Quark Expeditions

Awesome trip with Quark in the Arctic around Svalbard!

Excellent ship, hotel and expedition crews on Quark's Ultramarine. All personnel were very accommodating, helpful, personable, friendly and welcoming, professional and knowledgeable, and overall just great at what they do. Superb food and dining. Awesome expedition excursions, together with interesting and informative explanations of what we were seeing, whether it be the wildlife, geography, history, weather, etc.. Super enjoyable and engaging presentations and lectures. And of course the pristine and spectacular Arctic scenery. We couldn't have asked for a better trip and experience!

Quark are exceptional

An unbelievable experience seeing the wildlife with the amazing and knowledgeable expedition team. The service in the dining room was second to none and overall staff service was exceptional. I would definitely recommend Quark.

Loved our photo group

I found the trip to Svalbard with Quark great and you have to experience this for yourself.…

I found the trip to Svalbard with Quark to be almost perfect. An incredibly good organization, excellent informative guides, good information sessions and friendly, helpful people. One small point disappointing the Zodiac tours: enjoy the silence of the overwhelming nature more and do't talk so much. A fantastic boat and what a nature; overwhelming and indescribable.

Amazing teamwork on board Ocean Explorer on our voyage to the Arctic

The experience was great due to the coordinated team work on board the Ocean Explorer starting with the expedition team ending with the hospitality and housekeeping teams. Captain and his officers made sure that sailing was comfortable. Woody the expedition leader made sure we had enough zodiac adventurers and landings ensuring we saw some amazing wildlife. The expedition team had a truly wonderful group of experts. Anne, the marine biologist educated us on marine life her recaps were so very educational! Noah familiarized us with the different bird species. He is a stalwart in his field. It was a privilege to meet him onboard. Sean, the geologist made sure we understood all the geological formations in The Arctic. it was comforting to know that we had Dr John to take care of us if the need arose. The team including Nicola, Yukie, Nelli, Fernando, Frederico, Callum and few others who were exceptional in guiding us in our adventures ensuring it was unique in every sense of the term. Hubert in charge of our food did an exceptional job in providing amazing variety of cuisine. Charlton the head chef came up with a multicultural selection. Freddie the chef is so very talented he delivered tasty food at every meal. Edwel always smilingly helped us in getting what we wanted. We looked forward to seeing him at our meals. Last but not least, Rofii put in so much effort to keep us comfortable in our cabins. Thanks to the entire crew of the Ocean Explorer we came away with a lifetime of cherished memories!

An expedition with Quark is always…

An expedition with Quark is always different, educational and amazing. The team is so knowledgeable and they work really hard to make our experience great. We have been to the Arctic and Antarctica with Quark and our trips have always been beyond expectation

Great trip!

The ship was beautiful, roomie, and comfortable. The staff was great and the guides knowledgable and fun. The meals were delicious, with a good variety of food . Most importantly, the expeditions were great and the scenery was spectacular. We loved the large range of land and sea animals that we saw-especially the polar bears and baluga whales. My one recommendation for improvement is to do a much better job at hotel arrangements after we got off the boat the last evening before departure. The hotel was not ready for us and it took forever to check in. We should have had pre-arranged check-in to avoid the "mess".

An unforgettable experience

An unforgettable experience, truly one of a kind expedition where every day felt like an adventure that you didn't want to end. The hospitality of the staff on the ship, the dining experience, the expertise of the guides and the comfort and luxury of the ship, are all incredible. The guides and the staff make it truly one of a kind experience to cherish for years to come. Highly recommend this experience to anyone who is curious about exploring the Polar region.

Incredible!

Svalbard is an incredible area and the crew provided an excellent experience. The guides had thorough knowledge of their specialties. Noah about birds, Annie about wildlife, Bertie about history, Pat and Sean about geology, Federico and Fernando with the kayaking, well really, everyone! And all tied together by Woody and the entire hotel, kitchen, and sailing crews. The scenery was magnificent. The wildlife and bird sightings were exciting. The food was delicious. The presentations were educational and entertaining. The cabins and amenities were clean and comfortable. Highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see Svalbard.

An Unforgettable Arctic Expedition with Quark!

My voyage aboard Quark’s Ocean Explorer to Spitsbergen via the Faroe Islands and Jan Mayen was truly exceptional from start to finish. The ship, expedition team, and every detail of the journey were flawless, with unforgettable scenery and wildlife encounters at every stage. I couldn’t fault any part of this wonderful Arctic adventure and would wholeheartedly recommend Quark Expeditions to anyone considering a polar cruise.

