Quark Expeditions

Expedition Ship Adventures

A perfect introduction to Antarctica aboard an ice-strengthened expedition ship designed to carry about 100 passengers on a relaxed, comfortable adventure – with regular Zodiac landings; specialist presentations and guidance ashore; an interactive polar arts program on many departures; and exceptional cuisine and service. 

Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula 

This easygoing, compact adventure offers you the very best of Antarctica: exploring vast penguin rookeries; sighting Minke whales, leopard seals and other unique wildlife; visiting historic research bases; tapping into our team’s collective expertise aboard the expedition ships Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Ocean Nova, and Clipper Adventurer; and enjoying unforgettable walks on the White Continent surrounded by snowcapped peaks, giant tabular icebergs and crystal-blue seas.

Important reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a polar expedition.

Days 1: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel; explore at your leisure in this frontier port overlooked by the rugged Martial Mounts. Lodging.

 Days 2: Embarkation

In late afternoon, your Expedition Team welcomes you aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the scenic Beagle Channel to begin your Antarctic adventure.

Days 3 & 4: Drake Passage

Become familiar with the ship on this your first full day at sea. Members of the Expedition Team keep you company on deck, identifying seabirds that glide along side of the ship for miles at a time.

You will cross the famed Drake Passage, named for the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, looking out for Wandering Albatross and other seabirds from the ship’s spacious decks and promenades. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath warmer waters from the temperate zones. Expect to sight the South Shetland Islands, lying just to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula late in the afternoon on Day 4. On our planned landings you will explore penguin rookeries and have chances to spot Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals on the beaches or hunting their prey. We may also visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago. And keep an eye out for Antarctica’s only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. On many visits the ship is able to sail through a narrow passage leading into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows, you may wish to strip down to your bathing suit and take a dip in the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Days 5,6, 7 & 8: Antarctic Peninsula

The centerpiece of our expedition is the Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part of the White Continent, with its vast snow-covered landscapes ringed by jagged mountains, its spectacular waterways choked with glacial ice cascading into the sea. Count on seeing extensive rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, plus a wide diversity of other bird life, including Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheathbills, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. You may also encounter Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, and humpback and Minke whales. Our exploration of the Peninsula typically begins with a visit to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, both offering unforgettable views of calm, iceberg-filled waters. We may visit the thriving Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy, site of the secret British scientific station established in World War II by James Marr, who as a young Boy Scout visited Antarctica with Shackleton. The base has been transformed into one of the most isolated museums in the world (with a post office where you can mail cards home). Back aboard the comfortable ship, we make use of the ice-strengthened hull to navigate some of the most breathtaking waterways in the world. If pack ice and icebergs allow, we pass through the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, dramatically narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. On some voyages we sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to our landing site. Our expedition may also round the northern tip of the Peninsula to navigate Iceberg Alley, where huge tabular icebergs drift northward into the Antarctic Sound. We’ll also try to land on Paulet Island to see its vast Adélie Penguin rookery – again, if weather and ice conditions permit.

Shore landings are announced the night before in the daily program delivered to your cabin. Your exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula may include visits to penguin rookeries, research stations and encounters

Although each voyage is painstakingly planned, it is impossible to provide prior to departure a definitive summary of the journey you'll experience. The Expedition Leader in cooperation with the ship's Captain adjusts the route as the expedition unfolds to take advantage of the best weather and ice conditions. For this reason, no itinerary is the same.

Days 9,10 & 11: Back across the Drake to Ushuaia

We leave Antarctica behind, returning north across the Drake Passage. But the adventure is not over – there are still plenty of opportunities to view whales and myriad species of seabirds, while strolling the ample decks. En route to Ushuaia, enjoy a last series of illustrated talks by our Expedition Team in the ship’s comfortable lounge and presentation room. After the final morning’s breakfast, transfer to town for further exploring or directly to the Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.

Please note: The 12-day version of the Classic Antarctica itinerary includes one extra day in the Peninsula region. However, the variability of ice and weather conditions often means that much of the route and a great many – if not all – of our planned Zodiac landings remain the same.

 Choosing Your Adventure

Expedition ship details, departure dates and rates

The Ocean Nova:  This Scandinavian vessel has parked in the ice of the Weddell Sea and navigated the Antarctic Peninsula with unparalleled success.

 Cabins & Amenities

 Ship Specifications

Staff & Crew: 38 - Passengers: 73 - Length (m): 73.0 - Breadth (m): 11.0 -Draft (m): 3.7

Ice Class: 1B - Lifeboats: 2 fully enclosed - Propulsion: Diesel – 2,000-

horsepower - Registered: Bahamas

Aboard the Ocean Nova

 Expedition ship details, departure dates and rates

The Clipper Adventurer was built in 1975, and underwent a $13 million conversion in 1998. She has a proud reputation as a well-appointed, elegant expedition ship for softer adventures. The ship is equipped with Zodiacs for shore landings and ocean level, cruising, yet offers fine dining, and cabins with exterior views and facilities en suite.

122 Guests

 Cabins & Amenities

 Specifications

Staff & Crew: 72 f Passengers: 122 f Length: 100.58 m f Breadth: 16.31 m

f Draft: 4.72 m f Propulsion: 2 MAN B&W diesel propulsion engines rated approx. 2,640 SHP each; 500 HP bowthruster; controllable pitch propellers

 f Ice Class: Ice: A-1 f Cruising Speed: 12 knots in open water.  Registered: Bahamas

Expedition ship details, departure dates and rates

Akademik Ioffe 

Cabins & Amenities

Ship Specifi cations

Staff & Crew: 53 - Passengers: 109 - Length (m): 117.0 - Breadth (m): 18.03 - Draft (m): 6.11

Ice Class: L1. - Lifeboats: 2 fully enclosed - Propulsion: diesel – 7,000 - horsepower - Registered: Russia.

