Latest news with #QuarkExpeditions
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
The US reissued a travel warning for the most remote continent. Are you going?
The U.S. issues travel advisories for a wide range of destinations – including the most remote continent on Earth. The State Department reissued its routine travel advisory for Antarctica on July 28. The icy landmass has a Level 2 designation, urging travelers to exercise increased caution because of 'environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather.' The advisory also warned of limited emergency services. Antarctica has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years. During the 2024-2025 season, 80,455 people visited the ice, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Fewer than 56,000 did so during the 2019-2020 than 56,000 did so during the 2019-2020 season. Cruise operators visiting the region prepare for the unexpected, and passengers can take steps to stay safe, too. How to stay safe on Antarctica cruises Antarctica's weather is unpredictable, and visitors may get a taste of that before they even get there. Most travelers will need to cross the infamous Drake Passage. During the roughly two-day journey, passengers could get a smooth 'Drake Lake" or a rough 'Drake Shake,' so it doesn't hurt to bring seasickness medication just in case. (Cruise line medical facilities typically have some on hand, as well.) Cruise operators arrive ready. After video footage of 35-to-40-foot waves during a Quark Expeditions crossing went viral earlier this year, for instance, the company provided a statement to USA TODAY noting that it 'has over 30 years of experience navigating polar waters with a purpose-built, ice-class fleet and expert crew.' Passengers completed the voyage safely. Some operators also offer flights over the Drake Passage. However, those itineraries are 'exponentially more expensive' and may be more vulnerable to delays in bad weather than ships, Kristin Winkaffe, a luxury travel designer and founder of Winkaffe Global Travel, told USA TODAY last year. Cheapest Arctic, Antarctica cruises: How to book an epic voyage without overspending Once ships arrive, they must remain vigilant about changes. During an Antarctica cruise with Aurora Expeditions in December 2023, the onboard team assessed conditions at each intended stop, altering plans as needed (exploring by Zodiac boat instead of going on land, for example, or moving the ship to another area). Cruise ships carrying more than 500 guests are also not permitted to disembark guests in Antarctica and operate cruise-only sailings there, according to IAATO. The State Department 'highly' recommends purchasing travel insurance before visiting (cruise operators may also require it), and warned that there are no U.S. consular services in the region. 'The closest U.S Embassies/Consulates are in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa,' its website reads. Travelers should also consider visiting with a professional guide or organization like an IAATO member, among other precautions. A list of members can be found on IAATO's website. 'Antarctica is a totally different beast in that you basically just have to accept that you're going on a tour to Antarctica and not get attached to any specific place,' Winkaffe said previously.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- USA Today
How to book an epic Arctic or Antarctica cruise without overspending
Expedition cruises to the icy wilds of the Arctic and Antarctica often come with steep fares. Not all sailings cost the same, though. Much like traditional ocean cruising, there are a range of operators with varying price points, inclusions and vibes – and those kinds of bucket list trips can be more affordable than they seem. Travelers can pick between basic ships with some amenities or splurge on nicer cruises, which may not be as different in price as they look. Here's what to know about which Arctic and Antarctic cruise lines are the most cost-effective. What Arctic and Antarctic cruises are most affordable? Some companies place more emphasis on the action outside the ship than an uber-plush onboard experience, and travelers may find lower rates by booking with one of those. According to Claire Maguire, a travel agent and franchise owner at Cruise Planners, more laid-back, affordable operators include: Atlas Ocean Voyages is also 'a very good value' in Maguire's opinion, offering a combination of amenities and excursions. 