World Explorer

The Mudroom on Deck 3 enables you to comfortably prepare for, and disembark from, Zodiac excursions and shore landings and is conveniently located adjacent to zodiac embarkation points.

Sea kayaking is offered on all of our departures and you require no previous experience to enjoy this activity. Our sea kayaks are the ideal means by which to get some good exercise and explore the cliffs and shores of the various visitor sites around the archipelago. A typical cruise week offers great opportunities to go kayaking around secluded coves, shores, mangrove estuaries and beautiful beaches. Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions and many other animals can be seen up close on a kayak and even as they swim.

The Polar Plunge is scheduled once during each voyage. Throughout the journey, the Expedition Leader and Captain constantly monitor conditions in order to choose the optimal time and location. The Polar Plunge sometimes takes place onshore or, in many cases, from the gangway or Zodiac. All participants wear a tethered harness and plunge into the polar waters from the side of Zodiac or safety of the gangplank cheered on, of course, by fellow passengers and Expedition Team.

Safety is paramount—the onboard physician always attends the Polar Plunge. Guides in survival gear circle the area in Zodiacs as guests take their turn jumping or cannon-balling into the polar waters.

Stand-up Paddleboarding, popularly known as SUPing, originated in Hawaii. Quark Expeditions is the first company to bring this watersport all the way to Antarctica.

SUPing combines the immersive experience of kayaking but in a standing position. Participants, if they prefer, can kneel, sit or even lie down and stare up at the azure Antarctic sky. Because of their wide base and tail fins, SUP boards are quite stable, enabling participants – after a bit of practice – to stop staring at their feet and admire the surrounding scenery. Imagine seeing Gentoo penguins gliding below you, or making eye contact with a Weddell seal lying on a piece of ice as you paddle by.

Guests receive on-ship and on-water instruction from a qualified SUP guide. In addition, a safety driver (in a Zodiac) stays within range to offer assistance.

Explore the ocean from a more intimate vantage point on a sit-on-top kayak. No experience is required to manoeuvre these very stable kayaks, allowing you to enjoy an unforgettable experience on the water, taking in breathtaking landscapes and wildlife. Whether it’s your first time in a kayak or you want greater flexibility to try other Adventure options, this shorter excursion is for you.

Paddling in the Polar Regions is highly weather-dependent and a one-time experience. Your kayak guides will attempt to take you out on the water for 1-1.5 hours of paddling. Offered on most voyages, spaces are limited. All equipment, guides and instructions are provided by Quark.

Pricing subject to change based on season. Please proceed to checkout or contact a Polar Travel Adviser for more details. 

Imagine for a moment, staring at the stars in the indigo glow of an Antarctic night as you bed down for the night outside in the elements. The buzz of your daily life becomes a distant memory as you listen to the bray of penguin, the ethereal calls of the Weddell sea – even the exhalation of a humpback whale. And then you fall asleep.

Antarctic Camping with Quark Expeditions is an unforgettable experience. After dinner onboard, you'll be escorted ashore by Zodiac to camp out on the snow for the night in your ready-to-roll bivy sack (tents can be used upon request). Once you decide on your spot, you set up camp and enjoy the peace as the Antarctic night unfolds.

Camping in Antarctica is limited to 50 participants, all of whom will be briefed beforehand on the principals of basic camping. Prior to you settling down for the night, Quark Expeditions staff will prepare the site, including setting up a perimeter in safe, flat to gently-sloping and beautiful site. You’re free to choose where (within the perimeters) you want to settle down for the night.  

Hiking in the polar regions differs from your typical trail experience. Here, in a tree-less terrain, you are the tallest figure on the landscape as you walk over spongy tundra, crusty snow or sandy beaches in remotes parts of the Arctic and Antarctica. Stepping ashore anywhere in the polar regions means you’re not a distant observer.

Our organized hikes range from short jaunts to the top of lookouts or visits to see wildlife or longer walks of several kilometers over ice and rock and snow. Hiking excursions may last from two to three hours with plenty of time for photographs of wildlife, learning moments from your experienced guides, or just time to stand back and admire the incredible polar surroundings.