Aboard the Akademik Ioffe

Aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov

Expedition Rates
All rates per person in US dollars. If you're traveling alone, ask us about the significant savings you can realize from our Request-Share Program, which matches solo travelers in the same cabin.
 
Start /Finish Locations
Ushuaia, Argentina/Ushuaia, Argentina
 
Rates Include

Rates for the 2010-11 season include:

Rates do not include:

QUARK EXPEDITIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE

Reservations and Payment

 A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to confirm reservations on Clipper Adventurer, Lyubov Orlova_, Akademik Shokalskiy, _Ocean Nova, Akademik Ioffe_, and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, for all 11-15 day expeditions, and a deposit of $1,500 per person is required for 20-day expeditions. A deposit of $2,000 per person is required to confirm a reservation on Kapitan Khlebnikov

Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. All prices and payments are in U.S. dollars.

Emergency Evacuation Assurance
Emergency evacuation assurance to a maximum benefit per paying passenger of $100,000 is included in the cost of Quark Expeditions voyages that depart after April 2009. Included coverage is applicable only to travel between the first and last day of the expedition purchased. Additional days of travel prior to the expedition and/or after the expedition are not covered by the included emergency evacuation assurance. As we travel to remote regions of the world, and passengers travel great distances to join our expeditions, we advise passengers to purchase medical, cancellation and baggage insurance, and additional emergency evacuation assurance.

Cancellations and Refunds
All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received up to 180 days prior to departure are refunded less an administrative fee of $750 per person. If cancellation is received between 179 and 90 days prior to departure, the deposit is forfeited. Please note that for cancellations received within 89 days prior to departure, all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 89-day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately. For these and other reasons mentioned below, you are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance. Prices quoted are based on group participation and no refunds will be made for any part of the program in which you choose not to participate, including any helicopter flying time (if applicable and which, at the discretion of the Captain and Expedition Leader, may or may not be utilized).

It is understood that refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason whatsoever.

Itinerary
The itinerary described is subject to change at the discretion of the ship’s master and Quark Expeditions’ Expedition Leader. This is an expedition to a remote part of the world, and we reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions or other factors beyond our control without consulting the passengers. It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel. Passengers have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these inevitable itinerary changes. Nothing in this brochure is meant to signify the use of any specific design or model of helicopter. The images featured in this brochure are inspirational in character and do not necessarily depict the exact people, animals and places encountered by passengers.

The passenger must be in possession of a valid passport and any visas, permits and certificates that are required for the whole of the trip {expedition} and shall arrange such vaccinations as are normally recommended for the countries through which they intend to travel including those vaccinations recommended by Quark Expeditions. Information as to these matters and as to climate, clothing, baggage, gear, and similar matters is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of Quark Expeditions.

Rates
Voyage rates are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change prior to departure. Substantial changes in tariffs, exchange rates and the price of fuel, services and labor sometimes increase the cost of expedition arrangements significantly, and we reserve the right to alter our prices or introduce surcharges accordingly, even if payment has been received in full.

Compensation
Compensation for personal injury is limited in accordance with the provisions of any applicable International Conventions. These include, for example, in the course of road travel, air travel, rail travel, sea travel, or hotel accommodation and are limited to the provisions of, respectively, the Geneva Convention 1973, the Warsaw Convention as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955, the 1961 Berne Convention, the 1974 Athens Convention and the 1962 Paris Convention.

Responsibility.
Please read this important information carefully. By reading these Terms and Conditions of Sale, the passenger understands and acknowledges that travel in connection with and participation in the tour arranged at the request of the passenger by Quark Expeditions may involve risk and potential exposure to injury and possibly death. The passenger recognizes and acknowledges that risk and dangers may arise from foreseeable and unforeseeable causes, including weather and other acts of nature and fully understand and acknowledge that the aforementioned risks, dangers and hazards are a potential in connection with recreational activities which may take place during the tour.

The payment of a deposit of any part or full payment for a reservation on this tour shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein. Quark Expeditions Inc. (QEI), Supernova Expeditions Ltd. (SEL), and Peregrine Shipping (PS) act as general sales agents for the vessels, and also act as sales agents for the passengers with respect to other transportation, hotels, etc., and as such exercise every possible care. However, QEI, SEL, PS, their subsidiaries and/or associated Agents shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death that may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any aircraft, helicopter, automobile, boat, vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service provided thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom QEI, SEL and PS act only as Agent. QEI, SEL and PS reserve the right (at their discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice and for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund, and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. QEI, SEL and PS shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property arising out of any act of war, insurrection, revolt or other civil uprising or military action occurring in the countries of origin, destination or passage. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely. In case of a medical problem arising during the voyage, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, the responsibility for payment of these costs belongs solely to the passenger. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket, the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for himself/herself or other passengers and he/she confirms they are physically and mentally capable of participating in the activity and willingly and knowingly elect to participate in the tour in spite of the potential risk of danger. By forwarding the deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she willingly and voluntarily assumes full responsibility for any injury, loss or damage suffered, whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the owners, directors, agents, officers, employees, contractors or subcontractors of Quark Expeditions. QEI, SEL and PS reserve the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Regardless of the situation or circumstances giving rise to a claim, a passenger waives any right to seek consequential, punitive or exemplary damages against Quark Expeditions its owners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, subcontractors and employees, for any reason whatsoever.

Photography
Passengers extend QEI, SEL and PS permission to take their photograph during the voyage, and release all rights over those images. Passengers who do not wish to be photographed during the voyage must inform QEI, SEL and PS in writing prior to the voyage.