'They kind of hit the sweet spot in between everything,' she said. Quark Expeditions is another to consider. Other cruise lines lean more into the luxury, combining intrepid exploration with a plethora of creature comforts from fine dining to more personalized service, such as: Other upscale operators include Ponant and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. Maguire noted that while National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is heavily centered around the expedition elements of the trip, its fares also trend towards luxury pricing for the storied brand name and top-tier onboard experts. Even on luxury cruise lines, however, Maguire noted that expedition ships tend to be more casual than the typical oceangoing vessel might, given the spirit of adventure and activity-heavy itineraries. Pricing doesn't always fall neatly along those lines, either, and it's worth comparing and contrasting before booking. Depending on where the ship is sailing, there may also be limits on the number of guests who can go ashore at a time, somewhat standardizing those aspects of the cruises. What do Arctic and Antarctica cruise fares include? Generally, all expedition cruise operators include many of the activities – with some available for an extra charge – most meals and beverages, onboard lectures, Citizen Science activities, and select gear such as parkas, per Maguire. Some companies also offer room-share options that pair guests with another passenger. 'So that would help cut the cost down, if you're willing to share with a stranger,' she said. Luxury cruise lines are likely to bundle more with their fares, however, such as a wider range of alcoholic beverages, a hotel stay – Silversea is even developing its own hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, which will serve as a stopover for guests on voyages to Antarctica – or flights, depending on the fare type. Are luxury expedition cruises more expensive? Not necessarily. 'Look at the inclusions, because a lot of them will be a (certain) price point, but then, when you look, you have to add a flight to your separate flight to Ushuaia or your flight from Santiago down to Punta Arenas (to reach Antarctica), or your hotel is not included,' Maguire said. Pricing can also fluctuate depending on when guests book, meaning different kinds of operators may not be priced so differently. For example, a week-long Silversea expedition round-trip from Longyearbyen in Svalbard departing in June 2026 currently starts at $12,560 per person based on double occupancy, according to the cruise line's website. An eight-day voyage centered on Svalbard's largest island, Spitsbergen – where Longyearbyen is located – with Aurora, the same month currently starts at $12,236 per person. 'To be honest, it's more about the experience,' said Maguire. 'They're pretty close in price point, because if you get the right sale price, then you can literally get into a luxury trip at the same price point.'
Sydney Morning Herald
01-07-2025
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
This new cruise-ship activity is surprisingly popular
This article is part of Traveller's guide to luxury cruising. See all stories. Scientists are always short of research funds, but the boom in the popularity of expedition cruising has given them an unexpected opportunity to access remote places. Instead of making single, expensive visits to Antarctica, for example, scientists hitch rides on cruise ships that make repeat visits and provide the opportunity for data collection over an entire season. Meanwhile, cruise passengers' willingness to get involved in a 'citizen science' capacity is proving invaluable for crowdsourcing data on everything from whale migration and microplastics to seabird populations. And it isn't only the scientists who benefit. Guests get a better insight into the environments in which they sail, and feel that they're doing their bit to understand and preserve the wildlife and landscapes around them. Citizen-science projects produce tangible results, among them that ships in Antarctica now sail under 10 knots after a study showed that, at that speed, whales have a far greater chance of avoiding or surviving ship strikes. In 2023 Viking Cruises encountered rare giant phantom jellyfish in Antarctica, and in 2024 discovered a new chinstrap penguin colony near Antarctica's Astrolabe Island. Viking's expedition ships have a Science Lab and the company works with prestigious partners such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Norwegian Polar Institute. Expedition lines with visiting scientist programs include Chimu Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions and Quark Expeditions, which works with Penguin Watch to study the impact of avian flu. Seabourn encourages guests to gather and share data on seabirds, micro-plastics and cloud formation. Its newest collaboration this year is with EyeSea on marine pollution. Citizen-science involvement is now so common on cruise ships that you can pick your area of interest. HX (formerly Hurtigruten) works on the Whales & Arctic Vessels Project (WAVE), but with two citizen-science projects on every voyage that might study anything from phytoplankton to the aurora borealis, you never know what might catch your attention. HX's science program donated more than 1100 cabins and supported over 20 projects to facilitate scientific research in 2024. Luxury expedition company Ponant also gives scientists serious support. Its icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot has dry and wet laboratories, and a new Sea Ice Monitoring Station antenna constantly measures ice thickness in polar regions. Scientists share research in on-board talks, and guests participate in air, water and ice sample collection.