Absolutely everything was perfect

Absolutely everything was perfect, the scenery, the staff, the food, the ship, the excursions. I would recommend this 100 percent

nice ship with great crew

every was so nice and knowable.....crew was really nice and always wanting to please......

Wonderful Experience.

The whole experience with Quark was wonderful, I couldn't find fault. All the staff were friendly, helpful, and full of knowledge. All having excellent customer service skills. The cabins were spacious, well equipped, and clean. The food and drink was excellent, good choices, very tasty. Keeping everyone safe whilst ensuring giving guests a wonderful experience is of utmost importance to the staff. I can't explain how wonderful my trip with Quark was, there are no words, you need to go see for yourself.

A fantastic journey exploring some remote islands

An amazing adventure starting in Aberdeen, Scotland and finishing in Svalbard, Norway. Everything was great from the start with the very welcoming staff and crew to the beautiful and comfortable ship, the Ocean Explorer. This was a repositioning cruise so the ship was not full, only 88 passengers which made for lots of space to enjoy the views from. The dining experience was wonderful from the delicious and varied foods on offer to the friendly staff. I’d highly recommend this cruise for anyone wanting to explore some remote islands.

QUARK EXPEDITIONS Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway

If it had not been for our travel agent we would not have gone on this as we did not know that such a trip existed. This is an adventure. It is serious and enlightening. To be able to do this, a genuine lifelong memory, is a real privilege. This is real, not a zoo, and weather and ice conditions will determine the experience. We were extremely fortunate with the weather and the amount of wildlife that we saw. At all times we felt safe and well looked after by the Quark team. Without exception the expedition leaders were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and caring. They do not stand alone however as the whole crew - often unseen but beavering away, want to do their best for you. They work well as one team. I do not often write reviews however when something is as good as this it deserves one. If you have a sense of adventure, can take instruction, are prepared to go with the flow and have an interest in Nature then consider this. Don’t wait too long - life is short and I do not think you would regret it. Thank you so much.

Flawless Expedition Experience

Svalbard with Quark Expeditions aboard Ocean Explorer was flawless from start to finish. From the moment we met the Quark team in Helsinki, everything was organized, clear, and thoughtfully handled. The expedition team was outstanding — knowledgeable, funny, passionate, and genuinely excited to share Svalbard with us. They brought the wildlife, glaciers, sea ice, geology, and polar history to life in a way that made every landing, zodiac cruise, and daily recap feel meaningful. It is hard to describe the scale and beauty of Svalbard until you experience it this way. I had a wonderful experience with Quark and this is truly something you should see for yourself. The hotel staff, food, cabins, and overall service were also excellent. Food was delicious. Everything felt clean, comfortable, and well cared for. Quark clearly puts so much thought into safety, education, and creating a truly memorable expedition. I highly recommend them to anyone considering a polar adventure. This was an incredible journey I will never forget.

This was my second time to travel with…

This was my second time to travel with Quark Expeditions. The knowledge of the team is outstanding. I always walked away from a lecture with at least one new piece of knowledge. The company is professional, and is concerned with the experience and safety of the client. HIghly recommend for polar exploration.

True to the exploration spirit

Quark Expeditions is known as one of the best names in Polar expeditions. And on a recent trip to the Arctic with them, I understood why they're very beloved. The ship's rooms, food, and service were all top-notch and the hotel team made me feel like family. But most importantly, the expedition team is full of seasoned explorers that will be eager to share their love of adventure with you. One of the members of my expedition team is part of the first group to circumnavigate Svalbard by Kayak in 80 days. Another is a professional, competitive dog musher who spent multiple winters in the Svalbard wilderness. These are just impressive people who also happen to be the friendliest and most humble men and women you'll meet. I am thoroughly impressed and will hope for an opportunity to return.

Had an outstanding expedition with…

Had an outstanding expedition with Quark to Svalbard Archipelago. Traveling solo I wondered if it’d be awkward in any way. Not the case from a comfortable cabin on deck 7, dining with other passengers and crew and the best and most important aspect experiencing the high latitudes of the Arctic in all its splendor. Can’t say enough. Transits in airports with charter craft comfortable. Expedition staff knowledgeable, safety conscious, accomodating and attentive. I sea kayaked for 9 different sessions and am so happy I selected this option. Kayaks are easy to adapt to, suits are fine once you get the hang of their zippers. To experience for such extended periods of time under your own power nature at its best… words are insufficient.

Truly Unforgettable

What an amazing adventure! Tremendous expedition team and staff made my time aboard Explorer a truly unforgettable experience. From the first morning wake up call through zodiac excursions and shore walks to the daily wrap up and amazing meals, there is nothing to say but, “wonderful!” I felt completely safe and taken care of. However, the polar bear and walrus sightings were the icing on the cake.