Arctic adventures
The places we went where no one else was there, friendly staff, knowledgeable guides
About Quark Expeditions
Data updated- Website
- quarkexpeditions.com
- Category
- Travel & Vacation
- Location
- United States · Seattle
- Status
- Unclaimed
- Last 12 months
- 60 reviews
Do you own Quark Expeditions? Claim this profile for free and start replying to reviews.
Is Quark Expeditions legit?
Quark Expeditions (quarkexpeditions.com) has a 5.0 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 60 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Travel & Vacation and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 100% rating it 4 stars or higher. Last updated 2026-08-10.
What people say
Quark, Expeditions of a lifetime!
If you're thinking about booking a Quark Expedition, do it. They have a team of experienced expedition leaders that do their very best to ensure an expedition to remember. They do this by adjusting the schedule for both water/waves and weather conditions. The Expedition will have a planed route that can and will change because of these factors. In our experience the change was for the better. The leaders are personable, professional, and clearly love what they do. Quark has programs in the evenings or on sea days where they present hour long presentations on local history, flora and fauna, and other topics. The ships crew (including housekeeping, bartenders, waitstaff, and the sailors) are also professional, personable, and interact with the guests. The ship is clean and comfortable with plenty of spaces to enjoy. There are expeditions every day, outside of sea days, that include hiking and Zodiac excursions. You will not be bored. Having been to both the Arctic and Antarctic with Quark I can assure you that these are trips of a lifetime.
A life changing experience
An amazing trip of a lifetime. So well organised and managed. Very knowledgeable guides which expanded our knowledge of the Arctic and the threats it is facing. Great fun on the zodiac trips and the walks...and so much help to less limber people from guides to tackle both! The boat ( ocean explorer)and it's crew are incomparably efficient, friendly and helpful. This was a life changing experience for us and re- energised our very depleted batteries after a terrible year. We are so grateful to everyone who planned and managed the expedition..we now have the polar bug.
Incredible Svalbard Journey
There are trips you enjoy, and then there are trips that stay with you for the rest of your life. This was one of those. To the entire Quark Expeditions team: thank you. I hope you know that your work truly matters. You are not simply serving meals, driving Zodiacs, cleaning cabins, giving lectures, or guiding excursions. For many of us, this journey has been a dream for years. We are leaving Svalbard with memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives, and every single one of you played a part in creating them. It was the countless little things: the genuine smiles every day, the warm welcomes back to the ship after each excursion, the passion you bring to your work, the laughter you shared with us, the knowledge you so generously passed on, and the care you put into every detail to make sure we had an unforgettable experience. There are far too many wonderful people to thank individually, but a few special shout-outs: * Alex for making every session so much fun. * Ross for your contagious passion. * Tara for your kindness and for sharing the incredible story of kayaking around Svalbard. It was truly inspiring. * KP for always bringing the energy, lifting everyone’s spirits, and making every activity even more fun. * Yuki for giving us the best Zodiac rides. * Adrian for your immense knowledge of birds and plants. * Max for somehow making me genuinely care about rocks! * Joseph (Housekeeping) for keeping our room spotless every day and knowing our names from day one. * Justine, Joseph, and Deo in the restaurant for remembering our names, learning our favorite drinks, and having our table ready for us every evening. * Eke for the delicious omelettes every morning, always served with a huge smile. * Me An for welcoming us back aboard after every excursion with the biggest smile and greeting us by name from the very beginning. * Neil for sending us off on every adventure, sharing your incredible stories from guiding in Latin America, and making us laugh so much during bingo. * And of course, Amalia, our exceptional Expedition Leader, whose leadership, enthusiasm, and care made this expedition truly special. A special thank you as well to the reception team, who always greeted us by name with a warm smile whenever we walked by. It made the ship feel like home. I’m sure there are many others I’m forgetting to mention, but please know that each of you made this journey more meaningful than you probably realize. The landscapes, glaciers, polar bears, walruses, whales, and Arctic wildlife made us fall in love with Svalbard. But it was all of you who made us fall in love with this expedition. Thank you for your hard work, your passion, your kindness, and for helping turn a lifelong dream into memories we’ll carry with us forever. We will never forget this incredible journey or the people who made it possible.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Mia, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a heartfelt and generous review. Words like yours remind us exactly why we do what we do, and we are so moved to hear that your Svalbard expedition will stay with you for a lifetime. We will absolutely make sure your gratitude reaches every member of the team you mentioned. The personal touches you described, remembered names, favorite drinks, warm welcomes back to the ship, these are not small things to us. They are exactly the experience we strive to create. Thank you for seeing and appreciating the care that goes into every detail. We hope Svalbard's glaciers, polar bears, and Arctic skies stay with you always, and that we have the privilege of welcoming you back onboard someday. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Awe inspiring expericience
