Expedition Ship: A Personal Narrative

When the captain heard the forecast called for clouds over the solar eclipse, he threw the entire itinerary out the window. Instead of heading north along Greenland's eastern coast, he turned the ship south chasing clear skies.

That's the beauty of small expedition ship travel — the ship is nimble, and the itinerary bends to the moment.

Life Aboard the Quark Ultramarine

I recently spent two weeks aboard the Quark Ultramarine, a state-of-the-art ship carrying two helicopters, 181 guests, and 100 crew. A few years ago, I traveled on another expedition ship along the Australia coast and to Indonesia, you can read about that voyage here. 

Every stateroom comes with heated bathroom floors, two armoires, large windows, and a couch — rooms on the upper floors even have balconies. Polar and Antarctic expeditions include a parka that's yours to keep, plus muck boots and a dry suit for use throughout the voyage. 🧥

Dining & Service

There are two restaurants on board, and everyone eats together. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style; dinner is a proper sit-down affair. On this voyage, guests could also book an Inuit dining experience for an additional charge.

Small expedition ships are all about service — if you have a specific request, the team will do everything in their power to make it happen.

Learning Over Entertainment

The focus on board is learning and experience, not spectacle. There are no Broadway shows, no casinos, no trivia nights. Instead, experts give lectures on history, culture, and the local flora and fauna.

There's also a gym and spa with a sauna, plus a lounge with a bar, board games, and afternoon tea. 🫖

Daily Activities

Days are packed with zodiac cruises, hikes, village walks, community visits, kayaking, and helicopter rides and landings.

One personal highlight: the Polar Plunge — I highly recommend it! 🥶

Booking Ahead

Expedition ships are only growing more popular, so the best pricing comes with early-bird offers. The Antarctic 28/29 season just opened, and those early rates are spectacular. The Arctic 2029 season will open soon — if this has you curious, reach out.

Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "LETSGO" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.