No experience is necessary but participants should be able to get in and out of a Zodiac and walk on uneven terrain. Hiking options are tailored to all interests and abilities, from those who want to contemplate the landscape in silence to photographers who want that perfect image to energetic travelers who want to summit a peak in the hopes of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.

DOCTOR

Quark provides an English-speaking doctor on board who manages a medical clinic stocked with a supply of common prescription medicines and basic first aid equipment. If you are under regular treatment for any ailment, you must bring a sufficient supply of medicine for yourself. We cannot accept responsibility for not having a specific brand or type of drug on board. Should you fall ill, the doctor will refer to the medical forms that you completed and returned to us; therefore it is vital that the information you provide is complete and accurate.

MEDICAL CLINIC

The Clinic is located on Deck 4. In case of emergency, the doctor is available 24 hours a day, and can be contacted through reception or any member of the Expedition Team.

To Wear on Board

• Comfortable casual clothing like lighter shirts, pants or jeans, etc. (in case the ship gets warm)
• Comfortable non-slip closed-toed, heelless shoes (flip flops, sandals or slip-on shoes should not be worn on board due to safety concerns)
• Workout attire (for the fitness center and other indoor activities)
• Swimsuit (for the Polar Plunge! Some vessels may also have a pool, hot tub, sauna and/or steam room. See your ship book for details.)

Just a reminder: no formal evening wear required on our voyages! (but if you want to you can bring a little something more dressy for the Captain’s Welcome and Farewell cocktail parties)

Additional Items

• Passport, visas, immunization records, travel documents, etc. as required
• Camera gear complete with charger, storage medium, transport & cleaning kit (lens cloth etc.) and extra batteries
• Waterproof cell phone case or rain sleeve for camera
• Earplugs and eye masks for sleeping
• Voltage converters and plug adapters (see ship book for details)
• Moisturizer for face and hands (skin dryness due to wind and temperature changes)
• Seasickness, indigestion, headache, or other medications
• Small amount of local currency (see pre-departure book for more details)
• Insect repellant
• Mosquito netting

For Shore Excursions & Hiking

In addition to the mandatory gear requirements (as above) for the transit from ship to shore, it is recommended to bring:

• Worn-in Hiking footwear: While Muck-boots are provided and encouraged for most shore excursions, additional hiking footwear (Goretex-lined boots or similar water-proof hiking boots) can add to your hiking comfort, especially if you are a keen hiker
• (Smart) Wool or synthetic hiking socks for above footwear (bring an extra pair)
• Lightweight and quick-dry, trekking pants that may or may not convert to zip-off shorts* (*depending on your thermo-regulation)
• Breathable waterproof pants* and rain jacket** for outdoor activities in inclement weather (*can be the same pair you use for Zodiac operations / ** can be outer shell of complimentary Quark 3in1 Parka)
• Comfortable long or short-sleeve shirt for hiking either synthetic/quick-dry or merino (smart) wool
• (Hiking) gloves (medium thickness, waterproof preferred)
• Hat, buff or scarf (for wind and weather protection)
• UV protection (hat, polarized sun glasses, sun block, lip balm)
• Collapsible Walking stick for hikes (if required). Quantities are available on every vessel to borrow.
• Additional reusable thermos or water bottle (in addition to the reusable collapsible water bottle provided)

