Question 1

Where does the Greenland to Newfoundland expedition embark and disembark?

Accepted Answer

The expedition begins with an included hotel night in Reykjavik, Iceland, followed by a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, for embarkation on Ocean Explorer. The voyage disembarks in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Question 2

What is the advantage of flying south and sailing north on this Antarctic Express voyage?

Accepted Answer

Flying one way and sailing the other gives guests the best of both worlds: the speed and convenience of a three-hour flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, plus the unique first glimpse of the dramatic Antarctic landscape from the air, combined with the traditional experience of crossing the Drake Passage by ship on the return journey.

Question 3

When is the total solar eclipse featured on the Iceland to Greenland voyage, and how long does totality last?

Accepted Answer

The total solar eclipse takes place on August 12, 2026. Totality lasts 2 minutes and 17.2 seconds in the Scoresby Sund region of East Greenland, which provides the longest duration of totality along the entire eclipse path. The eclipse begins at 2:34 pm, totality is from 3:34 pm to 3:36 pm, and the full eclipse viewing experience concludes at 4:35 pm.

Question 4

Who is the eclipse expert onboard the Ocean Explorer Total Solar Eclipse voyage?

Accepted Answer

Michael Zeiler, a geographer-turned-eclipse cartographer, is the guest expert. He became obsessed with eclipses after witnessing his first total eclipse in 1991, authored 'Modeling Our World' in 2009, launched eclipse-maps.com, co-authored 'Atlas of Solar Eclipses: 2020 to 2045,' and is a member of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Solar Eclipses. The asteroid (53253) Zeiler is named after him.

Question 5

What is Quark Expeditions and what makes them a leader in polar travel?

Accepted Answer

Quark Expeditions is a polar expedition cruise operator with 34 years of polar exploration experience. They were the first to take commercial guests to the North Pole (1991), the first to complete a circumnavigation of Antarctica for passengers (1996), and the first to confirm the Snow Hill Emperor penguin colony (2004). They offer 13 innovative Antarctic itineraries and have won numerous awards including Virtuoso Best Expedition Cruise Line (2023-2024) and Cruise Critic Best in Adventure (2022-2024).

Question 6

Why would travelers choose to fly the Drake Passage instead of sailing it?

Accepted Answer

Flying the Drake Passage allows travelers to experience the fastest, most direct way to Antarctica, crossing the 800-km wide passage in only about two hours by charter plane instead of two days by ship. This maximizes time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and is ideal for travelers with limited time who still want to experience the 7th Continent in 8 adventure-packed days.

Question 7

What latitude marks the Antarctic Circle crossing on the Epic Antarctica 2026-2027 voyage?

Accepted Answer

The Antarctic Circle is at the latitude of 66 degrees 33 minutes South. If conditions allow, the ship will cross this line, and a toast is made to celebrate. This is considered the ultimate milestone for any world traveler, as very few people travel this far south.

Question 8

What visa requirements apply to the Essential Patagonia 2025-2026 voyage?

Accepted Answer

Since the voyage starts in Argentina and enters Chile, passengers must ensure they obtain visas for both countries as required by their nationality. Residents of some countries may also be required to pay a reciprocity fee to enter Chile.

Question 9

How does the South Greenland Adventure voyage incorporate local community partnerships?

Accepted Answer

This itinerary is the first of its kind designed in full collaboration with local partners and endorsed by Kommune Kujalleq, the regional government of South Greenland. It features visits to Aappilattoq village (storytelling, food, music), Tasermiut overnight camping with Greenlandic hosts, a Tamassa cultural festival with local artists and chefs onboard, and a visit to the sheep farming community of Qassiarsuk.

Question 10

What recognition has the Three Arctic Islands voyage received?

Accepted Answer

The Three Arctic Islands voyage was named one of National Geographic Traveler's 50 Tours of a Lifetime. It visits Spitsbergen (the 'wildlife capital of the Arctic'), the remote landscape of East Greenland, and ends in Iceland.

Question 11

What is the significance of the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse voyage offered by Quark Expeditions?

