Guides
Quark Expeditions Insider’s Guide: Antarctica on a Polar Expedition Ship
At a glance
- Quark sells small-ship polar expeditions. Its fleet page names three ships: Ultramarine, Ocean Explorer and World Voyager. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- The page also says the fleet's vessels never exceed 200 passengers. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Every guest gets a Quark parka to keep, and waterproof boots on loan for the voyage. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Gratuities are voluntary and not included. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Bookings made 151 or more days before Day 1 need a 25% deposit; the full balance is due no later than 150 days before Day 1. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Comprehensive medical insurance is a condition of taking part. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Children must be above age 8 at the time of travel and travel with a parent. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Argentina: Level 1 advisory. [Check this on the official page before you book.
Who this is for
Quark is for travelers who want to step onto the ice, not just look at it. The line runs smaller expedition ships, Zodiac landings and a team of expedition leaders instead of a resort at sea. The Antarctica page lists Zodiac cruising, hiking, biking, kayaking and camping among the ways to explore. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
It is not for you if you want a big casual ship with a casino, a spa and a kids club. It is also not a cheap trip: as of 2026-10-17, last we checked, per-person fares are listed voyage by voyage on https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/antarctica, so price your own sailing there. Points help most with the flights to the port.
If you want a wider look at Antarctica itself, read /guides/cruises/antarctica-expedition-cruise/. If you want to compare a luxury expedition line, read /guides/cruises/seabourn-venture-pursuit/. If you plan to add land time in Argentina or Chile, read /guides/patagonia/.
The decisions that matter
1. Which voyage length. The Antarctica page lists voyages from 8 to 23 days. (checked Oct 17, 2026) Shorter trips mean fewer landing days; longer ones typically add the Falklands, South Georgia or the Antarctic Circle, as the voyage titles on that page suggest. A first-timer who wants the classic Peninsula experience usually looks at the 11-day Ushuaia round trip.
2. Which ship. The ships differ in features. Ultramarine is described with two helicopters. (checked Oct 17, 2026) Ultramarine voyages include one 10–15 minute helicopter flightseeing excursion, weather permitting. (checked Oct 17, 2026) If helicopters matter to you, filter for that ship first.
3. Ushuaia or Buenos Aires start. Departure ports listed for the 11-day Antarctic Explorer are Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, with a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia on the Buenos Aires departures. (checked Oct 17, 2026) The Antarctica page lists an optional Charter Flight and Hotel Package at $1,295 USD for most voyages. (checked Oct 17, 2026) [Check this on the official page before you book.
4. Adventure Options. Kayaking, camping and helicopter excursions on Ultramarine are optional extras, and the FAQ says to book early because most sell out. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
5. When to pay. The balance is due 150 days before departure, and cancellation fees step up from there. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
Rough cost, three ways
Quark's price for your sailing changes daily, so we do not quote one. Fill these in from the Dates and Rates page for your chosen voyage and cabin.
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Plan your budget
Your trip budget worksheet
Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.
Your trip budget worksheet Item Your amount Lean: Voyage fare for the lowest cabin you will accept: $ Flights to Buenos Aires on points points plus $ taxes. Domestic leg to Ushuaia: $ Insurance: $ -
Plan your budget
Your trip budget worksheet
Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.
Your trip budget worksheet Item Your amount Comfortable: Voyage fare for a mid cabin: $ Charter Flight and Hotel Package, if offered: $ (listed at $1,295 USD for most voyages as of 2026-10-17 (checked Oct 17, 2026)). Insurance with evacuation cover: $ Gratuities budget: $ -
Plan your budget
Your trip budget worksheet
Prices change daily, so we don’t quote them. Fill this in from the official fare pages.
Your trip budget worksheet Item Your amount Splurge: Top cabin: $ Adventure Options such as kayaking or camping: $ each. Pre-trip hotel nights: $ Extra days in Buenos Aires: $
How a voyage day usually runs
On an expedition day, the staff announce the plan in the evening and adjust it at breakfast. A typical day has a morning landing or Zodiac cruise, lunch aboard, and an afternoon outing. Sea days have lectures, deck watches and time to read. Quark's own itinerary page describes Zodiac transfers and cruising, shore landings in the daily program, and presentations by the expedition team and guest speakers as included. (checked Oct 17, 2026) The plan is weather-led, so treat any itinerary as a draft and keep your expectations flexible.
The mistake to avoid
The costly mistake is treating the voyage fare as the whole budget. The fare is large, but you also need flights to Argentina, a domestic leg or the charter package, comprehensive medical insurance, optional gratuities and any Adventure Options. The contract makes medical insurance a condition of taking part, and you pay evacuation costs yourself if a medical problem arises. (checked Oct 17, 2026) Write the full total on one page before you pay the deposit.
Using points on this trip
Points are not listed as a payment option for Quark's fare on quarkexpeditions.com as of 2026-10-17, but they help with flights and hotels. Transferable points on our chart move to airline programs such as Aeroplan and Flying Blue at 1:1 from Chase, Amex, Capital One and Bilt, and Citi moves to Flying Blue at 1:1 (per our transfer chart, checked 2026-10-08; confirm on the issuer's transfer page). Search award seats to Buenos Aires on the airline site before you transfer anything, because transfers cannot be reversed. [Check this on the official page before you book.
Entry and documents
Argentina is Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions," issued 2026-07-10. [read 2026-10-17, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/argentina-travel-advisory.html — Level 1, issued 2026-07-10] [Check this on the official page before you book.
Quark requires medical forms no later than 90 days before Day 1. (checked Oct 17, 2026) Plan for comprehensive medical insurance and keep your policy details handy, because Quark may ask for proof. (checked Oct 17, 2026)
Antarctic landings follow visitor guidelines set by the tour-operator association IAATO. [
Three free things
- The Beagle Channel departure. Stand on deck as you leave Ushuaia. Photo cue: mountains behind the harbor lights at dusk, from the open deck.
- The Drake Passage from the bridge-side decks. Watch seabirds ride the wind behind the ship. Photo cue: a wandering albatross low over gray swell, shot from the stern.
- A Zodiac cruise among icebergs. It is part of the daily program on the voyage. Photo cue: blue ice with its reflection, shot at water level from the Zodiac.
Where to check
- Fleet and ships: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/expedition-ships
- Terms: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/booking-terms-and-conditions
- Contract (age, insurance): https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/expedition-contract
- Loyalty: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/shackleton-club
- Advisory: travel.state.gov Argentina page
- Landing rules: iaato.org
This is the free lite guide. The full day-by-day guide, with maps, photo stops, rain plans and the points playbook, is part of PerkJolt All-Access.
Good to know before you go
We checked the facts below on 2026-10-17. Fares, inclusions, deposits, itineraries, port calls and entry rules move, so confirm them on quarkexpeditions.com, in your booking, or with Quark's team before you pay or sail.