The Age
01-07-2025
- Science
- The Age
This new cruise-ship activity is surprisingly popular
This article is part of Traveller's guide to luxury cruising. See all stories. Scientists are always short of research funds, but the boom in the popularity of expedition cruising has given them an unexpected opportunity to access remote places. Instead of making single, expensive visits to Antarctica, for example, scientists hitch rides on cruise ships that make repeat visits and provide the opportunity for data collection over an entire season. Meanwhile, cruise passengers' willingness to get involved in a 'citizen science' capacity is proving invaluable for crowdsourcing data on everything from whale migration and microplastics to seabird populations. And it isn't only the scientists who benefit. Guests get a better insight into the environments in which they sail, and feel that they're doing their bit to understand and preserve the wildlife and landscapes around them. Citizen-science projects produce tangible results, among them that ships in Antarctica now sail under 10 knots after a study showed that, at that speed, whales have a far greater chance of avoiding or surviving ship strikes. In 2023 Viking Cruises encountered rare giant phantom jellyfish in Antarctica, and in 2024 discovered a new chinstrap penguin colony near Antarctica's Astrolabe Island. Viking's expedition ships have a Science Lab and the company works with prestigious partners such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Norwegian Polar Institute. Expedition lines with visiting scientist programs include Chimu Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions and Quark Expeditions, which works with Penguin Watch to study the impact of avian flu. Seabourn encourages guests to gather and share data on seabirds, micro-plastics and cloud formation. Its newest collaboration this year is with EyeSea on marine pollution. Citizen-science involvement is now so common on cruise ships that you can pick your area of interest. HX (formerly Hurtigruten) works on the Whales & Arctic Vessels Project (WAVE), but with two citizen-science projects on every voyage that might study anything from phytoplankton to the aurora borealis, you never know what might catch your attention. HX's science program donated more than 1100 cabins and supported over 20 projects to facilitate scientific research in 2024. Luxury expedition company Ponant also gives scientists serious support. Its icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot has dry and wet laboratories, and a new Sea Ice Monitoring Station antenna constantly measures ice thickness in polar regions. Scientists share research in on-board talks, and guests participate in air, water and ice sample collection.
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Travel + Leisure
09-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This 12-day Antarctica Trip Lets You Explore the Continent by Helicopter
For intrepid travelers seeking to journey where few have ever set foot—or flown—a new and extraordinary expedition is redefining the Antarctic experience. Quark Expedition's "Antarctica by Helicopter: Icebergs, Mountains and Remote Lands" voyage opens up the rarely visited eastern coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula like never before. A passenger enjoying the Antarctica scenery from inside the Quark Expeditions helicopter. Michelle Sole/Quark Expeditions This 12-day itinerary showcases the 'frozen continent' from land, air, and sea, and explores the remote eastern reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Largely unreachable by ship alone, this region includes the Antarctic Sound, the Erebus and Terror Gulf, and the Weddell Sea. A highlight of the experience is the inclusion of two helicopter flight-seeing excursions aboard two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters and a heli-landing, offering the rare opportunity to step directly onto some of Antarctica's pristine, untouched terrain. The itinerary also includes zodiac and land-based excursions to icy fjords and remote beaches, where passengers can expect sightings of seals, whales, and emperor penguins, the largest of all penguin species. Passengers on board a zodiac boat to get up close to penguins. Quark's state-of-the-art Ultramarine vessel proves that venturing to the ends of the earth doesn't mean leaving comfort behind. Designed for polar exploration, this 199-passenger ship features 102 spacious, well-appointed staterooms equipped with flat-screen TVs, heated bathroom floors, and large windows that frame the stunning landscape. Guests can enjoy a variety of dining options, including a bistro, a full-service restaurant, and a stylish lounge with a bar. Between excursions, guests can unwind in the wellness center, enjoy the sauna, stay active in the fitness studio, or attend presentations in the lecture theater by world-class polar experts who bring the region's ecology, history, and geology to life. Get the opportunity to dive in and do a Polar Plunge. Michelle Sole/Quark Expeditions Scheduled for two departures on Nov. 27 and Dec. 7, this limited offering provides just a few hundred travelers the opportunity to experience parts of Antarctica that most itineraries don't visit. With cabins starting at $13,352, it's not merely a trip but a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. To learn more about the trip, visit