Accepted Answer

This eclipse is part of Saros series 126, a cycle that repeats approximately every 18 years. The last total solar eclipse observable north of the Arctic Circle was in 2008. Quark Expeditions was also the first operator to lead a total solar eclipse voyage in Antarctica on November 24, 2003. The King Oscar Fjord region provides the longest duration of totality along the entire eclipse path.

Question 12

What makes the Sail South, Fly North voyage different from the Fly South, Sail North option?

Accepted Answer

The Sail South, Fly North voyage reverses the direction: guests sail southbound across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia (experiencing the passage like early polar explorers) and fly northbound from King George Island to Punta Arenas at the end. The voyage is 10 days versus 9 days for the Fly South option, as it begins in Buenos Aires rather than Punta Arenas.

Question 13

How long has Quark Expeditions been operating polar voyages and what are some of their key milestones?

Accepted Answer

Quark Expeditions has been operating since 1991 (over 34 years). Key milestones include: first commercial guests to the North Pole (August 1991), first passenger transit of the Northeast Passage (1991), first circumnavigation of Antarctica for commercial passengers (1996), first passengers on nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory to the North Pole (2008), and the first humans to witness a total solar eclipse in Antarctica (November 2003).

Question 14

What awards has Quark Expeditions received according to the Arctic 2026 brochure?

Accepted Answer

Notable awards include: AFAR Vanguard Award 2024, Virtuoso Best Expedition Cruise Line 2023 and 2024, Cruise Critic Editor's Picks Best In Adventure (Expedition) 2022-2024, Travel Weekly Gold Magellan Award for Expeditions-Shore Excursion 2023-2024, World Travel Awards World's Leading Specialist Cruise Line 2020-2022, and USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Best Adventure Cruise Line 2018.

Question 15

How many years of polar exploration experience does Quark Expeditions have?

Accepted Answer

Quark Expeditions has 34 years of polar exploration experience. They became the first polar operator to take commercial guests to the North Pole in August 1991.

Question 16

What makes the Ultramarine Total Solar Eclipse voyage historically significant for Quark Expeditions?

Accepted Answer

The genesis of this itinerary dates back to November 24, 2003, when Quark Expeditions became the first and only operator to successfully lead a total solar eclipse voyage in remote Antarctica, providing 100 people from 17 different nations the first-ever total solar eclipse viewing experience in Antarctica. The 2026 Arctic eclipse voyage represents a comparable achievement in the Arctic.

Question 17

Who are the eclipse experts on the Ultramarine Total Solar Eclipse voyage?

Accepted Answer

Two globally respected eclipse experts are onboard: author and science journalist David Baron, who delivers a keynote presentation titled 'Scientific America: The Eclipse That Enlightened A Nation,' and eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler. Both help deepen guests' understanding of celestial mechanics, observational astronomy, and eclipse viewing.

Question 18

What is Quark Expeditions' track record at Snow Hill Island?

Accepted Answer

Quark Expeditions made polar history in 2004 when they became the first operator to reach the 8,000-strong Emperor penguin rookery on Snow Hill Island. In 2023, they brought 208 guests to the colony on two separate voyages. Veteran Expedition Leader Shane Evoy has led 19 successful Snow Hill landings, an industry record.

Question 19

What helicopter experiences are included in the Antarctica by Helicopter voyage?

Accepted Answer

The voyage includes at least two heli-flightseeing excursions and one heli-landing, all included in the cost of the trip. Guests can experience views of the rarely-visited east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea, Antarctic Sound, and potentially Livingston Island's Tangra Mountains (32 km long). The expedition is designed to be the most heli-focused itinerary in Quark's Antarctic portfolio.

Question 20

What helicopter experiences are included on the Crossing the Circle by Helicopter voyage?

Accepted Answer

The voyage includes at least two heli-flightseeing excursions and one heli-landing, all included in the cost of the trip. Helicopter operations are acutely weather-dependent but may include flying into the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula at the Antarctic Circle. The expedition aims to maximize helicopter adventures so guests can experience perspectives of the 7th Continent that no one else can offer.

Quark Expeditions