Such a well run and efficient operation. Made my whole holiday relaxing informative and stress - free. the staff were friendly, helpful and the expeditions were educational and fun. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to experience the polar regions.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Weng, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your polar expedition was such an awe-inspiring and stress-free experience. It's great to know that our team's warmth and the educational programming left such a positive impression. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to the Expedition and Hospitality Teams. We hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure soon! 🙌 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
The hotel staff and expedition guides…
The hotel staff and expedition guides were all professional, friendly and helpful!
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Dianna, Thank you for the kind words! We're so pleased to hear that both our Hospitality Team and Expedition Team left such a positive impression. We'll be sure to pass your compliments along to everyone onboard. They'll love hearing that their hard work and dedication made a difference. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
I had one of the most unforgettable…
I had one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life in Svalbard with Quark Expeditions. We were incredibly fortunate to witness 11 polar bears, beluga whales, minke whales, walruses, Arctic foxes with their cubs, countless seabirds, and, most remarkably, a pod of narwhals—an exceptionally rare sight. The ship, facilities, hospitality, crew, and cuisine were all outstanding. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, making the entire journey comfortable, seamless, and truly memorable. Quark’s expertise in the polar regions was evident throughout the expedition, and I would absolutely choose them again for an Antarctica adventure.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Ares, Thank you for sharing this positive experience! What a trip! 11 polar bears, narwhals, belugas, minke whales, walruses, Arctic foxes with cubs, and countless seabirds. Narwhal sightings alone are the kind of thing that stops people in their tracks, so to have that alongside everything else you witnessed is truly special. We're so glad the ship, crew, cuisine, and onboard teams helped make the whole journey feel as seamless as it did. We'll make sure to pass your kind words along to everyone involved. We'd love to welcome you back for an Antarctic adventure when the time is right! 🐧 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
My First and not the Last with Quark Expeditions
One of the best and definitely not the last experiences of my life. Everything was curated to make sure that comfort, safety, security, gastronomy and overall Polar Experience was top notch. As a regular citizen of the world being busy in your daily churning lifestyle; this experience and expedition is the starting point of your extreme adventure to the most untouched places in the world.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Abhinav, Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad your first expedition left such a lasting impression, and we love that you're already thinking about the next one. It means a great deal to hear that the comfort, safety, gastronomy, and overall polar experience all came together the way they did. We can't wait to welcome you back onboard! 💛 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Norway High Arctic
The locations visited, staff friendliness and attention to detail.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Alan, Thank you for the kind words! We're delighted to hear that the locations and our team's friendliness and attention to detail made such an impression on your Svalbard expedition. We hope to welcome you back onboard soon! Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
A truly wonderful life experience to…
A truly wonderful life experience to see the stunning Arctic landscape and so much wildlife. Thoroughly recommended.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Graham, Thank you for sharing this! We're so glad the Arctic landscapes and wildlife made such a lasting impression, and we hope to welcome you back onboard for another adventure soon. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Extremely efficient,friendly and…
Extremely efficient,friendly and caring- courteous friendly staff, with a passion for their knowledge and love for their role!
