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Every ship is equipped specifically for the terrain while providing all the necessary comforts.
In addition to the ice-worthiness of our ships, seasoned captains, expedition teams and crew, Quark’s safety standards, training and equipment protocols are of utmost importance and in many cases set the standard for the industry:
• Quark is the only expedition cruise company awarded British Standard BS 8848, externally recognizing and accrediting Quark’s health & safety management system
• Under BS 8848 Quark’s safety management system is independently verified annually • We have one of the highest staff to passenger ratios 1:9.5
• Every ship has two doctors onboard, one of whom is directly hired by Quark for their international, wilderness and expedition medical experience
• Our Expedition staff members are certified in CPR & life-saving skills
• All Expedition staff have passed the IAATO Field Staff Assessment and participate in Quark’s unique internal training and accreditation scheme
• Quark’s comprehensive Incident Management Plan is tested regularly
• Our lifeboat and life-raft capacity exceeds SOLAS requirements such that there is always at least 25% additional capacity than the number of people onboard
• Quark Expeditions does not use vessels with open lifeboats
• Also exceeding SOLAS requirements is Quark’s policy of providing immersion suits for all passengers
Whatever your preferred travel style (except roughing it), Quark has a diverse fleet of modern ships to ensure every passenger experiences true comfort and maximum enjoyment while on expedition with us.
Throughout the Quark Expedition Fleet you will now find (see The Quark Fleet in the Onboard Experience page for further details, or even better contact your travel consultant!):
• His and Hers saunas, 13 cabin categories, a full range of adventure and wellness activities, and no single supplement pricing for solo travelers on select cabins
• Indoor as well as al fresco dinning options available, options vary by vessel
• Sun deck with hot tub as well as outdoor roof deck sky lounge, will differ by vessel
Quark, in partnership with Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge, will offer Arctic Watch Lodge: Adventure and Wildlife at 74°N, a week-long adventure camp experience. With a maximum occupancy of 26 guests per departure, it will be Quark’s most intimate Arctic program as well. Located just above the Arctic Circle on Somerset Island in Nunavut, Canada, Arctic Watch is a five-star wilderness lodge and world-class beluga whale observation site.
This will be a truly raw and untouched Canadian Arctic experience for nature enthusiasts around the world, all accessible within a short flight from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
The highlight of this three-day expedition is spending one night at 89° north at Barneo Ice Camp. This temporary, fly-in camp site is truly the most unique North Pole experience and ideal for those seeking a short, but adventurous journey to the top of the world. You’ll be one of an exclusive group to land on the frozen runway and take up temporary residence on this unequalled floating site on the icy sea of the North Polar Basin.
Established each year to be a functioning Russian science and logistics station, the site is operated by the Expedition Center for the Russian Geographical Society. Among your fellow guests and base staff, you’ll meet scientists, pilots, mechanics, engineers, and explorers.
This expedition offers opportunities for exploring the northernmost Arctic by air via helicopter flight as well as on land by snowshoe and on foot. Guests can take in lectures and presentations by the expedition team and resident scientists, and enjoy heated facilities and meals, all accessible within a short flight from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway).
Quark Expeditions is pleased to offer passengers a new loyalty program: The Shackleton Club. Named in honor of one of Antarctica’s greatest explorers, The Shackleton Club was created to inspire guests to keep exploring with Quark.
Membership is free and is available to anyone who wishes to join. Those who have traveled on two or more voyages with Quark will be able to take advantage of the program’s exclusive benefits.
When you sign up for The Shackleton Club, you’ll receive savings on future voyages, a commemorative patch, onboard treats and more. Ask your travel agent for more details!
Quark Expeditions is profoundly committed to environmentally responsible tourism.
As a long-time, active member of both the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Quark adheres to stringent guidelines designed to ensure the Polar Regions remain pristine for generations to come.
The Initiatives
• Quark was the first operator to offer inclusive CarbonNeutral® voyages on the Ocean Diamond
• Quark’s flights on the Antarctic Express Fly-Cruise program are carbon offset and help the conservation of 38,000 hectares of native forest in the Magallanes region of Chile
• All Quark team air travel is carbon offset
• Quark vessels burn Marine Gas Oil (MGO) – a clean burning fuel with a low emission factor
• Quark conforms to all international regulations/policies governing disposal of waste at sea
• Only sustainable seafood is served
• Quark only uses eco-friendly laundry chemicals & cabin amenities
• Passengers are provided with a reusable water bottle
• Paper use is limited, and only have recycled, acid-free paper onboard
• Quark brochures are manufactured on recycled paper with acid free inks