By Sea & Air

All transfers ship to shore, helicopter flights & Zodiac/ship cruising

• Waterproof Pants (Mandatory for every Zodiac and helicopter ride. For Ultramarine guests who are participating in Helicopter flights, we recommend packing loose fitting rain pant style waterproof pants, rather than fitted ski pants. You will also be required to wear a drysuit, which our team will help you prepare for on the ship.)
• Base-layer wool or synthetic top*
• Base-layer wool or synthetic bottom*
• Mid-layer warm or fleece top*
• Mid-layer warm or fleece bottom*
• Warm hat that covers ears (bring an extra)
• Scarf, buff, or other face protection
• Warm wool or synthetic socks (keep a dry pair in your bag, and bring extras for layering)
• Waterproof gloves or mitts (bring an extra, lighter pair for hiking)
• Glove liners*
• Hand and feet warmers*
• Binoculars
• Polarized sunglasses with UV protection (bring an extra pair)
• Sunscreen
• Ski goggles (for Zodiac cruising on snowy or windy days)
• Waterproof, lightweight backpack or dry sack &/or rain sleeve for camera or a waterproof phone case (to keep camera & gear dry)

To protect the health and safety of its guests, Quark Expeditions® maintains a no smoking or vaping policy in the interior of the ship including cabins, near Zodiacs and on landings. Smoking or vaping on the ship is permitted in the designated smoking area only, which your Expedition Team members will be happy to point out for you. Always make sure to extinguish cigarettes properly and dispose of them in the proper receptacle. Please, never throw cigarettes overboard.

If you do not eat meat there is a wide selection of vegetables, pasta, grains and fruit available. Quark Expeditions® is able to cater to most special dietary requests, as long as you clearly indicated your needs on the required expedition forms when you booked your voyage.

Menus will be clearly labeled for vegetarian and gluten free options, but please do notify your server of the dietary restrictions you indicated on your form. We regret that kosher food cannot be prepared.

Quark Expeditions welcomes passengers age of 8 and above on all trips with a signed waiver by a parent prior to trip commencement. There are however some caveats and restrictions to be aware of:

Children on Ship-based trips

Quark Expeditions welcomes passengers age of 8 and above and under the age of 16 at time of travel with a signed waiver by a parent prior to commencement on any Quark Expeditions trip, provided they meet height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48" or 1.2 m. tall). Children under 8 years old at the time of travel are not allowed to participate in the trip.

Children Ship-based Adventure Options

Adventure Options on ships are available for all persons over the age of 16. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to participate in Adventure Options. Parents must be with children under the age of 16 at all times, so the parent’s participation in Adventure Options may be limited.

Cum este viața într-o expediție? În zilele petrecute pe mare, veți savura prelegeri și ateliere susținute de echipa noastră de expediție și veți petrece timp pe punte, căutând păsări marine și cetacee. Alte zile sunt pline de multiple debarcări, croaziere cu Zodiac-ul și activități captivante. Obositor sau relaxant, zâmbetele sunt la ordinea zilei, la fel ca și preparatele rafinate oferite de bucătarii noștri de la bord! Avem o serie de politici și proceduri menite să asigure buna desfășurare a călătoriei pe World Explorer, așa că vă invităm să le parcurgeți mai jos pentru a vă bucura la maximum de timpul petrecut la bord.

MODIFICĂRI ÎN PROGRAM

Deși un program zilnic va fi afișat, uneori apar oportunități noi pe neașteptate – așadar, așteptați-vă la surprize și bucurați-vă știind că membrii echipajului sunt mereu pregătiți să facă expediția dumneavoastră cât mai memorabilă și plăcută!

SIGURANȚĂ LA BORD ȘI PE USCAT

Securitatea și siguranța dumneavoastră reprezintă o prioritate absolută pentru echipa de expediție și membrii echipajului. A ști cum să vă mișcați în siguranță pe vas, cum să vă comportați pe uscat și cum să gestionați debarcările pe teren umed sau uscat vă va asigura o expediție lipsită de griji. Vă rugăm să acordați atenție instrucțiunilor din această secțiune esențială de siguranță.

SIGURANȚĂ PE PUNTE

Fiți precauți când vă deplasați pe punțile exterioare, deoarece podeaua poate fi alunecoasă. Folosiți întotdeauna balustradele și purtați încălțăminte adecvată, închisă și antiderapantă. Sandalele slip-on, papucii sau șlapii nu sunt siguri și nici potriviți pentru a fi purtați la bord.

