We’ve had seven specialists and counting sail with Quark Expeditions on both poles, so read this comprehensive Quark Expeditions review to see what insights we can lend from both our time aboard, as well as booking hundreds of passengers aboard each year.
ON THIS PAGE – Quark Expeditions Reviews:
What Our Travelers Say
Our Expert Take on Quark
Where Quark Has Room to Improve
Adventure Add-ons – details on camping, kayaking & more
The Expedition Team – what sets them apart
More Resources – for choosing a polar operator
Why Our Clients Give Glowing Reviews of Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions has been a client-favorite since AdventureSmith’s founding years more than 20 years ago. Here are a few consistent areas we hear stand out pre- and post-trip:
- Wide variety of choice – Lots of ships & departure dates to choose from
- Active – Offers among the most activity options of all polar operators: kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, camping, mountaineering, etc.
- Helicopters – Offers helicopter-based activities that offer unparalleled remote hiking and views – “I felt like our group was possibly the first people to walk on these locations”
- Great guides – passionate, educated expedition guides that love their job, “their enthusiasm was infectious”
- Food – “like being at a 5-star restaurant every meal,” “on par with the highest-end ships”
- Comprehensive arrival packages with hotels & flights – the benefit of this is ease. “If the flight is delayed, then everyone is delayed. You can’t miss the boat.”
- Read past traveler ratings & testimonials in full
Why We Love Quark Expeditions
Since our experts have worked with Quark since 2003, we’ve had a lot of time to see how they operate. Here are few expert insights on why we love Quark Expeditions:
- Consistency – one of the most longstanding companies in the polar expeditions industry (founded in 1991) and our clients consistently come back happy
- Specialization – focus solely on the polar regions, so are trusted to know the many nuances of Arctic and Antarctic travel
- Innovation in exploration – continually strives for new and exciting experiences. Read more about Quark and their many “firsts” in the industry, like circumnavigating Antarctica.
- Innovation in activities – Quark’s one-time paddling offering in Antarctica was the first of its kind and really helped our travelers access kayaking in a less all-encompassing way. Their helicopter activities in the Arctic are unmatched.
- Comradery on board – Guides are encouraged to mingle and eat meals with guests. Not all operators allow for this level of closeness. And Quark worked closely with guides on one of their recent ship builds to inform many design choices (find more about the expedition team).
- Read all our individual expert reviews of Quark trips & ships
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Where Quark Has Room to Improve
We couldn’t write a proper Quark Expeditions review without giving them some areas of improvement:
- Complex pricing – Their ships used to be notorious for overly complex cabin categories. Some of these have been consolidated over the years, but you can still often find some 10 tiers of cabin categories, all with different pricing. Travelers can be overwhelmed with choice; that’s where the experts at AdventureSmith come in.
- Air cruise operations – Quark does not have a basecamp for their air cruise clients in Punta Arenas. This leaves room for improvement when contingency plans come into play. Read our expert review of Quark’s air cruise to learn more, or better yet talk to our experts about this nuance.
- Ship ownership – Quark doesn’t own many of its vessels, instead chartering them in long-term agreements. This doesn’t allow for full ownership of their product operations, namely the ship crew.
- Flashy sales – Watch out for discounts that are flashy on the outside (up to 50% off, for example). They are often very limited in scope. As with all travel, don’t wait for these short-term discounts as you often will not get what you want for this once-in-a-lifetime trip, and pay more for air/hotels.
More About Adventure Options with Quark Expeditions
Quark has been a trailblazer when it comes to adventure options on their Antarctica cruises and Arctic cruises. In past years, they were the only operator to offer cross-country skiing and mountaineering in Antarctica. They currently offer helicopter flightseeing in both Antarctica and Arctic that no other operator does. And they introduced the popular one-time paddle program to allow Antarctica travelers to participate in this activity but not have it be a repeated, costlier commitment.
If you want to take advantage of their many adventure activities (kayaking, camping, stand-up paddleboarding and more), book early and sign up when you book your trip. Don’t delay. Spaces are limited (can be only 10-15 spaces for certain activities) and they fill fast. Many are added cost, so be sure to read the itinerary and terms related to the trip you’re interested in.
One of the best things about doing an add-on adventure activity is that you get to explore in an even smaller group, often with additional guides and a dedicated Zodiac. You’re often the first to leave the boat and last to return. They provide you with all the equipment, and your safety is the guide’s main concern.
Below are a few highlights written by our experts to showcase some of the more unique activities, including the polar plunge, that make our Quark Expeditions reviews so glowing. But note we’ve also had experts and clients aboard who did no additional activities outside of the included Zodiac rides and hikes, so can provide insight on that as well.
Camping with Quark Expeditions
“Our camping evening took place on a small island within an icy, cliff-laden amphitheater located in the general vicinity of Paradise Harbor. In the wee hours of the morning, I peeked out of the small opening of my bivy sack to see my neighbor sitting upright and looking out over the water. She said she had heard a whale. So I sat up with her, and we sat in silence, catching the occasional fwoosh of that whale and not being able to spot it. Eventually the minke whale surfaced, very gently in the waters right in front of us. No one else was awake. In that instant I had a brief glimpse into the magic that happens behind the scenes in the wilds of Antarctica every day.”
Read more detail about the camping experience in Taylor’s Antarctic Explorer review and Aaron’s Antarctic Explorer review.
