The Polar Fleet

Quark Expeditions offer the adventure traveller the most diverse polar fleet in the world.

Polar Adventure Ships

These are small (approx. 100 passengers) ice rated vessels, well qualified for Polar waters. The staff and food are simply superb. These ships offer the most amazing and intimate journeys with activities including  frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking, camping, kayaking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing.

The Ships: Ocean Nova | Akademik Sergey Vavilov | Akademik Ioffe | Akademik Shokalskiy | Clipper Adventurer | Lyubov Orlova

Ice Breakers

Only one ship in the world can attain the far reaches of Antarctica – the Kapitan Khlebnikov. Likewise only the 50 Years of Victory can reach the North Pole. These most extraordinary journeys are only made accessible on very grown up Polar-Class ice breakers with helicopters that open up the huge Emperor Penguin rookeries of the South and the secluded sites of the North.

 The Ships: Kapitan Khlebnikov | 50 Years of Victory 

Included in the price on the Adventure and Ice Breaker ships:

• Ice-rated expedition ships • All meals on board • A free Quark Expeditions jacket • Outside-view cabins
• Expert guides and naturalists • All shore excursions • Bridge Access • Sundeck, sauna, plunge pool and gym
• Well-stocked library • On-board doctor • Daily cabin service • Laundry service (small fee)
• Guidelines on sensitive, low-impact travel • Expedition guide and photo CD • Helicopter sightseeing (on Ice Breakers)

End of an Era: Kapitan Khlebnikov

The legendary icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov will retire as an expedition vessel in March 2012 and return full-time to research duties. Join us for this last chance to step aboard and see the many wonders of the Arctic and Antarctic. We mark the end of an era with special guests and remarkable itineraries. With a maximum of 112 passengers on each voyage and an on-board helicopter to whisk you off to some of the wildest and most remote parts of the planet, you are guaranteed to have a memorable journey of a lifetime.

See the End of an Era flyer for the final voyages of the Kapitan Khlebnikov.

No fuel surcharge - guaranteed

When oil prices rise sharply, airline and ship operating costs sometimes rise to the extent where we reluctantly have to pass these on to our customers in the form of fuel surcharges. We are pleased to announce that Antarctic expedition cruises departing in the winter 2009/10 season and for Arctic expedition cruises departing in the summer 2010 season, we can now guarantee that there will not be any ship fuel surcharges levied. Great news if you are planning to visit the Polar regions this year!