travelopia offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. In addition to QuarkExpeditions.com, the division includes expedition specialists IEtravel.com and Zegrahm.com; leading European adventure and activity specialists ExodusTravels.com, Headwater.com, World-Challenge.co.uk, Sawadeee.nl, TrekAmerica.co.uk and GrandAmericanAdventures.com; as well as US-based destination management company AmericanAdventures.com. From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to catching tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en route to the North Pole, Travelopia offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories.