AGENTS: Step inside the Polar Regions with the trailblazers
– Quark Expeditions

If you’ve noticed an increase in client enquiries about the Arctic and Antarctica expeditions, you can expect an escalation in that trend, and an escalation in bookings for polar regions adventures. In terms of immersive ‘bucket-list’ destinations, voyages of discovery to both the Arctic and Antarctica have been rapidly growing in popularity.

As destinations go, these two polar opposites of the earth – the Arctic in the north and Antarctica in the south – are quite unlike anywhere else on the planet! Ice-covered, white-blanketed remote polar worlds, each with its own unique wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, represent ‘the last frontier’ for many travellers, eager to voyage to lands previously the domain of only the most intrepid and adventurous of explorers.

Quark Expeditions made its first tourism transit of the legendary ice-blanketed Northeast Passage, an Arctic maritime route, almost three decades ago. If that sounds like no big deal, consider this: while most of the world’s major cruise companies only commenced tourism voyages in the Northeast Passage in the past few years, Quark Expeditions was there in 1991!

Navigating the polar worlds with guests on board is not as straightforward as allocating a cruise vessel and creating an interesting itinerary. Quark Expeditions was one of the first companies to spearhead the opening up of opportunities for the rest of us to discover the polar worlds for ourselves – safely, sustainably and unforgettably!

AGENTS: Learn more about Quark Expeditions via the company’s dedicated agent portal – Partner Resource Centre.

STEP INSIDE THE POLAR REGIONS WITH THE TRAILBLAZERS –
QUARK EXPEDITIONS

The environment is breathtakingly beautiful – and fragile and unforgiving.

Tourism voyages to such remote regions not only require specially-designed, purpose-built, ice-worthy vessels to handle the journeys, but also require seasoned captains, expedition teams and crew with deep knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the unique eco-system; solid expertise and experience traversing the polar regions; special guests onboard sharing their unique expertise; and a profound understanding of, and adherence to, the protocols of risk versus reward on every voyage – e.g. safety is paramount.

Quark’s 30 years of experience in this regard backs up the company’s ‘trailblazer’ claim to fame: “We didn’t read the book on Polar Region safety – we authored it!” Quark is the only expedition cruise company to be awarded the British Standard BS 8848, which is an external recognition and accreditation of Quark’s health and safety management system, independently verified annually.

SAFELY with Quark Expeditions

Did you know …?

• Quark Expeditions does not use vessels with open lifeboats
• Quark Expeditions’ lifeboat and life raft capacity exceeds SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) requirements such that there is always at least 25% additional capacity than the number of people onboard
• Quark Expeditions exceeds SOLAS requirements by Quark’s providing immersion suits for all passengers
• Every ship has two doctors onboard, one of whom is directly hired by Quark for their specific international, wilderness and expedition medical experience
• All Expedition staff have passed the IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) Field Staff Assessment and participate in Quark’s unique internal training and accreditation scheme
• Expedition staff members are certified in CPR & life-saving skills

SUSTAINABLY with Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions is profoundly committed to environmentally responsible tourism.

As a long-time, active member of both the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Quark adheres to stringent guidelines designed to ensure the Polar Regions remain pristine for generations to come.

Thanks to its passengers, Quark’s onboard auctions have raised an average of $150,000 each season for charities dedicated to sustainability and conservation in the places Quark visits.

UNFORGETTABLY with Quark Expeditions

THE ARCTIC

– Spitsbergen … the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, between Norway and the North Pole. Remote and rugged, it is also the domain of the polar bear! Bear Island, a protected nature reserve, is the southernmost island in this archipelago.

– Tromsø, Norway … Nestled among fjords, islands and snow-capped mountains Tromsø is a diverse (and richly cultural) subarctic paradise, with over 100 nationalities represented among the 58,000 residents.

– Canadian Arctic … an archipelago comprised of over 35,000 islands, located in the northernmost extremity of North America. Visit Canada’s newest and largest territory, Nunavut, formerly part of the remore Northwest Territories – the setting for the television reality series ‘Ice Road Truckers’.

–Northwest Passage … this legendary Europe-Asia sea route connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and runs through the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

– Greenland … the best vantage point for incredible displays of the Northern Lights, home of the world’s most prolific glaciers and wondrous icebergs, welcoming Inuit elders and the birthplace of kayaking

– Iceland … just below the Arctic Circle, Quark Expeditions cruises coastal Iceland to showcase a unique perspective on this vibrant country

– Greenland … discover Qaanaaq, one of the northernmost towns on the planet, and Ilulissat, a remote Greenland town in the Arctic Circle

–The North Pole (90° N) … the first time anyone stood at the North Pole was in 1948! Today, Quark is the only North American operator to give a lucky 250 passengers annually the right to claim they stood at the top of the world, and journeyed there on the world’s most powerful nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory.

– Aberdeen, Scotland … yes, Scotland! The Granite City is perched on the shores of the North Sea, on the far north-eastern coastline of Scotland. Aberdeen is Quark’s departure point for a voyage to Norway via the remote and rugged Orkney Islands and Shetland.

ANTARCTICA – the 7th Continent

–The Antarctic Peninsula …the northernmost stretch of land on the continent

– The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and South Georgia … these two British territories in the South Atlantic Ocean present a vivid picture of early Antarctic exploration – and an unparalleled variety of wildlife.

– Quark Expeditions also offers once-in-a-lifetime fly/cruise expeditions – fly over the Drake Passage before joining your cruise or fly between Punta Arenas, Chile and King George Island in Antarctica, and cross the Arctic Circle.

TOP IMAGE: Quark Expeditions – Antarctic Explorer/Photo: David Merron

AGENTS: Visit Quark Expeditions’ dedicated agent portal – Partner Resource Centre – to learn more.