SCĂRI ȘI UȘI

În multe intrări către punțile exterioare există trepte înalte, așa că fiți atenți și mergeți cu prudență. Când treceți prin uși sau vă deplasați în cabina dumneavoastră, nu puneți mâinile pe marginea ușilor. Fiți conștienți că dacă ușile nu sunt închise sau blocate corespunzător, acestea pot reprezenta un pericol, deschizându-se sau închizându-se brusc și violent pe măsură ce nava se mișcă pe mare.

INSTRUIRE DE SIGURANȚĂ ȘI EXERCIȚIU CU SALVAREA

Conform legii maritime internaționale, trebuie să participați la un exercițiu de urgență în primele 24 de ore de la plecare. La îmbarcare, veți primi o instruire privind comportamentul adecvat la bord și procedurile de urgență. Ulterior, va avea loc un exercițiu pentru a vă familiariza cu barca de salvare, vesta de salvare și traseul de evacuare de urgență. Acest exercițiu obligatoriu va fi programat cât mai curând posibil de către Liderul Expediției. Veți primi toate detaliile după îmbarcare.

COMPORTAMENT PE USCAT

• Din motive de siguranță, nu mergeți niciodată singur pe uscat. Călătoriți întotdeauna însoțiți sau în grup.
• Dacă condițiile meteo se înrăutățesc, Căpitanul va semnala întoarcerea la navă (semnale scurte continue). Dacă auziți acest semnal, reveniți imediat la zona de debarcare sau urmați instrucțiunile personalului.
• Nu aruncați gunoaie. Luați doar fotografii și lăsați doar urme.
• Fiți punctuali, deoarece îmbarcarea la timp și debarcările eficiente înseamnă mai mult timp pentru explorare la următoarele opriri.

WATER

All passengers receive an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle in their cabin upon arrival. You can refill your water bottle at any of the bars on board, or at the self filling stations on Deck 4 across from the Polar Boutique, or on Deck 3 in the mudroom.

ON BOARD ACCOUNTS

To make things as stress-free as possible, items you purchase from the Polar Boutique, lounge or bar (including drinks) are charged to your ship account. Cabin charges can also include laundry, postage, communication charges and adventure options booked onboard (space permitting). Payments of shipboard accounts are made towards the end of the expedition, at the reception area. The US dollar is the standard currency on board. You can use cash, Visa or MasterCard credit cards to pay your shipboard account. Personal checks are not accepted.

Note: If you are sharing a cabin and would like separate accounts, you must advise reception.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements over the ship’s public address system will alert you to wildlife sightings, itinerary changes, and landing instructions for going ashore. Announcements can be heard in cabins and all public spaces.

On some voyages, where Quark Expeditions Language Programs are scheduled, announcements in English will be repeated in other languages. Out of courtesy to other travelers, we ask that you remain quiet during all announcements – even those made in languages that are not your own.

BRIDGE VISITS

During your voyage you may be given access to the Bridge, where you can observe how the Captain and officers sail and navigate the ship. However, the Captain and Bridge officers do restrict access during arrivals and departures from port and during times of complicated navigation. As the Bridge is an important working area on the ship, we ask that you keep noise to a minimum to avoid distracting the officers from conducting their jobs efficiently. Understandably, Bridge etiquette includes a ‘no eating, drinking or smoking’ policy.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Help us take care of our environment! To keep our land and waters clean, kindly use all trash receptacles on board. Never throw anything over the side of the ship. Due to the complicated process of desalinating sea water for use on board, guests are asked to practice water conservation at all times.

BATTERY DISPOSAL

Please do not throw old batteries in your cabin garbage. Kindly bring them to reception for proper disposal.

LOST & FOUND

If you find any misplaced items, please bring them to reception or give them to a member of the Expedition Team. If you lose anything yourself, advise our staff so that they can assist you

Atunci când nu sunteți ocupat să explorați frumusețea naturală a Regiunilor Polare, poate doriți să vă conectați cu familia și prietenii de acasă pentru a împărtăși câteva dintre momentele deosebite ale călătoriei dumneavoastră. Oaspeții Quark Expeditions se pot bucura acum de Wi-Fi gratuit în cadrul programului nostru „Ridică un Pahar și Rămâi Conectat Gratuit”. Acest serviciu Wi-Fi complementar permite navigarea de bază pe internet și utilizarea aplicațiilor vocale.