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Leslie, Thank you for such a kind and enthusiastic review! We're delighted to hear that our team's passion, knowledge, and warmth came through so clearly during your expedition. We'll be sure to share your wonderful words with the whole team onboard; comments like yours mean the world to them. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
QUALITY adventures every day
QUALITY adventures every day. UNIQUE chance to experience wildlife and nature in extreme environments. AMAZING range of high quality food including à la carte dinner menus. RANGE of interesting hikes for all levels of fitness. KNOWLEDGEABLE,friendly staff who made the holiday a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Winston, Thank you for such a positive review! We're thrilled to hear that the daily adventures, wildlife encounters, dining, and hikes all delivered, and that our Expedition Team helped make your voyage a true 'once in a lifetime' experience. We hope to welcome you back onboard for another adventure soon! Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Amazing Expedition
The Quark expedition team is an amazing group of extremely talented folks with a passion for their work that translates into an unbelievable vacation for their guests.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-23
Hi Bob, We're so pleased to hear that our Expedition Team's passion for what they do came through in such a meaningful way during your voyage. We'll be sure to share your kind words with the team. Comments like yours mean a great deal to them. We hope to welcome you back onboard for another adventure soon! 🙌 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
A perfect trip !
The trip into the Arctis was, as hoped, exceptionally positive – the Arctis truly is something special. The professional management on board the ship impressed me greatly. Everything was thought through down to the last detail, and any contingencies were handled promptly and excellently. The guides for the Zodiac excursions and the evening presentations were highly motivated and knowledgeable. The team in the restaurants and bars, as well as the room service, left nothing to be desired – courtesy and attentiveness were consistently excellent. Overall, I can describe this as a perfect vacation, satisfaction was complete.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Roland, Thank you for such a wonderful reflection on your Arctic expedition! We're delighted to hear the Arctic lived up to your hopes and that both our Expedition Team and Hospitality Team helped make the experience so memorable. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to the crew. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon! Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Best trip ever!
I had this amazing trip to Svalbard with Ultramarine, boarding the ship on June 7. The expedition team, the ship crew, the hospitality staff, they all made this trip very special. Credit particularly to expedition leader Ryan and captain Roy. We managed to circumnavigate Spitsbergen and still see LOTS of wildlife.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Carmen, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that your Svalbard expedition aboard Ultramarine was such a memorable one. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Ryan, Captain Roy, and the wider Expedition, Ship Crew, and Hospitality Teams. It's wonderful to hear how much they contributed to making the voyage so special. A full circumnavigation of Spitsbergen with abundant wildlife sightings is exactly the kind of experience we hope every guest takes home. We hope to welcome you back onboard for another adventure soon! 🙌 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Had great experience
Had great experience, expedition team, hotel Team every one was great. Very helpful.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Dakshakumari, Thank you for sharing your kind words! We're so pleased to hear that you had a great experience and that our Expedition Team and Hospitality Team made such a positive impression throughout your voyage. We hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure soon! Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
An unforgettable journey to Svalbard…
An unforgettable journey to Svalbard with Quark! From the very first to the very last moment, everything was exceptionally well organised. Despite a challenging start due to a delayed arrival in Longyearbyen (because of cloud cover at the airport), the professional team ensured that we could begin our expedition without any worries. The breathtaking nature of Svalbard exceeded all our expectations. We saw four polar bears (including one at close range), as well as walruses, reindeer, belugas, thousands of birds and an Arctic fox. The enormous glaciers with their beautiful white and light blue colours, the rugged landscapes and the silence of the Arctic made a deep impression. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable Quark crew made this journey even more special. Thanks to their dedication, expertise and excellent service, this was an experience we will never forget. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience the unique beauty of the Arctic landscape!
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Erwin, Thank you for such a wonderful review of your Svalbard expedition! We're so glad the team was able to get your adventure underway smoothly despite the delayed arrival in Longyearbyen. And what an incredible array of wildlife to experience — four polar bears, walruses, belugas, reindeer, an Arctic fox, and thousands of birds, all set against the glaciers and stillness of the Arctic. It sounds like Svalbard truly put on a show! 🙌 We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to the Expedition Team and crew, whose passion and dedication make these journeys so special. Thank you for the wonderful recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on board soon! Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Best trip of our lives!! Thank you Quark Expeditions.