Stand-up Paddleboarding with Quark Expeditions
“I got to stand-up paddleboard in Cierva Cove, and it was probably the most spectacular adventure activity I got to do. Paddling past blue icebergs with penguins swimming next me and ice-covered mountains and giant glaciers in the pink light is something I’ll never forget. You wear a dry suit so you don’t get wet if you fall in, which some people did. The boards are wide and stable. As with all the activities, there are several experienced guides to give instruction. A Zodiac accompanies you as well in case you need a break.”
Kayaking & One-Time Paddling with Quark
“If you think you might enjoy kayaking then trust me, do it, you’ll love it. My 70-year-old mum kayaked with me. She was nervous before our first outing but she said she felt totally safe and was so glad she hadn’t chickened out. I loved the serenity—so much serenity—definitely more serenity than on a Zodiac! We saw just as much wildlife as everyone else from the comfort of our kayaks—even foxes, walrus and some beach-going reindeer. Paddling along sea cliff walls, under a mass of birds was like living an episode of “Plant Earth.” Read more about Arctic kayaking with Quark in Nick’s Svalbard Explorer review.
“The one-time paddles are done on inflatable, sit-on-top kayaks. The inflatable kayaks are extremely stable, and with the excursion being around 2 to 2.5 hours at a slow pace, it becomes a very manageable experience for a beginner. Groups of 10 are created on a first-come, first-serve basis. These groups then go out one at a time, when the weather is good, before joining the others on land. Once in the kayak, we had pretty free reign, as long as we were within eyesight of the Excursion Leader. We of course had to keep appropriate distance from the penguins and icebergs, which had been clearly defined.”
“We paddled at a casual pace, never breaking a sweat. We observed multiple rafts of penguins porpoising in and out of the water around us. We paddled close to what I like to call the ”penguin bathhouse” where they came down to frolic and coo in the water. We sat in silence, as they flittered their wings with an erratic splash, hopscotched on rocks and nuzzled one another.”
“Since I got to do this on day 1 of my cruise, it was the perfect introduction. And I was happy to know that my time would be freed up for other activities and types of excursions later on.” Read more about one-time paddling in Taylor’s detailed Antarctic Explorer review.
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Helicopter Excursions with Quark Expeditions
“The star of the show on my Greenland expedition with Quark was heli-hiking and a heli-landing on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Arriving by heli is exciting and the feeling of accessing such incredible views so easily was wonderful… take off, and you have immediate stunning views all around. This excursion was among the best I have done anywhere and certainly the most exciting with the heli drop-off and landing back on the ship after. The elaborate preparation for this unique opportunity made it even more exciting too.”
Read more about Quark helicopter operations in great detail in Andrew’s Ultramarine ship review.
Mountaineering with Quark Expeditions
“Mountaineering was a great way to explore. I went three times in four days. With crampons, ice axes, helmets and harnesses, we left the rest of the boat behind and enjoyed some solitude. No previous experience was necessary. We just need to be fit and able it was not “extreme” by any stretch.”
“On one outing, we were the only people to go on land; everyone else went on Zodiac tours. We climbed a modestly angled slope past an Adelie penguin colony to a peak. When we got to the top we were met by a “summit” penguin, and when we could see down the other side, which was all exposed rock, it was entirely covered in Adelie penguins, all the way down to the sea.”
The Polar Plunge with Quark Expeditions
The entire team at AdventureSmith also recommend the invigorating, exciting polar plunge. You have to wear a safety belt, but otherwise you are free to jump in how you please.
Our advice: You don’t want to end up back home thinking, “I should have done that,” so do it. In fact, on AdventureSmith staff Lis’s Antarctica cruise, an impressive 53 other travelers joined her in jumping in.
Pictured are a few of the AdventureSmith crew members who’ve done the polar plunge on a Quark trip over the years:
Our Review of Quark’s Expedition Team
One of the top reasons we get rave Quark Expeditions reviews is due to the expedition team. Certain ships, like the Ultramarine, employ a huge amount of guides. The expedition team numbered 37 on our expert’s Greenland cruise. This level of expertise is needed since they operate so many activities at once.
The Quark Expeditions guide team is notable for their efficiency in making activities happen. One of our experts commented that they have “perfected the art” of getting passengers from ship to Zodiac to shore, and back again all with ease and smiling faces.
Quark is also applauded for bringing the collective experience of their expedition staff into the designs of their ships, namely the Ultramarine being the shining example of this. Read more in our expert review of the Ultramarine. Many of the guides have been working with Quark Expeditions for 10+ years so this alone speaks volumes.
We love how accessible the expedition team is. It is easy to find them in common areas around the ship, join them at meals or for a drink and ask questions as they join you viewing on deck. They set the tone for the entire experience in terms of safety, communication, organization, excursions, naturalist interpretation and (critically) the on-board culture that we as guests get to join into.
On all of our trips, there were many PhD-level guides with specialties in glaciology/geology, ornithology, cetology, polar history, etc. While the expedition team is highly educated and knowledgeable, one of our experts who’s been with AdventureSmith for 15+ years sailing ships worldwide, noted their presentations were shorter (perhaps due to his active itinerary). He felt this could be a distinguishing factor if you’re seeking a much higher level of learning aboard.
Read all of the AdventureSmith Quark Expeditions reviews that span from Antarctica to Greenland below, and view Facebook albums for even more photos from our team who’s sailed with Quark Expeditions. Then talk to our experts to ensure it’s the best match and book at no added cost for our services.
MORE POLAR TRAVEL RESOURCES:
Quark Expeditions
Best Antarctica Cruises & Cruise Lines
Questions Every Antarctica Traveler Should Ask
Antarctica Cruise Reviews
Arctic Cruise Reviews
View All Antarctica Trips
View All Arctic Expeditions
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