Vă rugăm să rețineți că călătorim în unele dintre cele mai îndepărtate colțuri ale lumii. Deoarece folosim echipamente prin satelit pentru conexiune, semnalul Wi-Fi poate fi intermitent.

Pentru a accesa e-mailul sau internetul pe computerul personal, tabletă sau smartphone, conectați-vă la rețeaua dispozitivului dumneavoastră, unde puteți utiliza planul nostru gratuit sau puteți achiziționa Wi-Fi Prioritar.

Wi-Fi Gratuit

• Viteze reduse
• Potrivit pentru navigare de bază pe internet, mesagerie text și apeluri vocale prin aplicații de text și voce
• Filtrare parțială a site-urilor
• Fără costuri
• Un singur dispozitiv conectat simultan

Wi-Fi Prioritar

• Viteze mai mari
• Potrivit pentru aplicații cu volum mare de date, apeluri video, streaming video (la rezoluții mai mici) etc.
• Consultați tarifele după autentificare
• Un singur dispozitiv conectat simultan

SHOWERS AND TOILETS

Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash basin. L’Occitane shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are provided for your use. The toilet system is very sensitive and can only handle toilet paper. Please do not deposit any tissues, paper towels, feminine products, etc. in the toilet. 

ELECTRIC CURRENT

The electrical supply on board is dual voltage 220/110 volts. You will find standard European round-pin and North American flat-pin electrical outlets as well as USB outlets in your cabin and around the ship.

Please be aware that the electricity supply may not be sufficient to power your electronic devices at all times. It is recommended that you check the voltage of your device before plugging it in, as the device may be damaged if the incoming voltage is higher than that for which it is manufactured. Please see QuarkExpeditions.com/en/termsand-conditions for more information.

HAIRDRYERS

There is a hair dryer included in each cabin.

BATHROBES

The bathrobes in your cabins are on loan for you to enjoy for the duration of your expedition.

VALUABLES

Please store your valuables in the safe in your cabin. We recommend you travel with as few valuables as possible.

CABIN TEMPERATURE – CLIMATE CONTROL

You may control your cabin temperature by adjusting the thermostat. If you are sharing a cabin with other travelers, please be considerate of their temperature preferences as well.

SHARED CABIN COURTESY

Many travelers elect to share a cabin with passengers they may not have previously met. All passengers have their own schedules and preferences. Please be courteous towards the needs of your fellow cabin mates.

HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE

Your cabin will be cleaned on a daily basis. Your towels will be changed along with your bed sheets every third day, subject to the length of the voyage and in accordance with Quark Expeditions®’ sustainability practices. If you would like your towels changed more frequently, please inform your cabin attendant. Leaving a towel on the rack indicates you will be using it again, while putting a towel on the floor or in the shower or sink means you would like it to be washed.

LAUNDRY

A complete list of laundry fees will be provided on board. Request forms and bags are provided in your cabin. Laundry is collected each morning; please allow 48 hours for your laundry to be returned. Ironing services are also available at a minimal charge. We encourage you to take advantage of the laundry services, as it will mean you can pack fewer articles of clothing.

If you prefer to hand wash small items in your cabin, please remember to bring environmentally friendly detergent.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM

The sprinkler heads located throughout the ship, and in your room, are very sensitive. They can be activated by even the slightest touch. Please do not hang any items from the sprinkler heads, or smoke anywhere on the ship outside the designated smoking area. Guests activating the sprinkler system may be responsible for damages that occur.

LIFE JACKETS

Each cabin is equipped with orange SOLAS life jackets. These life jackets are to be used in case of a ship emergency and during emergency lifeboat drills.