Where do I even begin? Thank you to the entire team at Quark Expeditions for making our Arctic trip (Svalbard, May 2026) one we'll never forget. Watching the polar bear hunt seal on day one is something I still can't quite believe we witnessed. That really set the tone for an extraordinary expedition ahead. Ryan is an exceptional expedition leader who made sure we experienced the very best of the ice, wildlife, and landscapes. I'm already missing his signature "Goooood morning... Good morning everyone!" announcements. The hikes and chats with the expedition team - Frank, Dave, Ryan Munro, Fabrice, Artie, and Nick were highlights we looked forward to every day. Miko's history sessions and Yvonne's ice lessons were the perfect way to wind down after a big day of exploring, genuinely fascinating and so well delivered. Big thanks to Kelly, our paddling excursion was nothing short of unforgettable. Thank you for making it so special!! Thanks Gordo for sharing your Longyearbyen stories, so entertaining...You were genuinely no less than a stand-up comedian on stage. Kudos! Throughout the entire trip, we felt safe, well looked after, and in the best possible hands. From travel and expedition to hospitality, every detail was five stars. A huge thanks also to Paz, Chef Nendi, Jansen, Leo, and Roselyn for making us feel so welcome on board and for accommodating our special requests. Can't wait to explore the South next, we'll definitely be back! For anyone considering an Arctic adventure of a lifetime, don't hesitate. Just go with Quark! Highly recommend!!
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Sanjula, Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful and detailed reflection on your Svalbard expedition. What a way to start a voyage — witnessing a polar bear hunt on day one is the kind of moment that reminds us all why Arctic travel is so extraordinary! 🙌 We will be sure to pass along your warm words to Ryan, Frank, Dave, Ryan Munro, Fabrice, Artie, Nick, Miko, and Yvonne. It's wonderful to hear how much the daily hikes, conversations, history sessions, and ice lessons added to your experience. And a special mention to Kelly for making your paddling excursion so memorable, and to Gordo for bringing so much warmth and humor to the voyage 💛 We'll also make sure Paz, Chef Nendi, Jansen, Leo, and Roselyn know how much their care and hospitality meant to you. They'll be thrilled to hear it. We can't wait to welcome you back for your Antarctic adventure! 🐧 Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
The actual expedition was extremel good
The actual expedition was extremely good, the guides, lecturers, food and service were brilliant. My one criticism of the expedition was that there was no dress code for dinner at night. We had the young and not only the young wearing caps, tee shirts and shorts. Not used to this attire for dinner. There is no excuse for not presenting well for dinner at night. It really took the edge off the evening to see people wearing caps and caps back to front.
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi David, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're delighted to hear that the expedition itself exceeded expectations and that our guides, lecturers, and Hospitality Team all contributed to such a positive voyage. We appreciate your feedback regarding evening attire. While we don't currently enforce a formal dress code at dinner, we understand how the ambiance of the dining experience matters and that guest expectations around this can vary. Your comments have been shared with our onboard leadership team as we continue to review the overall guest experience. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team
Amazing Arctic
We have just spent 10 days loving the Svalbard Explorer Best of High Arctic Norway on the Quark Expeditions Ultramarine. We were treated to abundant wildlife, including polar bears, walruses, arctic fox, reindeer and many birds. The pristine, expansive vistas of breathtaking glaciers and ice were magnificent. Zodiac adventures, insightful guides and informative talks all elevated our experience. Add an amazing crew and delicious food, and this is a trip not to be missed. Life changing!
Reply from Quark Expeditions2026-07-14
Hi Nicole, Thank you for such a wonderful review of your Svalbard Explorer voyage aboard Ultramarine! Polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, reindeer, what an incredible variety of wildlife! It sounds like every element of the voyage came together beautifully, from the Zodiac adventures and expert guide talks to the onboard hospitality and food. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to our Expedition Team, crew, and Hospitality Team. Thank you, The Quark Expeditions Team