A 199-guest polar ship with two helicopters on board, built to take you beyond the landing sites every other ship shares.
Most Antarctic ships show you the Peninsula from a Zodiac. Ultramarine can also show it to you from the air. Quark keeps two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters on board, flying from two helidecks, and uses them for flightseeing and for landings deep in the ice that no boat can reach. On the Snow Hill Island voyages the helicopters are how guests get to the emperor penguin colony on the sea ice, which is the reason most people choose this ship.
The rest of the ship is designed around getting off it. There is a water-level Zodiac hangar, four embarkation points and two ready rooms with a locker for every guest, so the time between "boats are going" and actually being on the water is short. Back on board, the sauna has floor-to-ceiling windows and the Panorama Lounge is glass on all sides. It is comfortable rather than showy.
Be honest with yourself about the Drake Passage. Every voyage here crosses it both ways, and helicopter time depends on weather, so a good trip can still include days when nothing flies. With 199 guests Ultramarine is on the larger side for a small expedition ship, which some people will notice at landings. If helicopters and emperor penguins are not the point for you, a smaller ship may suit you better.
The entry twin suite on Deck 3, about 26.5 square metres, with a picture window, sitting area with sofa bed and a heated bathroom floor.
A Deck 3 suite of about 26.5 square metres with three single beds, two of which join into a double, for friends or solo travellers sharing.
A Deck 6 single suite of about 12.3 square metres with a floor-to-ceiling window, built for solo travellers who want their own space.
About 21 square metres inside with a 4.8 square metre balcony on Decks 4 and 6. Some are interconnecting, which helps families.
About 27.8 square metres with a 6.5 square metre balcony, a bath as well as a shower, and an enclosed toilet.
The largest suites, on Decks 6 and 7, from about 32.5 to 52.3 square metres. Terrace Suites have the biggest balconies on the ship.
The main restaurant on Deck 5, with tables for two to 10, a view from every seat and direct access to the wraparound deck.
A glass-enclosed lounge and bar for wine, board games and watching the ice go past, with a dance floor later in the evening.
A lecture theatre on Deck 5 with a high-resolution LED wall, large enough for every guest, used for daily briefings and talks.
The outdoor wraparound deck on Deck 5 for wildlife watching, and the two helidecks on Deck 8 where helicopter flights begin.
An internal water-level hangar for the ship's 20 Zodiacs, beside two ready rooms with an individual locker for each guest.
Balena is the main restaurant, with tables for two to 10 and a view from every seat. Bistro 487 on Deck 7 serves dishes from the main menu, lighter and healthier options, an early risers' breakfast, afternoon tea and late-night snacks, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Deck 7 has the Tundra Spa with treatments and a steam room, a sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gym and a separate studio for informal yoga with a view out.
Quark sets its rules for younger passengers in its expedition terms and conditions. Tell us the ages in your party and we will confirm what applies to your voyage and to each activity.
| Guests | 199 |
|---|---|
| Ice class | 1A+, PC6 |
| Length | 128 metres |
| Staff and crew | 140 |
| Helicopters | Two twin-engine Airbus H145 (not used on Svalbard voyages) |
| Zodiacs | 20, launched from a water-level hangar |
| Embarkation | Ushuaia, after a group charter flight from Buenos Aires |
| Optional activities | Kayaking, camping and helicopter excursions |
Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea, sailing from Ushuaia, Antarctica
A few of the things we plan for guests in Antarctica.
The Lemaire Channel is a narrow strait between the peninsula and Booth Island, with sheer peaks close on both sides. On a still day the peaks are reflected in the water. Ice can block it early in the season, so it is never guaranteed. Be on deck with a warm drink as the ship turns in.
Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins nest on exposed rock along the peninsula through the southern summer. Landings at sites such as Cuverville Island or Neko Harbour last a few hours. Visitor guidelines ask you to keep your distance and give way, and penguins often walk right past anyway.
When landings are not possible, or as an extra, guides take you out by inflatable boat among grounded icebergs. Leopard seals and crabeater seals rest on the floes, and humpbacks sometimes surface close by. For many of our travellers it is the part of the trip they talk about afterwards. Waterproof trousers and a dry bag for your camera matter here.
A night in Buenos Aires and one in Ushuaia, then 11 nights on a small expedition ship across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, with Zodiac landings among penguin colonies and cruises through the ice.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
