Southern Greenland has been a top priority for me ever since I flew over it on a flight from Keflavik to Boston. It looked spectacular from the air and was spectacular as I experienced it on Quark's Ultramarine ship. Quark planned a number of excursion experiences to let me and others enjoy the natural wonders close up, not just from on board the Ultramarine. Quark's helicopters permitted us to ...
So we booked this cruise prior to the first sailing of the ultramarine. We got a substantial discount for paying in advance and were upgraded to a terrace suite.
I'll start with the good.
Our room was beautiful. Very well appointed, even a heated floor in the bathroom. The fit and finish were top notch. We had two televisions in our room and we even had a tub. There was lots of closet ...
We were fortunate to have amazing weather, so the planned portion of our cruise was excellent. Helicopter operations were possible every day, I believe, although a damaged part (one bolt!) meant the second helicopter was taken out of rotation late in the week. Still, every aviation-based activity except Alpine Kayaking (a paid extra excursion for a small group) was offered to every group of ...
We chose Quark because it was an expedition and provided an opportunity to get out into nature; zodiacs, kayaks, and hiking. The highlight was being able to land on the polar ice cap! The hotel we stayed at in Helsinki was excellent. We were able to walk from the airport which made it very convenient. It was also right next to the train station so we could explore the city on our own before ...
We wanted to experience a completely different type of trip. So, we chose going to the Arctic to have that experience. From the moment we landed in Svalbard, we both KNEW this was going to "otherworldly". Just the first view of the landscape is absolutely breathtaking! and then, it got better.....It was one thing "pleasing the customers" but a whole other level when our captain and crew showed ...
We chose Quark ,as we had travelled with them before, and found them very professional and knowledgeable ,with safety first and foremost. and travelling to places where a lot of ships dont go.All staff members treated us like we were family ,and were always on hand to help us with any questions that we wanted to ask. the restaurant staff were caring and always willing to make sure that we were ...
This is a once-in-a lifetime trip to the northernmost publicly accessible area in the world - Closest to the North Pole a mere tourist can go. Everything about the trip was excellent. the Ultramarine is a brand new ship and we were the first group to be able to tour the newly-completed bridge. The rooms were lovely. I had a balcony from which to watch ice floes, snow covered mountains, and much ...
An incredible trip to Antarctica. The whole experience was great. The world Explorer is a beautiful and very comfortable ship. The hotel staff was super friendly and food was amazing, so many options and always plenty of options . The cabins were really nice and spacious with comfortable beds and great showers . The landings and cruising the area were super and a once in a lifetime experience. ...
I chose this expedition because it focused on locations immediately in and around Antarctica. Quark's "Fly the Drake" expedition departs from Punta Arenas, Chile - not by ship, but by a chartered 2.5-hour flight that arrives on a gravel airstrip on King George Island. This approach bypasses the Drake Passage and its potentially turbulent waters. Quark's expedition includes one night before ...
Wow what trip!
I had always wanted to go to Antarctica, I finally made it and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
The Quark Expedition team were absolutely brilliant and I had to keep pinching myself, especially the first day in the Antarctic Circle when I went on deck and saw us sailing past iceburgs - I think that moment will stay with me forever.
The ship was spacious, warm and very ...